Aset Oracle, Year 29

 Following is the transcript of the Oracle of the Year delivered to us by the goddess Aset (Isis) on Her holiday called "Aset Luminous" (occurring on July 2 in Gregorian 2021). Each year, we receive such an oracle to provide wisdom about the Kemetic Orthodox year to come. This year's Wep Ronpet (Kemetic Orthodox New Year, the modern celebration of the ancient Egyptian New Year) occurs on August 5, and this oracle is to cover the next Kemetic year (through Gregorian August 2022). Anhur, a praise name meaning "bringer of the distant one" which is an epithet of the primordial god Shu, is the protective or guardian deity over this year. The colors of this year (to be used in decorating altars or shrines, or for heka purposes to bless and protect) are white and gold to mimic the wind and the sunlight that are His manifestations.

Dua Shu who is Anhur!

Oracle of Year 29 received at Aset Luminous, Year 28 IV Shomu 2 (July 2, 2021CE)

Zep Tepi is always a beginning, but sometimes, things are not complete from the year that has passed. While there is new beginning, new chances, new intentions, new opportunity, there are also things that persist. Some things continue because they are part of the cycle. Other things continue because they must, until they reach their Ma'at. Yet other things continue until changes are made. All these realities are true for you in this time when I am speaking, both the year that is passing and the year that strives to be born.

I am the Throne and I speak of the foundations of creation before all things, before deities and humans and trees and flowing water. I am with you and I have always been with you. I know your fate and your destiny. I know you have promises from last year that were broken and others that were never fulfilled. You can still keep them. Your opportunity to do so will not last forever. You have not forgotten, and neither have I. Keep your promises, including the ones you have made to yourselves.

For some of you, the year of the Flame was more harsh than for others. She brought blessing, and She also came to carry out Ma'at and return balance in a time of its lack. May you be comforted in your losses and celebrated in your gains. May you remember the lessons you learned and not need to repeat them. May you never forget the strength you found in linking with others, in coming together instead of running away. Your hands should still be reaching toward each other, in love, in companionship, in strength, and in rescue. 

Release the anger that will destroy you from within. Fight the divisions that will bring all of creation to flame and destruction. The angered Eye acted by the will of Her Father. She did not go forth because She was angry, or because She desired revenge. When She exceeded Her mandate, She was appeased and came home. Even as the Wandering Eye flees in anger, She is brought to peace. In this cycle of loss and recovery, so too shall you find recovery from loss. Cease wrath where it is not necessary for your survival. If even the divine wrath comes to an end, why should yours be eternal?

Read my words from the last Oracle again. They remain as true as they were the day I spoke them. You still have work to do. Zep Tepi will not erase the need for that work. If anything, it has become even more urgent, as you come closer to understanding Ma'at and what is needed in order to bring Ma'at to fruition in your world. There are many remaining tasks to be completed, hearts that must be mended, wrongs that must be righted. There is much for you to do and you cannot do it by yourselves. Not even all of the children of the Netjeru are enough to finish these tasks, which will involve all beings who live within that which Ra encircles.

We have asked you to come together before. We cannot bless you unless you accept Our blessing. What is given can be taken, or it can be left to wander alone forever. Because We wish for you to receive this blessing, We have chosen a messenger in this year to help you find it.

Firstborn Lion of Creation, Slayer of His Enemies, He Who Brings the Distant comes forth in this Opening of the Year. He retrieves the Flame, He ceases Her angry wanderings, and He finishes the work of Her appeasement. With laughter and joy, with the promise of feasting and dancing, He convinces Her to turn Her kindly face toward You again. For it is never violence that ceases violence, or more pain that ceases pain. Love, and the remembrance of that which is most beloved, will bring you to Ma'at. This Ma'at must be established within your own hearts individually, and collectively among your peoples.

Even in this great work the First Lion did not make his journey alone. With the wisdom of Djehuty, and the blessing of Ra, Anhur-Who-is-Shu went forth. He brings Their blessings to you this year. Do not neglect Their gifts of wisdom and authority. Both will be helpful to you just as They were helpful to Anhur as He sought reunion with the Distant One. 

