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

We've reached the end of this Late Period instruction, credited to Pahebheru son of Djedherpa'an. It closes with the words of a beautiful prayer for forgiveness:

Violence, poverty, insults and meanness ("unkindness") never, ever rest. I have not burned to do evil in my heart and Netjer knows it. I have not taken revenge on anyone else; and no one else has suffered upon my account. I beg forgiveness for all sins committed unknowingly, and I call to Netjer to have mercy on me and give me sweetness.

May this prayer bring you peace and Netjer's sweetness. I recited it this morning before the shrine and felt the waves of Netjer's love coming forth -- blessings to be passed on to all of you. You are loved, by Netjer and by me.

Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Weekend:
"The best proof of love is trust."
Dr. Joyce Brothers

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

Tepy-Semdet (Full Moon Festival)

Late Egyptian Wisdom 35

Vengeance is exalted for its name and belittled for its impatience.
Its punishment is heavier than the punishment of Sekhmet when She rages....
When vengeance comes into a house, fate tries to escape it.
When it comes into a family, it makes brothers enemies.
When it comes into a town, it makes strife among people.
When it comes into a state, it gives evil men power.
When it comes into temples, it makes fools strong.
When it comes to a godless man, it makes others fear him.
When it comes to a wise man, it makes him foolish, evil and thoughtless.
There is no counsel or consideration in a vengeful wise man.
(Column 34, lines 3-13)

Revenge...the dish best served cold, according to modern proverbs. It's interesting that the teaching draws a comparison between the "vengeance" of men to men and the "punishment of Sekhmet," sometimes characterized mythologically as an officially sanctioned act of revenge by Ra against evil men who tried to kill Him.

Why would human revenge be "heavier" than Sekhmet's anger? How can it have so much power, and how does one control this power to avoid the many negative events the teaching suggests will occur when someone's desire to "get even" gets out of control?

I have spoken before about the power of unchecked, unbalanced anger to draw isfet. To anger, I would also add other things that often fuel what is here descibed as "vengeance":

- resentment ("a feeling of indignant displeasure or persistent ill will at something regarded as a wrong, insult, or injury")

- jealousy

- a refusal to forgive past slights, real or imagined

- selfishness, which in itself feeds resentment and complaining when one doesn't believe (s)he is getting everything (s)he "deserves"

Watch for the minions of vengeance in your life, and learn their lessons before they enter your heart.

On this day of the Tepy-Semdet, Ihy, beautiful son of Hethert and Heru-wer is born. Ihy embodies the simple joy that is life itself. Let Ihy fill your heart with His joyful music, and let all resentment, all jealousy, all refusal to forgive, all selfishness and all vengeance be stilled.

Dua Ihy! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
"One should not lose one's temper unless one is certain of getting more and more angry to the end."
William Butler Yeats

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

Late Egyptian Wisdom 34

No commentary today; just an interesting passage to share...

The hidden work of Netjer is made known daily on the earth.
He created light and darkness, in which each being is.
He created the earth, birthing millions, swallowing them up and birthing them again.
He created summer and winter through Sopdet's rising and setting.
He created food before the living, the wonders of the fields.
He created the constellations in the sky, that those on earth might know them.
He created sweet water for it, which all lands desire.
He created breath in the egg [womb], even though there is no entrance for it.
He created birth in every womb from the semen they receive.
He created flesh and bones out of the same seed.
He created movement through earthquakes.
He created sleep to end weariness, and wakefulness for looking for food.
He created remedies to end sickness and wine to end sadness.
He created dreams to show the way to the dreamer in his blindness.
He created life and death before Himself, for the torment of the impious.
He created wealth for honesty, poverty for falsehood.
He created work for the stupid and food for the commoner.
He created the succession of generations so as to have them live.
He permits the destiny of the living to be hidden from them that it might be unknown.
He permits the food of the one who brings food to be different from the one who receives food.
He permits the woman of the royal harem to have another husband.
He permits the stranger from somewhere else to live like a citizen.
There is no man among the People who knows his fortune that is before him.
...Fate and retaliation turn around and bring about what Netjer commands.
Fate does not look ahead; retaliation does not come wrongfully.
Great is Netjer's counsel, for putting one thing before another.
(Column 31, line 21 - Column 33, line 5)

Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
"The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart.."
Robert Ingersoll

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

Late Egyptian Wisdom 33

Do not take back [anything] that you have said except from that which is illegal or wrong. (Column 26, line 23)

In speaking truth, one finds few instances where what is said needs to be taken back. This teaching reminds us to live by our words, and to stand by them. It also reminds us that the only words we should ever feel a need to take back are those that are clearly wrong. Let your words be as truthful as possible, never forgetting that you are still capable of being wrong and that truth in that case would be an appropriate retraction.

