Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
May your coming be peaceful.

God(s) of the Month: Amun-Ra and Nisut Amunhotep I, ma'a-kheru
Current Decan: 21: Zatit-Zaret, "the Ewe's Twin"

Today's Festival(s):
Pesdjentiu (New Moon Festival)
Feast of Heru-Behdety, Day 3
Lunar Festival of Sokar

Say heru em meses nefer (Happy birthday!) to: Remetj Jason L. of Virginia (Saturday); W'abet Sekhmetresut of Illinois and W'ab Senamun of the Netherlands and Argentina (Sunday); and Shemsu Ankhiem'adjehuty of Arizona and Remetj Jack S. of Wisconsin (today)

"Cairo Calendar" Entry:
"Do not do anything today because of the great cry which the gods of the sacred places made, having come today."

Sokar and Heru-Behdety, the falcons of sun and moon, make a great cry today and heavens and earth are shaken by their mighty power.

Light and darkness are unified in the glory of Their brilliant appearances, storming across the sky in wonder and shining terror, smiting all the enemies of Ma'at in Their path.

As the moon reappears tonight after being hidden in shadow, we remember the first cosmic victory, the moment of Zep Tepi, and we are blessed.

May the Two Falcons rise shrieking your victory call today and every day.

Dua Sokar! Dua Heru-Behdety! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
"I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear."
Rosa Parks

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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
May your coming be peaceful.

God(s) of the Month: Amun-Ra and Nisut Amunhotep I, ma'a-kheru
Current Decan: 21: Zatit-Zaret, "the Ewe's Twin"

Today's Festival(s):
Birth of Apep

Say heru em meses nefer (Happy birthday!) to: Kai-Imakhu Niankhsekhmet of Iowa, Shemsut Taneferwesir of Georgia and Remetj Scott W. of Arkansas (Tuesday); Shemsu Setepenaset of Florida (Wednesday); and Shemsut Hethertweret of Illinois (today)

"Cairo Calendar" Entry:
"Birth of the mysterious one by his limbs. Do not think of pronouncing the name of the snakes. It is the day of catching his children, born to him in Dep."

Today is the day when we are reminded that there is evil in the world.

There is strife, pain and illness. There is sadness, war, unkindness and misery. All the things that we do not wish to have, all the things we would consider bad or evil, these things exist in the world and there is nothing we can do to stop their existence.

Or is there?

Just as the Nameless One exists, so does Ma'at, She of truth and wholeness, kindness, order, health, prosperity, love and joy. Ma'at has a special power which the Uncreated does not. She can Become greater than Herself, if only the beings of creation become Her agents and spread Her through the world. As each person does Ma'at, becomes Ma'at in and for the world, an amazing thing happens.

There is less illness, less death, less sadness and less evil. Peace replaces war. Love replaces hatred. As things come into their proper balance, creation asserts itself over the Uncreated, and the universe rejoices with us.

Today is a day not to commemorate evil, but to remind ourselves that it is not a figment of our imagination and that we must rededicate ourselves each day to perpetuating Ma'at in the world, to making this a better place for all. Make good choices today. Give Ma'at to the world that it may give Ma'at back to you and to all beings.

Dua Ma'at! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
"You're either part of the solution or part of the problem."
L. Eldridge Cleaver

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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
May your coming be peaceful.

God(s) of the Month: Amun-Ra and Nisut Amunhotep I, ma'a-kheru
Current Decan: 20: Zaret, "the Ewe"

Today's Festival(s):
The Day of Making Health and Long Life
Procession of Khnum-Ra

Say heru em meses nefer (Happy birthday!) to: Shemsut-Ankh Yinepuikeret of Virginia and currently serving abroad in the U.S. Navy; Shemsut Sekhmetwadjyt of Brazil

"Cairo Calendar" Entry:
"Do not go out of your house on any road today. It is the day of making health for your lifetime in Iunu."

Health is something that we all have the potential of having...that we also mostly take for granted. An old Egyptian proverb states: He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything. Do you have everything? Are you doing the best you can to maintain your health on all levels?

In physical health, are you maintaining your body as the home of your ka to the best of your ability? Exercise, diet, and stress levels all play a role here, and not all of them are completely out of your control (if they are, you need to think about what you're doing with your life). Most of us need a reminder that a neglected physical body is an unhealthy one from time to time; I know I do.