Accept His blessing and join Him on his journey. Your beloved will be found, but like Anhur, you must retrieve it. Go forth and find Her.

Deity of the Year: Shu as Anhur, "The Bringer of the Distant One" (i.e., the Wandering Eye goddess, called Tefnut, Sekhmet, Hathor, Menhit, Nebtu and other names in the sources)

Colors of the Year: white and gold (wind and sunlight)

For more information on the Ancient Egyptian (Kemetic Calendar) see the Ronpet app! http://www.ronpet.app created with data from The Ancient Egyptian Daybook http://www.egyptiandaybook.com 

Aset Oracle, Year 26

As Polytheist.com is on hiatus and "Kemet Today" is not being updated there, I'll post the Kemetic Orthodox Year 26 Oracle of the goddess Aset (Isis) on this website.

Following is the transcript of the Oracle of the Year delivered to us by the goddess Aset on Her holiday called "Aset Luminous" (occurring on July 2 in Gregorian 2018). Each year, we receive such an oracle to provide wisdom about the Kemetic Orthodox year to come. This year's Wep Ronpet (Kemetic Orthodox New Year, the modern celebration of the ancient Egyptian New Year) occurs on August 5, and this oracle is to cover the next Kemetic year through August 2019. Ra is the protective/guardian deity of this year. The color of the year (to be used in decorating altars or shrines, or for heka purposes to bless and protect) is red.

Dua Ra! Dua Aset!

Aset Oracle delivered at Aset Luminous, Regnal Year 25 (2 July 2018), for Kemetic Orthodox Year 26 (5 August 2018 - 30 July 2019)


Greetings to you in the time of the renewal of the year, from the Mother of God, Aset the Great, I Who am luminous and strong in the prow of the Boat of Millions, the possessor of that great and terrible secret Ren of Ra that makes Ma’at to be exalted in all Her places. Blessings to those who hear with their ears, and who listen with their hearts, to the words that I address to the people of Ma’at, and the children of the Netjeru everywhere, My children:

The year is renewed in Sekhmet and Ma’at, in power and truth, in red and white, in blood and light. The year that has passed in djet is truly passed, and is no more. This year is for the judging of what came to pass in the year previous. What have you done? What have you promised? What have you carried out? What were your words and your actions before the Red and the White? Are they justified? Have you passed before the Two Truths, or are you standing shivering and naked in the hall, afraid to face your own consequences to the events of your own making?

Come before Me, as I am one of the Two Ma’ati, the voice of the voiceless in that hall where all are judged before the Pure One in His Field. Come before Me, and say your words, earn your censure and your praises, and make your amends. Judge yourself and be free. Stop putting your guilty hands on the scales of Ma’at and punishing yourselves. That is not yours to do but Ours. We will dispense Ma’at in its time.

Ma’at cannot come, because Ma’at is already among you. What remains is for you to assist Her in Her work, to take up your own responsibility and your own power and to carry out Her sentence. Start it in your own life, then move outward. Create a chain of Ma’at so strong that it holds all, and cannot be broken. Do not allow the weakness of any part of the chain to undo the work. Reach out your hands, and seal the breach. If your hands do not join, there can be no joining. If you cannot strive together, you cannot be victorious.

In this year I send you the Secret Name and the light and the blessing of My Father, Ra, Who calls this year His. You shall shine in His brilliance and be unified in His love, all the created beings under the sun of His divine barques in joy and in interminable blessing, but only if you also join together with His crew to pull the chains of the barque through the hours of the night and past the uncreated. Every hand, every eye, every bit of strength is needed to rise up and support the King of all creation, to hold up His throne as well as the one Who is seated there.

United you shall not be separated, nor will you suffer. We ask again that you set aside your differences and unite in Ma’at and power before Him. Those who pledge themselves to the Sun cannot be harmed in this year. He rises in Wep Ronpet as Zep Tepi incarnate to illuminate the way. He rises for each of you, in glorious love. He rises, and you live.

