Kemetic – Serendipities

Kemetic Sailing Holiday

This is the last of the big liturgies that I am writing for Bast and Sekhmet as I wrap up my work for them, my oaths fulfilled. I’ve said before that I’m being released from their service, and while I will probably still post on tumblr for Wep Ronpet and reblog the occasional post, I expect this to be the last Kemetic blog post here.

I’ve done the sailing holiday a couple of different ways in the past, but after really digging into The Ancient Egyptian Daybook, a volume of research by Tamara L. Suida (of Kemetic Orthodoxy/House of Netjer) which includes information from a ton of ancient sources all gathered into one place, I decided to use a set of festivals with spring timing, and sort of condense them into four nights/four days (which ends up being five calendar days) in the early spring. Or, in the Kemetic calendar, IV month of Peret, days 1-5. Since the Kemetic calendar starts with the heliacal rise of Sirius heralding the new year, IV Peret generally starts the first week of March around here. On IV Peret 1 (March 7th) I celebrated the Feast of Ra and the Presentation of the Boat, and I wrote a prayer for the occasion:

FEAST-PRAYER TO RA FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE BOAT

Ra, Lord of the Sun!
Guardian of the Heavens, Ruler of the Netjeru!
Ra, Lord of the Horizon!
We call upon you,
Mighty in your glory as the sun sets!
Magnificent in your splendor as the sky fills with fire!
Each evening you descend to do battle with the forces of isfet,
And each morning you rise again, triumphant!

Ra, your powerful Daughters,
Bast and Sekhmet: your Avenging Eyes,
They join you in the barque this night,
They join you sailing into the Duat.
We have prepared this boat for your going,
We have prepared this food and drink
For a feast before you embark.
We will revel as the sun sets!

Great Ra, you will triumph during the night,
And in the morning we will search for your boat on the horizon,
As you and your Eye-Daughters sail in your boat to other places
As you three are honored and feasted again and again!

Most Glorious Ra, in three days’ time
When you return on the boat with your Eye-Daughters
When you come back to this Temple with Bast and Sekhmet
We will welcome you back with more feasting and revels!

The “boat” I presented was a red origami boat, a votive offering, though the bread for the feast I baked from scratch! I offered that with a cup of red wine for the Feast of the Presentation of the Boat, and my family then ate the bread with dinner to revert the offering and receive the blessings.

*My shrine, with a bread loaf that was tasty and gluten free but not very pretty, a cup of red wine, the statues of Bast and Sekhmet, and the Red Paper Boat.*

After the feast, I covered my statues, to represent the goddesses leaving on the boat. For the next four mornings, I moved the boat to a new location in my shrine room, moving sunwise as it left the shrine and then on the last day, came closer. I’m posting this today in the morning, but tonight I’ll move the boat all the way back to the shrine, and remove the covering from my statues, to represent their return.

As I’ve also incorporated the historical holidays “Chewing Onions for Bast” and “Chewing Cucumbers for Sekhmet” into the return feast, tonight with dinner I’ll be making a cucumber salad with onions, goat cheese, fresh herbs, and a homemade vinaigrette dressing, and I’ll offer that along with more wine and the following prayer I wrote:

PRAYER FOR THE RETURN FEAST OF CUCUMBERS AND ONIONS

Eyes of Ra, Daughters of the Sun!
Great Ladies of the East and West!
We welcome you home to your temple,
Triumphantly returning as the sun sets!

For four nights you have travelled on the solar barque
You have sailed with Ra into the Duat
At his side, as his Avengers and Protectors
You have fought isfet and you have been victorious!

For four days you have sailed to other lands
To be welcomed and feasted by others
And now you return to your temple
And we will feast and revel this night!

We have prepared food and drink for you;
We feast to celebrate your returning
Vegetables and cheese, herbs and vinegar,
We have made a special meal for this occasion.

Bast, we chew onions for you!
Sekhmet we chew cucumbers for you!

