#Sekhmet Bast Ra

[dwellerinthelibrary]

Sekhmet-Bast-Ra (with the wings) and friends in the Book of the Dead of Asetouret at the Geneva Museum of Art and History.

[Left to right, a male god with rams’ heads on his shoulders; a god with Amun’s crown and the body of a scarab; the deceased, a lady, worshipping them; then a naked falcon-headed child also wearing Amun’s double plumes, facing right; Sekhmet-Bast-Re, with three heads (a woman, a vulture, and a lioness) and spread wings; a twin of the naked falcon god, facing left; a snake with legs. These figures stand in a band at the top of the papyrus and illustrate the text below, presumably Chapter 164 of the Book of the Dead.]

[be-your-bast]

The current state of our House Shrine shared by my partner system and me!

[daughterofsekhmet-bast]

Dua Re, lord of creation, father of all,

He who dies and is reborn each day,

The golden sun upon the horizon,

Who’s eye is Sekhmet-Bast;

As winter’s shadows grow longer,

And the shortest day approaches,

The people turn to you, oh Shining One.

Dua Re, be our light in winter’s darkness!

May Sekhmet, your Eye,

Turn her arrows of sickness away from us.

May Bastet, your Eye,

Protect us in the darkness.

May Hut-Hor, your Eye,

Bring us joy and revelry in your absence.

Dua Re! Dua Re! Dua Re!

[i-make-my-journey]

Due to limited space, my shrine is confined to a closet, but…

LOOKIT ALL THOSE GODS!!!!

From back left to right; Anubis, Sekhmet-Mut, Hathor-Nut, Bast, Mafdet, Wepwawet, Shezmu, (itty bitty) Amun-Ra, Nefertem, Wenut, Tefnut, Pakhet, Duamutef, and Anupet!

Front: Serqet!

Currently awaiting a proper statue for Amun-Ra, and need to get Mama Anupet a bigger jackal (I thought the itty bitty one was gonna be as big as Dad and Wep’s 😭) but!! It feels SOOO good to have Them all represented somehow!! 💜

Dua Netjeru!

Also please excuse the fuzz and ashes on the shrine cloth, I own a lot of black faux fur that sheds on everything, and ashes are kinda par for the course with incense smh

[eyes-of-ra]

Prayer to Ra for the Sailing Feast

Ra, Lord of the Sun!

Guardian of the Heavens, Ruler of the Netjeru!

Ra, Lord of the Horizon!

We call upon you,

Mighty in your glory as the sun sets!

Magnificent in your splendor as the sky fills with fire!

Each evening you descend to do battle with the forces of isfet,

And each morning you rise again, triumphant!

Ra, your powerful Daughters,

Bast and Sekhmet: your Avenging Eyes,

They join you in the barque this night,

They join you sailing into the Duat.

We have prepared this boat for your going,

We have prepared this food and drink for a feast before you embark.

We will revel as the sun sets!

Great Ra, you will triumph during the night,

And in the morning we will search for your boat on the horizon,

As you and your Eye-Daughters sail in your boat to other places

As you three are honored and feasted again and again!

Most Glorious Ra, in three days' time

When you return on the boat with your Eye-Daughters

When you come back to this Temple with Bast and Sekhmet

We will welcome you back with more feasting and revels!

[7serendipities]

Kemetic Sailing Holiday

This is the last of the big liturgies that I am writing for Bast and Sekhmet as I wrap up my work for them, my oaths fulfilled. I’ve said before that I’m being released from their service, and while I will probably still post on tumblr for Wep Ronpet and reblog the occasional post, I expect this to be the last Kemetic blog post here.

I’ve done the sailing holiday a couple of different ways in the past, but after really digging into The Ancient Egyptian Daybook, a volume of research by Tamara L. Suida (of Kemetic Orthodoxy/House of Netjer) which includes information from a ton of ancient sources all gathered into one place, I decided to use a set of festivals with spring timing, and sort of condense them into four nights/four days (which ends up being five calendar days) in the early spring. Or, in the Kemetic calendar, IV month of Peret, days 1-5. Since the Kemetic calendar starts with the heliacal rise of Sirius heralding the new year, IV Peret generally starts the first week of March around here. On IV Peret 1 (March 7th) I celebrated the Feast of Ra and the Presentation of the Boat, and I wrote a prayer for the occasion:

FEAST-PRAYER TO RA FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE BOAT

Ra, Lord of the Sun! Guardian of the Heavens, Ruler of the Netjeru! Ra, Lord of the Horizon! We call upon you, Mighty in your glory as the sun sets! Magnificent in your splendor as the sky fills with fire! Each evening you descend to do battle with the forces of isfet, And each morning you rise again, triumphant!

