  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! Tepy-Semdet (Full-Moon) Festival; Saq-Djehuty We celebrate the restoration of the Eye with a festival dedicated to Djehuty, Lord of Wisdom, the bringer of the Distant Goddess at this time of Her return. At this time of year I also like to make an announcement and a Dua-Netjer ("thank you," literally "I thank Netjer for you") to all who have enabled our faith to prosper and continue its important work through the secular year, with tithes and fundraiser support, and also with gift offerings of money, time, and other resources. We are very, very grateful to each and every one of you. Dua-Netjer to a very long list, growing every year (Nekhtet!):
Shemsu A'aneniheru Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: 1. The Richter Charitable Trust (Neferuhethert and her family), for two ongoing years of important support, helping us to attend the South African religion Parliament in 1999 and to underwrite salaries and internet infrastructure needs in both years; 2. Shemsut Khenmetaset and her husband David and family provided two major gifts in 2001, one toward my interfaith trip to Haiti in July, and the second to provide the downpayment and mortgage fees for our very first piece of asset property, the Tawy House Retreat Center in Michigan; and
3. Numerous individuals, both known and wishing to remain anonymous, who came together in the past month to provide more than $1,000 in monetary support to a Kemetic Orthodox family facing foreclosure on their house. I give a special Nekhtet! to each and every one of you as we prepare to send out the last of those checks to that family, and thank you for your generosity and for pulling together to perform a random act of kindness in your own family!  Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
The Establishment of the Celestial Cow In setting up the festival altar for this feast, I was very much overcome with a feeling of inescapable joy. The icon of Hethert seemed to be grinning at me as the flowers, fruits and candies were piled about, and when I drew out Her menat necklace, the feeling of happiness was so strong I laughed aloud. What a wonderful festival to celebrate in the time of least light, when one knows that the sunlight is coming back, but can't quite tell yet. May She of Gold bless you and all your friends and relations with Her overwhelming happiness. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
Image for the Festival: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
The Establishment of the Celestial Cow The Golden Goddess has begun Her journey back toward us, and the feast is laid out in Her honor! Nekhtet! May this holy time of our year find you happy and healthy, and may all blessings be given to you. As we share gifts and merriment in token of our gratitude and thanksgiving for family and friends, may we also remember to give gratitude to our gods and goddesses for bringing us together, and to each other for love and friendship. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! It is a brief time between our celebration of the Return of the Wandering Eye and then the beginning of the Feast of Thanksgiving Upon the Altar, where we renew gifts to the temples and resolutions before Netjer. Use these next days of no special practices both to prepare for our upcoming festival and to honor the holidays of those around you, family and friends. Interfaith respect and understanding are a powerful force to help mend the ills of the world. And speaking of interfaith sharing, I must share with you the greeting I received Monday from a dear friend, Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati of the Kashi Ashram. Over the last two years I gifted Ma with two images of our goddesses, both to bring blessing and to offer protection for the very hard work Ma and her people do for persons with AIDS in our world. Imagine my honor and surprise to have received a picture of her personal shrine attached to the letter -- something which her own devotees don't generally get to view -- with our goddesses honored prominently at its front along with the other gods who protect her ashram! May Nebt-Het continue to offer peace and solace for all dead, and may Sekhmet keep fighting for healing and for peace in the world, blessing Ma and all people. At this time when so many religions practice peace, add a little of your own, even if our holidays are still a few days away. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
