Daily Devotions from Her Holiness
Nisut Hekatawy I (ankh udja seneb)
September 16, 2000

Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
May your coming be peaceful.

Today in our devotions we honor Imset, one of the Four Sons of Heru, associated with the protection of the liver and with the Divine Protectress, Aset (Isis).

Face the west and give praises to the human-headed one, protector of the nourishing parts, Who is in turn protected by She Who is the Throne. Pour ritual water for the Akhu protected by Imset and know they are protected in the other world.

Dua Imset! Dua Aset! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
Happy Spiritual Birthday to seven new full Shemsu of Kemetic Orthodoxy, who were Named before 25 gathered brothers and sisters in the faith last evening in ritual ceremony:
Sekhmetweshebi (Shebi) in California;
Senamun (Sen) in the Netherlands;
Mehtibemyinepu (Mehti) in Utah;
Petriyinepu (Petri) in Canada;
Duatsekhmet (Duat) in Ohio;
Nubtshepsut (Nubt) in South Africa;
Asetmeri (Meri) in Sweden; and
Pamiu in the United Kingdom (England).

Nekhtet! to all of you! You make your Parent Names, the House of Netjer, and me, very proud.

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Daily Devotions from Her Holiness
Nisut Hekatawy I (ankh udja seneb)
September 15, 2000

Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
May your coming be peaceful.

Today in our devotions we honor Qebshenuef, one of the Four Sons of Heru, associated with the protection of the intestines and with the Divine Protectress, Serqet (Selket).

Face the south and give praises to the hawk-headed one, protector of the nourishing parts, Who is in turn protected by She Who Causes Throats to Breathe. Pour ritual water for the Akhu protected by Qebshenuef and know they are protected in the other world.

Dua Qebshenuef! Dua Serqet! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
We offer a rousing Nekhtet! for the Dua Festival this evening and the Naming of at least nine more Shemsu of Kemetic Orthodoxy; today is their Spiritual Birthday. I'll have more to share on this very special ceremony in tomorrow's devotion.

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Daily Devotions from Her Holiness
Nisut Hekatawy I (ankh udja seneb)
September 14, 2000

Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
May your coming be peaceful.

Today in our devotions we honor Duamutef, one of the Four Sons of Heru, associated with the protection of the stomach and with the Divine Protectress, Nit (Neith).

Face the north and give praises to the jackal-headed one, protector of the nourishing parts, Who is in turn protected by She Who is Time and Space. Pour ritual water for the Akhu protected by Duamutef and know they are protected in the other world.

Dua Duamutef! Dua Nit! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
"Few things can help an individual more than to place responsibility on him, and to let him know that you trust him."
Booker T. Washington

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Daily Devotions from Her Holiness
Nisut Hekatawy I (ankh udja seneb)
September 13, 2000

Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
May your coming be peaceful.

We celebrate the festival of Bast, Lady of the Life of the Two Lands, today. Leave special offerings in shrine for She Who protects the Two Lands and the Akhu, as well as the living. Send special greetings to Her children amongst the Shemsu.

Bast is a protectress Whose lifegiving powers are not often extolled in my devotions as Her festivals are not frequent. Perhaps She should be honored publicly more often. Many of Her children serve valuable roles in my temple, as clergy and as Shemsu and Remetj, and in their outside-temple lives as well. Bast is not one of our more vocal Names, preferring often to teach Her children and those who seek to learn from Her by inference rather than direct approach, like the cat She keeps as symbol.

"To understand a thing one must approach it from behind and above" is something a mentor once shared with me concerning Bast, and it is as true today as ever. Walk in the steps of the Invisible Paw and learn what it is to protect and serve.

Dua Bast! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
Bast is also a Name associated with joyfulness (not just simple happiness or sensual pleasure). Do something joyful today in your shrine practice to honor Her.

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Daily Devotions from Her Holiness
Nisut Hekatawy I (ankh udja seneb)
September 12, 2000

Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
May your coming be peaceful.

Just as it is important not to speak without careful preparation, it is important not to act without forethought and preparation.

In the beginning, Netjer created through the use of Its voice (embodied sometimes in the Name of Djehuty) and the use of Its will (or "heart," embodied sometimes in the Name of Heru). Through Will in Its Name of Heru and Speech in Its Name of Djehuty, Netjer in Its Name of Ptah created all that is within the universe.

Like Ptah, each of you have been endowed with will and voice. Voice should never act without will, and vice versa: the will should never act without consulting the Inner Voice: the Voice of Netjer that speaks to all of us, within our hearts.

An action without forethought, without consulting the Inner Voice, is as dangerous as a careless word -- a piece of heka thrown out into the world without preparation, like a gun fired blindly, may hit nothing, may miraculously hit its intended target after all, or may hit an unintended target.

As you focus your speech, focus your actions, so that they build Ma'at in the world and bring Ma'at back to you. Permit Isfet no means of entry into your body, whether through your voice or your will, and you, like Ptah, will be able to create all that your will can desire and your voice can speak.

Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
"Thus, will and voice rule over all the limbs in accordance with the teaching that each body has a heart (Heru, the heart of Ptah), and there is a tongue (Djehuty, the voice of Ptah) in the bodies of all gods, all people, all cattle, all creeping things, everything that lives: thinking whatever it wishes, and commanding whatever it wishes...sight, hearing, breathing all report to the will, and it makes every understanding come forth. And the voice repeats what the will wishes."
from the Memphite Theology of the 152nd Nisut (Shabaka)

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Daily Devotions from Her Holiness
Nisut Hekatawy I (ankh udja seneb)
September 11, 2000

Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
May your coming be peaceful.

Before you speak a word to another person, stop.

Think out the words you intend to speak.
Think about how the other person will perceive them.
Will you be understood as you intend?
Will there be a reaction?
Are you prepared for the responsibility for the consequences of that reaction, whatever it is, even if it is not the reaction you expect?

Every single word is a piece of heka. Heka is the building block of the universe -- with one piece of Heka, creation Itself began. Each word that spills from your lips is a universe in creation, each sentence a string of creations which may or may not honor the intentions of their creator. Each word is your child, birthed by you, into a world where it will do what it was originally intended to do only with careful thought and intent.

Nurture each and every word that comes from your mouth as you would your child. You will find that the words you respect will respect you in turn and honor you rather than place you in difficult situations. Honor your words -- and others will as well.

Dua Netjer! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
"Your own mouth has said it. Your own words have judged you."
Papyrus Chester Beatty I(recto): "The Contendings of Horus and Seth"

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Daily Devotions from Her Holiness
Nisut Hekatawy I (ankh udja seneb)
September 10, 2000

Bless all the children of Netjer, known and unknown!
May your coming be peaceful.

Today the Eye of Heru goes out against Isfet. Leave special offerings to the Eye for difficult situations where you could use Divine intervention.

We also honor Ta-senet-nofret ("The Good Sister," a form of Nebt-het/Nit);Het-hert and Min in our shrines today with Their special offerings and prayers. If you are not Kemetic Orthodox but would like to take part in the celebrations, cut flowers, growing plants and sweet foods are appropriate offerings for these festivals.

Remember today that Netjer is with you always.

Dua Ta-senet-nofret! Dua Het-hert! Dua Min! Dua Udjat Heru! Nekhtet!

Thought for the Day:
"Let me praise You with Your splendor in my eyes."
from the Memphite tomb of Nisut Horemheb, 18th Dynasty

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