Ra, your powerful Daughters, Bast and Sekhmet: your Avenging Eyes, They join you in the barque this night, They join you sailing into the Duat. We have prepared this boat for your going, We have prepared this food and drink For a feast before you embark. We will revel as the sun sets!

Great Ra, you will triumph during the night, And in the morning we will search for your boat on the horizon, As you and your Eye-Daughters sail in your boat to other places As you three are honored and feasted again and again!

Most Glorious Ra, in three days' time When you return on the boat with your Eye-Daughters When you come back to this Temple with Bast and Sekhmet We will welcome you back with more feasting and revels!

The “boat” I presented was a red origami boat, a votive offering, though the bread for the feast I baked from scratch! I offered that with a cup of red wine for the Feast of the Presentation of the Boat, and my family then ate the bread with dinner to revert the offering and receive the blessings.

After the feast, I covered my statues, to represent the goddesses leaving on the boat. For the next four mornings, I moved the boat to a new location in my shrine room, moving sunwise as it left the shrine and then on the last day, came closer. I’m posting this today in the morning, but tonight I’ll move the boat all the way back to the shrine, and remove the covering from my statues, to represent their return.

As I’ve also incorporated the historical holidays “Chewing Onions for Bast” and “Chewing Cucumbers for Sekhmet” into the return feast, tonight with dinner I’ll be making a cucumber salad with onions, goat cheese, fresh herbs, and a homemade vinaigrette dressing, and I’ll offer that along with more wine and the following prayer I wrote:

PRAYER FOR THE RETURN FEAST OF CUCUMBERS AND ONIONS

Eyes of Ra, Daughters of the Sun! Great Ladies of the East and West! We welcome you home to your temple, Triumphantly returning as the sun sets! 

For four nights you have travelled on the solar barque You have sailed with Ra into the Duat At his side, as his Avengers and Protectors You have fought isfet and you have been victorious! 

For four days you have sailed to other lands To be welcomed and feasted by others And now you return to your temple And we will feast and revel this night! 

We have prepared food and drink for you; We feast to celebrate your returning Vegetables and cheese, herbs and vinegar, We have made a special meal for this occasion. 

Bast, we chew onions for you! Sekhmet we chew cucumbers for you!

Please feel free to use these prayers in your own practice! I just ask that you give me credit if you’re using them for a group ritual, and please don’t reproduce them elsewhere without a link. If you want to show your appreciation by tipping me, you can always Buy Me a Coffee!

[echoes-of-kemet]

Ra, after asking Thoth to help Shu convince Tefnut to come back to Kemet, persuade Sekhmet and later Bast to return from Nubia, and oversee Anhur convincing Mehit to be his lover and come back with him: sooo... Mafdet-

Thoth:

[sol-ulfr]

Merytmwtheryt -> Sölulfr

For reasons that I will be keeping personal for the most part, I will be leaving the Kemetic Pagan path and moving to a more Norse-centered one. This means I won't be posting Kemetic-related things anymore. I'm very sorry if that's what you primarily follow me for! But for me it's time to move on to something else.

I will be adding all of my Kemetic tags to this post so you can see things about specific Kemetic deities or topics if you would like to.

Thank you to everyone who has joined me on my journey so far! It's been a pleasure, and I hope you stick around 💕

[coinandcandle]

Bast Deity Guide

Who is Bast?

The Egyptian goddess is known by many as Bastet, her name is transliterated as b-ꜣ-s-t-t and is pronounced as “Bast”. The Hieroglyphs for her name look something like this: 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 or 𓎯𓏏𓏏

She is most notably a goddess of domesticity, the home, cats, and women. Bast was among the most popular Egyptian deities and her cult ran as far as Rome.

Originally she was depicted as a goddess with a lioness’ head instead of a cat, and she was closely related to Sekhmet, the warrior goddess. Bast’s role was that of protector and avenger of Ra Over time Bast’s depiction softened and she became a goddess related to domesticity and the home. However, she kept the ferocious side of her, only ever using it when needed. She was known to be loving and nurturing but also she was a force to be reckoned with. Bastet used this fury to avenge those who have been wronged, carried on through her son, Maahes, the protector of the innocent.

