Site of Chelsea Luellon Bolton: Author, Scholar and Poet
Today is Aset Luminous or Aset, the Bright One, Mother of God festival. Aset is offered prayers written on boats, floated on water with candles.
Hail, Aset, Fiercely Bright One.
May You accept our offerings.
May You hear our prayers.
Goddess, please bless us as we praise You this night.
Here is my earlier post about this festival. Aset Luminous or Aset, the Fiercely Bright One
For offering ideas see my About Aset page.
How to Make Paper Boats video: Origami Boats Instructions
Tefnut, the primordial lioness Goddess of moisture and flame has an online shrine! In one instance Tefnut is mentioned as the Mother of Aset. In the Ra creation myth, Tefnut would be the Mother of Nut which would make Her Aset’s Grandmother. There is also a syncretic form of Aset-Tefnut.
I Speak Words of Magical Power
by JewelofAset
Creation is maintained by Set and Myself.
We are the Gods that defend the Day.
We are the Ones who slay Ap-p.
We are the Ones who diminish its power.
We cause it to die.
Each Dawn.
Each Day.
Set strikes it with His harpoon.
I diminish its power
with My Magic.
My Words of Magic defeat it.
They are Words of creation.
One way of creating the World
was to speak it into Being.
I speak the Words that maintain it.
I speak the Words that stop Creation from being Un-made.
My Words of Magic are Words of Power.
My Words of Magic uphold Creation.
Do you understand, child?
My Words of Magic are the same Words that began Creation.
These are the Words I speak.
These are the Words of Magic.
These are the Words of My Mouth.
I speak and it becomes.
Creation is maintained.
Because of Me.
Because of Set.
Order and Chaos.
Broken and Mended.
He breaks and I mend.
I am the Word.
I am the Magic.
I am these Personified.
I am the Goddess of these things: both Words and Magical Power.
These I Mine to maintain.
These are My essence.
These are a part of Me.
And these are a part of All of Creation.
For everything is Named.
For everything has Heka.
For everything has Magical Power of the Ka.
I contain the Name of Creation.
I possess the Name of Ra.
And Set has His Name.
And I wield My Power.
Both of Us destroy the One Who is Unmade.
One of Us cannot do this task alone.
Set is chaos.
Set is disorder that brings about change.
Set breaks down that which cannot be maintained.
I am the Order of the Ancestors.
I am the Maker of Kings.
I am the holder of Lineages gone back generations.
I am the Foundation of Transformation.
Both of Us are necessary
for Creation to be maintained.
The Wheat must die to grow again.
One is broken down.
One is renewed.
This is My cycle as the Widow of Wesir.
This is Set’s cycle as the Disturber.
He destroys, while I renew.
I am the Widow.
I lost My husband, the only God to die.
This sorrow is a part of Who I am.
He is the Disturber.
He is the only God to take the life of another.
This is a part of who He is.
One who takes life and one who lost it.
Do you see why We are the Ones Who stand
before that which Destroys?
We value life more than any Other.
One who lost a Beloved.
One who slew the Beloved.
We are the most human of Gods.
Those Who Would Be Priests
by JewelofAset
Priesthood calls those who wish to serve. They wish to be of service to others and their Gods.
This takes work. Ritual. Dedication. Refinement.
And this takes the alignment of the souls.
To be a Priest or Priestess you must be mended. You must be made whole. In order to do this work you must know who you are.
And this means confronting who you are. In all your glory and in all your beauty, as well as the darker parts that lay hidden buried in fear, anxiety, doubt, and things that keep you from yourself. Things that keep you buried from the light of your own star, your own soul.
In order to become a Priest you must do this work first. And if you do not, then be prepared for it afterward. For no one who serves can escape themselves. And no one who serves can escape Me.
For I am the One Who Mends. Did I not bring back Wesir? Did I not reassemble Him so that He could be whole in the Duat as King? Will I not reassemble you, My child?
What makes you think I will not help you become who you are?
This is who I am. I bring life to the lifeless. I mend those who are broken. I bring Light forth from Darkness.
I am Aset-Sopdet. I am the Star Goddess. I shine in the Night Sky as My Mother. I shine in the night sky as all the stars. The stars are the sun of night.
I am the Stellar and Solar Goddess of both Night and Day. I bring flame to those who need transformation. I bring light to those who need life.
