  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! The Mysteries of Wesir Rising as Sokar-Wesir, the Nisut of the West returns today. Nekhtet! Our people rejoice as one as the Lord, the King of the Blessed Dead, ascends His throne in glory, most shining of Akhu, most blessed of gods. Nekhtet! I pray in Wesir's name that each person who reads this devotion receive blessings beyond measure and happiness, health and prosperity without end! Nekhtet! Dua Sokar-Wesir! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! The Mysteries of Wesir The Vigil has begun, as prayers are recited once an hour, every hour, beside the bier of Wesir. Prayers and rituals to ease the passage of the dead into the next world will be said for the next day, in order that the Mysteries culminate in the placement of Wesir upon the Throne of the West. If you can do so safely, keep a candle lit in your shrine, and when you are in shrine, pray for all those who have gone before, that their passages are well-lit and safely made. Dua Wesir! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! The Mysteries of Wesir The Mysteries continue with a day of mourning and rituals (repeated in our biweekly Dua online tonight) to turn away evil. It is a good time to take stock and to protect oneself spiritually against isfet, either from outside sources or arising from within yourself. Even in the quietest and saddest hour of our remembrance of the death of Wesir, however, there is hope. We know that He becomes the Nisut of the Akhu, and guards over the land of the dead. We know that Wesir's hidden potential for growth is never extinguished, just as there is a sunrise every morning heralding His successful transformation into Ra. As the sun rises tomorrow, give thanks for that physical reminder that even when it seems all is lost...transformation awaits. Dua Wesir! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! The Mysteries of Wesir Tonight, we enter the more contemplative part of the Mysteries, the "Night of Death," where the Lamentations of Aset and Nebt-het are sung before the shrouded bier of Wesir. Through the living expression of grief, the dead are cleansed, prepared and transported to Amenti, the Beautiful West where Wesir reigns. Our tears provide the river that floats their bodies home; our cries propel them toward their new homes in "That City," in order also that they might remember how to return to us when they wish. Grief is such an important part of the death process that it is officially instituted in our holiest rituals. In a world today where it seems people believe to express grief is "weakness" or somehow otherwise undesirable, it is even more important for us to allow our tears to fall and our voices to lament when the time is right to do so. Netjer has said on several occasions that tears are the holiest of offerings. Consisting of both water and natron (salt), they are by their very nature pure and also reflect the myth whereby people themselves (in ancient Egyptian "remetj") are the tears ("reme") of the Creator. Before you reach for a tissue, consider the offering you have given when such a tear escapes your eyes. Dua Wesir! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! The Mysteries of Wesir Today we enter the holiest period of our Kemetic year's first season. As the Mysteries begin we contemplate the myth of Wesir, killed by his own brother, Set. Different myths tell this part of the story differently, but all end the same way -- with the triumph of Set over Wesir and Wesir's descent into the land of the dead. As Wesir is transformed from being the king of the living to the king of the dead, we contemplate the place of the ancestors in the lives of the living. Make a pilgrimage to a cemetery today if you can, and honor those who have gone before you, whose lives have been given in order that you might exist. May Wesir guard and protect all these dead as He was guarded and protected during His time of passage. I have, as I did for the Opet Festival earlier in the year, asked Netjer's permission to share an image of the special altar built for this festival with you. As I was reviewing the images, I noticed that the icon of Nebt-het appears as if She were weeping -- and think that is a very moving blessing from Her as we begin the Mysteries. Dua Wesir! Nekhtet!
