Your bag is stolen... the plane is delayed... the hotel is booked and lost your reservation... there's too much traffic... the weather's no good... you've gotten too sick to go outside... 

You need help.

Who can you call?

Prior to the era of telephones, before your mother was on speed-dial, and "travel insurance" was an internet click away - one might call upon Zeus, if one were Greek of course. And Zeus might remind you that you've been misdirected, as he had made Hermes (later called Mercury by the Romans) responsible for treaties, commerce and free travel.

Hermes was flattered, I'm sure, to be given impunity to travel even to the underworld -- even though he shared responsibility for travelers with a Greek counterpart, Iris: goddess of the rainbow, messages, emotions and travel. The wife of Zephyr, the wind god, she was able to travel through air and through water with ease.

Those who did reach her would ask her thus: 

Iris, messenger of the Gods and goddess of the Rainbow and of emotions, hear my prayer. 

Make my emotions true and pure, allowing me to cope with all that comes before me. Shine that spectrum upon me, allowing full reign of possibility.

Bless my travels so that I will be enlightened and entertained as I should by them. Give my spirit wings to fly!

But say that neither Hermes nor Iris pick up the phone. They are, after all, seasoned travelers and may be in areas where there is patchy service - the underworld, for instance.

Next you could try St. Christopher, the Catholic patron saint of Travel. The tall, bearded man who carries a staff and is revered by mariners, ferrymen and travellers is oft sported on keyrings and amulets, hanging from necklaces and from taxi mirrors.

But wait.... unless you have his private number, St. Christopher won't pick up either. Because he's unreachable on the official line. Yes, the Catholic church demoted St. Christopher from Sainthood in the 1960's. Officially, he has been stripped of his power to aid and abet travelers and motorists in trouble.

Why he was demoted becomes easier to understand when one learns, as did the Catholic church, that St. Christopher never actually existed. Despite the ubiquitous iconography. 

St. Joseph, being quite, well, saintly about it, took over his duties and is the current patron saint of travel. Besides being busy with being the patron saint of finding a home, of families and of expectant mothers (oh, and of Italy), St Joseph is your man.

Which hasn't stopped travelers from asking St. Christopher for help, anyway. One such prayer goes thus:

Grant me, O Lord, a steady hand and watchful eye, that no one shall be hurt as I pass by. 

Thou gavest life, I pray no act of mine may take away or mar that gift of Thine.

Shelter those, dear Lord, who bear my company from the evils of fire and all calamity.

Teach me to use my car for others' need; Nor miss through love of undue speed. 

The beauty of the world; that thus I may with joy and courtesy go on my way.

St. Christopher, holy patron of travelers, protect me, and lead me safely to my destiny.

A more comprehensive list can be found on this website: http://www.examiner.com/domestic-witchery-in-national/magical-vacations-101-gods-and-goddesses-of-travel-roads-and-good-weather.

The author, Kris, wisely recommends that before praying to one, it's best the traveler do research and form a personal relationship with them first.

From the list she provides: 

Goddesses:

Adeona (Roman) Goddess of journeys, protectress of travelers

Artemis (Greek): Ancient travelers turned to Artemis for granting good weather.  Honor or invoke her with acorns.

Fortuna Redux (Roman): This aspect of Fortuna watches over all travelers. Petition her for a happier, luckier trip.  Fortuan Redux can also be petitioned for predictions about what is to come on your travels. No matter what your mode of travel, you can ask for her blessings by carrying chamomile on your person, or putting an oak leaf in your shoe.

Hecate (Greek) Goddess of crossroads, protects travelers from evil on the road

Hina (Polynesian): Patroness of travelers.  Honor her with any 2 sided object (like a coin).

Lam Lha (Tibetan): Goddess of travelers

Luna (Roman): Protectress of charioteers, which could translate to modern day automobiles

Rhiannon (Celtic, aka Epona): Most known for being the goddess of horses, she is also a goddess of the sea. Petition her for safe travel on cruises or flights over water.

Yachimata-hime (Shinto) Goddess of innumerable roads

Gods:

Apollo (Greek): God of travel and drives the chariot of the sun

Ekchuah (Aztec) God of travel

Chimata-No-Kai (Shinto) God of crossroads

Chung-Kuei (Chinese) God of travel

Dosojin (Buddhist, Japanese): guardian deities associated with roads and travelers

Hasamelis (Mesopotamian) God of travelers - he would make travelers invisible as a form of protection

Janus (Roman) God of travel

Jizo (Buddhist, Japanese): Bodhisattva specializing in helping travelers

Kunado-No-Kami (Shinto): Guardian of roads

Mercury (Roman, aka Hermes): God of roads and travel, wore shoes with winged heels

Min (Egyptian): God of travelers

Neptune: God of sea travel, drives a dophin-drawn sea craft

Odin (Norse): God of travel who rides and 8 legged steed and is often described wearing a traveling coat, a hat and carrying a walking stick

St. Christopher (Catholic): Patron saint of travelers

(*though now, regarding St. Christopher, we know better!)

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