Please feel free to use these prayers in your own practice! I just ask that you give me credit if you’re using them for a group ritual, and please don’t reproduce them elsewhere without a link. If you want to show your appreciation by tipping me, you can always Buy Me a Coffee!

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 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!

Kemetic Holiday: The Eyes Return

I performed the first part of this holiday just before the Solstice, and if you didn’t see the other post you may want to look at it now. This is the second part of the holiday, which was timed to the new crescent after the solstice (which would have been January 3rd or so, but once again weather and health and life things I couldn’t avoid it reschedule have pushed this blog back a little: my apologies.

As I said before, this two-part holiday references a myth where the Eye of Ra (often Sekhmet, but potentially any of the Goddesses known as Eyes), in feline or leonine form, leaves Him to go wander in the desert, and eventually Ra sends another Deity (often Djehuty) to persuade Her to return to Him, and She is then joyfully welcomed back. Although there is some debate amongst scholars, in my personal practice this cycle is linked to the winter solstice, and it includes both Bast and Sekhmet leaving at the same time.

Image description: The welcoming back feast at my shrine! Read more below.

In the image of the shrine above, there is cool filtered water in Their red cup which I will drink after I post this, a lit red votive candle and the two still foil-wrapped chocolates on Their red platter (which I will offered when they left), plus one additional chocolate for the return, the two statues on Their red and black box, the unlit oil lamp (since I’ll be using the votive tonight and the feast nights after they get back), the red origami boat, and assorted other shrine decorations. For those who are unaware, it is common practice in modern Kemetic Polytheism to “revert”, or consume (usually food and drink) after it has been offered to the Netjeru, in order to receive Their blessings!

Exultation for the Return of The Eye Goddesses

The sun is dawning over the horizon.

And the longest night has already passed.

I look to the horizon for the return of the Eye Goddesses

And as the sun blazes, they are visible!

The Eye Goddess are visible on the horizon!

They have returned from the desert!

They have been led back to their shrines.

I throw flowers at the feet of the returning Eye Goddesses,

I present bread to the thrones of the seated Eye Goddesses,

I pour wine in the cups of the Eye Goddesses,

I give them the best parts of my meal.

I weep with joy, for I am no longer bereft!

I weep with joy, for they have returned to me!

The shrine is no longer empty: it is filled with delights.

The shrine is no longer empty: my Goddesses have returned!

I am reunited with my Goddesses, and my heart overflows with joy!

The above is an original prayer I wrote in 2020, to use for this holiday cycle of The Eye Wanders/She Is Led Back. Since my shrine is to two Eyes, it’s plural. Feel free to use this in your own rituals and celebrations (with proper attribution), and use the singular if that makes more sense for you. Please do not use this for any commercial purpose, however. And if you appreciate my work, consider supporting the shrine with a donation.

Kemetic Holiday: The Eyes Wander

I was originally supposed to begin this holiday on the first quarter moon, December 12th, but life obstacles and my health made that untenable, and so here I am, beginning the holiday just barely before the solstice instead, with a send-off feast, and the Lamentation prayer. This two-part holiday references a myth where the Eye of Ra (often Sekhmet, but potentially any of the Goddesses known as Eyes), in feline or leonine form, leaves Him to go wander in the desert, and eventually Ra sends another Deity (often Djehuty) to persuade Her to return to Him, and She is then joyfully welcomed back. Although there is some debate amongst scholars, in my personal practice this cycle is linked to the winter solstice, and it includes both Bast and Sekhmet leaving at the same time.

Image description: The send-off feast at my shrine! Read more below.

In the image of the shrine above, there is eggnog in Their red cup which I will drink after I post this, a lit red votive candle and two still-wrapped chocolates on Their red platter (which I will eat after They come back), the two statues on Their red and black box, the unlit oil lamp (since I’ll be using the votive tonight and the feast nights after they get back), the red origami boat, and assorted other shrine decorations. For those who are unaware, it is common practice in modern Kemetic Polytheism to “revert”, or consume (usually food and drink) after it has been offered to the Netjeru, in order to receive Their blessings!

Image description: The same shrine, now with a white cloth covering the statues, the cup removed, and the votive candle doused.

