Ways of Worship: Pan

Pan is the God of wildlife, shepherds, flocks, nature of mountain wilds, masturbation, and rustic music. His Roman form is Faunus. Like most "minor" Gods, his parentage is widely disputed. It is said his parents are either Hermes and Dryope—or Aphrodite, or Penelope. His children are Syrinx, Echo, and Pitys. His official title is the Rustic God. As seen above, he is depicted as a styre (human with goat legs and horns) with a beard and often pan-pipes. Pan-pipes are pipes made of different lengths of reeds and also known as a syrinx.

In looking through the myths of Pan, there weren't exactly any that were particularly interesting, though I did find a... disturbing pattern. More sad than disturbing, but here we go. There were three well-known stories of Pan and women he fell madly in love with: Syrinx, Echo, and Pitys.

As some of you may have noticed, Syrinx is the same name as pan-pipes. In the myth, Syrinx was a beautiful wood nymph and Pan met her while she was walking home. To escape him, she ran away without stopping to hear his compliments. He pursued her until she came upon her sisters, who turned her into a reed that made a hauntingly beautiful melody when the wind passed through them. Still infatuated, he cut a bunch of reeds down, not knowing which one was her, and fashioned them into pipes. He was rarely seen without them since that day.

Echo was another case of unrequited feelings. There are several variations of this myth, but in each, Echo is a nymph who scorned the love of any man. In the first version, Echo was a beautiful singer and dancer, and her chastity made the lusty Pan angry and instructed his followers to kill her. They did and scattered the pieces of her body all over the world. Gaia, Goddess of the Earth, received these pieces and allowed her voice to remain on the Earth, repeating the last words of others.

In the next version, Echo was enraptured by Narcissus and followed him around with the hoards of other fascinated women. At this point, Pan was madly in love with her and Echo was cursed by Hera for talking too much about herself. Her curse was that she could only repeat words that others said so she could never speak for herself. Echo followed Narcissus to the pool where he was cursed by Nemesis. While Narcissus looked at himself and eventually died, or was turned into the Narcissus flower in some myths, Echo wasted away until the only thing that remained was her voice.

In the case of Pitys, it is very short and sweet. Pitys is another nymph. Pan really liked nymphs apparently. Again, Pan was super in love, and in response, she decided to be turned into a pine tree to escape him. An accurate and completely reasonable response if you ask me.

Altar, Offerings, and Symbols

Although the Pan was well respected and worshipped, not much is known about his symbols or if he has as many as previously seen in the Olympians. We don't know if this is because the information has been lost in time or if it's because he is considered to be a "minor" God.

General: Flute and Nature

Animals: Goat

Prayers

Things to Pray For: Help with environmental issues, inspiration creating/playing music, looking after wildlife and flocks, being a good "shepherd" (farmer), good pictures of the wild, help to learn the pipes, anything related to nature, animals, and rustic or folk music.

Prayer to Pan

Pan, Lord of the Wilds, to thee I humbly callBy the Well, the Flame, the Tree, I honor theeOh Blessed Dancer you move from Season to SeasonFrom frenzy to calm, from bright day to starry nightWeaving the universal song that frightens and compelsYou are the refuge and cause of mortal frightWhose joy is the gurgling brook, the chase pell-mellAnd the dance of the nymphs in solitary gladesFructifying Lord, Cave Lover, Temperamental One,Hoofed and horned Commander of ElementsGuide of Nature and Bountiful ProviderI honor you at this time of subtle changeMay the tune you play bring me more joy than panicAnd minute changes be not lost in life’s frantic paceFrom Season to Season, calm to frenzy, night to dayI honor thee and thy endless tune as the wheel turns.Hail most gracious Pan!

Invocation of Pan

I am she who e'er the earth was formed rose from the seaO first begotten love come unto meAnd let the worlds be formed of me and thee

Giver of vine and wine and ecstasy,God of the garden, shepherd of the lea—Bringer of fear who maketh men to flee,I am thy priestess answer unto me!

Although I receive thy gifts thou bringest me—

Life and more life in fullest ecstasy.I am the moon the moon that draweth thee.I am the waiting earth that needeth thee.Come unto me great Pan, come unto me!