Bright Moon Omen – Serendipities

Wep Ronpet 2022, and the first Bright Moon of the New Year

This year, I started the Epagomenal days on August 4th, and Wep Ronpet on August 8th, drawing a tarot card for a blessing from each deity on the day of their birth for the Epagomenal days, and then two cards for an omen for the new year from all the Netjeri on the 8th. Here below are the omens I received, in order:

Message from Wesir

Message from Heru-Wer

Message from Set

Message from Aset

Message from Nebthet

Omen for the New Year

Message from Wesir: The Knave of Swords

This card depicts the Scribe of Ma’at: make sure your actions are on the side of righteousness in the coming year, that you are contributing to order and justice and not to their destruction.

Message from Heru-Wer: Six of Swords

This card depicts the Ship of the Dead, and Heru-Wer reminds us to be careful and prepared as we voyage into the new year, but not fearful. Preparations will help you overcome the obstacles you’ll find along the way, but the journey you are taking is necessary.

Message from Set: Two of Pentacles

This card depicts the Power of Djehuty (Thoth): the process that returns us to ma’at, to right order. You may be juggling things in the next year, but with careful attention you will be able to prioritize and manage everything well.

Message from Aset: Ace of Wands

This card depicts the Sceptre of Horus, representing new enterprises and undertakings, and creative, initiatory energies. In the new year, Aset will help us with the new beginnings we each seek.

Message from Nebthet: Queen of Chalices

This card depicts the Lady of Life, and represents her wisdom, generosity, and hospitality. Nebthet’s blessing for the coming year is intuitive wisdom, and compassionate guidance, so that we can care for ourselves and those around us.

Omen for the New Year:

The King of Wands depicts the Lord of Fertility, who leads with great vision. The Knave depicts Horus’s Messenger, who brings promise of successful new ventures. In the New Year, we will be given the blessings of the Netjeru for abundance in our lives, as we work to bring our plans to fruition.

A positive omen for a prosperous year!

The first full moon following Wep Ronpet is my renewal day, for my contract with Bast and Sekhmet. This year that contract renewal conversation was slightly delayed as I was out of town visiting family, but I went to go see them today, to ask about this coming year. In the years previous, it hasn’t really been a question that I’d continue to do monthly Bright Moon rituals, the negotiations mostly covered minutia and what else I was required to do, but this year going in I didn’t feel so sure.

And now, having returned to the waking world, I have to announce that I’ll no longer be doing the ritual every month.

I did it every month (or as close to that as possible, because of illness etc) for five years – this coming year, I’ll do the ritual only as needed, when they ask me to. I’ll still do my own shrine offerings every Bright Moon, and I’ll do heka for myself and others (up to 4 free for others a month, as before), but I won’t do the oracular ritual unless there is a need for it. I’m not sure yet what that will look like, but I expect it will become clear to me as I go.

Instead, they want me to focus more on the liturgy I’ve been developing for the holidays I celebrate, and really dedicating more time to that, to complete it, so that I can share it with others. I expect once that is complete, we may be parting ways altogether. It’s bittersweet, this first foreshadowing of the ending of our time working together, and I didn’t really expect it.

Thanks to everyone who’s supported me along the way; it’s been a pleasure to take this journey with you all.

Kemetic Bright Moon 7/13

This month when I came before my shrine, I was told to do this ritual before the other working I had planned. A message to my community, before I turn to more active heka. So I asked for an omen, and received the following:

Go, burning brightly, and do the work you are inspired to do, that has you alight with passion. You are fiery and powerful and incandescent in your rage, and this will fuel you and sustain your action. But also make time to take careful stock of your position and surroundings. Look for needs that demand prompt fulfillment, and make note of weaknesses that must be reinforced, in both yourself and your communities. Grounded planning with an eye towards longevity will be required to bring your goals into manifestation, but don’t let self-doubts and obstacles prevent you from taking action. Go.

That gives me both hope and something of a direction to help in my plans, and I hope it is helpful to some of you as well.

Also – it’s that time again, ya’ll! Wep Ronpet is coming up fast, and here are the dates I’m using for this year, based on the heliacal rising of Sirius over Washington, DC:

Epagomenal Days: Aug 4-8
Aug 4 – Birth of Wesir
Aug 5 – Birth of Heru-Wer
Aug 6 – Birth of Set
Aug 7 – Birth of Aset
Aug 8 – Birth of Nebthet

Wep Ronpet: Aug 9
Arrival of Sopdet
Feast of all the Netjeru

I’ll be doing my usual follow-along on Tumblr, with rebloggable digital votive offerings and prayers, and a tarot card omen from each Netjer on their birthday. And I’ll be doing a personal and a group execration as well, probably on the evening of the 3rd due to schedule restraints on the 8th, which is my normal timing. If you have anything you’d like me to execrate for you, please email that to me no later than the 1st!