Due to her association as the Eye of Ra, Bast was more of a solar deity before she became conflated with the Greek Artemis.

Parents and Siblings

Ra (father)

Isis (mother, later in antiquity)

Horus (brother, twin brother later in antiquity)

Anhur (brother

Lovers or Partners

Ptah

Children

Maahes (son)

Nefertum (son, sometimes)

Epithets

Beautiful sistrum (rattle) player

The Golden One/The Beautiful One

The Lady of Dread

The Lady of Slaughter

The Eye of Ra - a title held by a group of deities.

Lady of the Ointments

Lady of the East

Goddess of the Rising Sun

Sacred and All Seeing Eye

Notes

Her name also is rendered as B'sst, Baast, Ubaste, and Baset

Though sometimes synchronized with Mut, the goddess Bast was never depicted as fully human. She was always depicted as either a cat or a woman with the head of a cat, lion, or desert cat.

In Ancient Greece, she was known as Ailuros (”cat”) and she was likened to Artemis. Because of this association, she was given a twin brother just like Artemis has: Horus became her twin brother and since Horus is Isis’ son, Bast became Isis’ daughter.

Bast was also synchronized with Sekhmet, Hathor, and Isis and picked up some of their associations throughout time.

The meaning of her name is uncertain though it’s possible that her name meant She of the Ointment Jar (Ubaste). This would also point to her relation to perfume.

The central city of her cult was Bubastis. People would travel to this city to have the bodies of their pet cats who have passed buried.

It’s common for people to view Bast as a sexual deity or a goddess of lust, but she tends to lean more toward domesticity and protection. This misunderstanding likely came from her later conflation with Hathor as well as one account from Herodotus who had observed the festival in Bubastis in honor of Bast.

An annual festival was held at Bubastis where supposedly all constraints on women were released and they would celebrate “by drinking, dancing, making music, and displaying their genitals" (Gerald Pincher, quoting Herodotus). This display depicted the fertility aspect of the goddess as well as being a sign of freedom from societal constraints.

Bast has been depicted holding a sistrum, a musical instrument similar to a rattle.

Bast is one of many gods who are referred to as the “Eye of Ra”, a title that belongs to deities that are protectors or avengers.

She has been known as the protector of the dead as well.

As cats were sacred to this goddess, to harm one was seen as a slight to Bast.

Mummified cats were often delivered to Bast’s temple as an offering.

Modern Deity Work

These are modern correspondences, anything with historical or traditional backing will be marked with a (T).

Correspondences

Rocks/Stone/Crystals

Gold (T) - Cats of royalty were sometimes known to don gold jewelry

Tiger’s eye

Cat’s eye

Bronze (T) - Bronze statues were used as votive offerings for Bast

Herbs/Plants

Ivy

Catnip

Rosemary

Mint (catnip is in the mint family also)

Animals

Cat, namely housecats but all cats could qualify

Symbols

Sistrum (rattle) (T)

Cat (T)

Eye of Ra (T)

Offerings

Cat imagery

Whiskers, claws, and teeth of cats (only if sourced ethically!)

Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Emerald, Carnelian, Quartz, Malachite, and Galena were used in Ancient Egypt for jewelry or various cosmetics and could be offered. (The Structure of Crystals. Early historical notes)

Perfume or scented oils

Alcohol (such as wine or beer)

Fruit

Grains

Honey

Incenses or resins (T)

Jewelry

Acts of Devotion

Donate to, volunteer at, or otherwise support cats at shelters.

Pray to her or write poems in her honor

Research her

Honor your mother or the mother figure(s) in your life

Protect and fight for the innocent

Dance!

Play music or curate a playlist in honor of her

Learn about perfume and scented oils and how they were used and made in Ancient Egypt

Take care of your home

Of course, these are only suggestions based on my research but when making offerings to deities it's always best to do what feels right to you. You can also reach out to the deity and ask them yourself if you feel comfortable doing so.

References and Further Reading

Bast - eqyptianmuseum.org

Bastet - Britannica

Bastet - World History

Bastet - ARCE

Per-bast.org (The whole website is informational but this link will send you to their sources page!)

