  About From 1994-1999, the daily devotions had been available exclusively to followers of the House of Netjer. We share them now with the general public so that all may learn from these enlightening and thought-provoking missives. See Also |
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Tepy-Semdet (Full Moon Festival)
Do not concern yourself with vengeance; do what is in front of you. (Column 3, line 20) Our pithy proverbs don't necessarily require additional discussion most days, do they? This one, again, is fairly straightforward. One has enough to do in one's life than to hold on to past slights, perceived or real, and to worry about "getting even." Far better is worrying about "getting ahead" -- taking care of work that is important and valuable, than wasting time over past concerns. May Wesir, Who is in the full moon today, lend you His patience. He Who died at the hands of His brother harbors no vengeance. Why should you? Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Late Egyptian Wisdom 3 In a wise man's hand, rewards and punishments are measured. (Column 3, line 19) Anyone with any experience in a position of authority, whether it be parenting, teaching, or some other situation, knows that you can't act in one way all the time. While you can't be nice all the time, you can't be mean all the time, either -- life appears in the balance between successful and unsuccessful, reward and punishment, calm and anxious. Remember when you are acting as a leader, that the action you seek is the appropriate one, not necessarily the one that makes the most people happy or the one that punishes the most wrongdoing. What is proper in one situation may not be in another. Chastising too much fosters resentment; not questioning wrongdoing leads to laziness. Consistent, appropriate leadership puts both the carrot and the stick in the same hand. May Netjer teach you how (and when) to use both. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Late Egyptian Wisdom 2 Don't forget the man who works efficiently, or the one strong in his work. (Column 3, line 18) Work is an important part of many lives, particularly in the Western world where often work is equated with one's identity (where people "are what they do"). Therefore, a teaching about work would be very welcome to us, and this one talks about two virtues: efficiency and dedication. Be efficient: do what is necessary when it is necessary, as quickly and without interruption as possible. Be strong in your work: do things that mean something to you, and do them to the best of your ability. May Heru-wer and Set, lords of strength and efficiency, bring you the stamina, drive and courage to do the work that is given you to do in this life. I pray for Their blessing on all your work. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Late Egyptian Wisdom 1
Do not let yourself be named: This excerpt from a larger instruction, namedThe teaching measured in everything, in order to do nothing but that which is right, gives many examples of names one could be called directly due to his or her own inappropriate actions. In addition to also giving the advice not to speak rudely nor to be angry with someone who corrects you because (s)he chose to do so in public, the instruction talks about making sure that your speech is in keeping with the thoughts of your mind, so that you will be understood as you wish to be understood, and not be called "bad," "rude," or worse. May Djehuty, Who as the Divine Tongue of Ptah gave creation life, grant you the ability to speak clearly, concisely and appropriately, so that your wisdom always shines through. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Saq-Heru While I was preparing pieces of Ankhsheshonq for this devotion I realized that there is a larger, and far more complete, collection of wisdom from about the same time period. Called The Demotic Instruction of Papyrus Insinger by modern scholars, it repeats many things that Ankhsheshonq has already told us, and adds even more proverbs and food for thought. I intend to now go forward with a new teaching in this devotion. Called "Late Egyptian Wisdom," it will offer a selection from this instruction, and an opportunity for us to learn and reflect together. I encourage you to return to read these instructions, as well as to strike up conversations about them on our public boards. Dua Heru! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Birthday of Nut Teachings from the Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 30 Learn what the sky is made of. (Column 25, line 12) Today Nut, the goddess Who Became Sky, is born. Rejoice! The sky holds the stars, visible symbols of the Akhu, the blessed dead, your ancestors. The sky holds the boat of Millions of Years, Ra's abode, the bright sun. The sky holds the Eyes of Heru, and the Hare of Wesir upon the moon. The sky holds you, too - as you float within Nut, upon this spinning sphere we call home. May you come to see the sky, day or night, and may you be at peace. Heru em meses nefer enetj, Nut. Happy Birthday. May we live to praise you another year. Dua Nut! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Teachings from the Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 29 Do not tire of petitioning Netjer; He has His hour for hearing those who write. (Column 28, line 10) The further we go with these little bits of wisdom, the less I think I need to elaborate on them! Netjer is always there, always listening, as close as a whispered or spoken or even written prayer. Never tire of praying for what you need; Netjer is there to answer you, in all the gods and goddesses, in all Its plurality and singularity. You are never alone. I pray to all gods and goddesses that you are always aware that blessing is only a word or two away. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! The Day of Making Health and Long Life Teachings from the Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 28 Give your word with your possessions, and you will make two gifts. (Column 19, line 21) On this special day when we give special offering as well as prayers toward the blessings of life and health, we also take time to rearrange our lives, to think about how we can do things better, in a way that honors Ma'at, our ancestors, Netjer and our people. Take care of yourself today, praise Netjer for your existence, and renew these blessings. For as Ankhsheshonq reminds us, there are many forms of gifts, and the heka in your speech can have the same worth as a prized possession. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Saq-Djehuty "with His spirits" Teachings from the Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 27 A cure is effective only through the hand of its doctor. (Column 19, line 24) Like yesterday's commentary on not scorning valuable sources, today's teaching reminds us that the source of wisdom is as important as the contents of that wisdom. Just as one would not scorn a doctor, nor claim whatever cure he prescribes from his years of training and experience to be one's own work, wisdom, while free to all, does owe a debt to the wise man who dispenses it. A good doctor does not give a cure he has not researched or does not understand. If a patient doesn't understand a cure, there's always someone for him to go to for advice and help; just as the student who seeks to become wise finds a teacher he can always go to and learn from, in matters of any size. A good teacher, then, acts as a doctor dispensing a valuable cure -- for ignorance. May Djehuty, wisest of gods, grant you healing wisdom, and may you always remember where your cure came from. Dua Djehuty! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Saq-Wesir, Pesdjentiu (New Moon) Festival Teachings from the Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 26 Don't drink water from a well and then throw the pitcher down it. (Column 23, line 23) Analogous to the modern phrase "don't burn your bridges once you've crossed them," this proverb reminds us that what we've used once, in this case the water from a well, may be useful to us again in the future -- so it's not the best idea to cut off our ability to drink again if necessary. Like water from the well, blessings come into our lives to refresh and prepare us for the next challenge. Do not scorn the well of blessings by throwing the pitcher back in -- leave it for the next person, who just might be yourself. I pray today to Wesir that all your blessings come unhindered, and that the pitcher to Netjer's well is always available to you. Dua Wesir! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Teachings from the Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 25 As long as my brother doesn't refrain from stealing, I will not refrain from stopping him. (Column 12, line 15) Ankhsheshonq's told us before about restraint, but here he seems to be talking about at least one thing where restraining isn't necessary. Rather than a full "turn the other cheek" mentality we seem to be dealing with a pragmatic middle course, where one tries as much as possible not to infringe on others' freedoms, but understands that in some cases, this may be the exact thing necessary. Tolerance doesn't extend to letting people harm others, here in this case with the idea of theft, and in other of Anksheshonq's teachings with the ideas of retaliation and violence. Keep wary of Ma'at in all of your actions, and you'll always make the right choice for the right situation. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Teachings from the Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 24 Do not fight over something in which you are wrong. (Column 9, line 10) Yet more simple, common sense advice. Ankhsheshonq’s line reminds us that argumentation (and anger, as we learned a few days ago) are tricky to manage, and that appropriate action demands we use them only when warranted. Just as one should not be angry more than required, starting a fight or an argument over something is complicated business, particularly if you aren’t certain that you are correct in doing so – or even worse, when you know you aren’t correct but fight anyway. I pray that Djehuty grant you wisdom to know when to open your mouth and when to keep it closed; and may Sekhmet of appropriate actions and Set the ultimate strategist help you to choose your battles in accordance with Ma’at. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! The Eye of Ra Calls the Shemsu Teachings from the Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 23 Mothers make children; journeys make companions. (Column 13, lines 8) Families continue themselves through the mother. Groups of friends, or companions, who are not necessarily related by the mysteries of blood, are continued through the journeys they travel together. New friends will come and go, but the core group of journeyers will continue together, growing and learning and adding new faces, as they continue on their way. Such a group of companions is the Shemsuhood of Kemetic Orthodoxy. Through something as deceptively simple (yet difficult and important) as vows to serve Netjer, each other, Kemet and through their nation the world, these companions have chosen a road that leads to Ma’at, a road that will bring them more friends and more work as they ascend. I am filled with pride and love for the Shemsu of our faith, as a mother is to her children, and as a friend is with her friends. On this day when the Eye of Ra, Mistress of Appropriateness, Carrier of Her Father’s Judgment, calls Shemsu to accounting, I pray that each of our Shemsu will be found successful, happy and blessed. I pray that Her calling stirs you to greatness as it has done in the past, and will continue to do in the future. Dua Iryt-Ra! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