I pray that all words you speak bear your heart and your truth.

Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
"Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks."
Samuel Johnson

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

Late Egyptian Wisdom 32

Do not let your speech be different from your heart in advice when you are asked. (Column 25, line 21)

More about hearts, and maintaining the balance between what you say (the speech, or tongue) and what you believe (the heart). On a divine scale, it was the Heart (Heru) and Tongue (Djehuty) of Ptah that enabled the world to be created. If the Heart and Tongue had not been in agreement...what kind of world would we be living in?

May your hearts find voice in your tongues, and may your tongues not be afraid to speak what your hearts hold.

Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."
Galileo Galilei

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

Late Egyptian Wisdom 31

Many are the insignificant things worthy of respect.
Few are the great things worthy of respect. (Column 25, lines 7-8)

Good things come in small packages; or, what is truly noteworthy may not be what the majority is paying attention to. Within a chapter discussing the power of the small, this teaching stands out. Remember that small things add up, and that what seems small may not be so small after all.

I pray that all your small things become large in your own hearts.

Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
"There are no great things, only small things with great love."
Mother Teresa

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

Day of the Counting of Djehuty, Who Heard Ma'at
Feast of Khonsu
Ma'at Judges before the Gods

Late Egyptian Wisdom 30

Do not often permit your tongue to advise, when you haven't been asked for advice. (Column 22, line 20)

Part of the ancient teaching on the value of silence and calm is the idea that one doesn't offer unwelcome advice, or more advice than is necessary -- sort of an ancient take on the modern 'speak when spoken to.' Offering advice could be construed as being helpful, but it can also just as easily be taken as your expressing a lack of trust in the person you've given advice to make his or her own decisions. Be careful where you place your advice, and be heedful if it's necessary or even wanted.

The weekend has ended with some powerful festivals and also our practicing for the upcoming Sekhmet Healing Weekend at Tawy House. I am very excited about this weekend. Two of our priests, Kai-Imakhu Nakhtdeshretiu and Imakhu Niankhsekhmet, underwent the seven separate ritual baths this weekend that will constitute the Seven Arrows of Sekhmet Ritual Bath as a preparation for their helping me perform this ritual for our Tawy guests in a couple of weeks. This "wetting the head" ritual, practiced even from very ancient times, is very powerful and provides great spiritual blessings and benefits. We still have room for one more female and one more male to attend -- please email us if you'd like to come!

Dua Djehuty! Dua Khonsu! Dua Ma'at! Nekhtet!

Photos from the Weekend:
Kai-Imakhu Nakht is submerged in the Serqet bath, designed to remove impurities and bestow clarity, by our Nisut (AUS), as Imakhu Niankh looks on.
Imakhu Niankh gains spiritual help with herbal knowledge from soaking in the Wesir Bath.

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

Late Egyptian Wisdom 29

Fate, together with Netjer, bring happiness after worry. (Column 19, line 15)

This morning I write with a big grin on my face, knowing a number of you also share it.

Last night, a little more than two dozen Shemsu and Remetj and their families gathered in prayer. We tried a new form of prayer, where each person prayed and we kept it going aloud, around and around, until we ran out of things to pray for.

The funny thing is -- we didn't run out of prayers. After thirty minutes, I had to stop the prayer lest we all fall over from exhaustion. In 30 minutes, 205 prayers were shared, prayers of thanksgiving, prayers of concern, prayers for protection, health, prosperity, inspiration, love. Prayers upon prayers upon prayers...we really outdid ourselves!

And the peace afterward, knowing all our gods and goddesses were listening...was so profound.

I pray today that the prayers given yesterday evening manifest in all blessings for each of the persons we prayed for, and that all the prayers you pray today enjoy the same success.

Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
"More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of."
Alfred Lord Tennyson

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

Feast of the Half Month
Purification of Hethert
Crowning of Heka

Late Egyptian Wisdom 28

Gentleness in every way makes a wise man praised. (Column 22, line 8)

Praise comes in many forms. It comes also, according to this teaching which is part of a section entitled "how to be calm in speech," from acting and communicating in a gentle manner.