Aset Oracle, Year 25

As Polytheist.com is currently on hiatus and thus "Kemet Today" is not being updated there at the moment, we need somewhere to post the Oracle of the goddess Aset (Isis) for the Kemetic Orthodox Year 25. Thankfully this original blog of mine is still functional and available, so here we are. Em hotep (in peace) to all of you once again!

Following is the transcript of the Oracle of the Year delivered to us by the goddess Aset on Her holiday called "Aset Luminous" about a month ago. Each year, we receive such an oracle to provide information about the Kemetic Orthodox year to come. This year's Wep Ronpet (Kemetic Orthodox New Year, or the ancient Egyptian New Year) was on August 5, and this oracle is in force until next July. The deities Who are considered to be protecting the year are two goddesses: Sekhmet and Ma'at. The colors of the year (to be used in decoration for Their shrines, or for heka purposes to bless and protect this year) are red and white.

Dua Sekhmet! Dua Ma'at! Dua Aset!

Aset Oracle delivered at Aset Luminous, Regnal Year 24 (2 July 2017CE), for Kemetic Orthodox Year 25 (5 August 2017CE - 30 July 2018CE)

Hear the words of the Luminous, Mother of the God and the Great King, She Who is Present in the life of the world as magic, Aset the Very Great. I am She, and I say to you in the year of the Two Princes that the message of this year (editor's note: see the Year 24 Oracle here for more details) is still valid. It is still true. It still calls out for you to heed it. Have I spoken in vain? Will you not accept this gift of love that I have provided, that all of the Netjeru have given to you as your gift and your birthright? Will you allow your fear and your shame to cause you to deny that which is best and most bright in your secret hearts?

No more.

There must be no more thinking of the things that you will do one day. There is no one day for you. There is today, this day. There is what you are, where you are, and when you are, Now. Right now. Cease chasing after an impossible moment because it has not yet come. Now, your present moment in time, the gift of mortal lives, is yours. Until you know immortality, you have no need to chase it. You may as well chase the boat of Ra. You have love, and you have Now. Cease thinking, cease chasing. Be. Be now. Be in Ma’at at the moment of Zep Tepi, your moment of Zep Tepi, your moment of creation. Take this creation into your hands, and take it up. Be it. Live. Love. Be now.

She is coming and She has come, Mistress of the Blood-Red Garment, Powerful One, the Drinker of the beer-mash in the night. She is coming and She has come, in Ma’at, to destroy destruction, to cease chasing, to end those who defy Ma’at in Her time. The Powerful One has come. Will you rage and rend and split and slaughter? Or will you slake your thirst for vengeance as She did, will you end your quest for vindication and return in glory and beauty, as She-of-Love returned to Her Father once She had wiped the blood from Her maw and the anger from Her hair?

Appropriate action is not simple, but it is Ma’at. Even this great Sekhmet, She must do Ma’at and She must be Ma’at, in Her time. If even this goddess is subject to Ma’at, how can you think you are above it? How do you think you will escape responsibility?

Ma’at comes, is coming, has come. This year that opens after Me, I tell you Now, it begins in Sekhmet, and it ends in Ma’at. You will begin in Sekhmet, and you will end in Ma’at. Together Sekhmet and Ma’at make the right, They open the way, They bring things to the balance of judgment. They challenge and build.

Will you? Will you take up what you love, your lovers, and your Ma’at, and join Them? Or will you be lost in slaughtering? The King Who speaks for the Two Lands, Who sits on My Throne because I will it, has taken Ma’at and given it to the Netjeru, so it can be returned to you. United with the heart of Ma’at, beloved of the Netjeru, the one helpful to people must also be helped, as Ma’at is given and then returned upon the royal altars on behalf of all.

