  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! Heru Welcomes the Nile Today marks eight years since Netjer called Kai-Imakhu Antybast, Rev. Craig Schaefer, to service. Since his entrance into the faith and his ordination as priest, Antybast has been a friend and colleague, a shoulder to lean on and a voice to carry through. He has risen in the ranks from Wab to Heri-tep, the Chief Priest of Kemetic Orthodoxy, a position I was once honored to hold myself. I couldn't be more proud of a chief priest, and I couldn't be more proud of Antybast. Netjer has blessed me -- and all of us in this faith, really -- with his presence. His quiet reserve and thoughtful probing into the mysteries of what it is to serve Netjer have provided a wonderful role model for anyone coming into our faith, and I encourage you to get to know your Chief Priest if you haven't already. Happy spiritual birthday, Antybast. May you celebrate many more at your Mother's feet as you carry Her forth in service. Dua Heru! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day:  Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Heru Welcomes the Nile We honor Inundation during this special holiday, the time in antiquity when the Nile was cresting its flood, and people were judging how high up they'd have to move for a few months as the water came crashing in. Many people would have small vacations at this time of year as there was no way to do their work (in the case of farmers and fishermen); others would sign up to help with public works projects like pyramids and royal tombs to pass the time until the water subsided and Wesir brought the black soil back for planting. As you enter into your Inundation phase, what sorts of plans are you making for when the flood goes down and it's time to get back to work? How will you ready yourself during this forced slow period, even in our modern world (in the northern hemisphere where weather will slow us down at least until spring, and in the southern hemisphere as the summer heat brings vacations and free time)? Will you be ready when the fertile earth is again revealed? I pray to Wesir for each person to have the strength, the courage and the ability to ready himself or herself for the season of growing to come. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! No special practices today, but a weekend filled with celebration as we Welcome the Nile. Antiquity saw this as the brightest point of Inundation season, when the river was at its full crest and the ability to see what sort of year it would be at its most obvious. As far as I can tell from my vantage point, this year will be a tremendous one for the Kemetic Orthodox. We are working to open our recently-purchased retreat center and property, a large group of new probationers joined us at the beginning of the month, and even more recently a respectable number of people became Shemsu of our faith. A number of last year's projects are coming to fruition just in time for us to begin this year's. It is a very exciting time for me, one I have looked forward to for a very long time. May this year's Inundation keep us all healthy, happy and prosperous. I pray to all gods and goddesses that They pour out Their blessings without ceasing on each one of you. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Feast of Heka We talk a great deal in our faith about heka, the "authoritative utterance," or, in plain English, "the power of words." We have had great and very deep discussions about how what one says affects what one does and how one is understood in the world. We have learned that the old adage "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" might not be all that true. What sorts of words will you use today? How will they affect you and your world? May Heka bless each of you with the knowledge that the heart and the tongue are the two most powerful tools each Child of Netjer has been endowed with, and the best ways to use them. Dua Heka! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Saq-Bast, Lady of Ankhtawy Today's Saq of Bast, held as part of our International Dua service, was quite a surprise for at least one Shemsu! Alisha F. of Texas was very surprised to be given her Shemsu Name by Bast Herself in front of at least a dozen witnesses! From today forward, Alisha will be known among us as Shemembast, "Bast's warmth." What a wonderful personal gift from her Mother! Nekhtet! It is always wonderful when a god or goddess is able to reach forth to us in such a personal and direct way. I pray to Bast for Her blessings on everyone today, not just those She talked to this afternoon. Dua Bast! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! This past weekend was quite wonderful. In honor of the upcoming festival of Bast, a shrine blessing was held at Kai-Imakhu Merybast's house. The blessing was part of a larger get-together for the Central North America members' group in St. Louis. It was wonderful to spend the weekend with the children of Netjer and share food and fellowship as well as a brief visit from Bast and the dedication of Her shrine. Dua-Netjer to Imyt-Ra Heruemperyt and the rest of the Central group for making this possible, as well as the people who attended (including Imyt-Ra Biaytsekhmet and her husband Robb from the Midwest group)! I look forward to more upcoming gatherings. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Feast of the Half-Month More than 40 Shemsu, Remetj and their families joined us last night in Dua for our latest Shemsu Naming Ceremony! We warmly welcome the newest Shemsu to our family of faith:
Azebitui, son of Heru-sa-Aset and Wepwawet-Yinepu, of North Carolina This Naming Ceremony brings the number of Named Shemsu of Kemetic Orthodoxy to 108. Nekhtet! We also welcome the following children of Shemsu to our family, guarded by the gods and goddesses of their birthdays, and named for them with Root Names: Yinepuemheb, Feduemheb, Bastemheb and Wesiremhebet-ka, children of Djedetmiwesir and Khaiptah of Utah; and Horemheb, son of Khenmetaset, of New York. I am so very happy for each of our new Shemsu and Rootnamed Children. May Netjer bless each and every one of you richly as you enter into your new commitments and lives. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