As Hethert, great goddess of heaven, is purified after giving birth to Her joyful son Ihy, may you also be purified from all injury and difficulty. May you find within this gentle cleansing a calmness and happiness that grows and grows.

Dua Hethert! Dua Heka! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
"Let him that hath no power of patience retire within himself, though even there he will have to put up with himself."
Balthasar Gracian

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

Birthday of Shu and Tefnut
Procession of Hethert
Saq and Procession of Heru to Khadi

Late Egyptian Wisdom 27

He who turns away from anger is one far from Netjer's anger. (Column 21, line 17)

Anger, like fire, is a force difficult to control. Once released, anger may grow to a force far beyond its appropriateness and cause its own problems. Here our wisdom teacher shares with us the secret of not gaining Netjer's anger -- by keeping our own anger in check.

On this day in the midst of major celebrations honoring the renewal of life, when even from my own window I can see the birds and flowers and trees budding with new spring, I pray for you in the name of Shu and Tefnut, the original Creations. May They bless you with all the blessings you ever desire, and more. May you keep Their blessing by practicing appropriate behavior in all aspects of your life.

Dua Shu! Dua Tefnut! Dua Hethert! Dua Heru! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
"Perhaps even these things, one day, will be pleasing to remember."
Vergil

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

I didn't write a devotion today, because I am honoring the National Day of Silence. Too many gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals/transgendered people in our nation and worldwide are given the silent treatment. I count some of them among the people of my faith, the Children of Netjer, and I love them too much to let this day go by without comment.

(Or with comment, since I'm being silent?)

Let your silence speak today, too. For today, silence doesn't equal death, but notice, love and respect.

Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
"This is a celebration of individual freedom, not of homosexuality. No government has the right to tell its citizens when or whom to love. The only queer people are those who don't love anybody."
Rita Mae Brown

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

Late Egyptian Wisdom 26

A wise man's patience is in consulting with Netjer. (Column 21, line 9)

You never have to do anything alone, not even be patient. Netjer is always within reach, always available, to offer Its special blessings.

Isn't this a wonderful thing to know?

Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
"When I tell the truth, it is not for the sake of convincing those who do not know it, but for the sake of defending those that do."
William Blake

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

Late Egyptian Wisdom 25

Hardship when there is no fault should not be feared. A time of misfortune does not make a godly man [literally, 'the man who is with Netjer'] give up. (Column 21, lines 1-2)

After a week away, the devotions return. Thank you for your patience and for all your enthusiasm for them to resume! It's wonderful to receive so many letters about how these devotions are being read and used. I'm glad to be sharing them with you.

There is a modern saying, "Stuff happens." (Normally, the "s" word is a different one, but I'm being polite.) This is more or less true for everyone, and it was true in ancient times as well. Things happen. Things that are good happen to bad people, and things that are bad happen to good people; there isn't always logic or reason to what happens to whom in what order. What our teaching today is saying is that occasionally you may indeed find yourself in a "time of misfortune." If you do, and you know that you have not done anything to deserve it ("where there is no fault,") be patient.

Be patient, the teaching says, because Netjer is with you -- and a time of misfortune does not make a man who is with Netjer give up. You will not be doomed to eternal "stuff happening." Have faith - and the misfortune will pass, for you are never alone in anything, good or bad.

I pray to all gods and goddesses that you are blessed both with patience and with more positive than negative events in your lives.

Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
"Knowledge is a process of piling up facts; wisdom lies in their simplification."
Martin H. Fischer

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

Late Egyptian Wisdom 24

Do not sail the course of an evil man, even if fate favors him. (Column 20, line 2)

In the midst of a section suggesting that one let go of resentment and sadness in an attempt to seek an even emotional course through life appears this line. It is true that sometimes it does look like crime does pay. People who wrong each other, or wrong themselves, appear to be "getting away with it."

But as punishment, and justice, belong to Netjer, we must not allow ourselves to be discouraged when fate makes it seem that the "bad guys" have the upper hand. Not even knowing that sometimes the bad guys have a good time should persuade us to change from a course of Ma'at, of balance.

I pray to Ma'at that your ship remains on the true course, even when others might look faster or easier, or it might look like those who travel them are getting ahead.

Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
"Life is the only real counselor; wisdom unfiltered through personal experience does not become a part of the moral tissue."
Edith Wharton

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