Offerings for Bast - The Gourmet Witch (blog)

Kemetic Offering Guide - The Twisted Rope (blog)

[a-d-nox]

sekhmet, goddess of vengeance (asteroid 5381)

Sekhmet means "she who is powerful". It is believed that she was created from the fire of Ra's eye when he looked at earth and saw the disloyalty of humanity. His ire towards humankind made her a weapon; she was meant to destroy those who were disobedient to the gods. She became ruthless and had a great bloodlust; she killed so many people that Ra had to devise a plan to calm her. He gave her a mixture of red wine and blood - she drank it believing that it was purely blood and became more peaceful. In some versions, she passes out and Ra removes part of her essence to create Bast or Hathor. After the drink (in either version), she was less bloodthirsty and more manageable. IN MY OPINION Sekhmet in your chart can represent a) where you are powerful, b) where you seek vengeance, c) where your wrath gets the better of you, d) where you are ruthless, and/or e) where a part of you is missing after a moment in life where you are too angry/powerful.

i encourage you to look into the aspects of sekhmet along with the sign, degree, and house placement. for the more advanced astrologers, take a look at the persona chart of sekhmet AND/OR add the other characters involved to see how they support or impede sekhmet!

OTHER RELATED ASTEROIDS: hathor (2340) and athor (161)!

like what you read? leave a tip and state what post it is for! please use my "suggest a post topic" button if you want to see a specific post or mythical asteroid next!

click here for the masterlist

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[be-your-bast]

Nightmares Begone

Take a piece of paper and with a red pen write down the nightmare you want to be free of. With each bold proclamation tear a piece from the paper. You are shredding the nightmare and all hold it has on you. At the end dispose of the pieces however you see fit. (paper shredder, burn, soaking in a bowl of water before throwing away etc.) (This ritual was created specifically for my partner using the Names of our house. However, this may be used by anyone who would benefit. ) ---

Ra commands, Ra demands, the uncreated will be removed by His hands You are not welcome here serpent of Isfet! Set has the beast bound, it cannot return and in your dreams it will not be found You do not have sway over me or my dreams! Khonsu's smite is great, He rends the enemy of its power, leaving nothing behind in His wake No more will your tongue whisper your lies and hate!

Tutu's hunt never ceases, demons caught will be torn to harmless, tattered pieces No harm shall come to me in my dreams! Bast's claws shred and tear fast, doing away with the seeds of nightmares past There is nothing left of you to fear! Sekhmet's fiery maw does not forgive, does not forget, burning away all that would cause you any upset My dreams have been purified by the Lady of Fire! Taweret soothes the pain and heals the burns, Her waters bringing peace in turn. My soul is healed and runs free of discourse! Yinepu-Wepwawet holds your heart, leading the way to a fresh start My dreams are now full of potential! Heru stands alert, full of wary, keen of eye for any adversary No one shall escape His watchful Eye!

With all this now said, go in peace and rest your weary head.

[daughterofsekhmet-bast]

I guess it shouldn’t be surprising that I have seasonal depression considering I quite literally worship the sun

[kemeticdevotee]

Het-Heru, Goddess of love, beauty, music, and art!

Het Heru, better known by her Greek name Hathor, is a Goddess whose worship extended from the predynastic era of Egyptian history to the end of the Greaco Roman Period. Being such an ancient Goddess, she is associated with many things. She is the Goddess of love, sex, passion, wine and beer, fertility, joy, music, art, dance, healing, childbirth, foreign lands and mining.

She is the daughter of Ra, and there is a myth where, as a lioness, she slaughters humanity under her father's will. These humans were rebels against Ra, and Hathor, bast or Sekhmet, punished them.

She is the patron Goddess of women, children, artists, miners, mothers, and foreigners.

The seven Het-Herus

The seven Het-Herus are usually thought to be either daughters or aspects of the Goddess. They could tell the future, and decide fate. Usually involked in divination (especially for telling the fate of a newborn infant), they were divine musicians and scared away evil spirits, and they also helped with matters of love. The seven Het-Herus go by these names:

Lady of the Universe, or Lady of Juvenation

Sky storm, or Mistress of the West

You from the Land of Silence, or Mistress of the West

You from Khemmis, or Mistress of the east

Red-Haired one, or Mistress of the East

Bright Red, or Lady of the Sacred Land

Your name Flourishes, or Lady of the Sacred Land

Her festivals + Celebrations

The month of Hathor in the Kemetic calendar (ronpet.app is a good kemetic calendar website for keeping track. If you do not use the Kemetic calendar in your practice, November makes a good substitute for this month.)

