A Kemetic High Day Rite

Modified version of the Solitary Druid Fellowship High Day rites, to incorporate a Kemetic hearth, and a cosmology that is uniquely my own. Make of it what you will. Definitely not an ADF rite in any way, but for me, it marries the structure of ADF rituals, which I love, with my Kemetic gods, so I can mark the solstices and equinoxes without having to do two separate rites. It also ties it pretty closely to the land spirits of my particular part of the world, so if you’re adapting this (for whatever reason, why would you ever want to use this rite anyway?) you’ll want to change those references to suit your own place. I may actually put up some other notes about my cosmology and how I use it here later, but for now, have the rite.

Items needed:
Representations of Tree, River, and Stars.
Libation bowl/s and a jug of cool water.
Oil for anointing, as appropriate (I use frankincense oil)
Musical instrument, such as a bell, or anything else appropriate.
Representations for Sobek, Heru-sa-Aset, Yinepu-Wepwawet, Set
Offerings for Sobek and Heru-sa-Aset
Something to cast the omen with
Any other offerings you feel are appropriate.

The Rite:

0. Musical Signal

1. Initiating the Rite
[Light candle, and say the following:]
I am one, and we are many.
Fellowship in solitude.
Here I bring my offerings
Here before the sacred stars,
Sacred river, and sacred tree,
To celebrate the Kindred Three.
May we all be purified,
May the fire burn within.

2. Purification
[Offer henu, and then prepare anointing oil. Anoint your forehead with a perfume, cologne or natural oil of your choosing:]
O, Sobek,
O, Heru-sa-Aset,
Bathe me in your scent, O Gods.
I have purified myself with the eye of Heru
so I can make these rituals with you.

[Pass hand over flames and speak the following:]
By the fire, may I be pure. May my fears be burned away.

[Touch water of well]
By the waters, may I be pure. May my distractions be washed away.

[Touch tree/other representation]
May I be rooted in earth and crowned in sky, beyond the reach of doubt.
*
From all forces of chaos, may I be cleansed.
May I be pure, may I be pure, may I be pure.

[After speaking aloud these words, take several moments to experience the feeling of purification. Breathe deep.]

3. First Offering to Yinepu-Wepwawet
[Offer Henu and pour a libation of water.]
Greetings to you, Yinepu,
Greetings to you, Wepwawet,
Foremost of the Westerners,
Guardian of the Gates,
This libation is for you, Mighty Ones,
This libation is for you.
Open the way for us, and guard us, Great Jackals,
So that no harm comes to us.

4. Statement of Purpose
Hail, mighty Gods, I come before you to give honour to you.

[If desired, state the High Day being celebrated, and invoke what it means to you, and why you are honouring the gods today.]

Hail, Sobek, great god of the rivers and lakes,
I honour you today.
Hail, Heru-sa-Aset, great falcon of the skies,
I honour you today.
Hail, Yinepu-Wepwawet, Lord of Abydos, and keeper of the keys
I honour you today.

[Light the shrine lamps and say:]
Receive the light, o gods, receive the light,
Come to the shrine, o gods, and receive the light.
Come, gather at the hearth, o gods,
Come in peace to receive the light,
Come to celebrate the High Day with me.

5. Honouring the Earth
[Offer water to the land spirits and say:]
I come in peace to honour the spirits and ancestors of Wajuk country,
Whose land upon which I stand.
May we be at peace, Great Spirits and Ancestors.
May I leave only footprints on your land.

6. Acknowledgement of Outsiders
[Offer henu, and pour libation to Set:]
Hail, Set, Great God,
Who comes forth from the Red Lands.
This libation is for you, Set,
This libation is for you.
Come to the hearth, great one, and be at peace with us.
Protect us from harm, you who is strongest amongst the gods.
Protect us as we make ritual together.

7. Grounding and Centring
[Take three deep breaths and centre your being. With each movement, feel the energies of each invocation move through your body. Breathe out, feel Heru’s wings and the air they create. Feel Ra’s heat, moving through your blood, making your body warm. Feel the cool water of Sobek soothe you, and feel the fluids that move through your body. Feel the strength of Wesir, of the Djed pillar, centring you and giving you strength and stillness.]