Jubilation of Wesir Teachings from the Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 22 A small man with great anger makes a great stench. A great man with a small anger gains great praise. (Column 7, lines 19-20) Anger is a tricky emotion. While there are certainly times that anger is an appropriate action (or reaction), making sure that the level of anger matches the level of anger one should have at any given situation is not always easy to decide. Ankhsheshonq suggests to us that in matters of anger, lesser is better, particularly if you are a “great man” and your anger and opinions inform those of others. May Wesir, Whose calm maintains the land of the blessed dead; and Yinepu, Opener of the Ways, help each of you to understand anger and how to control it. I look forward to our Dua where we shall ask for Yinepu's presence this evening; perhaps He'll give us instruction, too! Dua Wesir! Dua Yinepu! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Nighttime Saq of Nit and Feast of Heru Teachings from the Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 21
Don’t hide and then allow yourself to be found. (Column 7, line 8) Today, we receive advice about consistency. Ankhsheshonq in these lines and others reminds us that no one will take you seriously if you do not mean what you say, do what you propose to do, or go back on your decisions. Appropriateness means acting while taking responsibility for those actions – from the moment you decide to do them, to carrying them out, to the results afterward even if they aren’t what you were hoping for. The current Kemetic Orthodox year is under the protection of the goddess and god we celebrate today. In Their names I pray that you are able to be consistent and to do what you say you will do, believe in what you say you believe in, and accomplish what you set out to accomplish. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Teachings from the Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 20 Don’t instruct a fool, lest he hate you. Don’t instruct a person who doesn’t listen. (Column 7, lines 4-5) Teaching is important and useful; however, no one resents teaching more than the person who hasn’t asked for it, or the fool who is convinced he knows everything already. As stated in Column 8, line 3, “Don’t say ‘I am wise’; set yourself to become wise.” Learning is not a destination, but a journey. Your journey into learning should not end until the day you die – and then, most likely, it will simply resume in a different location. May you always seek learning, and accept the teachings of others as advice along that journey. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Teachings from the Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 19 Don't send a wise man for a small job when a big job is waiting; don't send a fool in a big job if you have a wise man to send. (Column 6, lines 13-14) Ankhsheshonq instructs us today about appropriate action: finding the "right man for the job," as it were. Wisdom is to be employed where most needed, in "big jobs," and also as a priority before smaller matters. Choosing the right person to take care of something is as important as the order in which matters are addressed: bigger first, smaller later. I pray to Sekhmet, She Who teaches appropriate actions, that both your priorities and your wisdom abound, and that all of your matters are taken care of in the right order and by the right representatives. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Teachings from the Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 18
Don't do evil to someone and so cause someone else to do evil to you. (Column 12, line 6) Three variations on something often referred to as "The Golden Rule," and accredited first to either the Bible or the Greeks. I suppose the Greeks (or the churches, perhaps?) never read Ankhsheshonq! The Kemetic universe is a reciprocal, symmetrical place. Ma'at ensures balance, and the flow of things from one to another. What goes around, comes around, as the modern phrase says, and these ancient ones are speaking the same truth. May you always put good into the world, that good return to you. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
Feast of the Two Lands (Tawy Festival) Teachings from the Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 17 May I get to know my brother, so I can open my heart toward him. (Column 11, line 4) With this ancient phrase I welcome the newest Kemetic Orthodox, freshly "graduated" from their beginner's class. May each of you get to know each other, and your new brothers and sisters all over the world, so that with open hearts you may each bless each other and thus gain the blessing of the gods and goddesses, our Netjer Whom we adore. It's very exciting to me to have all these new faces in the family, especially as we celebrate the feast of the Two Lands! Our lands are indeed prospering. Join us in celebration! Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
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