The Hathor festival, celebrating the birth of the Goddess by getting dressed up and playing music

The Beautiful Reunion, celebrates the union of Horus of Edfu and Hathor of Dendera.

Symbols

Cows, Lionesses, frogs, falcons

milk

The Eye of Ra

The number 7

Sycamores and date palms

The colors red, turquoise, gold and pink

Papyrus plants, and wildflowers

Musical instruments, especially the sistrum

Jewelry, especially the sacred Menit necklace.

Cosmetics

Mirrors

The sky and the Sun

Gold, malachite and turquoise

Offering Items

Malachite, gold, turquoise, citrine, rose quartz

Images of the sky, sun and milky way

images of cows

musical instruments

any art dedicated to her

Cosmetics

Art/writing supplies

Mirrors

Red, pink or gold fabrics

Bread, apples, grapes, dairy, chocolate (modern), pastries

Milk, water, beer, wine, liquor, flavored water (especially grape or lemon flavored)

Jewelry

Epithets

Gracious Lady

She of Beautiful Appearance

She who saves souls

Lady of drunkenness

Eye of Ra

Lovely Het-Heru

Golden One

Lady of Dance

She who hears prayers

Devotional Acts

Sing

Play instruments

Sunbathe or stargaze

Make art/poetry

Listen to music in Her honor

Help wildlife

Help people in need

Practice gratitude

Read poetry

Consume art

Do anything cosmetic related

Dress up nicely

[jinxstrology]

💫Mythical Astrology💫

A collection of gods and goddesses associated with each sign~ Before you say something, yes! I AM aware that some of these deities are the same entity with different names. I wanted to include all names so readers could recognize the ones they knew :) Talk to me niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice

Aries

Amun (Egyptian), Anat (Mesopotamian/Ugaritic/Egyptian), Ares (Greek), Badb (Irish), Belenus (Celtic), Cybele (Anatolian), Durga (Hindu), Hecate (Greek), Hestia (Greek), Indra (Hindu), Ishtar (Mesopotamian), Khnum (Egyptian), Macha (Irish), Marduk (Babylonian), Mars (Roman), Minerva (Roman), The Morrigan (Irish Celtic), Nergal (Mesopotamian), Ra (Egyptian), Sekhmet (Egyptian), Tiamat (Babylonian)

Taurus

Aphrodite (Greek), Asherah (Semitic), Astarte (Middle Eastern), Ba'al (Canaanite), Bacchus (Greco-Roman), Bast (Egyptian), Cernunnos (Celtic), Dionysus (Greek), Flora (Roman), Frigg (Norse), Gaia (Greek), Hathor (Egyptian), Horus (Egyptian), Indra (Hindu), Ishtar (Mesopotamian), Isis (Egyptian), Jupiter (Roman), Krishna (Hindu), Lakshmi (Hindu), Maia (Greek), Marduk (Babylonian), Mithra (Iranian), Osiris (Egyptian), Poseidon (Greek), Ptah (Egyptian), Venus (Roman), Zeus (Greek)

Gemini

Apollo (Greek), Artemis (Greek), Dumuzid (Sumerian), Enki (Sumerian), Hermes (Greek), Inanna (Mesopotamian), Janus (Roman), Krishna (Hindu), Mercury (Roman), Odin (Norse), Seshat (Egyptian), Thoth (Egyptian)

Cancer

Artemis (Greek), Ceres (Roman), Demeter (Greek), Diana (Roman), Isis (Egyptian), Juno (Roman), Kuan Yin (Chinese/Buddhist), Luna (Roman), Mercury (Roman)

Leo

Amun (Egyptian), Anat (Mesopotamian/Ugaritic/Egyptian), Bast (Egyptian), Cybele (Anatolian), Devi (Hindu), Diana (Roman), Durga (Hindu), Freyja (Norse), Hathor (Egyptian), Helios (Greek), Hera (Greek), Inanna (Mesopotamian), Ishtar (Mesopotamian), Juno (Roman), Mithra (Iranian), Nanna (Mesopotamian), Nergal (Mesopotamian), Ra (Egyptian), Sekhmet (Egyptian), Vishnu (Hindu)

