Papyri graecae magicae I.54

Having sanctified yourself in advance and abstained from meat [?] and from all impurity, on any night you wish, wearing pure garments, go up on a high roof. Say the first [prayer of] union when the sunlight is fading...having a black lsiac band over your eyes...When the sun rises, greet it...reciting this [hereafter specified] holy spell, burning uncut frankincense [etc.]...While you are reciting the spell, the following sign will occur: A hawk flying down will stop [in the air] in front of you and, striking his wings together in the middle [in front of his body], will drop a long stone and at once fly back, going up into heaven. You take up that stone and having cut...engraved and pierced it...wear it around your neck. Then at evening, going up to your roof again and standing facing the light of the [sun] god, sing the hymn [specified], sacrificing myrrh [etc.]...And you will soon have a sign, as follows: A fiery star, coming down, will stand in the middle of the roof and...you will perceive the angel whom you besought, sent to you, and you will promptly learn the counsels of the gods. But don't you be afraid. Go up to the god, take his right hand, kiss him, and say these [specified spells] to the angel. For he will respond concisely to whatever you wish [to ask]. You, then, make him swear with this [specified] oath that he will remain inseparable from you and...will not disobey you at all...And you set forth [these] words for the god [to agree to]: "I shall have you as a dear companion, a beneficent god serving me as I may direct, quickly, with your power, already while I am on earth; please, please, show [grant] me [this], 0 god!" And you yourself speak...in accordance with what he says, briefly...But when the third hour [of the night-about 9 p.m.] comes, the god will leap up at once. Say "Go lord, blessed god, whither you eternally are, as you wish," and the god will become invisible. This is the holy [rite for] acquiring an attendant [deity].

Know therefore that this god, whom you have seen, is an aerial spirit. If you command, he will perform the task at once. He sends dreams, brings women or men...kills, overthrows, raises up winds from the earth, brings gold, silver, copper, and gives it to you whenever you need; he frees from bonds . . . opens doors, makes invisible...brings fire, water, wine, bread and whatever foodstuffs you want...he stops ships [in mid voyage] and again releases them, stops many evil demons, calms wild beasts and immediately breaks the teeth of savage serpents; he puts dogs to sleep or makes them stand voiceless; he transforms [you] into whatever form you wish;...he will carry you into the air;...he will solidify rivers and the sea promptly and so that you can run on them standing up;...he will indeed restrain the foam of the sea if you wish, and when you wish [he is able] to bring down stars and...to make hot things cold and cold hot; he will light lamps and quench them again; he shakes walls and sets them ablaze. You will have in him a slave sufficient for whatever [tasks] you may conceive, 0 blessed initiate of holy magic, and this most powerful assistant, who alone is Lord of the Air, will accomplish [them] for you, and all the [other] gods will agree, for without this god nothing is [done].

Communicate this to no one else, but hide it, by Helios, since you have been thought worthy by the Lord God to receive this great mystery....[Here follow the spells to be used in the preceding ceremony.]...And when you send him away, after he goes, sacrifice to him...and pour an oblation of wine, and thus you will be a friend of the powerful angel. When you travel he will travel with you; when you are in need he will give you money; he will tell you what is going to happen and when and at what time of night or day. If anyone ask you, "What do I have in mind?" or "What happened to me?" or "[What] will happen?" ask the angel, and he will tell you sotto voce, and you say it to the inquirer as if from yourself. When you die he will embalm your body as befits a god, and taking up your spirit will carry it into the air with himself. For an aerial spirit [such as you have become] having been united with a powerful assistant will not go into Hades. For to this [god] all things are subordinate. So when you wish to do something, say into the air only his name and "Come," and you will see him, and standing right beside you. Then tell him, "Do such and such"-the work [you want done]-and he will do it at once, and having done it, will ask you, "Do you want anything else? For I am in a hurry to go back to heaven." If you have no other orders at the moment, tell him, "Go, Lord," and he will go. Now this god will be seen only by you, nor will anyone hear his voice when he speaks, except you only. When a man [is sick] in bed he will call you whether he will live or die, and [if the latter] in which day and which hour...He will also give you wild plants and [tell you] how to perform cures; and you will be worshipped as a god, since you have the god as a friend.