As the weather grows a little warmer and there is more light during the day, the population of birds swell and their sounds echo throughout our Northern California Sanctuary. With the coming of Spring there is a proliferation of bird species of all types, ranging from blue jays to robins, hawks to owls, ducks to … Continue reading Springtime at the Northern California Sanctuary
Category: Sacred Animals
The Peaceful Awakenings of Khnum
Khnum, the ram-headed god, was one of the earliest and longest worshiped gods of Ancient Egypt. He was the Ram God of the Nile, God of Silt, God of Fertility and the potter god of creation. He was a god of the sun, predating Ra, and became the protector of Ra as they traveled through … Continue reading The Peaceful Awakenings of Khnum
The Feather of Ma’at and Shu
The land of Ancient Egypt was home to an abundance of animals and especially birds. The Ancient Egyptians believed that this world was a reflection of the divine realm and birds provided an important source of symbolism. Not only could they represent a specific deity - Ra and Horus as falcons, Thoth as the Ibis … Continue reading The Feather of Ma’at and Shu
Hymn to Thoth – God of Writing, Magic, Wisdom and the Moon
Thoth is the Ancient Egyptian God of writing, magic, wisdom, and the moon. The worship of Thoth began in Lower Egypt most likely during the Pre-Dynastic Period (c. 6000-3150 BCE) and continued through the Ptolemaic Period (323-30 BCE) which was the last dynastic era of Ancient Egyptian history. Thus the worship and veneration of Thoth … Continue reading Hymn to Thoth – God of Writing, Magic, Wisdom and the Moon
Amun-Ra and the Nubian Dynasty
The New Kingdom/Egyptian Empire, occurred between the 16th century BCE and the 11th century BCE, and covered the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties of Egypt. This was the period of time in which Seti I and Ramesses II, and their descendants, ruled and expanded Egypt. It is often considered Egypt's most prosperous time and the … Continue reading Amun-Ra and the Nubian Dynasty
Goddess Mafdet, the Great Feline Guardian
From the beginning of the First Dynasty of Egypt (circa 3200 BCE) the great cheetah goddess Mafdet was worshiped. She was known as “the runner” representing swift death. As the "Avenger of the King" Mafdet was believed to rip out the hearts of evildoers and lay the hearts at the Pharaoh’s feet in the same … Continue reading Goddess Mafdet, the Great Feline Guardian
Ipy the Hippopotamus Goddess, Mistress of Magical Protection
Ipy (Apet, Ipet, Opet) was a hippopotamus goddess known as a protective and nourishing deity. Her name meant 'favored place' and she was depicted as a combination of human, hippopotamus, lion, and crocodile. This combination of attributes shows both her protective and nourishing aspects. Ipy was one of several goddesses, including Taweret, Reret and Heqet, … Continue reading Ipy the Hippopotamus Goddess, Mistress of Magical Protection
The Snake Goddess Renenutet
Renenutet (Renenet, Ernutet) was a cobra Goddess known as the "Nourishing Snake" and was the embodiment of nourishment and the harvest. Renenutet was depicted as a cobra, or as a woman with the head of a cobra and was also called the "Lady of Fertile Fields" and "Lady of Granaries." She was thought to be … Continue reading The Snake Goddess Renenutet
The Frog Goddess Heqet
To the Ancient Egyptians, frogs symbolized life and fertility, the proof of this was the annual inundation of the Nile which brought forth fertility to the barren lands as well as the emergence of millions of frogs. In very ancient Egyptian legends, frogs were the most primeval gods; the gods, Heh, Kek, Nau and Amen … Continue reading The Frog Goddess Heqet
Offerings to Goddess Bast – for her Birthday
Just a few days after the Winter Solstice, the Ancient Egyptians celebrated the birthday of the Goddess Bast (Bastet). The offerings to Bast included fine wine, beer, chocolate, water, fruit, fruit juices and meat - Bast, the Cat Goddess, was certainly a carnivore. The colors identified with Bast are green and gold as well as … Continue reading Offerings to Goddess Bast – for her Birthday