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See a closeup of Nebt-het, weeping for Wesir. Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Feast of Cutting the Earth Sunrise. A bright bolt of light cuts across the desert floor, moving quickly westward to the place where men cultivate the land and farmers are beginning to awaken. Out in the fields, children and adults, priests and devotees are pouring ritual water, sowing seeds, and singing as the light beam cuts across them and into the towns. Welcome, Ra. Welcome Great One of Speckled Plumage, riding in Your boat across the sky. Welcome to You as You bring us a new day, cutting into our earth so that we might be able to see what we are doing. Welcome, Ra, into our fields, our homes, our lives. I pray to Ra that as He cuts the earth today and each day, that the light and heat of His radiance bring nothing but blessings to you. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Feast of Ptah-Sokar of Djeseru As antiquity began to mark the holiest days of our year, the Mysteries of Wesir, so we prepare, with the festival honoring Ptah-Sokar, the great Creator of Djeseru (modern-day Medinet Habu, in Upper Egypt across the river from Luxor/ancient Waset or Thebes). The beginning comes out of darkness and inertness. Words spoken by the heart and mind of Ptah become All That Is, and the universe, the Creations, become. Think about those things you begin today and those things you are preparing to begin either during or after the Mysteries of Wesir. Give them a good beginning, and know that all things begin with the simplicity of words. Dua Ptah-Sokar! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Feast of the Soaring Falcon (Heru-Akhety) Yesterday marked the 70 days' point after the many thousands of people went to the Beautiful West due to the events of September 11. So, twice yesterday we held online services to mark this event, where the souls of the dead are released to the afterlife, and both services were attended by members, friends and family of our faith. Imagine our surprise when Yinepu appeared in Saq during our second Dua service! His words, which we were given permission to share publicly, were both comforting and concerning: "Two times today you have come to us, and the doors are open for these kas. While we do often see many dead, and even many unjustly killed by war, it is not often that people mourn together in this way. We are pleased that you care about these who have been killed, as we do." "Learn to care about people before they die. Teach this skill to others, and you will grieve less. Tell my children that the strong feelings they have felt as so many were grieving will ease now, though many more will come to the sky before what was begun 70 days ago is done." Dua-Yinepu for appearing and giving comfort to His children, who have borne much of the weight of empathy for the millions of grieving, confused and hurting people in the world, and for giving the rest of us a good reminder about the importance of caring for others. We give thanks for this opportunity to speak with Netjer even under circumstances we would rather never repeat. Dua Heru-Akhety! Dua Yinepu! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
Half-Month Festival Many festivals occurring together as the transformation season continues. We have the general half-month celebration along with the continued honoring of Heru-wer as Heru-of-Two-Horizons, Ra-Heruakhety the Soaring Falcon. We also honor the time of breaking foundations - the Peret Festival, where earth is given its first cut for the planting season coming to bear. (Are you ready to begin the goals you've been preparing these past three months since Kemetic New Year? It's almost time!) When one begins a new project, one where a fledgling or "baby" creation needs to be nurtured and protected, one needs protection. Who better to ask to watch over these growing goals than Bast and Sekhmet, the eyes of Ra? Today we pray to Them to protect us, and our goals, as we ready them for the planting to come with the Mysteries of Wesir. I pray the Eyes of Ra be upon you in blessing and watchful towards protecting your beginnings. May Heru watch with His Eyes from above, and thus complete the circle. Dua Heru-Akhety! Dua Sehkmet! Dua Bast! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
Feast of the Soaring Falcon (Heru-Akhety) What a wonderful evening we had! In Dua, two more Children of Netjer became Shemsu and were Named before Netjer and the community of faith! A very loud Nekhtet! to:
Menkhetheru, "Heru is excellent" (Timna D. of Australia); As always it was good to share prayers and heka with Netjer's children and to spend time in faith and fellowship. It is the highest point of my day when I get to spend time with each of you. Even through little things like these words, I feel like I am able to reach out and touch others who share my love for God in the form of the gods and goddesses of our most ancient ancestral land. On this day of the Transformations, I ask that each of you make a special prayer for things that you wish to Become in your life. Spoken aloud in sincerity before Netjer, it cannot help but be heard -- and come true beyond your wildest imaginings. May you always succeed. Dua Heru-Akhety! Dua Ra! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
Feast of the Winged Disk (Heru-Behdety) We continue to celebrate victory as we enter the season of reaffirming life, of divine transformation as I mentioned at the end of yesterday's devotion. What does "divine transformation" mean? What does it mean to be transformed by the divine -- or to watch the divine transform? (Does It/do They change? Or is it merely our understanding of the divine that changes?) When transformation happens, is it permanent? Is it instant? How do we know it's happened? I ask you to consider the mythology of Wesir today, as it is His season, and His power of transformation, we contemplate. Wesir represents the power of resurrection to many; more properly, His is the power of growth unseen, of the potential of something seemingly dead to promote or even birth life of itself. His is the hidden force that makes plants grow and waters rise, that causes all things to live in the cycle of life. Where is His force evident in your life? Where is His force known but not seen? In the name of Wesir, I pray for each of you to be shown your divine transformation. May each and every reader find the faith that moves the mountains, makes the plants grow and brings Inundation each and every season of dryness; and may this faith make you grow and transform, soaring like the Falcon Whose days herald the coming of the Hidden. Dua Heru-Behdety! Dua Heru-akhety! Dua Sokar! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
