Month: April 2014

Ancient Texts, Hymns, Khnum

Khnum, Lord of Esna

jewelofaset

Here is a great article on Khnum and Nit of the Temple of Esna (linked at the bottom). The Temple of Esna was called “Temple of the Two Souls” and Khnum’s Temple was called “Temple of the Father” while Nit’s Temple was called “Temple of the Mother”.

Khnum/Khnum-Ra Epithets
Earliest Primordial God
Good Protector
Lord of Esna
Lord of the Field
Lord of Life
Who Causes the Vegetation to Germinate
Who Creates All Beings
Who Creates the Gods and Forms Human Beings
Who Enlightens Egypt with His Rays
Who Exists at the Beginning
Who Keeps Creation Alive
Who Measures the Fields
Who is in His Great Place

Festivals

4 Akhet
1 to 6-Festival(s) (Article does not say which ones)

3 Peret
1-Festival of Installation of the Potter’s Wheel and Festival of Raising Heaven

3 Shomu
13-Festival of the Visit of the Goddess Nit
20-Festival of the Victory of Khnum-Ra

Source
Hallof, Jochen. “Esna”. UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology. 2011.
https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6k78t4w9#page-1

Aset, Auset, Isis

Lighthouse: Lead to a Safe Harbor

jewelofaset

I love my CCTV. For those of you that don’t know, a CCTV is a device that helps visually-impaired people read. There are newer versions, but mine is old school. It is huge and heavy. It is an old computer monitor on top, connected with a curved neck to a tray at the bottom which moves back and forth so that you can put a book on it and the pages project onto the screen. There is a light for this and a knob to turn on the monitor. This device enables me to do the work I am doing for Aset and other deities.

If I try to read printed work without this device, I have to pretend I am a microscope and look so close to the words that my nose just about touches the page. I also use an Ott Light to help me see the words. An Ott Light is a special, bright light that mimics sunlight. They are also used to help visually impaired people see. Specialty stores in places called Lighthouse (non-profit organizations that help blind and visually impaired clients) have these lights and other devices (such as my CCTV) available to help those who need them.

The ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria had a patron Goddess, Aset of Pharos/Isis Pharia who would help travelers find their way through darkness from the sea to the shore. I find this both comforting and meaningful as an analogy for a guiding light in darkness leading people to a safe harbor.

For the Panegyric Festival of Thanksgiving of Aset today, offer Her bread or some other grain. And perhaps if you are able to, donate to one of the charity organizations listed on my resources page:  resources

And here is Lighthouse by Charice

Ancestors, Ancient Texts, Books, Hymns, Wepwawet

Rest in Peace, Terence DuQuesne

jewelofaset

This post has alerted me to some sad news: May Wepwawet Open the Beautiful Way in the West for Him.

Terence DuQuesne has passed away.

I did not know him, but I have read many of his works. He was an Egyptologist who seemed to specialize in the Jackal Deities of Egypt especially Wepwawet, Anubis and Anupet, among others. Due to his ground-breaking work on the subject-prolific writings spanning decades-many know more about Wepwawet and other Jackal Deities than they ever did before. His work will inspire and inform many future generations.

He published many books and articles. Among them are Black and Gold God, Jackal at the Shaman’s Gate, Jackal Divinities Volume 1, and Anubis and the Spirits of the West.

Other of his works include:

DuQuesne, Terence. The Salakhana Trove: Votive Stelae and Other Objects from Asyut. London: Darengo Publications, 2009.

DuQuesne, Terence. Anubis, Upwawet and Other Deities: Personal Worship and Official Religion in Ancient Egypt. The Egyptian Museum of Cairo, 2008.

DuQuesne, Terence. “Exalting the God: Processions of Upwawet in Asyut in the New Kingdom”. Discussions in Egyptology, Vol. 57. 2003, pp. 21-46.

DuQuesne, Terence. “The Great Goddess and her Companions in Middle Egypt”. Mythos und Ritual. Festschrift für Jan Assmann zum 70. Geburtstag. 2008.

He was also a poet and published some poetry anthologies.
His books are listed here: Darengo Publications

The sky has an extra star tonight and always.

Hail to you, you imperishable star.

A thousand of bread
A thousand of beer
A thousand of every good thing
for your Ka.
May you ascend to the stars
shining brightly among the Gods.

Aset, Auset, Isis, Oracles, Poems, Poetry,

She Who Initiates

jewelofaset

She Who Initiates
by Chelsea B.

I am She Who Initiates
I am She Who tears apart
Tears and Wailing
are My methods of erosion.
Slowly eroding what must be swept away
By the tears you shed
in My name.
For I am the mourner and the death-bringer.
Both.
For I am the One Who cleanses
I am the One Who strips away
So all pain is bare and open in your heart
So you cannot hide from it.
You cannot run from it.
I will tear you down to bring you back.
Like Wesir.
I will hack you to pieces to make you whole.
I am Aset, the One Who wails while wielding a blade.
I am the Goddess of Transformation.
All Who come to Me will be transformed.
This is not a delicate process.
This is heart-wrenching, gut-wrenching work.
This is the way to Priesthood.
This is the Way of Transformation.
I transform and I renew with tears.
I mold and re-shape with fire.
Cleansing flame is how I put you back together.
With the magic of My mouth and My Ka.
With the fire in My words and on My tongue.
What I speak will come to pass.
You will be transformed.
Renewed.
In My Name.
Do the Work and all will be revealed.