The next full moon is Aug 11th, after Wep Ronpet. If you have any questions, or if you would like to request a personal message or heka working for April, please email the shrine here. And if you are interested in supporting the shrine, I have a tip jar set up here. Thanks! Apologies for missing last month – I unfortunately had a (blessedly very mild) case of Covid, after managing to avoid that for two full years.

Image in the thumbnail is a stock photo (provided through Squarespace) of the sky seen through the pillars of a ruin of an Ancient Egyptian temple.

Kemetic Bright Moon 5/16

Last month, I was told to rest, to heal. I’ve been struggling with my health some again, as I often do at the changing of the seasons. This month, I had grand plans for the ritual, using elements that I sometimes add but am not required to use… and as I tried to get ready, I realized I was too faint, too exhausted to manage what I had attempted to plan, so I changed my plans, the ritual but with some elements done from the Temple where I see Them when I meet Them in trance journeys… but when I got there, they embraced me, and I fell asleep instead. When I awoke, I struggled to sit up and reached out in anguish at my failing – and instead, I was told that reaching out to Them was enough. Grasping at Them was enough. Wanting and trying to connect, is enough. And that this, the story of my attempt and my failure, was the message I was to share. Many of us are struggling, right now. We may not have the bandwidth, the energy, the spoons, the spell slots (whatever metaphor you find most apt for your situation) for the workings and rituals we have planned. But – but! What we are doing, is enough. They hear us, They shelter us, They will guide us gently while we rest and heal. If we do not have the reserves to draw upon, we cannot illuminate; and that is okay. That means it is time to rest. And when we are ready for more Work to do, They will be ready for us.

The next full moon is June 14th. If you have any questions, or if you would like to request a personal message or heka working for April, please email the shrine here. And if you are interested in supporting the shrine, I have a tip jar set up here. Thanks!

Image in the thumbnail is a stock photo (provided through Squarespace) of the sky seen through the pillars of a ruin of an Ancient Egyptian temple.

Kemetic Bright Moon 3/18

Earlier this month, there was a holiday I had been planning to figure out hot to celebrate, a sort of revivalist holiday made of three separate historical holidays that I enmeshed: The Feast of the Eyes of Ra, The Festival of Chewing Onions for Bast, and the Festival of Chewing Cucumbers for Sekhmet. I ended up not getting a full formal ritual written out and shared ahead of time, but I did have a feast meal with my family – yes, including raw green onions and cucumbers in a not-very-Egyptian pasta salad, but everyone (Bast and Sekhmet included!) seemed to enjoy it. I also incorporated the dark chocolate bunny that at some point became a traditional spring offering – first at Sacred Space a number of years ago, but I think I’ll keep it as the centerpiece of the Feast for the Eyes of Ra. I’ll try to work up a more formal ritual to share with y’all ahead of time next year!

But here we are now, a few days past the full moon and the equinox (I don’t know about ya’ll but it has been BUSY in my house this past week), and I finally have a typed up omen for the Bright Moon to share:

The conflict that surrounds you is getting worse before it subsides, but you will make it through. Try not to let the violence you witness send you fleeing if it is not putting you in immediate danger. You still need to be present and engaged in your own life. Think about long-term and wide-ranging goals that you can contribute to from where you are, Movement and action will help alleviate the terror. Focusing on long term equitable structures will give you a proper direction. To begin, just GO. Your feet will find a path. Your hands will find work to do. Your eyes will find others to follow. Move with purpose.

The next full moon is April 16th. If you have any questions, or if you would like to request a personal message or heka working for April, please email the shrine here. And if you are interested in supporting the shrine, I have a tip jar set up here. Thanks!

Image in the thumbnail is of my shrine, with a gold-wrapped chocolate bunny on the offering dish in front of the statues of Bast and Sekhmet.

Kemetic Bright Moon 2/16

This full moon, as I have done on most full moons since I began my service to Bast and Sekhmet, I performed my usual ritual, and asked them for an omen to convey to my community. Here is what I received:

You are fighting internal battles, and find yourself in crisis. You may wonder who is to blame, but you should instead spend your energy figuring out hot to get out of the situation you are in. Be sure of your footing as you move forward, because you will need careful self control to change your circumstances. Do not be discouraged, however: defeat is far from assured! You are closer to where you wish to be than it may seem, and you will make your way there if you continue carefully forward. Your goals are within your skillset to achieve; all they require is continuing effort.

The next full moon is March 18th. If you have any questions, or if you would like to request a personal message or heka for November, please email the shrine here. And if you are interested in supporting the shrine, I have a tip jar set up here. Thanks!

Image in the thumbnail is a stock photo (provided through Squarespace) of the sky seen through the pillars of a ruin of an Ancient Egyptian temple.

Kemetic Bright Moon 1/17

This full moon when I went to go see Bast and Sekhmet, following the holiday earlier this month, They each wished to share a blessing, something They can help us with as we move forward.

Bast offered help with mundane concerns: finances, physical strength, finding balance and plenty in our material lives. Ask Her for help if you are searching for a new job, or a new place to live.