In mental and spiritual health, do you feed your ka early and often? Do you balance what you do for others with what you do to keep yourself at optimum? Are you generally content and happy in yourself, notwithstanding the things that happen in life that are out of our control? Are you in touch with your Akhu and your gods and do you have a good relationship? All these things require balance and maintenance, too.

Make it a good day for a long life today. Do something good for your body and your spirit. Make a new health resolution. Give health and long life to yourself and to the gods. And in the name of Khnum, who is called "the good protector" in today's procession, may you be protected, healthy and whole.

Dua Khnum-Ra! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
"It's amazing how much you can learn if your intentions are truly earnest."
Chuck Berry

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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
May your coming be peaceful.

God(s) of the Month: Amun-Ra and Nisut Amunhotep I, ma'a-kheru
Current Decan: 20: Zaret, "the Ewe"

Today's Festival(s):
Saq Heru-wer, Day 3
Procession of Khnum-Ra, Day 2

Say heru em meses nefer (Happy birthday!) to: Shemsut Petyua'a in Germany

"Cairo Calendar" Entry:
"As for the dead who go about in the necropolis this day: they are going about to repel the anger of the enemies in that land."

Make a special offering to your Akhu on this day when they are going about to reinforce the protections of the Unseen, a day that is also sacred to Heru-wer the great protector and Khnum-Ra the creator of all. Honor your Akhu, spirits and gods, and find wholeness in knowing that They are there for you just as you are there for Them.

Today I pray on behalf of all those who have gone before us, that they might not be forgotten. May the Akhu who know even more than the gods what sorts of human trials and challenges we face every day always be willing and ready to lend their helping hands and loving hearts to help us and bless us as we go through our lives. I honor each of their names and bow down to them with the water of libation. May each one be blessed and may each of their descendants also know that blessing.

Dua Heru-wer! Dua Khnum-Ra! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
"I don't know what the future may hold, but I know who holds the future."
Ralph Abernathy

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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
May your coming be peaceful.

God(s) of the Month: Amun-Ra and Nisut Amunhotep I, ma'a-kheru
Current Decan: 19: Tepy-a'a Semed, "Before the Image"

Today's Festival(s):
Saq Heru-wer, Days 1-2 (both days)
Day of Judgment in Iunu (Saturday)
Processions of Djehuty and Nesert (Sunday)
Procession of Khnum-Ra, Day 1 (Sunday)

Say heru em meses nefer (Happy birthday!) to: Rootnamed Child Horemheb, son of Imakhu Sedjemes in New York (Thursday); Shemsut Nesyutenmutes in England and Remetj Sol B. in Brazil (Saturday)

"Cairo Calendar" Entry:
"Day of Judgment in Iunu." (Saturday) "It is the day of Djehuty's coming. They guided Nesert into Her house of the eternal desert along the way She found among Them. As for anyone else who approaches Her on this day, you (sic) shall not be separated from Her by violence." (Sunday)

Continuing on our way back to spring in the Northern Hemisphere, Djehuty escorts the Eye of Ra in the form of Nesert, the Great Flame, northward. She is strong, warm and protective. Ask for Her protection in your life, and as the Cairo Calendar reads, you shall not be separated from Her.

The gods judge on this day. Are you found lacking? What can you do to make this a better month, a better year? As Khnum-Ra, the "great protector," goes forth from His city, may He bring you a creative second wind so that you can re-dedicate yourself to being the best you can be.

Dua Heru-wer! Dua Djehuty! Dua Nesert! Dua Khnum-Ra! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
"If you send up a weather vane or put your thumb up in the air every time you want to do something different, to find out what people are going to think about it, you're going to limit yourself. That's a very strange way to live."
Jessye Norman

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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
May your coming be peaceful.

God(s) of the Month: Amun-Ra and Nisut Amunhotep I, ma'a-kheru
Current Decan: 19: Tepy-a'a Semed, "Before the Image"

Today's Festival(s): none

Say heru em meses nefer (Happy birthday!) to: Shemsut-Ankh Hesytbast in Kentucky

"Cairo Calendar" Entry:
"Announcement of fighting; call in Iunu by Set. His voice is in heaven [and] his voice is on earth, in great fury."

