Khonsu is one of the most ancient Egyptian Gods; principally a God of the Moon and of Time. A powerful healer, he is famed for his wisdom. Khonsu means “traveler” reflecting the fact that the Moon travels across the night sky. He is also known as the Embracer, Pathfinder, and Defender, as he watches over those who travel at night and protects against the fearful things that stalk in the night.
The Bentresh Stele tells of a magical healing performed by Khonsu and his Oracle Statue during the time of Ramesses II (circa 1300 BCE).
Ramesses on a tour of inspection in Syria falls in love with the daughter of the prince of Bakhtan and the princess goes to Egypt as his Great Royal Wife Nefrure.
A request arrives from Bakhtan for help in curing Nefrure’s younger sister, Bentresh. The Royal scribe Djeheutyemheb goes to Bakhtan and diagnoses that Bentresh is possessed by a hostile spirit. He informs the Pharaoh.
In Egypt Ramesses consults Khonsu in Thebes Nefer-hotep. Khonsu approaches the manifestation of himself specializing in healing and riving out demons, who is Khonsu pa-ir-sekher. Thus Khonsu’s statue is sent to Bakhtan, a journey of seventeen months.
To the amazement of the Bakhtan court, Khonsu cures Bentresh and the hostile spirit acknowledges his supremacy. The Prince of Bakhtan deliberately detains the statue for three years and nine months until a dream of Khonsu as a golden falcon flying away causes a crisis of conscience.
Khonsu’s statue returns to Thebes laden with treasure from the prince, which is handed over to Khonsu in his Temple.
On the night of the full moon, and especially this evening of the Super Blue Moon, pray to Khonsu to help cultivate wisdom, increase healing powers, and protection.
Hymn to Khonsu
Hail unto thee, O Messenger of the Gods!
Khonsu, the traveler of the night sky,
Who traveleth through the heaven like Thoth.
Mut-Bast is thy mother
And Amen-Ra-Temu-Kephra is thy father,
Thou makest women fruitful,
And makest the human germ to grow
in thy mothers womb.
Thou art the Moon, the light -bearer,
The moon by night, and the lord of Ma’at.
Thou art great and mighty oh Moon God,
Khonsu, messenger of the Great Gods,
Traveler of the night sky in the form of the Moon.
Thou art a child in the morning, an old man in the evening,
a youth in the beginning of the year
who cometh as a child after he becometh infirm,
who reneweth his births like the disk.
Thou art the Great God, the Lord of Heaven,
Lord of Gods, Khonsu-Nefer-Hetep-Tehuti,
Lord of Annu, Lord of rest, Chief Mabi,
Peace, peace, O Gracious One,
Who art peace, and who love peace.
Thou art the Great God, Khonsu,
the Mighty, who cometh forth from Nut.
Thou art the sun at sunrise and the moon.
Thou art Khonsu the chronographer,
who holdest the stylus in thy right hand.
Thou art Khonsu-Nefer-Hetep
who hast absolute power over all evil spirits
which infest the earth, air, sea, and sky.
Protect us from pain, sickness, and disease. Protect us from decay, madness, and death.
We invoke thee.
Show us thy Wisdom.
Thou makest the plants to grow and the fruit to ripen,
and animals to conceive.
Thou whom the Gods adore.
Thou art the God of love whom men and women adore.
Thou art Healer and Powerful in Magic!
Protect us!
Accept our offerings, O Great Moon -God Khonsu,
who lives forever.
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