  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! Sekhmet rages in the land of the Tjemehu Late Egyptian Wisdom 23 One day is unlike another for the man with a caring heart. One hour is unlike another in a lifetime without blame. So it was in the beginning, when the gods were upon the earth. (Column 20, lines 14-16) While the gods may not be visible in the Seen World all the time as legend and myth states They once may have been, Their presence is still felt, and Their blessing is still gained in the same ways: by living a life filled with caring and empty of blame. Even the hours are better for one who is not engaging in isfet. Our holiday today recalls a day of rampage by Sekhmet in a land now known as Libya; probably a recollection of Her patronage as goddess of warfare in the Ramesside period. It is also a clarion call for us to heed Her demands for appropriate action in our lives. Let Her rage fall elsewhere; let your days and hours be filled with gods' blessings, rather than Their rages. Dua Sekhmet! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Late Egyptian Wisdom 22 Do not prefer death to life if you are despairing about misfortune. Netjer returns contentment; the dead do not return at all. (Column 19, lines 18-19) In hard times, and there is no guarantee from Netjer that you will never see any, it's easy to let your heart be filled with despair. Sometimes this despair is so heavy, it becomes like a sickness, and as is stated in this teaching, you may come to "prefer death to life." Remember, however, the finality of death -- as the Harper's song says, "no one has come back from there" -- and pray to Netjer for patience and a turn of despair. For contentment can return, but from death, there is no return. Choose to live, and allow Netjer to take your despair. I pray to Nebt-het, keeper of the doors of Death, that She not admit you before your time. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Late Egyptian Wisdom 21 Man spends ten years as a child before understanding death and life. He spends another ten being instructed in the knowledge by which he will live. He spends another ten gaining and earning goods upon which he can live, and spends another ten until old age, when finally, his heart accepts counsel. After this, sixty years remain, the entire life that Djehuty assigns to the godly. Of these, there is one in a million with Netjer's blessing, who spends them with Fate consenting. (Column 17, line 22 - Column 18, line 4) The Kemetic "ideal life" of 100 years is presented here. From age 1-10, a man is expected to be a child, heedless of life, but eventually learning its basic reality: life and death. From ages 10-20, he spends his time being taught the skills he'll need in life, and from 20-30, is to go about acquiring property and resources to live on. At 30, however, the life is to switch to the transition to "old age," when he is again open to counsel, perhaps this time on a more spiritual plane. After 40, the rest of one's life, the "entire life" as it's described here, really begins. The last line of this piece of wisdom is fascinating. "One in a million" lives the life he wishes to live with Netjer's blessing and Fate's consent. Are you one in a million? Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Late Egyptian Wisdom 20 Death and tomorrow's life, we cannot know [about] them. Thus, today and its livelihood is what a wise man requests. (Column 16, line 7) The old phrase: "live for today...." A reminder that while moderns often think the ancients were obsessed with death, what they had was a healthy respect for it -- and a realization that nobody really knows what it's like until they're dead. So why waste life contemplating death? Even another wisdom text, that attributed to Amenemopet, reminds us that "today" is all there really is, as when "tomorrow" comes, it is a "today," and a "today" that is done...is a "yesterday" and is gone. I pray for each of you to enjoy an unending, blessed string of todays, each and every day. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Late Egyptian Wisdom 19 The heart cannot ascend when it is in pain. (Column 17, line 5) Hearts are made to be free, light, and flexible, like the ostrich feather of Ma'at they are weighed against in ancient scenes of final judgments. A heart filled with anger, pain, hatred, greed, or bitterness is a heavy heart, a heart that cannot soar to heaven. Release these emotions and allow the lightness of Ma'at to permeate your being. I pray in Ma'at's name that every heart be lightened and free to soar to its potential heights. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Late Egyptian Wisdom 18 He who loves his neighbor will find himself surrounded by family. (Column 16, line 8) It's easy in this world of distance learning, global villages and internet surfing over face-to-face meetings, to feel alone. But, in love, we find we are not alone -- that everyone, every face, every person we interact with every day, can be more than a stranger. We can in fact by love find our membership in the family of man -- all Netjer's children. I pray in the name of Hethert, She Who is Sweet of Love, that your love multiplies, magnifies, and shines through to everyone, so that every place you go and every way you turn, you find family. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Saq and Festival of Ra Late Egyptian Wisdom 17 Before Netjer, both the strong and the weak are laughable. Fate and fortune go and come at his [Netjer's] command. (Column 11, lines 20-21) A little perspective is given at the end of each chapter in this particular wisdom teaching, similar to the one above: a reminder that no matter what happens in life, Netjer is both greater than it, and is also in control of the universe, so nothing bad will ever stand for long. Here is a reminder not to get either too cocky if you're in a good position, or too worried if you're not -- both the strong man and the weak one are still under Netjer's jurisdiction and blessing. Everyone is equalized before Ma'at, so it is best to remember this and strive ever toward pleasing Her and spreading Her goodwill everywhere. I pray to Ra, great mighty King, to remember us, equal before Him, kindly and with His arms open to bless. Dua Ra! