In the memory of recently passed away relatives*. I honour you and remember you.

Mullein, herbal salts and a special ancestor oil. 

Four candles for the Four Guardians. The Gateway and the Key.

The smoke of the wormwood stick takes prayers, memories and thoughts to the Spirits.

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*Relatives as in I found out just after my last post that someone else in my family has died as well.

I have been on a sort of online break for a while, to tend to those closest to me. They needed me as much as I needed them. There is something very comforting in the presence of loved ones. There has been so much that has happened I won’t bore you with it. Suffice it to say another loved one has passed into the spirit world, he will be greatly missed and forever loved. And soon after, an amazing lovely dog has saved my life. Hooray for canine friends!

And while I’m still recovering, I’m not complaining. A lot can be said about my life, but at least it’s not boring.

In between I’ve been reading (or rather re-reading) this awesome book:

It’s been a long time since I’ve wanted a copy of my own and a couple of months ago I got lucky and got a good deal for it. Previously owned, but in top notch condition. I’m almost finished re-reading it, of course with a ton of notes. But I’ve been good this time and kept my notes in order. I do believe I have finally settled on the perfect thing. I’ve had this leather-like A5 size binder for a few years and which hasn’t been in use for some reason. With a few paper refills and other bits and bobs it’s now my trusty note keeper. And while I’ve been eyeing some beautiful books (these ones to be exact) I’ve come to realize that I’m the eternal student and I will always need to change things about and add. So a binder is perfect. Not to mention I always write down on small bits of paper or I will take an A4 size paper, fold it in half and write on it like that, the A5 size suits me fine.

Other than that, devotionals and routine spiritual work as usual. My sacred scents project had to be yet again postponed but it’s not a problem. I wasn’t expecting it to be finished any time soon but I will try to keep you posted,  I know a few of you are very interested in my scent experiments and research.

For now I wish you the best. It’s a beautiful day today and the park is waiting

Be well my lovelies!

Finally found the right Key for my ‘Gateway’. And what a team they make!

I’ve been away from the online world for quite some time, life duties prevented me from keeping up with the latest happenings. Upon my return I’ve come across a handful of people speaking out against hatred, spewing vitriol, belittling others and (let’s say it, why not?) being an asshat when it comes to interacting with others. This cheered me up immensely and really restored a sense of hope and faith in the idea of a community. I’m glad people are seeing what’s going on and are willing to say ‘wait a minute, this is just wrong’. I’m glad people are speaking out. I’m double glad that there’s more and more people acknowledging problems and discussing them, encouraging others to do the same and make things better.

I’m beyond happy this is happening. Really, I have no words to describe what I’m feeling today. Perhaps it touches me so deeply because whenever I’ve written about what words can do and advised against using them without a second thought at the impact they could have I’ve met severe resistance to say the least. [For example after my latest post I've been told to 'row myself off a cliff' along with other such remarks. And no, I'm not giving up writing - if anyone thought my absence from the online world had anything to do with it they were wrong.]

Without much more rambling, here are the pieces which have managed to brighten up my spirits:

Open Letter to the Kemetic Community on Fanny Fae’s blog.

Freedom Isn’t Free, and Neither is Community on Shadows of the Sun.

‘G is for Group. i.e. Why Your Words Matter’ on Making Bright.

Loneliness or Community iz Hurd on Per Ma: House of the Lion.

The Logistics of Running a Kemetic Anything on The Twisted Rope.

Just When You Thought It was Safe to Go Back in the Water on Mystical Bewilderment.

If anyone writes on the issue please let me know, I’ll be more than happy to add the links here.

And for those of you speaking out, a big THANK YOU!

Regardless of how the relationships start and develop (or not, as in some cases), it is my humble opinion the base of it all is love and respect, respect and love. And that should be kept in mind at all times, whether we journal about it – on paper or blogs or videos – whether we only speak of it in closed circles or just keep it silent, all between us and Them.

In a way, when we worship, befriend, work with/for a Power we end up in a situation where we can speak of our experiences with Them for others to know and learn and perhaps start or improve their own relationships with the Powers. Let’s think of it in terms of us being ambassadors for Them. Or Their PR staff if you wish. We should always honour Them with our words and actions and when we let that slip out of our minds, we can belittle Them and the relationships we have with Them. If we start referring to Them as ‘that trolling motherf***er’ (by no means an exaggeration, I have seen people talking like that about various Powers) we bring no honour to Them or ourselves. And while our relationships with Them can sometimes be so close that we can afford a little inside joke, the horrid ways in which some refer to various Powers is quite disturbing to say the least. In fact, I personally find it heartbreaking.