According to the Cairo Calendar, Set's voice can be heard today, raging against Isfet. Does He have a lesson for you? Listen to His voice (traditionally heard in the Seen World in thunder). What does He say? What blessings can be gained from hearing the Red One's voice?

It is easy in our world to equate aggression with evil. Many people believe Set is an evil god simply because He is forceful. Nothing could be further from the truth. Set represents those forces that we take for granted, the ones that are necessary to life but we choose not to acknowledge because they are uncomfortable or painful. Set revels in being the One Who can do the things that need to be done but others do not have the strength, or the courage, to accomplish.

There is much to learn from this god, even if none of it is comfortable. Not all healing is without pain, and not all of Set's lessons come without discomfort. May you hear His voice and be a better person for it.

Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
"When you learn, teach. When you get, give."
Maya Angelou

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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
May your coming be peaceful.

God(s) of the Month: Amun-Ra and Nisut Amunhotep I, ma'a-kheru
Current Decan: 19: Tepy-a'a Semed, "Before the Image"

Today's Festival(s): none (either day)

Say heru em meses nefer (Happy birthday!) to: Shemsut Iaityinepu in Australia and Remetj Heather N. in Massachusetts (Friday); W'abet Djebatihethert in Rhode Island and Remetj Stephanie B. in Wisconsin (Saturday); Kai-Imakhu Heri-tep Antybast (Sunday)

"Cairo Calendar" Entry:
"If you see anything today, it will be good." (Saturday) "If you say anything today, you will answer for it in the necropolis." (Sunday)

The next Kemetic month is upon us, the month of Amun-Ra and the Nisut Who served as His oracle to the people of ancient Waset after death: Djoserkara Amunhotep, or Amunhotep "the first" as we often name Him. May it be a month of divine messages and blessings for each of you who reads these devotions. I pray in Their names that it might be so.

Sometime this week, try to make a new friend. You will be surprised at what you learn.

Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
""Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it injures the hated."
Coretta Scott King

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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
May your coming be peaceful.

God(s) of the Month: Aset
Current Decan: 18: Semed, "Image"

Today's Festival(s):
Last Day of the Kemetic Month

Say heru em meses nefer (Happy birthday!) to: Remetj Sora H. in New Hampshire

"Cairo Calendar" Entry:
"Do not have loud words with anyone today."

It is the end of another Kemetic month. Give offerings to your Akhu, spirits and gods in thanksgiving for all the blessings you received this month; start making a list either in your mind or concretely in your shrine of the things you intend to work on next month. Use the day to rest and regroup before we enter the middle of the year and its special festivals.

Do something especially nice for yourself today. Try to make this a habit on the last day of any Kemetic month: to feed your ka. How does it feel?

Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
"The workings of the human heart are the profoundest mystery of the universe. One moment they make us despair of our kind, and the next we see in them the reflection of the divine image."
Charles W. Chesnutt

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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
May your coming be peaceful.

God(s) of the Month: Aset
Current Decan: 18: Semed, "Image"

Today's Festival(s):
Feast of Amun, Day 10
Feast of Ptah, Day 10

Say heru em meses nefer (Happy birthday!) to: Shemsu Temwaenbast in Sweden (Jan. 29); Divined Remetj Jem K. in Finland (Jan. 30); and Remetj Jenny Q. in Ireland (today).

"Cairo Calendar" Entry:
"Fighting is instigated, rebellion is created and there is uproar among Geb's children [today]. Do not do anything today."

We complete the ten days in honor of Ptah and Amun today with a day where there is much power and change about (the Cairo Calendar interpreted it as a dangerous day to go out, while all the gods are jockeying for position, in fact). As we ready to enter the half-year, it is a time of great possibility as well as a time of high tension. Do your best to keep Ma'at satisfied and the tension will be a great strength behind you to propel you forward into the rest of our Kemetic year.

Let your body be relaxed and your mind be calmed; do things that feed your ka at this time. It is always good to do nice things for yourself now and then, and particularly when you are stressed out. (It's nice to be in a religion that actually suggests doing nice things for yourself is a form of divine offering, isn't it?) Feed your ka and soar.

Dua Ptah! Dua Amun! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
"You can't look forward and backward at the same time."
Coleman Young

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