Dear Friends,
It is the time of the Harvest, Days of Awe, and the Fall Equinox, when light and dark are in balance. We pray to the Deities, grandparents of the Universe, energies of creation:
You are the music that sounded before our world was born,
sound and silence woven throughout the ages,
far beyond the most profound wisdom humanity has been able to touch.
Be with us, deepen our willingness to live without certainty;
to take the risks of living on the edges of our creativity;
to step beyond the boundaries of possibility and hope.
Help us to remember who we are in our magical essence,
we are part of all that is and was and may yet come to be.
Teach us to temper our impatience, to retain our conviction that what we do makes a difference;
that even our smallest act can contribute to the good of a greater whole.
Be with in our uncertainties. Rejoice with our small triumphs
Comfort our losses. Remind us we are alone, not in joys nor in tears.
In the Days of Awe, may we feel your presence, greater than we have yet been able to comprehend.
We are pleased to report that we now have over 4000 Donors and Members, from all over the world. Our most recent members are from Brazil, France, Uganda, and Trinidad and Tobago. We give thanks to the caretakers and guardians of our Shrines, Sanctuaries, and Sacred Places; we honor your presence. To all Iseum donors and members, may joy, health, love and peace be yours this day and for always.
Hymn III at the Temple of Philae
O Isis, the Great, God’s mother, Lady of Philae,
God’s Wife, God’s Adorer, and God’s Hand,
God’s mother and Great Royal Spouse,
Adornment and Lady of the Ornaments of the Palace.
Lady and desire of the Green Fields,
Nursling who fills the palace with her beauty,
Fragrance of the palace, mistress of joy,
Who completes her course in the Divine Place.
Rain-cloud that makes green the fields when it descends,
Maiden, sweet of love, Lady of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Who issues orders among the divine Ennead,
According to whose command one rules.
Princess, great of praise, lady of charm,
Whose face enjoys the trickling of fresh myrrh.
THE EQUINOX
Whether you live in the Northern Hemisphere or the Southern Hemisphere, the Equinox is a time of balance and reflections. It is a beautiful time to review the past few months. Living through the Winter and moving into the Spring to plant new seeds, or living through the Summer and moving into the Fall to the Harvest.
With the change of the seasons, you’re changing and releasing things you no longer need as you progress into the end of the year. In the North, trees are shedding their leaves as they no longer need them through the Winter. In the South, the green shoots are coming up through the barren ground, releasing their seed pods and growing. Contemplate what are you releasing and what will be growing from the new soil.
THE HARVEST
Ancient Egyptians celebrated a harvest festival dedicated to Min, the Egyptian god of vegetation and fertility. This festival included a parade with the Pharaoh and a great feast; the Egyptian people would celebrate with music, dancing, and sports.
Min’s statue was carried through the fields and known as “the departure of Min”. The god blessed the harvest and there is a depiction of the Pharaoh hoeing and watering the ground while Min watches. In another temple relief, the Pharaoh ceremonially reaps the grain. However, Min was not just a fertility god, but a patron of male sexuality who could help men to father children. When the Pharaoh successfully fathered an heir he was identified with the god Min.
Min was generally depicted as a dark skinned human man, with an ithyphallic penis, wearing a crown with two large feathers and holding a flail. The flail represents Pharonic power and fertility as it was used to thresh corn and remove the husk.
THE SPIRITS OF THE CORN
The Egyptian people believed that spirits lived in the corn they harvested, and when they harvested the crops they would weep and pretend to be grief-stricken. The Egyptian people believed that the spirits would become angry with them for cutting down the corn so they participated in this act of sorrow to deceive the spirits.
Music was just as important to the ancient Egyptians as it is to us today. Egyptian musicians and singers performed during all sorts of social occasions and religious festivals. Here are lyrics from a song sung by farmers during the harvest:
FALLING LEAVES – OAKS AND ACORNS
In many cultures the oak tree is sacred and is often connected to legends of deities who interact with mortals. The Celts, Romans, Greeks, and Teutonic tribes all had legends connected to the mighty oak; in particular it was tied to deities that had control over thunder, lightning, and storms. In Norse legend, Thor found shelter from a violent storm by sitting under a mighty oak tree.