Virgo

Anat (Mesopotamian/Ugaritic/Egyptian), Artemis (Greek), Demeter (Greek), Diana (Roman), Hestia (Greek), Inanna (Mesopotamian), Iris (Greek), Ishtar (Mesopotamian), Isis (Egyptian), Kore (Greek), Nanna (Mesopotamian), Odin (Norse), Persephone (Greek), Vesta (Roman)

Libra

Aphrodite (Greek), Athena (Greek), Cernunnos (Celtic), Frigg (Norse), Hephaestus (Greek), Isis (Egyptian), Justitia (Roman), Ma'at (Egyptian), Minerva (Roman), Mithra (Iranian), Nemesis (Greek), Njord (Norse), Shiva (Hindu), Thoth (Egyptian), Venus (Roman), Vishnu (Hindu)

Scorpio

Anubis (Egyptian), Ereshkigal (Mesopotamian), Hecate (Greek), Hel (Norse), Isis (Egyptian), Mars (Roman), Njord (Norse), Osiris (Egyptian), Persephone (Greek), Pluto (Roman), Set (Egyptian)

Sagittarius

Anat (Mesopotamian/Ugaritic/Egyptian), Artemis (Greek), Athena (Greek), Diana (Roman), Epona (Gallo-Roman), Hades (Greek), Isis (Egyptian), Jupiter (Roman), Mars (Roman), Nergal (Mesopotamian), Rhiannon (Welsh), Thor (Norse)

Capricorn

Agni (Hindu), Aphrodite (Greek), Ba'al (Canaanite), Dionysus (Greek), Ea (Babylonian), Enki (Sumerian), Faunus (Roman), Freyja (Norse), Freyr (Norse), Gaia (Greek), Hecate (Greek), Juno (Roman), Loki (Norse), Pan (Greek), Perun (Slavic), Saturn (Roman), Thor (Norse)

Aquarius

Astarte (Middle Eastern), Ea (Babylonian), Ishtar (Mesopotamian), Isis (Egyptian), Juno (Roman), Nut (Egyptian)

Pisces

Aegir (Norse), Aphrodite (Greek), Cupid (Roman), Diana (Roman), Ea (Babylonian), Enki (Sumerian), Eros (Greek), Neptune (Roman), Poseidon (Greek), Sedna (Inuit), Venus (Roman), Vishnu (Hindu)

[7serendipities]

Kemetic Bright Moon 7/13

This month when I came before my shrine, I was told to do this ritual before the other working I had planned. A message to my community, before I turn to more active heka. So I asked for an omen, and received the following:

Go, burning brightly, and do the work you are inspired to do, that has you alight with passion. You are fiery and powerful and incandescent in your rage, and this will fuel you and sustain your action. But also make time to take careful stock of your position and surroundings. Look for needs that demand prompt fulfillment, and make note of weaknesses that must be reinforced, in both yourself and your communities. Grounded planning with an eye towards longevity will be required to bring your goals into manifestation, but don’t let self-doubts and obstacles prevent you from taking action. Go.

That gives me both hope and something of a direction to help in my plans, and I hope it is helpful to some of you as well.

Also - it’s that time again, ya’ll! Wep Ronpet is coming up fast, and here are the dates I’m using for this year, based on the heliacal rising of Sirius over Washington, DC:

Epagomenal Days: Aug 4-8 Aug 4 - Birth of Wesir Aug 5 - Birth of Heru-Wer Aug 6 - Birth of Set Aug 7 - Birth of Aset Aug 8 - Birth of Nebthet Wep Ronpet: Aug 9 Arrival of Sopdet Feast of all the Netjeru

I’ll be doing my usual follow-along on Tumblr, with rebloggable digital votive offerings and prayers, and a tarot card omen from each Netjer on their birthday. And I’ll be doing a personal and a group execration as well, probably on the evening of the 3rd due to schedule restraints on the 8th, which is my normal timing. If you have anything you’d like me to execrate for you, please email that to me no later than the 1st!

The next full moon is Aug 11th, after Wep Ronpet. If you have any questions, or if you would like to request a personal message or heka working for April, please email the shrine here. And if you are interested in supporting the shrine, I have a tip jar set up here. Thanks! Apologies for missing last month - I unfortunately had a (blessedly very mild) case of Covid, after managing to avoid that for two full years.

Image in the thumbnail is a stock photo (provided through Squarespace) of the sky seen through the pillars of a ruin of an Ancient Egyptian temple.