The line between casual and downright insulting is not fine at all. But it’s being made so. I wonder for what purpose? It’s one thing to describe things with a personal, unique touch and quite another to use swear words and horrible cussing. Who is honoured when this is done? I’d most certainly like to know because personally I don’t understand it.

Heka is speech and gesture and action. When speech, gesture and action are negative, what consequences do you think that brings?

Honour Them and make Them known for who They are, not for what you think people would like to know Them as. Express yourself with grace and delicacy. Sure, we all let one slip from time to time. But minding our words (and actions) is essential. Diplomacy, patience, kindness are good tools. Use them.

I know it’s much easier to dismiss all of this and not pay a single moment’s attention to it and simply blurt out whatever foul language which may come to mind first. It’s much easier to use sarcasm or resort to being condescending or rude instead of being diplomatic and employ patience and kindness. But in the end, what good will that do?

Kindness is sadly many a time forgotten completely. And while I firmly believe we each should work on improving ourselves, this shouldn’t turn into selfishness. Share the lessons you have learned, the knowledge you have amassed, the experiences you have been through. All of it with kindness. Kindness touches people’s hearts in a way no sarcastic remark or condescending tone ever could. And while we all have our moments, as no one is ever perfect, if we keep kindness close at hand we can do so much good. And kindness honours both ourselves and the Powers.

And in the end, when we leave this life, how do we want people to remember us? Like the snarky, foul mouthed fools or like the upright ones who have honoured ourselves and others by being kind, gentle and  perhaps diplomatic when the time called for it?

Please note this is purely personal opinion so take it as you will. I would love you hear your thoughts on the issue!

‘The Ebers Papyrus includes ‘amulet man’ with ‘doctors’ and ‘priests of Sekhmet’ in a list of medical practitioners who might be expected to apply a ‘hands on’ method of examining patients:

…when any doctor, priest of Sekhmet or amulet-man places his hands or fingers on any head, on any back of the head, on any hands, on any chest (‘place of the heart’), on any arms, or any feet, then he places them on the heart, for its vessels belong to all its limbs.‘

Further on the page it is stated that the very presence of a priest of Sekhmet embodies the religious link between medicine and magic.

So there we go

Many have an issue with using the Greek names for the Egyptian Deities, I have been asked on a few occasions why oh why do I use them? And as I’ve said many times, it’s simply because they are the most recognizable ones. Not to mention I use these names on my blog but none of my readers actually know how I address the Gods in prayers and in ritual settings. I may use the Greek names, I may use proper and ‘right’ Egyptian names or I may use titles or attributes of one specific Deity. The point is however it shouldn’t matter. I say this because one’s prayers are strictly between them and the Gods. It doesn’t affect anyone else whatsoever.

Furthermore we can’t possibly know for sure how names were pronounced in ancient Egypt. Or how anything else was pronounced for that matter. We can make approximations, educated guesses and so on but not know for sure. And maybe we are very close or just dead wrong. And so, maybe not even Aset or Djehuty are the ‘right names’.

Also, we must keep in mind Deities had (and still have) many names and titles, which are actually names as well, in the sense that they are a part of the essence of Their being just like the ‘name’ – for example Isis is Great in Words of Power and Anubis is Who He is Upon the Mountain, etc. In fact, titles and attributes help us understand Their essence and nature better and identify Them just as Their names do.

In the Tales of Isis and the Name of Ra *, the poison which coursed through Ra’s veins could not be drawn out until He gave Isis his ‘true’ and ‘hidden’ name (which is not revealed to the reader, Ra whispers it in Isis’ ear). So it could be argued that we don’t even know the ‘true’ and ‘hidden’ names of the Gods. So why have a go at each other in the worst possible manner for the use of this or that name?

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* A version of The Tale of Isis and the Name of Ra can be read here with both transliteration and translation.

A new copy on the EES shop site is priced at £60. Which is incredibly expensive for me at the moment. So while I was looking on there the other week I casually entered the title on good old Google and came up with a search result of a used copy on Amazon priced at … a few pennies over £10 plus shipping (in VERY good condition as well, looks like it’s barely been touched!). So I ordered it and it did arrive the next day but since it was a Saturday morning I assume the mail man didn’t bother ringing the bell or we were all so sleepy that no one heard the bell ring so he just left a slip note. I got it from the mail delivery office on the Monday and ever since I’ve been in complete bliss!