Through magic I do these things. Through ritual transformation occurs. Do not think you can come to My threshold unchanged. I will make you who you are.
If you are a Priest be prepared for this. If you are thinking of Priesthood, be aware of this. For We do not let go of Priests so casually. Those who are Mine will always be Mine.
Those who are Priests will must go through the transformation of Sopdet. They will come forth-shining-and descend into darkness-transformed with water and flame, with tears and starlight. And they will come forth again-renewed, whole.
They will shine as as a star reflecting their own inner light.
How You Honor Us
by JewelofAset
When honoring the Gods, know that this is a privilege, not a right. We are not at your beck and call.
We have lives too. With other Gods. With other Goddesses. With other spirits. With the dead.
We are not at your beck and call. We will not help you if you do not honor Us. Do you do work for free? Why do you assume that We will? Where are Our gifts? Where are Our offerings?
We do the work you ask. Do the work We ask.
Our blessings flow to those who follow Us. Our blessings flow to those who serve Us. Our blessings flow to those who honor Us. Our blessings flow to those who do Our work.
This is the way of reciprocity. This is the way of right relationship.
How you honor Us depends on Our needs. How you honor Us depends on your needs. Some people are more suited to ritual work. Some people are more suited to sing, dance or play music. Some people are more suited to be Priests. Some people are more suited to be Priestesses.
Some are more suited to serve Us with modern ritual. And others are more suited to serve Us with modern ritual derived from the ancients. All of this is fine.
Do you think the ancient Egyptians only honored Us in one way? Each Nome had their own Gods. They had their own festivals. They had their own myths. Nothing was uniform. Not even the State Rite in the Holy of Holies. There were variations.
So there are many ways to honor Us. So honor Us.
So know that how you honor Us is more based on what you need than what someone else needs. And it is based on what you will do for Us if We have called you to Work for Us.
But remember, child, how you honor Us is based on word and deed. Your actions outside of shrine are just as important as those within. How you speak of Our worship and those who worship Us reflects how you come to Our shrine.
Will you come with an open heart or closed one? Will you come with words on your lips in reverence? Will you speak those words of power with reverence? If those words are ancient or modern, it does not matter. We are honored. We are adored. We are given gifts and offerings. We are pleased.
How you honor Us depends on what you need.
So stop bickering.
Happy Summer Solstice! Blessed Return of the Wandering Eye!
Happy Midsummer!
Here is a shrine to Sekhmet:
Shrine of Sekhmet Rises
Here is a shrine to Nebet Het:
Shrine of Nebet Het Shines Through
Aset Luminous (Aset the Bright One, Mother of God) is on June 30th this year in the Kemetic Orthodox calendar. Here is a link on how to make the boats: Origami Boats. So here is an Oracle I wrote for this festival last year. Enjoy.
Dua Aset, the Fiercely Bright One!
Aset Luminous (Aset, the Fiercely Bright One)
by JewelofAset
What are you doing for Her festival?
What will you do today for the Fiercely Bright One?
Light candles or lamps? Sing a hymn? Perform ritual before Her shrine? What will you offer to the Lady?
What will you do today for the Mother of God? The one who gave birth to Heru in the Marshes? The sole Mother who took care of Her son?
What will you do for Aset, the Fiercely Bright One? The One who leads the way in the darkness, dispelling shadows with Her light? The stellar and solar goddess of the dawn.
What will you do today? What will you accomplish? What will you profess?
What will you ask Me in your letter? What prayers and hopes will the boats carry on the water, with My light guiding the way?
What will you ask Me to dispel in your lives? What will you ask Me to cultivate?
What will you do for the Fiercely Bright One? What will you ask of the Brightest of Stars? What will you ask of the Solar Goddess?
I am the Mistress of Magic. I am the Goddess Who Knows Her Spells. What I speak comes to pass.
Do not worry, child. I will take care of you.
Who am I? Am I not the Goddess who knows Ra’s Name? Am I not the wisest and cleverest of Gods? Am I not the Goddess of all magic, all heka, all life-power, all kau?
So what will you ask Me on My festival day?
The words you speak and write have power. What I speak comes to pass. What you write is your heart’s desire.
For what you do, what you say and what you write will become.