[echoes-of-kemet]

Who would you say are your "main" gods? not necessarily major or minor, just who you focus on the most

I'd say the Netjer I focus on the most are; Anubis, Nephthys, Isis, Horus, Osiris, Set, Thoth, Ra, Bast, Khonsu, Hathor/Sekhmet, Meretseger, and Pakhet. That may change as more behind the scenes things go, but that's my present answer at least.

And as a bonus, have a set of wee character synopses for the gang under the cut 👀

Anubis (cis, he/him, pansexual, faceclaim is Keiynan Lonsdale): While he may only be prince of the Duat, he's every bit a goth short king. He inherited Nephthys' quiet and pragmatic character, as well as Osiris' charm and love for nature- animals in particular, dogs AND cats. (And everything else. Ammit was his idea.) Anubis is a soft spoken and fairly solitary individual, preferring to spend his leisurely moments on his own or with very limited company. He's deceptively shy and timid despite his royal standing, not to mention considerably more mellow than most of his family tree. He takes his duties in the Hall of Two Truths very seriously, making sure the scales are well tended and helping the souls of the dead through the hall.

Bast (cis, she/her, bisexual, faceclaim is Zazie Beetz): It comes as no surprise that the domestic cat was specifically crafted for Bast by her uncles Ptah and Khnum, the beasts’ temperament being closely derived from the goddess’ own personality. Companionable but independent, fierce but leisurely, self confident and feisty- though both are closely associated with the safety and warmth of home, they are by no means tame. The goddess herself would be the first to point out that she may be Ra’s current Eye and (in her mind) favorite, her father does not own her, however much they may try to inforce otherwise. That isn’t to say the first Pharaoh can’t be stifling at times- there was a reason she once left to wander the surrounding kingdoms- but she does her best to keep her father’s expectations and demands from dictating who she is.

Hathor/Sekhmet (cis, she/her/[Sekhmet]he, bisexual, faceclaim is Tessa Thompson): Once the Eye of Ra, now the current Queen of the Gods. Both goddesses are their own individuals yet part of the same being, similar yet different; Hathor is vain but Sekhmet is arrogant, Hathor enjoys leisure while Sekhmet would rather spar or run or lift, Hathor is very regimented in her schedule yet Sekhmet hates extensively planning ahead. One thing the two “sisters” can always agree on, however, is beer. Both are equally formidable combatants and have strong, radiant personalities, steadfastly loyal to their father and husband- though which they’d pick if forced to is yet another point of contention between the two.

Horus (cis, he/him, bisexual, faceclaim is John Boyega): Having something like the fate of a kingdom and avenging their father’s murder thrust upon someone at a young age is bound to have some long term effects. While Horus (the Younger) is a magnificent warrior with a good heart and intentions, he’s still quite lost in the role of Pharaoh, relying heavily on his advisors and queen for assistance. Some may (and do) argue that this makes the young king unfit to rule, too unsure and thus a liability, and Horus himself considers this every now and again. And yet he hasn’t destroyed the royal palace, or dried up the Nile, or allowed Heliopolis to be overtaken, or any number of other horrible possibilities. That has to count for something, right? And being able to admit that he’s gifted in leadership but by no means a genius, that it’s beneficial to have the advice of Isis and Thoth, that he himself is not the sole reason the kingdom still stands is a fair quality to have. Even if he’s otherwise overly self confident at times.

Isis (cis, she/her, pansexual, faceclaim is Danai Gurira): With no prior familiarity to the royal family, one couldn’t be faulted for assuming Horus got his egotism and verve from Osiris. But most any of the Netjer would be quick to tell you that while he certainly inherited his father’s graciousness (in some amount), the current king’s drive and intensity came from his mother Isis. Her cleverness and sagacity are well known throughout the pantheon, skillful enough with magic to compete with even Thoth- the very creator of it. And while she is by no means overly boastful, Lady Isis is very aware of her talents and carries herself with a suitable confidence.

Khonsu (nonbinary, he/they, bisexual, faceclaim is Donald Glover): Think Prince Naveen if nothing happened post his parents cutting him off- no Lawrence, no Facilier, no Tiana, no frog adventure- and he had to figure shit out himself. The only difference is Khonsu cut himself off from them- or, more specifically, his father Amun. Mut was every ounce the incredible mother she's known as, but Amun was on the polar opposite, "neglectful, patronizing, self-confidence-destroying dad" side. Along with some other factors, this culminated in a sleazy jackass of a man-child with a gambling problem, trouble making connections with others, and a massive ego to compensate for his utterly dismal self image.