Pesdjentiu (Feast of the New Moon) This afternoon I will join with our international members in Dua honoring Wesir and His journey, marked by the absence of light in our night-time sky. Tomorrow I will honor almost a dozen new Shemsu and their children with the Kemetic Names which are part of their Shemsu vows, in our evening Dua. This weekend, I will be travelling to St. Louis to be the guest of the Central North American Shemsu. While I am there, and as part of the upcoming festival of Bast, I will be blessing the Shrine of Bast-of-the-Two-Rivers tended by Kai-Imakhu Merybast. What an exciting week! I hope to share much information and perhaps even some photographs with you as the week unfolds. Dua Wesir! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Pacification of the Hearts of the Netjeru, Wherever They Are Spend today contemplating a special offering for Netjer, to please the heart of your personal god or goddess. What can you give of yourself to Netjer that you might not have considered giving before? What sorts of offerings truly are hotep offerings, the play on words where "hotep" can mean both "offering" and "satisfaction" or "peace"? I pray to all gods and goddesses that your offerings be received, whatever they consist of, material or intangible, handmade or bought, personal or shared with a group. I'd also love to hear about them in our message boards -- an offering shared is that much more received by its intended. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Aset appears today. In my own life I embrace Her as the mourner, as I attend a funeral for Imy-set'a Niankhsekhmet's mother (and my godson, Shemsu Userbenu's) grandmother, Jean Paul. May Aset and Her sister, Nebt-het, bring peace and comfort to our family during this time; may Jean be guided through Duat into everlastingness at the feet of her Creator. May tears, the water and natron of our souls, guide us through. Dua Aset! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! The gods and goddesses offer Their encouragement today. When you pray, or go to shrine, be listening for Their messages. I am so happy for all the new Shemsu being divined and joining the faith -- this is certainly encouragement from where I sit! Additionally the outpouring of love and support and understanding that our members have given to other faiths and other people during a time of uncertainty and difficulty is very heartwarming to me. I am very, very proud of all of you. I pray to all gods and goddesses for Their blessings to be poured out without ceasing on all your heads. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! We have no special practices in the faith for a few days more, though world situations have had me attentive to the news for most of the weekend. Again I feel compelled to reiterate what I said in my 11 September letter, which was that I believe it is important for us to pray for all world leaders, that they make the right decisions during these difficult times, and so minimize the risk and damage to innocent people and to our entire world. I invite you to join me in these prayers for peace and understanding. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! First day of the Month, Feast of the Members of Heaven On this special festival I make offering to all gods on behalf of Their children. May They bless each of you richly in this coming month. As part of the Heaven festival I honor Het-hert, She of Gold, the celestial cow. Her blessings of prosperity, love and unity are always welcome! I pray to Het-hert that each of you be loved, honored and blessed with all prosperity, a feeling of love and togetherness, and every wish come true. May She bring you dreams and hope. Dua Het-hert! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! The last days of the Kemetic month are upon us as well as the Tepy-semdet or festival of the full moon. I really look forward to celebrating this festival with our Remetj and Shemsu at Dua on Wednesday! Take some time today to praise yourself. Too many of those I talk to do not make time to say thank you for the things they do for themselves and others...for the wonderful people they are. It is not vanity to be proud of good deeds or well-met goals, and I know that each and every one of you reading this letter has at least one thing you can be proud of. Enjoy it. Revel in it. Remind yourself today. I praise all of you before Netjer, and ask that all gods and goddesses bless your hearts. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! During this past month I have been contacting (and been contacted in return) by many different people in interfaith communities. I wanted to share one letter with all of you here, as it has relevance to all of the people of our faith. It was received from native Egyptians and sent to our temple's web address as well as many Muslim, Christian and other Egyptian and Egypt-related websites.
We are a group of concerned Egyptians whose internal peace was enormously disturbed because of the latest global events. We neither belong to a certain religion nor have a special affiliation. We all share a profound concern because of the success being made by the forces of evil in its eternal fight against the forces of good. I intend to participate in this fast and prayer (a ritual not unfamiliar to our religion) as part of our Tepy-Semdet rituals marked monthly at the Full Moon, and invite any of you willing to join us. You may also wish to contact this group and let them know you stand alongside them in peace and interfaith understanding. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
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