Sekhmet offered aid with our long term goals: strengthening our perseverance and determination, and lending us her intractability as we strive forward.

Beyond those, They also gave me message about what we should be focusing on this moon cycle: the cycles are changing, one into another, and this transition (a long time planted) is now nearing the end of its harvest time. We reap what we have sown, both individually and as a collective, and when we begin to plant new seeds we must be very careful that we are planting only that which we wish to reap, and that we are weeding out unwanted seedlings before they grow tall. This month is often used as time for a new start in our secular society, but it is difficult to change patterns of behaviour without understanding them first, so take the time to reflect on the past before you scatter new grains.

The next full moon is February 16th. If you have any questions, or if you would like to request a personal message or heka for February, please email the shrine here. And if you are interested in supporting the shrine, I have a tip jar set up here. Thanks!

An Omen for the Bright Moon Eclipse

This month I waited until after the eclipse energy had waned to do my usual Bright Moon ritual, and I wondered if I might be allowed to skip this one because of the strange occurrence… but the answer was a resounding NO! (Oops, sorry I asked!) So here is this moon’s message from Bast and Sekhmet.

You have come through a recent trial, and like the moon in eclipse, your power seemed uncertain. But you, like the moon, prevailed, and victory is both nearer and surer than you think. We are coming soon to the time of the waning light, the longest night, and even then the mighty power of the sun cannot be ignored. Honor us as we go, and praise us as we return, we Wandering Eye Goddesses.

Those who were following along last year will remember that I was given instructions about how to celebrate The Eye Wanders/She Is Led Back festivals, and I was given timing that corresponded to the full moons closest to the solstice on either side. I asked last year what to do if the solstice was very close to the full moon, and I got told to worry about that when it happened. Well, this year the longest night is December 20-21, and the full moon is just before midnight on the 18th, which is then pretty much within the usual allowance I’m given for schedule difficulties. So this year I’ve been given a new timeline: the Leave-taking is to begin on the first quarter moon (December 10th), lasting the usual 3 days, with the last day (December 12) being the day they “disappear” from my altar. And then the return is to happen beginning on the morning after the longest night (so, starting the morning of December 21st), and lasting for the usual 5 days.

I’ll post my prayers and more information about that shortly before it begins, so check back!

The next full moon ritual, on account of the holiday outlined above, will be January 17th. If you have any questions, or if you would like to request a personal message or heka for January, please email the shrine here. And if you are interested in supporting the shrine, I have a tip jar set up here. Thanks!

Image for this post is of my home shrine, featuring two 6-inch statues of Bast and Sekhmet in gold and bronze patina painted over modeling clay. They stand on a box painted red and black with red origami flowers at their feet, surrounded by other implements: offering dishes, a burning candle, unlit pillar candles, ritual jewelry, an incense burner, an unlit oil lamp, and a small found-object sistrum.

Kemetic Bright Moon 10/20

Many of you have had a difficult start to the season. But time flows on; do not dwell too much on the past. Look to the future when you will burn more brightly: firm and resolute in your bearing, sure of your path, and of what work you do.

Sekhmet and Bast then each spoke separately.

Sekhmet said:

I will lend you my strength and fierceness!

Bast said:

I will lend you my charm and my guile!

They then continued together, in unison, as is their usual manner when I ask for the omen:

Even when you flicker with doubts, you are a pillar of light for your community. Even when unsteady, a candle flame lights the way through the darkness.

The next full moon is November 19th. If you have any questions, or if you would like to request a personal message or heka for November, please email the shrine here. And if you are interested in supporting the shrine, I have a tip jar set up here. Thanks!

Image in the thumbnail is a stock photo (provided through Squarespace) of the sky seen through the pillars of a ruin of an Ancient Egyptian temple.

Kemetic Bright Moon 9/20

This time, when I did my Bright Moon ritual, I was also granted a vision of a temple, within which I performed my ceremony as I also performed it here. There was a chair for me, in front of two huge statues of Bast and Sekhmet, seated on thrones, and perhaps twenty feet high. I do not know if it was a temple that used to exist, or an astral one, or just a very vivid image, but in any case it was awe-inspiring. This is the message they told me to share.

If you have been struggling, take a moment to commune with Bast and Sekhmet. Let them ground you; rest against them for a while. If you have been attempting to create lasting change and have recently finally begun to see progress, do not be disheartened that it is not as much change as you had hoped for. It is coming still, you must keep working to see the full results of your labors. If you have been resisting change, stop resisting – it will bring you positive benefits. Follow the wind, and seek your fortune. Discernment will be important, however, to tell the worthwhile risks from those that will end poorly. Sharpen your intuition, and cut away the illusions. In this time of transitions, some upheaval will be required to purge the pollution from the soil so that you may sow new crops. Release what is holding you back, build something that will help you move forward.

The next full moon is October 20th. If you have any questions, or if you would like to request a personal message or heka for October, please email the shrine here. And if you are interested in supporting the shrine, I have a tip jar set up here. Thanks!