Greek Epithets of Hera
Agreie (of Argos)
Aigophagos (Goat-Eater)
Akraia (of the Heights)
Alexandros (Defender of Men)
Ammonia (of the Oracle of Zeus Ammon in Libya)
Antheia (of the Flowers)
Aphroditê (of Aphrodite)
Argôia (of the Ship Argo)
Autorôtê (Unbulled; Virgin)
Boophis (Cow-Eyed)
Bounaia (of Bounos; a hero)
Gamelia (of Marriage)
Hêniokhê (of the Chariot)
Hippia (of the Horses)
Hyperkheiria (Whose Hand is Above)
Khera (the Widow)
Lakinia (of Lakinios; a hero)
Leukolenos (White-Armed)
Limenia (of the Harbor)
Nympheuomene (Led as a Bride)
Pais (Maiden)
Parthenos (Virgin)
Pelasga (Pelasgian Woman or Goddess)
Prodromia (of the Pioneer)
Teleia (Accomplisher)
Zugia (Yoking Goddess)
Zygia (Uniter)
English Epithets of Hera
Almighty Queen
Blessed Goddess
Blessed Queen
Bride of the Thunderer
Divine
Glorious Goddess
Goddess of Childbirth
Golden One
Golden Throned
Majestic
Mistress of Animals
Mother of Showers and Wind
Queen of Heaven
Queen of the Gods
Queen of All Goddesses
Queen of Olympos
Royal
Savior
Cult Place Titles
Argeia (Of Argos)
Olympia (Of Olympia in Ellis)
Pharygaia (Of Pharygaia in Lokris)
Samia (Of Samos)
Cult Terms
Hêraion (Temple of Hera)
Hêraia (Festival of Hera)
Daidala (a Festival of Hera)
Homeric Hymn to Hera
XII. TO HERA
[1] I sing of golden-throned Hera whom Rhea bare. Queen of the immortals is she, surpassing all in beauty: she is the sister and the wife of loud-thundering Zeus, — the glorious one whom all the blessed throughout high Olympus reverence and honour even as Zeus who delights in thunder.
Orphic Hymn to Hera
[15] XV. TO JUNO [HERA]
The Fumigation from Aromatics.
O Royal Juno [Hera] of majestic mien, aerial-form’d, divine, Jove’s [Zeus’] blessed queen,
Thron’d in the bosom of cærulean air, the race of mortals is thy constant care.
The cooling gales thy pow’r alone inspires, which nourish life, which ev’ry life desires.
Mother of clouds and winds, from thee alone producing all things, mortal life is known:
All natures share thy temp’rament divine, and universal sway alone is thine.
With founding blasts of wind, the swelling sea and rolling rivers roar, when shook by thee.
Come, blessed Goddess, fam’d almighty queen, with aspect kind, rejoicing and serene.
From Apuleius, The Golden Ass 6. 3 ff (trans. Walsh) (Roman novel C2nd A.D.)
Prayer to Hera
‘Sister and spouse of mighty Jupiter [Zeus],
whether you reside in your ancient shrine at Samos,
which alone can pride itself on your birth,
your infant cries,
and your nurture;
or whether you occupy your blessed abode in lofty Carthage,
which worships you as the maiden who tours the sky on a lion’s back [a goddess at Carthage identified with Hera];
or whether you guard the famed walls of the Argives,
by the banks of the river-god Inachus,
who now hymns you as bride of the Thunderer and as queen of all goddesses;
you, whom all the East reveres as the yoking goddess,
and whom all the West addresses as Lucina [goddess of childbirth], be for me in my most acute misfortunes Juno [Hera] the Saviour, and free me from looming dangers in my weariness from exhausting toils.
I am told that it is your practice to lend unsolicited aid to pregnant women in danger.”
Note
*This was in my initial list of epithets for Hera. I can’t seem to find the source.
Sources
Homeric Hymns. translated by G. Evelyn-White. Found here: http://www.theoi.com/Text/HomericHymns3.html#12
Orphic Hymn to Hera found here:
http://www.theoi.com/Text/OrphicHymns1.html#15
The Orphic Hymns: Text, Translation and Notes, trans. By Apostolos N. Athanassakis. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1977, 1988.
The Homeric Hymns: A Translation, with Introduction and Notes. translated by Diane Rayor. University of California Press, 2004.
Burkett, Walter. Greek Religion. John Raffan, trans. Harvard University Press, 1985.
Connelly, Joan Breton. Portrait of a Priestess: Women and Ritual in Ancient Greece. Princeton University Press, 2007.