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Late Egyptian Wisdom 16 There is no true protection except in doing the god's work, and the only true servant is the one who serves him [the god]. He [the servant] is a copper wall in the darkness for his lord. (Column 11, lines 13-15) A copper wall in the darkness, tall, reinforced, and precious, is the man or woman who serves Netjer. In return for service, Netjer grants protection and blessing, as this holy service is the highest kind of service one can do. As we enter a new season, regardless of where we are on the earth, I am thinking of all the walls of copper extending from country to country, person to person, Shemsu to Remetj to probationer....all the children of Netjer known and unknown, serving their gods and goddesses in darkness and daytime. May you all be blessed for your service, and may you all share this beautiful thought with me. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Saq-Set Late Egyptian Wisdom 15 For it is Netjer who protects the wise man, due to his service. (Column 10, line 1) We are reminded of the reciprocity of our relationship with the gods and goddesses. Serving Netjer results in being served by Netjer. Love begets love, service begets service, and hearts are open on both sides of the Duat. May Set, He of Strength under Nut's Arm, give you the strength to serve Netjer and the world, and in turn, may He keep you strong. Dua Set! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Saq-Khepera Late Egyptian Wisdom 14 Little anger, a sense of shame, and a sense of caring are the praises of a wise man. (Column 9, line 23) At the end of this particular chapter of instruction, we are given the summary: that wise men are defined by their calmness (lack of anger, "small rage"), their innate senses of shame (awareness of wrongdoing and a desire to do right), and their open, caring hearts. May Khepera, He Who Becomes, help you to become a wise person, over and over again, every day. Dua Khepera! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
Feast of the Half-Month Late Egyptian Wisdom 13 To serve by virtue of good character protects the one who needs protecting. (Column 9, line 22) I can't wait until we have our computers set up at Tawy House. Then I won't be missing you when I go out there! Today's bit of wisdom reminds us that "what goes around, comes around" -- what you put out into the world in the form of good character will return to you in the form of blessings, and a lack of threat. Your protection is reflected in the way you approach the world. If you exist to serve, if your heart is open and your attitude positive, you are far less likely to attract the attention of isfet than if you are living in resentment, unhappiness, bitterness or a generally bad attitude or character. I pray to Ma'at, the keeper of all balance, that on this day that we renew the year you will find your own personal balance, and that all you put into the world will be good and return only good to you. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
Birthday of Heru-sa-Aset Late Egyptian Wisdom 12 Djehuty placed the stick upon earth in order to teach fools. He also gave a sense of shame to the wise man so that he might escape all harm. (Column 9, lines 6-7) "The stick" here is a reference to a common form of punishment in antiquity, both the spanking of children by their parents and the punishment of criminals by "questioning with a stick." What the wisdom is saying, is that punishment exists in order that people might learn from their mistakes, and that the sense of shame is the "inner stick" given by Djehuty to men so that they might also learn from them in their own character, rather than waiting for a physical punishment to put them back in line! It's an excellent set of wisdom for our holiday, the birthday of the great Name of Justice, Heru the son of Aset and Wesir. I pray in His holy name that you are aware of your own sense of shame, and that you accept its wisdom and learn from mistakes in your lives, rather than waiting for the wisdom of a physical reprimand! Dua Heru-sa-Aset! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Late Egyptian Wisdom 11 Mistakes in every kind of character come from not listening. (Column 9, line 5) While I was away at Tawy House, the daily devotions may have stopped, but my thinking about their wisdom hasn't (and I hope the same is true for you!) These instructions talk a great deal about how to avoid bad character, or a condition where isfet, the opposite of ma'at, can breed. One of the easiest ways to avoid bad character is by engaging your listening -- by making sure your ears are open and your awareness is focused on taking in information from others. By listening, not only can you understand the people and the world around you better, but you can learn things that will help you to avoid mistakes of all kinds. I pray to Djehuty, lord of wisdom, that each of you have ears to hear as well as mouths to speak. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Late Egyptian Wisdom 10 The man who listens to a reprimand saves himself from another. (Column 8, line 4) After several long sections dealing with the social ills of gluttony and lust, the author reaches the "tenth instruction, the teaching of how not to weary of instructing your children." The text speaks of the ways in which children (and adults) should be taught, how they should listen, and how they should learn. Today's wisdom is straightforward: If someone calls you on a mistake, take heed....and maybe you won't get called on another. I pray to Djehuty, Lord of Wisdom, that you are able to turn all mistakes into successes. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Feast of Ra and the Eye of Ra Late Egyptian Wisdom 9 Do not adopt a personal custom that differs from those of the land. (Column 4, line 10) Pretty strong and shocking statement for the Me Generation, isn't it? This part of the text reminds us that the ancient Kemetic (and in many respects, modern Kemetic Orthodox) culture, while it does often seem to mirror Western culture, differs from it in some very strong ways. One of these ways is in the understanding that the group is more important than the individual in moral direction, or, alternately, that individuals are not defined by their individuality, but by their personal membership in one or more larger societal groups. Here is also the emphasis on siding with tradition and "norm" when given a personal choice, the Kemetic moral teaching that it is better to maintain balance rather than challenge the natural order of things.(However, since injustice is not the natural order of things, "civil disobedience" and the like are not ruled out here; this is simply reflecting an idea that things have a place in the universe and the closer to Ma'at they all act, the more balanced and therefore harmonious the universe will be). This particular line is also echoed religiously in the priests' instruction enshrined in the temple of Edfu: "Do not perform the temple service according to the intuitions of your own heart; look rather into the ancient writings...and leave it as legacy for your children." We are a past-looking culture (not a "backward looking" one in the pejorative sense we often consider it in the modern world!), a culture believing that perfection is not some future destination but an ancient and immortal past that can only be approached by attempting as much as possible to honor its original intention. There is a way to interpret this instruction as more than just a closed-minded attempt to shut out disagreement, and finding that interpretation requires putting aside a great deal of cultural baggage around social organization inherent in modern Western and particularly American culture. I guarantee this instruction should start a rousing debate! Dua Ra! Dua Iryt-Ra! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Feast of Ra and the Eye of Ra, Saq-Geb Late Egyptian Wisdom 8 Do not squander what little you have if you have nothing stored up. Do not eat up your profits before Fate has given them. Do not be greedy for a wealthy lifestyle you will never know. (Column 4, lines 6-8) Today’s wisdom discusses both the value of thrift and the pointlessness of envy. Ankhsheshonq, our previous wisdom literature, talked about the importance of living according to one’s means as well, but also doing so appropriately; while spending more than you have is problematic, saving everything and refusing yourself any resources or even luxuries you can afford may not necessarily be appropriate. Practice ma’at in money matters as well as matters of the heart and spirit. I pray to Ra and Geb that Their prosperity always manifests in your life. Dua Ra! Dua Geb! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
First Day of the Kemetic Month Late Egyptian Wisdom 7 The foolish tongue of a stupid man acts like a knife that cuts off his life. (Column 4, line 5) Recently in discussions with members of the faith we have been talking a great deal about heka, the “power of words” that can be used as a form of magic. Today’s piece of wisdom reminds us that even words can kill. Thus, it is always important to think about what is coming out of your mouth – and preferably before it comes out! On this special day honoring Sekhmet as Nesret, the great Flame goddess Who is the Eye of Ra, I pray to Her that your words always reflect appropriateness and do not become your killing knife. Dua Ra! Dua Iryt-Ra! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Last Day of the Kemetic Month Late Egyptian Wisdom 6 Do not take on a heavy weight if you have weak balance. (Column 3, line 22) It’s common, and perhaps socially fashionable, in Western society, to take on far more than you can handle; to “bite off more than you can chew” as the phrase goes, or to try and bury your own stresses and problems under someone else’s stresses and problems. We have no martyrdom in Kemetic Orthodoxy. There is no divine reward for making yourself miserable at the expense of others’ happiness. There is, however, much reward for being in ma’at, that special space of balance where you realize that in order to take care of others, you must first be able to take care of yourself. On this day sacred to Ra, Heru and Wesir I ask all three of Them to watch over you. May Ra give you the perseverance to work through your problems. May Heru give you victory, and may Wesir remind you that stress is passing and that balance is always necessary no matter who you are or what you are doing. Dua Ra! Dua Heru! Dua Wesir! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Amun celebrates Ra Entering the Sky Late Egyptian Wisdom 5 Better a quick man’s small accomplishment than a procrastinating man’s large one. (Column 3, line 21) We have any number of analogous proverbs in the U.S.A. “The early bird gets the worm.” “Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today,” and so on. Here we are reminded that the size of an accomplishment, or even of the accomplisher, doesn’t matter nearly as much as whether the task has been accomplished or not. What have you been putting off that you can accomplish today? I pray to Amun, and to Ra rising in the heavens, that you find a happy completion. Dua Amun! Dua Ra! Nekhtet!
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