So I make myself a cup of Earl Grey, get my pencil and my notebook and study. And study some more. And I’m happy. So happy I feel like doing my happy dance. Funny thing, right after I clicked the ‘order’ button I looked at His image on my altar and said ‘This was YOUR doing, wasn’t it? THANK YOUUUU!’ with a big happy grin on my face. So yes, thanks were needed

Now, there’s a volume two of this book, ‘The Anubieion at Saqqara vol. II – The Cemeteries’ by Lisa L. Giddy, which I hope to get later this year, but for now I’m completely happy. [I've also read somewhere a volume III is planned as well]

I did have the thought at one point… ‘I was at Saqqara… why did I know so little back then?’ Or maybe it wasn’t that, maybe it was just the excitement of being allowed in the pyramid of Unas* and stare in wonder and awe at the Pyramid Texts inscribed all over. Maybe it was my young age (I was 21 at the time) or I was easily dazed. Or maybe Saqqara is such an impressive site that you can’t really take it all in during just one visit. I remember the feeling of being overwhelmed by the long history and beauty of that place and there’s this feeling of longing to go back. Don’t worry, my beloved Egypt, I will come back to see you again soon. I’ve always loved you, ever since I can remember. And always will.

[*It was a university 'road trip' of sorts for study purposes, this is why the handful of students who went, including myself, were allowed to go in certain places, which at the time were off limits for tourists.]

So the ‘Anubieion at Saqqara’ it is! For a few more weeks at least. Not to mention it’s a reference resource so it will always be cherished in my little book collection.

So thank you, Anubis! Thank you

P.S. I’m filing this under ‘Devotionals’ among others because I have always considered part of my devotional work to acquire and study as much material and explore as many resources as possible on the given subject. To me, it’s an ongoing devotional work.

Where is all this coming from you ask? Well, over the past couple of weeks I’ve witnessed quite a handful of these debates which have turned into arguments and name-calling. I personally think it’s senseless. And the worst is when it all starts from really innocent stuff, like someone writing a general opinion blog, out of personal experiences, observations and beliefs. Then someone else reads it and feel personally attacked, although the author of the blog itself doesn’t even know them. I wonder why this happens. Why is it that some feel threatened by someone’s opinion badly enough to lash out in name-calling, cussing and generally unpleasant words and behaviour?

I have people disagreeing with me all the time, just recently I put up the Reading List from here on tumblr. only to see some expressing their dislike (can’t find another word right now) for Budge. Did I feel threatened? Did I argue? No. I gave a polite response and left it at that. People can take from all of that what they want. [Incidentally I will make note of this now: I personally dislike Budge immensely, not only for his outdated ideas but also for other reasons. However I will still recommend people read some of his stuff. Even if it's just to see a different perspective or as an idea of what Egyptology was dealing with at his time].

Not everyone needs to agree all the time. Heck, I don’t agree with myself sometimes, it’s all part of learning. I’ve changed my mind numerous times, I’ve totally read stuff that now I consider to be real ‘brain rotting’ stuff, I’ve come to conclusions I later changed my opinion on, etc.

We all change, we all have our opinions and sometimes those change too. We can’t help it, it’s only human. But whatever happened to disagreeing politely? I swear some times I think there are some who find a sense of personal failure if they don’t convince others of their point.

I will tell you now, I’ve taken about a week to decide if I should keep this blog or not. The overall online atmosphere has been unpleasant to say the least. I’ve always hoped that by reading my humble attempts at blogging someone might find an interesting idea or two, even if it’s just a book they might like to read. In view of that hope, I’ll be keeping the blog.

By writing on here and interacting with other bloggers I’ve come across some brilliant resources and have had the pleasure of finding some remarkable folks with brilliant minds and ideas. I’ll always be grateful for that. (and let me tell you, I don’t always agree with them either! Which is absolutely fine. People can disagree and still have respect for one another)

I don’t consider myself an expert on anything, most of the times I feel I don’t know enough and I have to keep learning. I always want to find more resources, more books, more sites. I never have enough pencils, pens or notebooks. Or even scraps of paper to write down stuff. If you’d only see my desk right now! Maybe this is why I don’t have the time or energy for arguing. I want to learn, I want to get better at my calligraphy, at drawing ( I don’t consider my drawings anything other than humble doodling, most of the times inspired by stuff I find online or in books. I don’t lack inspiration, I lack skill so that’s why I need to exercise with other people’s designs!), I want to commune with the Gods more and be in the spiritual side of things even more, I want to improve my magical techniques, work with ingredients and such I haven’t worked with before. Experiment, try, learn and get better. And personally, I don’t think I can achieve any of that if I sit around and argue.

Why can’t we all just…. get along?

On to the other order of business – stuff I’m working on for the blog:

Post on medicine and magic, post on knot magic, post on sacred scents (another big addendum to the previous, this one more in detail of what works for Who, from personal experience mostly), post on random interesting bits I’ve found (including interesting ideas about the relationship between Anubis and Seth) and more devotional posts. And of course, adding up to the ever-growing post on ritual purity. Also adding up to the Reading List and Resources. pages. And that’s not even half of what I have planned out but enough spoilers already