Do not chase. Do not wander. Do not slaughter without reason. Do not pass your responsibility to another. Do not fail to keep your word. She comes, She is coming, She has come. You are given Now. What you make of Now, is in your hands to make. Make it, then, fully and with all the love that you possess.

Aset Oracle, Year 22

Year 22 Oracle, spoken at Aset Luminous, 2014

Awake, Children of Netjer.

Awake, to see the splendor of Ra.

Awake, to feel Shu and Tefnut.

Awake, to walk upon Geb under Nut’s belly.

Awake, to the care of Wesir, of Heru, of Nebt-het.

Awaken, to welcome the year that is coming.

Awaken, Listen, Speak, to the Year that is Mine.

I am Clever of Speech.

I am Aset, Great of heka, Mistress of Heaven.
I am all that you think you know. I am nothing like what you think you know.
So too will be this Year.

This is the year that brings its own heka.
This year will be as simple as the first breath. As simple as one word.
This year will be anything but simple.

Speech may be clever. Speech may be simple.
Speech may not be clever or simple.

In this Year, My Year, you may understand what you do, and do not do; what you speak and what you will not speak, what is appropriate for you, and what is not.

It will not be what you think.

It will not be simple.

What a busy July!

I'm finishing up the packing and work I need to do to get myself to New York and the Polytheist Leadership Conference, where I will be offering the keynote address. Once it's done, I hope to be able to post some or all of a transcript here, as well as links to any of the presentations I'm taking part in. I'm told that there are quite a few people signed up to attend and more will be signing in at the conference itself. It's not a bad turnout for this first foray into a conference format, and I'm impressed and encouraged by the response to the call for more interreligious work between the polytheistic religions. Here's to an excellent conference and a great beginning.

Some of my books have been added to the conference auction, and 100% of the proceeds will be going to RAINN. I'm honored to be able to contribute something to that cause on our behalf. If you will be at the PLC, I'll see you soon! If not, there'll be another one next year sometime.

Next weekend, I'll be celebrating my birthday with the St. Shenouda the Archimandrite Coptic Society of Los Angeles, at their annual Coptic Studies conference held at UCLA. This year's conference coincides with the feast day of St. Shenouda himself (Coptic for sa-Netjer, or "son of God"), and should be interesting as always. Looking forward to the lectures and connecting with new and old friends.

A few days after that, I leave for Chicago, to get ready for our House of Netjer Year 22 Wep Ronpet (Kemetic New Year) celebrations. Can't believe we're this close to the end of another Kemetic year again. Lots to do, but it's all very exciting. During this period I'm also putting the final touches on the Ancient Egyptian Daybook so it can be released with the opening of Year 22. More on that at the Kickstarter site and the Daybook official website (preorders/pledges are still available!) over the next week or two.

And there were stars: How a time out turned into the nighttime sky

Have you ever been angry with other people?

I'm not talking about being annoyed with one or two particular people, or general frustration. I'm talking about the kind of seething, frothing misanthropy that makes you furious at the human race in general, the kind of rage and disgust that makes you think, "If I never see another human being again, I could live with that." This is the kind of all-consuming anger that makes you sick of trying to get along with anybody, that has you cursing everything and everybody and just wanting to be left alone.

This is how angry Ra was with human beings, according to the myth where Sekhmet was born. In His rage – and mind you, as far as the myth goes, He was right to be angry – He sent Hethert down as the Lioness of the Blood Red Garments and told Her to chew up evil. Then She got carried away, and started chewing up everybody, not just the evil ones. Her rage was "pleasant to her heart," and She would not stop.

So Ra came up with a clever ruse with the help of a small army of priestesses and a large quantity of beer and hematite powder. Transformed into a lake of "blood," this red-tinted beer was poured out alongside the town where Sekhmet had gone a'slaughtering, and once She found it, She drank it. And once She drank it, She fell asleep. End of angry lion, end of destruction, end of story.

Or was it?