Epithets of Athena/Athene
Ageleia–Leader of the People
Agestratos-Host Leading
Aglauros-Dewfall
Agoraia-of the Market
Aithyia–Navigation or Sea Bird
Alalkomeneia–Repeller of Danger or She Who Wards Off
Alea–Protectress or Shelter
Amboulia–Counsellor, Of the Counsels
Anemôtis–Of the Winds
Apatouria–Deceiver, Of Deception
Apatouria-of the Apatouria Festival
Archegetes–Founder of the City
Areia–Warlike
Athenon Medeousa–Queen of Athens
Atrytone–Unwearying
Axiopoinos–Avenger
Boulaia–Of the Council
Chalkioikos–Of the Bronze House
Deino-Awful
Dios Ekgegauia–Zeus-Born
Diwia–Divine
Eryma–Defender
Ergane–Worker (Patron of Crafts and Artisans)
Gigantoleteira–Destroyer of Giants
Gigantoletis–Destroyer of Giants
Glaukopis–Bright-Eyed or Gleaming Eyed or Owl Eyed or Blue Eyed or Gray Eyed
Glaukos–Fierce Eyes
Glorious Goddess
Gorgolaphas–Gorgon-Crested
Gorgopis-Gorgon Eyed
Hellotis–Broad Faced
Hephaisteia–Of Hephaistos
he Theos-The Goddess
Hippia–Of the Horse
Hygieia–Of Good Health or Healer
Keleutheia–Of the Road
Khalinitis–Bridler (of Horses)
Khalkioikon–Of the Bronze House
Kissaia–Of the Growing Ivy
Kolokasia–Of the Edible Tubers
Kranaiês–Of Cornel-Wood
Koriê–Maiden
Koryphagenês–Born of the Head
Koryphasia–Of the Head
Kranaia-Fulfiller
Kyparissia–Of the Cypress Grove
Leitis–Distributer of War Booty
Makhanitis–Contriver (of Plans and Devices)
Mechanitis-Skilled in Inventing
Meter–Mother
Moria–Of the Olive Tree
Nike–Victory
Nikephoros-Victory Bringing
Ophthalmitis–Of the Eyes
Oxyderkês–With Penetrating Gaze or Clear-Sighted
Paiônia–Healer
Pallas–Brandishing Her Spear or Aegis; or named for Pallas a friend of Athene
Panakhais-Goddess of the Akhaean League
Pandrosos-All Bedewing
Parthenos–Virgin or Maiden
Pareias-Snake
Patroia-Paternal; of the Fathers; Ancestral Goddess
Phatria–Goddess of inherited from the ancestors
Polemadoke–War Sustaining
Polias–Of the City
Poliakhos-City Holding
Poliatis–Keeper of the City
Poliouchos–Protectress of the City
Polymetis–Cunning in Many Ways or Very Cunning
Potniya–Lady
Potnia Egrekydoimos-The Queen Who Delights in Tumults, Wars and Battles
Promachos–Fighter in Front or Champion
Promakhorma–Guardian of Anchorage
Pronoia–Foresight
Pronaia–Before the Temple
Saitidos-of Sais, Egypt
Salpinx–War Trumpet
Sophia-Wisdom
Soteira–Savior
Sthenias–Strong, Mighty
Strife-Stirring
Tritogeneia–Triton Born; Born on Lake Triton
Tritonia-Triton Born; Born on Lake Triton; Born on Lake Tritonis in Libya
Tritonis-Born on Lake Triton; Born on Lake Tritonis in Libya
Xenia–Of Hospitality, Of the Foreigner
Zosteria–Of the Girdle
English Epithets of Athena
Almighty
All-Protecting Queen
All-Saving Goddess
Blue Eyed
Blue Eyed Maiden
Bright Eyed
Clever One
Courageous
Daughter of Aegis-Bearing Zeus
Divine
Dread Guardian
Dread Rouser of Battle-Strife
Gleaming Eyed
Glorious Goddess
Gray Eyed
Great Goddess
Inventive
Lady
Mistress of Animals
Mistress Who Delights in the Clamorous Cry of War and Battle and Slaughter
Of the Golden Spear
One Who is Ever Near
Owl-Eyed
Shield Bearing Goddess
Shining Among the Goddesses
Unwearied Leader of the Host
Epithets of Shrines and Cult Centers
Agoraia–Of the Market Place
Aithyia–Of the Gannet Colony
Alalkomenê– Of Alalkomenai (in Boiotia)
Alalkomenêis–Of Alalkomenai (in Boiotia)
Alea– Of Aleos (hero Arkadia)
Alektor–Rooster