Lamentation for the Wandering of The Eye Goddesses

The sun has set below the horizon,

And the night will be long.

The Eye Goddesses, too, are beyond the horizon;

They have left for the desert.

Where in the desert they wander,

I do not know.

Where in the desert they wander,

None can tell me.

I weep and weep at the shrine,

For the shrine is empty.

I weep at the shrine,

Because I am bereft.

When will the Eye Goddesses return

From the desert?

When will my Goddesses

Come over the horizon?

Who will go and find them?

Who will persuade them to return?

While they are gone, I weep,

For the shrine sits empty.

While they are gone, I weep,

For I am bereft.

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

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:

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!

Wep Ronpet: the Kemetic New Year

I usually do a follow-along cycle on the tumblr e-shrine, but I thought this year I might aggregate all my prayers and images into one large recap post. I meant to do it earlier this month, but it kind of got away from me, and then I was at a funeral last weekend, so I skipped this past Bright Moon, and I’m finally posting this, instead.

Birth of Wesir

(Osiris)

Blessing from Wesir

Birth of Heru-Wer

(Horus the Elder)

Blessing from Heru-Wer

Birth of Set

Blessing from Set

Birth of Aset

(Isis)

Blessing from Aset

Birth of Nebthet

(Nephthys)

Blessing from Nebthet

Rising of Sopdet

(The Star Sirius)

Omen for the New Year

For each of the five Epagomenal Days, the intercalary period of the Ancient Egyptian calendar, I queued an image that served as a votive offering, and captioned it with an original prayer. I have also written an original prayer to Sopdet, a prayer for a Wep Ronpet execration rite, and a prayer to all the Netjeru for the Wep Ronpet celebration.

The morning prayers all follow the same format, and I’ve copied them below. I’ve also added this year’s blessing omens, which were drawn from the tarot cards included in the slideshow to the left.

Feel free to use these prayers in your own practice, or use them for inspiration to write your own. Please refrain from using them commercially, however, and contact me to ask before using them in a group ritual. I’ll probably give permission if you’re willing to credit me!

Morning Prayer to Wesir (Osiris):

DUA WESIR!
First born of Nut and Geb, we celebrate your birth today.
We give you offerings of bread, beer, cool water, sweet scented oils, and praise!
Eldest-Born, we salute you!
Brilliant One, we rejoice in you!
Lord of Eternity, we honor you!
You Whose Places are Mysterious, we extol you!
Wesir, Bless us.

Blessing from Wesir:

He offers guidance in the ways of emotional balance and maturity, and he offers his superlative assistance, that our harvests may be abundant.

Morning Prayer to Heru-Wer (Horus the Elder):

DUA HERU-WER!
Second born of Nut and Geb, we celebrate your birth today.
We give you offerings of bread, beer, cool water, sweet scented oils, and praise!
Great One of Speckled Plumage, we salute you!
Wings of Protection, we rejoice in you!
Lord of Terror, we honor you!
Mighty Falcon, we extol you!
Heru-Wer, Bless us.

Blessing from Heru-Wer:

He offers his help in all our struggles, that we may find respite from them.

Morning Prayer to Set:

DUA SET!
Third born of Nut and Geb, we celebrate your birth today.
We give you offerings of bread, beer, cool water, sweet scented oils, and praise!
Overthrower of A/p/e/p, we salute you!
Red Haired One, we rejoice in you!
Lord of the Storm, we honor you!
You Who Are in the Heart of the Northern Sky, we extol you!
Set, Bless us.

Blessing from Set:

He blesses us with the ability to turn chaos and competition into a powerful force for positive change.

Morning Prayer to Aset (Isis):

DUA ASET!
Fourth born of Nut and Geb, we celebrate your birth today.
We give you offerings of bread, beer, cool water, sweet scented oils, and praise!
Giver of Life, we salute you!
Great Lady of Magic, we rejoice in you!
Mistress of the Stars, we honor you!
Fiercely Bright One, we extol you!
Aset, Bless us.