The acorn is a symbol of strength and power, as well as perseverance and hard work. Some people believe that placing acorns on the windowsill will protect a house from being hit by lightning. In parts of Great Britain, young ladies followed a custom of wearing an acorn on a string around their neck. It was believed that this was a talisman against premature aging.
As the oak is generally one of the tallest trees in the forest, it is well known as the tree most prone to lightning strikes. Once struck, it will continue to live. Druids believed that when mistletoe grew in an oak tree it was magical and sacred—it had been placed there by a lightning strike and was therefore the most powerful of all the mistletoe that grew in the forest.
Many modern Pagans and Wiccans continue to honor the oak. It is found in the Celtic Ogham symbols and Druids still hold rituals in oak groves. Our Northern California Sanctuary is home to massive and ancient oak trees and our Ankh labyrinth is within an oak grove. The leaves of some of the oaks are now following and the grounds are full of acorns – and squirrels.
PASSAGES
Recently, an important and respected clergy member of the Iseum Sanctuary passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. Reverend Philipe was one of the guardians and caretakers of the Northern California Sanctuary. He enjoyed sitting in the oak grove, watching over the site and taking care of the rescue animals (especially the birds). Philipe was responsible for the removal of dead trees and branches which were fire hazards; because of him, the Sanctuary has been safer and the animals have been well fed and happy. We are so very grateful for him and will miss him terribly!
STONES AND CRYSTALS OF THE SEASON
At the Equinox, here are some stones and crystals you may consider for balance, enhancement and releasing old patterns:
Green Aventurine is known as the “Stone of Opportunity” and thought to be the luckiest of all crystals, especially in manifesting prosperity and as well as for boosting chances in many situations – a first date, tax audit, even landing a promotion. This stone also helps release patterns, habits and disappointments so new growth can take place. It brings optimism and a zest for life, allowing one to move forward with confidence and to embrace change. It enhances one’s creativity and motivation, and encourages perseverance in maneuvering life’s obstacles. The pictures below show an aventurine choker being completed with the help of our oldest rescue animal, Little Kitty.
Lapis Lazuli stimulates objectivity, clarity and encourages creativity; it assists with self awareness, self confidence and the ability to speak one’s truth. Spiritual healing is enhanced by lapis stones due to their ability to reduce personal negativity.
Citrine has been called “the Light Maker” or The Success Stone, the citrine properties of wealth and abundance are some of its most well known. If seeking abundance in financial or business ventures, this is the stone to aid in the manifestation. Other citrine properties are linked to the creative process. It enhances mental clarity and allows for the flow of ideas and visualizing.
Red Jasper is known as “the Stone of Endurance,” a gentle, but vital, stimulator of Life Force, bringing physical strength and energy, stamina, focus and determination. Its steady energy calms the emotional body, creating a lasting, stable energy for improving health or overcoming illness, setting goals and following through to completion, facing unpleasant tasks and having the courage to rectify wrongs.
You can hold your crystals and meditate on what you are releasing. What are you harvesting? What do you wish to become abundant in, what are you growing? Its best to keep it simple and focus on one thing you really want. Let it grow and harvest the possibilities.
FUNDRAISING AND DONATIONS
The Iseum Sanctuary is a 501(c)3 nonprofit religious charity that receives donations primarily from the proceeds of sales of our online jewelry and spiritual supply shops. These are:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/IseumVintageJewelry
https://www.ebay.com/str/iseumvintageantiquejewelry
Many of the items are made to order at workshops located onsite in our Sanctuaries. All of our saining smudge bundles are freshly harvested and made from herbs and flora grown at our Sanctuaries. The proceeds of all sales go to helping those in need and supporting our nonprofit Sanctuaries.
INVOCATION OF MA’AT
We seek the divine order of Ma’at. Holy Ma’at whose feather lightly upholds truth and justice throughout the universe, we call to you. May you dwell with us, protect us with your outstretched wings and help us find harmony and peace.
Joy and Blessings,
San-Aset
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