So, I was looking for any more Graeco-Egyptian rituals I might have failed to post here, and found this set of morning and evening devotions, which I suspect are a revision/different version of the Graeco-Egyptian rites I currently have here. Or I did them first. IDK. But I thought I’d post them here, since what the hell. The more, the merrier.
I’m actually in the process of writing some Egyptian household rites, and I might actually borrow these, or at least, riff off their structure. I’m planning a rite for the first day of the month, a rite for the 6th day festival, one for the festival of the half-month, and another for the House of Ra, House of Heru, House of Wesir at the end of the month. I also want to create some new and full moon rites. They’ll all be in the simple non-temple sort of style, because they’re household rites, and honestly, this is an area that’s somewhat lacking in Kemetic practice. We do rituals for our gods, but the hearth practice, the household practice, isn’t as well-developed. And I want to change that. So.
Here are a set of morning and evening devotions for a collection of Greek, Roman, and Egyptian household gods. It includes Hestia, Hekate, Bast, Ianus, and for my gods (at the time) Wesir-Ra, Aset, and Sobek. But you could always switch out those three for other personal gods if you wanted to adapt it.
Household Rites
Y’know, because sometimes you need to take a stab at things and see what we can do with this. I won’t get a household rite if I don’t take the time to write one.
Not particularly dependent on ritual purity, as it is intended to be done every day. Offerings given can be as elaborate or as simple as you have time to prepare. No robes required, though you should cover your head and at least wash your hands and face.
Morning Ritual
Approach altar and offer henu. Open the shrine and spend a moment in contemplation.
Anoint your forehead with consecrated oil and spent a moment breathing in the scent and feeling the Gods around you.
When you are ready, say:
I am pure, I am pure, I am pure, I am pure.
I come before you bathed in your scent
to make ritual with you, oh Gods
Light Hestia’s candle and say:
Lady Hestia,
who by right receives the first and the last,
I ask for your blessings today,
and ask you to keep this house prosperous and happy.
May you fill us with your warmth and light.
Offer some frankincense oil into the melting wax. Do this after every prayer to the household gods.
Pray to Bast:
Hail to you, Bast-Mut, who watches over this house.
Offer us your blessings today,
and may you and your Netjeri keep this house safe and prosperous.
Offer some frankincense oil into the melting wax.
Pray to Ianus and say:
Hail to you, Ianus the gatekeeper,
who can see in all directions.
I ask for your blessings today,
and ask that you keep the keys safe.
Guard our house from those who wish to harm it.
Offer some frankincense oil into the melting wax.
Pray to Hekate and say:
Hail to you, Hekate,
who guards the crossroads and the liminal spaces.
Keep the keys and watch over our home today.
Bestow your blessings upon us and keep us safe and prosperous.
Offer some frankincense oil into the melting wax.
Present a small offering of bread and oil, or milk, or some other appropriate thing. Offer it up to the altar and say:
Hail to you, household gods,
who keep this house safe and prosperous.
May you be fed by this offering,
and continue to offer your blessings upon us.
Spend a moment in prayer before turning your attention to personal gods to ask for their blessings on you this day.
Light Wesir-Ra’s candle and say:
Hail to you, Wesir-Ra,
who rises today as Kheper-Ra,
glorious and majestic.
I ask for your blessings today.
May you shine down on me
and bathe me in your radiance,
so I might feel your love and protection.
Offer some frankincense oil into the melting wax.
Light Aset’s candle and say:
Great Lady, Great of Magic,
I ask for your blessings today,
that I may be careful with my speech,
and live with Ma’at in my heart.
Offer some frankincense oil into the melting wax.
Light Sobek’s candle and say:
Great crocodile,
I call on you now, Sobek,
to ask for your blessings today.
Watch over me and protect me
from all that may wish to harm me.
Offer some frankincense oil into the melting wax.
Light Heru’s candle and say:
Great falcon,
who soars high above the earth,
keep your sharp eyes on me,
and keep me safe from harm.
Wrap your wings around me to protect me and bless me.
Offer some frankincense oil into the melting wax.
Spent a moment in meditation or prayer, offer henu, or make other offerings.
Finally, offer one last lot of incense to Hestia and say:
Hestia, beautiful Lady who keeps the fire burning,
who by right is given the first and the last,
watch over us all today and bring us all home safely once more.
Offer henu and extinguish the candles. The rite is ended.
Evening ritual
Approach altar and offer henu. Spend a moment in contemplation and think about the blessings you have received that day.
Anoint your forehead with consecrated oil and spent a moment breathing in the scent and feeling the Gods around you.
When you are ready, say:
I am pure, I am pure, I am pure, I am pure.
I come before you bathed in your scent
to make ritual with you, oh Gods
Light Hestia’s candle and say:
Lady Hestia,
who by right receives the first and the last,
whose warmth and protection surround and fill this house,
I thank you for your blessings today.
Thank you for keeping us happy and prosperous.
May your flame never be extinguished.
Offer some frankincense oil into the melting wax. Do this after every prayer to the household gods.
Pray to Bast:
Hail to you, Bast-Mut, who watches over this house.
I thank you for your blessings today.
Thank you for watching over us, and protecting us.
Offer some frankincense oil into the melting wax.
Pray to Ianus and say:
Hail to you, Ianus the gatekeeper,
who can see in all directions.
I thank you for your blessings today.
Thank you for keeping the keys safe
and protecting our house from those who wish to harm it.
Offer some frankincense oil into the melting wax.
Pray to Hekate and say:
Hail to you, Hekate,
who guards the crossroads and the liminal spaces.
I thank you for your blessings today.
Thank you for keeping the keys safe and watching over our home.
Offer some frankincense oil into the melting wax.
Present a small offering of bread and oil, or milk, or some other appropriate thing. Offer it up to the altar and say:
Hail to you, household gods,
who keep this house safe and prosperous.
May you be fed by this offering,
and continue to offer your blessings upon us.
Spend a moment in prayer before turning your attention to personal gods to ask for their blessings on you this day.
Light Wesir-Ra’s candle and say:
Hail to you, Wesir-Ra,
who sets this night as Temu-Ra,
glorious and majestic.
I thank you for your blessings today.
I am made pure by your radiance.
Wesir, beautiful God,
hold Ra close to your heart
and protect Him through the night.
May Ra rise triumphant once more,
and the serpent be slain and defeated.
Offer some frankincense oil into the melting wax.
Light Aset’s candle and say:
Great Lady, Great of Magic,
I thank you for your blessings today.
I have done my best to live in Ma’at,
and be careful with my words, Lady of Heka.
Offer some frankincense oil into the melting wax.
Light Sobek’s candle and say:
Great crocodile,
I call on you now, Sobek,
to thank you for your blessings today.
Thank you for watching over me
and keeping me safe from harm.
Offer some frankincense oil into the melting wax.
Light Heru’s candle and say:
Great falcon, who soars high above the earth,
I thank you for your blessings today.
Thank you for watching over me and keeping me safe from harm.
Wrap your wings around me to protect me and bless me.
Offer some frankincense oil into the melting wax.
Spent a moment in meditation or prayer, offer henu, or make other offerings.
Finally, offer one last lot of incense to Hestia and say:
Hestia, beautiful Lady who keeps the fire burning,
who is given the first and the last,
thank you for watching over us all today
and for bringing us all home safely once more.
Your fire is a guiding light to keep us safe tonight.
Offer henu and extinguish the candles. The rite is ended.
Per Sebek 