Feast of the Winged Disk (Heru-Behdety) It's been a full weekend! First, on Saturday, the Chicago priesthood Antybast, Nakhtdeshretiu, Inibmutes and I were able to meet with Shemsu Biaytsekhmet, Meteruaset, Sekhmetresut and their families for a visit to the Field Museum's "Cleopatra" exhibit, followed by a nice lunch. Biayt's husband Robb celebrated his birthday with us! Today, we begin the Procession of Sokar, a holy festival leading up to the Mysteries of Wesir at the end of this month. As I prepare for these sacred festivals that celebrate life after death, I am contemplative. This week, I will be participating in an interfaith discussion on peace at Northeastern Illinois University. Next Tuesday (11/20), we will honor the spirits of the dead lost on September 11, as their 70 days' mourning has ended, with an Opening of the Mouth ceremony shared online at our International Dua services. We have learned recently of a piece of very happy news (the upcoming marriage of Shemsu Ma'ainakhtsen and Panebheru), and of very sad news (the passing of Shemsu Setepenaset's wife Lynn to the West after a prolonged illness). We are working hard to meet the challenges of a growing faith within a difficult economy and "hard times" for many members -- but we're also opening our retreat and conference center, Tawy House, soon. There's a great deal to think about and pray over. I invite you to share all of these prayers and thoughts with me, both good and bad, as we enter into the season of divine transformation: not just in our own religion, but in many practiced the world over. Dua Heru-Behdety! Dua Sokar! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
Feast of the Winged Disk (Heru-Behdety) As we move into the festival of the victorious Herus, I would like each of you to honor a person in your life who has achieved a victory. Remember and honor in shrine some person who has achieved a personal best, a goal or a special attainment. Consider remembering them on our Wehem boards as well to share with other readers! Remember that victory belongs to everyone. No matter how big or small, there is always an accomplishment to be made. Nekhtet! to each and every one of you who has found a victory to celebrate! Dua Heru-Behdety! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
Feast of the Winged Disk (Heru-Behdety) It's a beautiful day here in Chicago, bright and warm. It's a perfect day for the beginning of the second major festival of our Kemetic Year, the Feast of the Winged Disk and Soaring Falcon Festival. These festivals might as well be called the "Nekhtet Festival" because they both represent two weeks or so of honoring forms of the god Heru-wer in His role of leader, protector and victor in adversity. For us they also follow perfectly upon the anniversary of my having taken on the Kingly Ka (Heru-wer's emanation) as your Nisut, so they are special and important days for me and for our faith as a whole. What victories are you celebrating in your life? How can you bring Heru-wer's blessing into your life to cause success and victory if you're not experiencing it yet? May He of the Speckled Plumage, Golden One Whose Body is Sky and Whose Eyes are Moon and Sun, along with His consort Het-hert and in His form of Heka, bring you all the power and strength you need to succeed. Nekhtet! A thousand times Nekhtet! Dua Heru-Behdety! Dua Heru-Akhety! Dua Het-hert! Dua Heka! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
Feast of Sobek Five years ago today in Egypt, I stood alone in front of the coronation dais on the Saqqara desert plain, before the Sed-festival complex of Nisut Netjerikhet Djoser. Djehutymose had gone off to look at something else so I would have time to complete the last part of the ritual requested of me by Netjer during that life-altering trip. A new chapter in the life of our faith opened. This year, this past weekend, I watched with more pride than I can put into words as the keys to our retreat conference center -- a building of our very own! -- were handed over to Kai-Imakhu Antybast, signaling another new chapter in the life of our faith. Today, I have many things to be grateful for. Five wonderful years in service to Netjer and to all of you have taught me many things, and continue to teach me. All of the blessings we've been able to accomplish together boggle my mind. And we have our own place. Our own place! We're not just on the Internet! (Did I mention we have our own place?) To quote my little sister, "How cool is that?" Dua Sobek! Nekhtet!
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Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
Last Day of the Month (special offerings for Ra, Heru, Wesir) We prepare for the final month of Inundation, and the part of our year that is contemplative and serious. The Mysteries of Wesir are nearly upon us, now that the height of the flood has been reached and the transformation of the earth below waters must begin. It is time to start preparing our work for future months. What will you do with your growing season this year? What goals will you need to set, what resources will you need to lay aside? How will you help others to reach their potential once the Inundation subsides and it's time to begin? Contemplate these things in shrine -- you won't have much time for it once the month and its major holidays begin. Dua Ra, Heru her Wesir! Dua Anuket! Dua Heka! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
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