Picture for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Feast of Shu, Feast of Bast Guarding the Two Lands We celebrate Shu and Bast over the weekend, guardians who keep the people safe as we welcome the Wandering Eye back to the borders of Kemet. Shu came to speak with the children of Netjer in Saq earlier this week. He offered protection and blessing and many felt a breeze in the places they were, even though the Saq was held locally and His words were merely transmitted to other places. Nekhtet! for His visiting us and extending His powerful blessing, as the first child of the Self-Created! Go outside today and speak with Shu within the wind that is His garment and dwelling. Give Him your cares and receive His blessing, subtle yet enough to move any object. May Bast also give Her subtle blessings to you and your houses during the time She stands guard. Dua Shu! Dua Bast! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! The Feast of Every Finding The Wandering Eye is found. Hethert, Mistress of Heaven, wandering goddess Who fled Kemet beginning at summer solstice, has reached the southernmost point of Her flight and prepares a return to Kemet. As She nears us, the days become longer again and warmth and love return to our land. We give thanks to Djehuty and Shu as Anher, "Bringer of the Distant One," for finding Her and placing Her feet back on the northward path. At this time we also remember our transformations made about a month ago before the Mysteries of Wesir, and give thanks for the blessings that are being established along with the sun, the Eye of Ra, the Celestial Cow. Dance, sing, and light bright candles for Hethert today and through the coming Feast of Thanksgiving, for the goddess is returning! Dua Hethert! Dua Djehuty! Dua Shu-Anher! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
Feast of Nit and Heka Today is a good day to visit with the ancestors, particularly in Rosetjau, the cemetery, whether the first cemetery by this name in Saqqara or any place where your ancestors lay at rest. Pour ritual water for those in the next world, and ask for their blessings as we begin the season of welcoming the Wandering Goddess back home again. You may also want to visit our Virtual Abdju online, to join in the remembrance of the kas of our relations, and perhaps to add a message yourself. May Nit, the Creatrix, and Heka, the Powerful Word, bless your deeds. Dua Nit! 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 the Half-Month We're halfway through our month again, now into the second season of our Kemetic year. How are all those projects coming along? I have been receiving much news from the Children of Netjer lately about what they're up to in their lives. It's always exciting to me to hear about people's goals and projects, how they are serving Netjer through serving others in their communities all over the world. Did you know that Neferuhethert and Sekhemaset are helping a woman in Rumania to get needed medicine for an eye disease for free from the pharmaceutical companies? Or that Niankhsekhmet recently began a full-time job at a major herbal supplier -- thus marrying her priesthood and "secular" careers? Or that Hesytbast is applying to spend next year in Japan as an exchange student? Did you also know that Biaytsekhmet's husband Robb, well-known as the invisible photographer at our New Year's Retreat, is joining the faith? Or that Khaiptah and Djedet's family, totaling six, is the largest family of Shemsu and Rootnamed Children in the House of Netjer? Or that we've had four babies born into the faith in the past several years? (and currently have one more on the way, nekhtet!) The Children of Netjer, Shemsu and Remetj, do extraordinary things. From Bastsaiwi who donates time and webspace to local charities, to Terri the cardiac care nurse, Raemnisut who keeps our nation's capital safe as a US military policeman, Jill who crafts artisans' works in metal, Nubtshepsut who sings for Netjer in South Africa....there are so many of you whose letters brighten my day. Keep 'em coming! (And if you haven't sent any lately -- send some! Tell me how you are and what you're doing!) May Netjer bless all readers of this devotion. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
Answering Every Speech of Sekhmet Busy weekend. Sekhmet is a great teacher of Appropriateness. Speak to Her. Have you acted appropriately? What can you give to Her to take from you that is not appropriate? As you make these offerings, as you give up that which you do not need, that which weighs down your soul...you prolong your life and let Ma'at have a place to come in. May She of the Red Garment feast on your inappropriate behaviors, thoughts and deeds, and may Ma'at fill your empty spaces with bliss. Dua Sekhmet! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! Last night, Ra came to greet His children in Dua. We were very happy to have Him among us! Nekhtet! During this time just after our high holy days of the Mysteries of Wesir, it's always sort of fun and interesting to me to watch others running about preparing for theirs which are still to come in a week or two. Perhaps because I am not caught up in the "Christmas spirit" in the same fashion, I have the opportunity to really use this time as a review of the year so far and to make adjustments for coming months. The devotions will likely be undergoing some overhaul in coming days, to discuss particular religious texts again as we did earlier in 2001 with the Negative Confession of the Pert-em-Hru. I hope you are as excited about our sharing some of Kemet's teachings as I am! Dua Ra! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! On my exceedingly long (19-22 hours) train trip this weekend, I had the opportunity to read more than my share of magazines. One was the US News & World Report for this past week, about the September 11 situation at the Pentagon. At the end of a very profound article there was a photograph of a plywood wall erected to keep people out of the way of the earthmoving equipment, that had become a sort of makeshift shrine with cards and flowers and balloons and even messages just written on the wall itself. I was touched to read, amongst the "We'll miss you Daddy's" and various prayers for peace and safe passage to innumerable divinities, three simple words: "Isis, transform us." May She carry each safely to Her husband's waiting arms. Dua Aset! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! It is very wonderful to be home and among all of you again. You've been in my daily prayers and thoughts as I was travelling, this time to New Orleans to perform an interfaith work with the Roots without End Society at the New Orleans Voodoo Museum. There are so many people out there serving Deity, in different ways and names and practices. We had a discussion about this service one of the evenings we were meeting at the museum, with local practitioners and people from many religions and different places. To me there is no greater glory to the Creator that each of us has found some way to relate to It, whether that is through Netjer and its Names the gods and goddesses, or through the lwa who speak to Bondye "The Good God," or the Orishas who open the way to Olodumare, or the saints of Almighty God....I could go on for quite some time, but you get the idea. We have brothers and sisters in all walks of life, all ways of faith. Together we honor That Which Is in beautiful and life-affirming practices reflecting the diversity of our planet and our times. Surely with this relationship we cannot help but realize that we are the gifts of the Creator -- and we are gifts to each other. Share Netjer with others today -- not to convert them, but to confirm that no matter how we envision God, we are all drawing from that same eternal Source that manifests all. Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!
Thought for the Day: Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown! The Mysteries of Wesir As part of the Feast of Sokar-Wesir today, the "Feast of Food Upon the Altar" is celebrated. I'd like to provide you with some food for thought on this annual marking of World AIDS Day. No community is untouched by AIDS. In Kemetic Orthodoxy we lost a friend in September 2000, a man named Gary who had applied for probation and had intended to be a Shemsu, but whose life was cut short before he could finish. Our friend Gary ("Shambo Shankara") lived at The River House in Sebastian, Florida, a hospice staffed and funded by the Kashi Ashram and The River Fund. (Yes, that's his poem you read when you access the River House's website.) I met Gary while attending a religious event at the Ashram, and meeting him changed my life. When he died just a few months later, after I'd written to say how much I was looking forward to getting back to Florida to talk with him again, I was comforted in my faith knowing that I'd be able to speak with him as an Akh; but at the same time I was angered at this life cut short. This man, only a few years older than me, a father of several children, dead of a disease brought on by IV drug use. This man, who had crawled out of a life as a junkie and found God and family and a new life, only to be cut down by a disease with no cure, few treatments and even less comfort. When I returned to Kashi, we left an offering for Gary's soul in the lake where all the ashes of Kashi's dead repose. Thousands of other voices cried out in thanks as well -- and with the reminder that we must never forget AIDS is not "over," and threatens millions of lives all over the world, every day. I miss the opportunity we did not have to know each other better; but at the same time I know we can and will know each other better even as Gary is now in a place free of pain and the guilt put on him by a judgmental, ignorant world. I know that by serving others with AIDS and by getting to know others, and supporting those who support them, I can make sure that Gary's life, and his death, were not in vain. On one hand it's hard to honor a day like World AIDS Day during our faith's celebration of the transformation of the dead. On another -- it couldn't possibly be more appropriate. May Wesir's loyal subjects, all the Blessed Dead, work hard to keep us from forgetting that we don't have to allow so many to cross over before their time -- that we can, and will, defeat this creature of isfet called AIDS that affects us all. Dua Sokar-Wesir! Nekhtet!
Nisut (AUS) will be travelling until December 11. She has asked that we leave this devotion up until Her return as AIDS should be remembered more than once a year. Email our Nisut (AUS) with a private prayer!
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