Halloween happens to fall on a Wednesday this year, and as I know you know perfectly well, Wednesday belongs to my lord Mercury, otherwise known as Hermes, sometimes known as Thoth, also known as ἑρμηνεῦ πάντων (interpreter of all), λυσιμέριμνε (releaser from care), φίλε θνητοῖς ἐν ἀνάγκαις (helper of mortals in need).

Hermes is, of course, the master of language, of commerce, of magical skillz, of writing and games and trickery and thieves and so much else. He’s also the god who goes wherever he likes, upstairs, downstairs, the good place, the other place, ordinary reality, special-flavor reality, this and other dimensions, and all the crossroads in between.

At this time of year, I especially like to think of him as psychopomp, guiding spirits wherever they must go. Now, he is Chthonic Hermes, floating his bad self with all his wingèd accessories into the bowels of the earth for a visit with Aunty Persephone. The veil, vanishingly thin, barely senses his passage.

I had plans to produce some other Orphic Hymns before this one, but, well, I’m not really surprised it didn’t work out that way. For me, the messenger god comes first, last, and all points betwixt. May he light your way, too, whenever you find yourself in dark places.