For the ancestors (Akhu): The Wag-Festival

Tonight is the eve of the Wag festival, one of ancient Egypt's earliest-attested celebrations. Tonight and over the next two days, those who continue to honor the gods of ancient Egypt will tend to the graves of their loved ones, remember their beloved dead, and honor Wesir (Osiris) and various other gods and goddesses associated with life, death, and renewal. Kiya did an excellent job of gathering some sources about Wag (also called Wagy in some texts) last year, and it's worth a read.

Other than knowing that Wag is to be pronounced to rhyme with "dog," and not "wag" like what that dog's tail does, what else do you need to know about this festival?

It seems simple: Wag is a little like the Day of the Dead in Mexican tradition, only earlier in the year, and, perhaps sad to say, without a single pharaonic sugar skull in sight. It is a time to remember our ancestors, those who have gone before us, and to re-establish our connections with them.

Many of us will be visiting cemeteries to serve the dead, with offerings or prayers, or even just by helping clean the graves of strangers. We will gather in festival and ceremony to give honor to Wesir, called the "lord of wine" at this time of year as the grapes begin to ripen, and to bake bread and make beer from the first harvest grains. The cycle of life, of grape and wheat and sun and stars and animals and human beings, turns, and we turn with it, in praise and in wonder.

This year, Wag also coincides with the first full moon of the Kemetic Orthodox new year that began a couple of weeks ago, and thus creates a doubly-strong holiday in honor of Wesir and His silent land.

What will you do for Wag festival?

Happy Kemetic New Year! (di wep ronpet nofret)!

A little before sunrise this morning, I put on clothing and regalia that I only wear once a year. The jewelry needed polishing, and I'm a little embarrassed to say that my robes are a little tighter than they once fit, but everything was clean and in good order, and once I'd gotten myself into the official clothes, I headed out of my office and down the hallway at Tawy House to the Truth and the Mother Temple room itself.

Priests were streaming in and out of the room: bringing in the portable air conditioner, sorting out where the offering mats would go, reading through the ritual scripts to make sure no tool had been forgotten and that no part had been neglected. One of the priests, unable to serve at the altar due to ritual purity requirements, could still serve in another capacity. She stayed downstairs and greeted each member as they entered the building, directing them to where they could change into ritual whites, or wait to be allowed to enter the temple on this most special of all mornings this year. There is always much to do, and many hands to share the work, and that work has incredible meaning.

This morning, the sun rose for the first time under Kemetic Orthodox Year 21, under the zep tepi, the "first time," of the new Kemetic year.

Year 21: Oracle of Aset

Each year, during the Aset Luminous festival, an oracle of the goddess Aset (Isis) is recorded, to discuss the year to come. These years are numbered by Kemetic Orthodox custom beginning at the heliacal rising of Sopdet (Sirius) over the main temple of the faith in Joliet, IL. This year, Wep Ronpet, or the "opening of the year," is marked beginning August 3, 2013. We share the Aset Oracle publicly for anyone who might be interested. This year is to be marked under the special protection and blessing of the god Heru-sa-Aset (Horus, son of Isis and Osiris), and is given the colors white and red, after the two crowns He wears in victory. Dua Aset! Dua Heru-sa-Aset! Nekhtet!

The sky abides.

Teh Ceiling Cat's Cow

Note: The following is intentional humor, given that this week's festival is a lighthearted and joyous occasion. While this blog demonstrates that I am perfectly capable of being Very Serious, I think that of late it's being forgotten that I also have a sense of humor, and the following is intended to re-establish that, as well as to answer the challenge of a child of a Cat who dared me to do it...

This is the way my cats tell the myth of this week's festival, the Establishment of the Celestial Cow, to each other....

Cuz teh d00dz r ebil, Ceiling Cat finked 2 leaf Erfs 4 gud.

Homeward Bound - The Return of the Eye

Home where my thought's escaping
Home where my music's playing
Home where my love lies waiting
silently for me
- Simon and Garfunkel

The Winter Solstice is upon us here in the Northern Hemisphere. As the longest night of the year, the Mother Night, it is dark and cold. This year's celebration graced the grounds of Tawy House with a small bit of falling snow; I can look out my window and watch it slowly, tenaciously, bury the yard and the gardens and the cars in the streets.

