Prayer to Athena and Hephaistos for Skillful Hands

To grey-eyed Athena and strong-armed Hephaistos
I pray! Gods of skill, gods of craft, great friends you are
to artisans, to those who work with mind and hand,
to those who with the artist's eye create things
of use as well as beauty. In times of old
were you well honored for your gifts to mankind:
Athena the Worker, Hephaistos the Resourceful,
named so by men grateful for your many blessings.
I pray to you, great goddess and god: grant to me
the vision to create, grant me the ability
to bring those visions into being. Athena,
Hephaistos, grant to me the joy of the work.

Prayer to Apollo for Inspiration

I call to you, bright Apollo, son of Zeus
and gentle-natured Leto, god whose many gifts
have enriched our lives, skillful maker of music,
crafter of words whose poetic might brings wonder
to the world of men. Shining Apollo, master
of the Muses, inspiration in art and song
is yours to give. I pray to you, O Phoebus,
touch my soul with beauty, touch my heart with light,
grant me the vision to transcend the self,
grant me the spirit to share what I see.