Aiantis–Of Aias (hero Salamis)
Asia–Of Asia Minor
Hippolaitis–Of Hipplas (in Lakonia)
Ilia–Of Ilios (Troy)
Itonia–Of Itonos (in Thessalia)
Itonia–Of Itonos (hero Boiotia)
Kydonia–Of Kydonia (in Krete)
Kyparissia–Of Kyparissiae (in Messenia)
Larisaia–Of the River Larisos (in Akhaia)
Lindia–Of Lindos (in Rhodes)
Narkaia– Of Narkaios (hero Elis)
Nedousia–Of Nedon (in Messenia)
Panakhaia–Of All Akhaia (Region)
Pronaia–Of the Fore-Temple (Delphi)
Skiras–Of Skiras (in Salamis)
Skillyntia–Of Skillos (in Elis)
Sounia–Of Sounion (in Attika)
Telkhinia–Of Telkhinia (in Cyprus)
Tritônis– Of the River Tritonis (in Boiotia)
Cult and Festival Terms
Athênaion-Temple of Athena
Athênaia-Festival of Athena
Panathênaia-Festival of Athena
Khalkeia-Festival of the Bronzes (in Athens)
Prokharistêria-Thanksgiving Festival (in Athens)
Plyntêria-Washing Day Festival (in Athens)
Skira-Parasol Festival (in Athens)
Proteleia-Prelimenary Sacrifices (in Athens)
Aleaia-Festival of Athena Alea (in Tegea)
Hâlotia-Capture Festival (in Tegea)
Itônia-Festival of Athena Itonia (in Itonos)
Panboiôtia-All-Boiotian Festival (in Koroneia)
Sources
Athena entry from Neos Alexandria Website
http://neosalexandria.org/the-pantheon/athena/
Homeric Hymns. translated by G. Evelyn-White. Found here: http://www.theoi.com/Text/HomericHymns3.html#28
Hymn to Athena by Proklos translated by Thomas Taylor
Found here: http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Sallust_On_the_Gods_and_the_World/The_Hymns_of_Proclus#To_MINERVA.
Shrine of the Goddess Athena
http://www.goddess-athena.org/Encyclopedia/Athena/Surnames.htm
whose source was this: James H. Dee, The Epithetic Phrases for the Homeric Gods: A Repertory of the Descriptive Expressions for the Divinities of the Iliad and the Odyssey. New York: Garland, 1994. ISBN 0-8153-1727-1.
The Orphic Hymns: Text, Translation and Notes, trans. By Apostolos N. Athanassakis. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1977, 1988.
The Homeric Hymns: A Translation, with Introduction and Notes. translated by Diane Rayor. University of California Press, 2004.
Worshipping Athena: Panathenaia and Parthenon. Jenifer Neils, ed. University of Wisconsin Press, 1996.
Burkett, Walter. Greek Religion. John Raffan, trans. Harvard University Press, 1985.
Connelly, Joan Breton. Portrait of a Priestess: Women and Ritual in Ancient Greece. Princeton University Press, 2007.
Deacy, Susan. Athena. Routledge, 2008.
Hesiod. Works and Days; and Theogony. Translated by Stanley Lombardo. Hackett Publishing Company, 1993.
Kerenyi, Karl. Athene: Virgin and Mother in Greek Religion. Translated by Murray Stein. Spring Publications, 1988.
Lefkowitz, Mary R. and Maureen B. Fant. Women’s Life in Greece and Rome: A Sourcebook in Translation. John Hopkins University Press, 2005.
Nilsson, Martin. Greek Folk Religion. University of Pennsylvania Press, 1981.
Furley, William D. and Jan Maarten Bremer. Greek Hymns: Selected Cult Songs from the Archaic to the Hellenistic Period. Mohr Siebeck, 2001.
Here is a great post by Elani Temperance about Athena’s festivals.
Kallunteria and Plynteria–Washing of Athena.
Here is another one:
Reminder: Arrephoria
More on the Arrephoria
More on the Arrephoria
Festival Rituals and Modern Worship
Ancient Hellenic Festival Rituals and Their Modern Versions
Fiercely Bright One 