While the phrase "Mother Night" belongs rightly to European indigenous religions, we can apply it as Kemetic Orthodox even if we are not in the Northern Hemisphere, because the Solstice belongs to a Mother: the great Eye of Ra, mistress of Kemet, the Wandering Goddess Who went southward starting back at that solstice in June.

In Kemetic mythology, the Creator initially had two children, a boy and a girl, Who are referred to as His Eyes. Shu was the first and Tefnut was the second. Whether They are twins or elder brother and younger sister is not always clear, but the story says that at some point, Tefnut took offense at something Her Father said... and left wherever it was that They were all living, wandering off in anger.

Later versions populate the myth with more gods, who are upset at Her leaving as the Wandering Goddess is a solar divinity and Her leaving causes daily sunlight to lessen the further she gets from home. Eventually, either one or two gods are dispatched to find Her and bring Her back.

Shu is the first god usually given the job of finding His sister; once He has done so He gains the title-name "Anhur," or "bringer of the distant one." If a second god enters the story it is Djehuty, ever-present companion and wise helper of the Creator, Who tells the alternately bored and raging goddess fables and jokes until She calms down enough to come home.

There are people who say one of Aesop's fables about a lion and a mouse is originally Kemetic and was part of Djehuty's stories for the Wandering Eye; I can't confirm or deny it but it certainly makes an interesting thing to imagine, with the goddess standing around on the hot rocks of Lower Nubia while Shu and Djehuty try to get and keep Her attention.

Eventually, Shu/Anhur (and Djehuty) are successful. Suddenly She is filled with a desire to go home as quickly as possible. Whether it was the mention of all the great things She was missing, or the people She'd left behind or She'd simply run out of anger and changed Her mind is never detailed. Evidently that's not important to the myth, but the trip homeward is.

The Eye-Sun "breaks free of Her sojourn in Nubia" and starts north again. Various cities and towns are filled with rejoicing and laughter and music and song as She passes, racing northward, to be with Her family again, at the time of the Spring Equinox. Happily the gods welcome the Wanderer with open arms.

Maybe She'll stick around this year...at least until something sets Her off again.

This myth isn't historical truth in terms of the Seen World. It's a story used to explain the flow of seasons: why it gets dark and cold in winter and warm and sunnier in the spring, only to start turning darker again after the summer solstice. It's far more entertaining than "it takes 365.25 days for the earth to complete its solar rotation, during which time the poles are shifted on the axis of..." (Well, if you're an astrophysicist or really like astronomy the latter might be really entertaining too, but many cultures have myths around explaining the turning of the year so we seem to like to use poetic language for such events as a species).

Even if it's not "true" the myth has value, whether or not we live in the Northern Hemisphere. Those in the Southern Hemisphere can both give thanks that the Lady has finally come to Her senses and is going home; and wish Her well on the journey that takes Her away from them for half a year now, knowing She'll be back.

As a story it is entertaining. As myth it is something we can use for a holiday meditation, and beyond. From this myth, we know that time comes and goes but some things can be relied upon, like the changing of the seasons and the "wandering" of the Goddess. We understand that even gods are allowed to have emotions and to express them - and that They can be negotiated with and even change Their minds.

How wonderful is the divinity that can be free to do what She pleases - and then think better of it if it turned out not to be the best thing to do? How can we beat ourselves up about our own mistakes, our own wanderings, when we are given a myth that says that even gods sometimes have to take time out and that time away from the things that make you angry might be healthy? Or that no matter how far away you might wander, it's never too late to go home?

I'll have lots to think about while this snow keeps falling. It'll get even better when I see Her symbol, the sun, shining above it as it finishes rising. Happy Return of the Eye. May She bring all good things to you as She brings renewed light, and love, to the people Who have been waiting for Her to come back home.