Blessing from Aset:

She offers a portion of divine inspiration, and her guidance along the path of wisdom and magic, for those who seek understanding of the sacred mysteries.

Morning Prayer to Nebthet (Nephthys):

DUA NEBTHET!
Fifth born of Nut and Geb, we celebrate your birth today.
We give you offerings of bread, beer, cool water, sweet scented oils, and praise!
Lady of Dawn and Dusk, we salute you!
Mistress of Renewal, we rejoice in you!
Averter of Evil, we honor you!
Friend of the Dead, we extol you!
Nebthet, Bless us.

Blessing from Nebthet:

She offers advice encouraging us to be strategic in how we engage with our obstacles, and she offers to help make luck be on our side.

Execration Inscription:

(to be inscribed on something red along with a drawing of A/p/e/p and ritually destroyed)
Obstructing, Obnoxious, Objectionable, Obfuscating, Obscuring, Obscene, Obtrusive, Obligating, Obstinate OBSTACLES!

Prayer for the Heliacal Rising of Sopdet (The Star Sirius):

DUA SOPDET!
Today you rise before the sun, ushering in the new year!
We give you offerings of bread, beer, cool water, sweet scented oils, and praise!
Harbinger of the Nile Flood, we salute you!
Bringer of the New Year, we rejoice in you!

Wep Ronpet Prayer to All the Netjeru:

Great Ones, we salute you!
Bright Shining Ones, we rejoice in you!
Mightiest Ones, we honor you!
Most Powerful Ones, we extol you!

Lords and Ladies of the Heavens,
Netjeru of all Places and Delights,
Today is your feast day,
Today we give you praise,
for a new year is dawning!

You who protect us from isfet,
You who perpetuate ma’at,
We offer you the best of our feast,
And we revel in your names!
As we share our gifts,
We ask you to gift us your blessings!

Omen for the New Year:

Things may seem obscured and uncertain now, but they are coming to a resolution faster than it appears. All cycles end; all things change in their time. Turn your attention to new opportunities. The natural order of ma’at will return.

Kemetic Bright Moon 7/23

This is the last full moon before the festival of Wep Ronpet, the Kemetic new year, timed locally by the heliacal rising of the star Sirius over Washington, DC. So the message this time was somewhat about that.

As you prepare for the return of Sopdet, the star that heralds the flooding of the Nile, as you prepare for your celebration of Wep Ronpet, you also must examine your inner tides. Are you aware of the flow of your own emotions, or have you distanced yourself from them? If there is too much distance, you will lose the ability to feel joy as well, and will not be able to truly give yourself over to the New Year’s celebrations. So be brave for the moment, and let yourself feel deeply: the good and the bad.

So – Wep Ronpet! By my calculations for DC (and thus for the local area, or potentially for anyone living in the USA who wants to use the capital city’s date), Sopdet, the star Sirius, will be visible before sunrise on August 9th this year. Working backwards, that gives us the following timeline for the Epagomenal Days:

Timeline:
- Aug 4th: Birth of Wesir (Osiris)
- Aug 5th: Birth of Heru-Wer (Horus the Elder)
- Aug 6th: Birth of Set
- Aug 7th: Birth of Aset (Isis)
- Aug 8th: Birth of Nebthet (Nephthys)
- Aug 9th: Wep Ronpet!

I’ll be reblogging my usual votive images and prayers on the Tumblr E-Shrine, so you can follow along there. And I’ll be doing my yearly execration in the evening on August 8th, the night before Wep Ronpet, so if you have anything you’d like to request me to ritually destroy for you, let me know in an email please and I’ll add it to mine. I’ll probably write up a blog about the execration and my Wep Ronpet celebration, but if I manage to launch my new website and blog it will be on that one (though I’ll be sure to leave a link on this one so you can find it! I have a new prayer I’ll be sharing, too.

The next full moon is August 22nd. If you have any questions, or if you would like to request a personal message or heka for August, please email the shrine here. And if you are interested in supporting the shrine, I have a tip jar set up here. Thanks!

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