In Ancient Egypt, and up until 1970, the Nile inundation would begin just after the Summer Solstice. The high water with natural nutrients and minerals would annually enrich the fertile soil along the Nile Valley making this area ideal for agriculture. However, the natural flooding varied, and high-water years could destroy the whole crop, while … Continue reading Anuket the Nile Goddess
Category: Sacred Animals
Prayer to Sekhmet-Bast
Mother of the gods, the One, the Only, Mistress of the crowns, thou rulest all; Sekhmet is thy name when thou art wrathful, Bast, beloved, when thy people call. Daughter of the Sun, with flame and fury Flashing from the prow upon the foe; Safely sails the Boat with thy protection Passing scatheless where thy … Continue reading Prayer to Sekhmet-Bast
The Bennu Bird
The Bennu Bird is an ancient Egyptian deity linked with the sun, creation, and rebirth. According to Egyptian mythology, the Bennu Bird was a self-created deity which played a role in the creation of the world. It was said to be the Ba (soul) of the sun god Ra and facilitated the actions of Atum, the … Continue reading The Bennu Bird
Temples, Sanctuaries, and Shrines
In ancient Egypt magical ceremonies and rituals were performed by priests and priestesses in Temples dedicated to the various dieties. These rites and offerings were performed to the gods/goddesses who upheld Maat - the divine order of the Universe. Like the ancient Egyptians, the ritual duties at the Iseum are the responsibility of the priestesses, … Continue reading Temples, Sanctuaries, and Shrines
Egyptians Loved and Honored Their… Dogs!
According to Herodotus (and other sources), while the Ancient Egyptians loved their Cats, Dogs were even more loved and honored. It has been written that when a pet cat died, all those who lived in the home shaved their eyebrows. However, in a home in which a dog died, all would shave their entire head … Continue reading Egyptians Loved and Honored Their… Dogs!
Tawaret – The Great Female
Taweret was an ancient Egyptian goddess of maternity and childbirth, protector of women and children. She was known as "The Great Female," a fierce demonic fighter as well as a popular deity who guarded the mother and her newborn child. Tawaret was thought to assist women in labor and scare off demons that might harm … Continue reading Tawaret – The Great Female
Solar Re, Kek, Wenet and the Long Night Moon
Today, the shortest day of light and the longest night of darkness, Atum-Re meets me in various forms. To begin, Atum-Re's namesake, Re, greets me in the morning as he lounges on one of the solar arrays that grace and sustain our sanctuaries. Re loves to catch every bit of warmth and light from the … Continue reading Solar Re, Kek, Wenet and the Long Night Moon
Remembrance, Souls & Cats
For many of us, as the days grow colder and darker it is a time of reflection, remembrance and also respect for those who are on the other side of the veil. We celebrate this time with contemplative walks and decorating our sanctuaries with candlelight, the scents of lavender and rosemary, and fires in the … Continue reading Remembrance, Souls & Cats
New Moon Ritual
Moon rituals are an ancient and sacred practice that originated in Egypt, and other ancient civilizations, where moon worship was a part of the culture. The phases of the moon influence the growth or decline of plants, animals, and human life. Participating in the phases of the moon was seen as a sacred and necessary … Continue reading New Moon Ritual
The Caterpillar, the Cat, and the Butterfly
A secondary title for this post is Metamorphosis, which was inspired by an encounter with a lovely green caterpillar on the occasion of the recent Full Moon. This caterpillar, at some point in the future, will metamorphosize and take wing as a Butterfly, or so I thought. After doing some research, it turns out that … Continue reading The Caterpillar, the Cat, and the Butterfly
