An Egyptian Prayer to Rešep

Shadows of the Sun

Detail of Turin Stele C 1601, on display at the Museo Egizio in Turin, Italy. It is a limestone devotional stele from Deir el-Medina dating to the 19th Dynasty (New Kingdom Period) depicting a relatively popular triad: Min (left); Qudšu/Kadesh (center); and Rašpu/Rešep (right). Apart from the ithyphallic God Min, Who is for all intents and purposes a native Egyptian deity, this triad is comprised of “Egyptianized” Canaanite (Syrian) deities, demonstrating not only the Ancient Egyptians’ willfulness in embracing the “exotic” but also the diffuse, “superfluid” nature of Ancient Near Eastern religions.

The following is a short prayer to the Egyptianized Canaanite (Syrian) God Rešep, which is comprised of phrases I have taken from the stelae Cambridge EGA 3002.1943 and Louvre C 86, both unearthed at Deir el-Medina and dating to the 19th Dynasty (New Kingdom Period). The translation provided is my own.

The first paragraph consists of transliterated Latin…

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Midwinter at Maeshowe, Orkney.

Cymraes's Corner

Maeshowe © Frank Bradford

The Ancients built Maeshowe burial chamber to align with the Midwinter Solstice Sun Set in the Stone age ~ the exact reason why they did this has been lost, but we can imagine the reason, and it’s clear to see that it has a great deal to do with the Solstice when the sun is reborn to rise again.

In our modern age, of computers, webcams and the internet, we can share this experience as it happens; if it happens… weather up in the far north is chaotic and on Orkney, surrounded by sea, it changes every five minutes sometimes!

Still, the process of the sun’s traverse of the passage way into the inner chamber is a fascinating thing to observe, live, as it happens.

We can try to imagine the ancients and the rituals that must have taken place at this time.

With the recent…

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Expanding my reach and rethinking

Take a look at this brilliant blog!

I Believe In Butter

Some days I am amazed I can keep my head on straight, much less anything else. Which is why it has taken me a week to post here that I am now a regular contributor to Delicious Obsessions! I’ve loved Jessica’s blog for years and over that time we have become friends. I feel honored to be able to share there and reach a wider audience.

Speaking of audiences… I have not forgotten about all of you. Every day I think about this blog and wish that I had the time and energy to post here. Taking care of my mother’s estate and planning her memorial (happening in just over a month) are still taking up the majority of my time. And yet I am trying to keep all my irons in the fire, and not able to keep track. IT occurs to me that for all my desire…

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Thirteen Things Not to Say to a Pagan

Anonywitch

Week 9 (E): etiquette (and the snarky responses you’re likely to receive from me should you ask me these questions)

The following are some things you shouldn’t say to a pagan, particularly one you’ve just met. I’ve heard them all before, so no, you’re not as original as you think you are. Mostly this is just an excuse to do a snarky gif post. I ❤ gifs.

1) “Do you really fly on a broom?”

Yes. I also expect to be crushed by a falling house in about 5 years. Everything the movies say about witches is true.

2) “You’re going to hell.”

3) “Do your parents know? Are they ok with you being a witch?”

Yes. Mom actually read quite a few of the books I read in the early years, but she encouraged me to explore my spirituality. She raised me reading Greek and Roman mythology, so my interest in…

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D is for Djed

Excellent post from Fanny Fae.

Fanny Fae

Djed Pillar as found in the Tomb of Nefertari, Valley of the Queens The Djed Pillar or Djed Column is representative of the idea of stability. The Djed pillar comes from as early as Pre-Dynastic times. Some Egyptologists believe it was a pillar that grain was once tied to and this symbol was associated with Ptah and Sokar and then later with Wasir (Osiris). Ptah of the Triad of Mennefer (Memphis) was often referred to as “The Great Djed”. It is because of the association with Sokar and the mummiform figure of Ptah, that the Djed is associated with Wasir. Some illustrations that have been found on papyri and tomb walls show the Djed with arms and a crook and flail – indicated Wasir’s resurrected state in the Duat (Underworld). Ptah

The ceremony of the ‘Raising the Djed Pillar took place in the city of Menefer or Memphis. The King…

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B is for Bessom

Knot Magick

The broom is the one of those quintessential witchy items that stir the imagination. The earliest cleaning implement known to man, the besom is traditionally made from a staff of hazel with bristles of birch twigs. Every home no matter how rich or poor would have had their own which would have been made, and repaired, by the womenfolk of the house.

The idea of the broom being used to cleanse a space of negative is an ancient one,  biblical even.  Isaiah 14:23 states “I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts” and the image of the housewife beating unwanted guests from their front door is an old one in itself. Traditionally you would find a broom standing by the door, bristles pointing down, in order to protect the home from negative spirits.

The traditional besom woods have magical properties and associations with the…

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For Service, Slavery, and Sex : Tattooing in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia

Fanny Fae

An excellent piece by Sarduríur Freydís Sverresdatter and definitely well worth the read. The subject of tattooing in Ancient Egypt. From slaves to Gods Wives of Amun, tattooing had special significance for certain sectors of society in the Two Lands.

For Service, Slavery, and Sex : Tattooing in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.

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