Nephthys (cis, she/her, homosexual, faceclaim is Ruth Negga): By far the most subdued personality amongst her siblings, the goddess of mourning has an appropriately somber, melancholic personality. Beneath this cool outer layer, however, is a shrewd brilliance and natural talent for negotiation, a skill Nephthys employs to at least try and keep the peace. She’s perfectly happy being overlooked and underestimated (most of the time), having learned how to use this for her own gain. She is by no means a malicious, manipulative goddess, caring and compassionate by nature- but she is also not above using various types of persuasion to accomplish her goals.

Osiris (cis, he/him, bisexual, faceclaim is Idris Elba): A king in life as well as afterlife, the eldest of Nut’s children is the very definition of “benevolent ruler”; kind, gentle, compassionate, but firm and harsh when necessary. He has always been one to put the needs of others before his own, continuing his habit of overworking himself even after death. Despite his serious, stoic demeanor, the King of the Dead is still a very warm and bright individual, good-humored and amicable, doing his best to balance between professionalism and being personable with those serving him in the Hall of Two Truths- another habit carried over from his time on the throne of Heliopolis.

Pakhet (cis, she/her, homosexual, faceclaim is Sheila Atim): While not foreign in origin, Pakhet is a goddess that was alienated amongst the pantheon, driving her to a nomadic life of fierce independence. She resents much of the Netjer, with few exceptions held in a more vaguely disdainful opinion. Spitefully embracing the solitude forced upon her, Pakhet wanders the deserts of the world, her only sympathy being reserved for fellow travelers- whom she protects from the venomous stings and bites of the wildlife they face. The only deity with an actually positive relationship with the standoffish goddess is the similarly outcast Set, each other the closest thing to friends as they’ve ever had. Not that Pakhet would ever admit as such.

Ra (genderfluid, he/she/they, asexual/aromantic, faceclaims are Peter Mensah and Marianne Jean-Baptiste): While his reign as King of the Gods has long since ended, the solar god is still very much a ruler- his court is just considerably smaller these days. And despite the time, she is still resentful of her usurpation, as well as every other betrayal she’s perceived. Neither forgetting nor forgiving, Ra holds onto every grudge they’ve developed, keeping the few deities they still trust as close as they’ll let them. That being said, while Ra has abandoned Heliopolis and severed himself from the rest of the pantheon, he has by no means shirked his duties; she still sails Mandjet from horizon to horizon during the day, warding off her twin with the help of her crew during the night. Though their reasons for continuing this aren’t necessarily born of any care for those outside of their circle.

Set (demiboy, he/him, homosexual, faceclaim is Giancarlo Esposito): Whoever said envy was green clearly didn’t take the Red Lord into consideration. Before his banishment, he had always been in someone else’s shadow- Osiris was beloved even before he became king, Isis was celebrated for her cunning wit, Nephthys was never on anyone’s shitlist, even Horus-Ur was better liked by Ra. Until the feather-headed idiot got himself killed by a scorpion of all things. (How Set wishes he could’ve been more directly responsible for his death as well as Osiris’, extinguishing the solar god himself instead of neglecting to mention the venomous beast in his path.) It’s just as well that he was swindled out of his entirely legitimate victory; everyone hated him to begin with, and the feeling was mutual. This way he doesn’t have to deal with any of them, and they don’t have him to talk about behind his back anymore.

Thoth (genderfluid, he/they/she, bisexual, faceclaim is Paul Van Haver): Brilliant. Sophisticated. Exalted. All three are apt descriptions of the long standing royal advisor- though some might add eccentric, condescending, stuck up, and just plain weird. Thoth is acutely aware of the abnormality of his self-creation making him inherently different from the rest of the pantheon- not to mention his appearance being far from godly- yet he’s become a vital part of the royal court despite this otherness. He has served Ra and Osiris, and now Horus as their advisor, scribe, magician, doctor, and arbiter; he has quelled many potentially disastrous tempers, resolved countless troubles, negotiated innumerable confrontations. Even in the Hall of Two Truths, he's responsible for recording every soul that passes through, the goddess Ma'at entrusting him alone to handle her Feather of Truth. With all that in mind, as well as the god's genuine care for Osiris and his family, it's quite easy to forget the fact that Thoth is the God of Balance, and balance is not the same as order.