[Gesture: hold your hands in front of you, thumbs touching, and fingers splayed, to form wings.]
The breath of Heru moves through me.
*
[Gesture: move your thumbs and forefingers together to form a triangle.]
The fire of Ra burns within me.
*
[Gesture: Cup your hands in front of you.]
The waters of Sobek flow within me.
*
[Gesture: Lay your hands, palms facing the floor, out in front of you as the flat earth.]
The bones of Wesir stand strong within me.
*
In this moment,
At zep tepi,
I am still.

8. (Re)Creating the Cosmos
Here at the centre of all things,
Before the sacred stars, sacred river, and Sacred Tree,
I recreate the cosmos.
*
I stand before the sacred river,
Beautiful Nile, who brings the flood,
Lifeblood of the Two Lands.
Cool waters, flow within me.
*
I stand below the sacred stars,
Beautiful sky, the vault of Nut,
Where the ancestors reside.
Starfire and wisdom, shine within me.
*
I stand before the sacred tree,
Beautiful sycamore, steadfast and strong,
Upon whose leaves Seshat records our names.
Tree of life, grow within me.
*
I stand here at the centre of the world,
My feet touch Tatanen,
I reach towards Ra’s light above,
The waters of the Nun lap at the shore.
All is still, Zep Tepi is born,
Creation begins anew.

9. Opening the Gate(s)
[Prepare offerings, and imagine the scene. Imagine the river, flowing to the west. See the great sycamore tree soaring high into the sky. See Nut’s starry body, and the ancestors shining down on us. When you are ready, call on Yinepu-Wepwawet to open the gates.]

Hail Yinepu, Child of the Gods,
Hail Wepwawet, Opener of the Ways,
Twin Jackals Rich In Names,
Come to us now,
Lend us your magic,
And open the gates.
*

Take this cauldron,
Foremost of the Westerners
And open the gates.
Let the river flow into the west,
A gateway to the ancestors.

Khenty-imentiu, make this cauldron a gate!
*
Take this candle,
Guardian of Ra,
And open the gates.
Let the stars shine down on us,
From the vault of the heavens.

Wepwawet-Re, make this candle a gate!
*
Take this tree,
Lord of the Sacred Land
And open the gates.
Let the Tree of Life sink deep roots into the earth,
And stretch high into the sky.

Neb-ta-djeser, make this tree a gate!
*
By Land, Sky, and Sea,
By Starfire, River, and Tree:
O Yinepu-Wepwawet,
Let the Gates be opened!
Let the Gates be opened!

10. Inviting the Three Kindreds
[Take up your offerings, and turn your attention to each of the Hallows in turn.]

The children of the Earth call out to the Shining Ones.
Greetings to you, Divine Beings!
We offer you welcome.
[Pour libation of water]
Come to our hearth, Shining Ones;
Meet us at the boundary.
Guide us and ward us as we walk the elder ways.
Deities, accept our sacrifice!
*
The children of the Earth call out to the Mighty Dead.
Greetings, ancestors and divine dead.
We offer you welcome.
[Pour libation of water]
Come to our hearth, Ancestors
Meet us at the boundary
Guide us and ward us as we walk the elder ways.
Ancestors, accept our sacrifice!
*
The children of the Earth call out to the Spirits of this Land.
Greetings to you, spirits of Wajuk country!
We offer you welcome.
[Pour libation of water]
Come to our fire, Spirits;
Meet us at the boundary.
Guide us and ward us as we walk the elder ways.
Nature Spirits, accept our sacrifice!

11. Honouring the Beings of Occasion
[Recite hymns of praise to Sobek and Heru-sa-Aset, as appropriate, and follow with making offerings.]

[Offer up a cup of liquid, beer, spirits, water, etc, to Sobek and say:]
This $item is for you, $name,
This $item is for you.
Coming forth from your servant,
Coming forth before you.
I have come and I have brought you this $item
That you may be nourished by it
I have brought it to you, unto your shrine,
That it may nourish me as it nourishes you.

[Revise and make additions depending on what is being offered. Revert any revertable offerings, and spend a moment in prayer with them.]

12. Omen
[Take the omen in whatever fashion you wish. Ask either for guidance on whatever matters are at hand, or as a guide to how the offerings have been accepted.]

13. Prayer of Sacrifice
Mighty Kindred,
You have heard my praise
And seen the evidence of my devotion.
With this final offering
I lift up my heart, my being,
As a sign of my commitment to you.
Mighty Kindred, accept my sacrifice!

[Spend a moment in the presence of the gods, and if desired, make private prayer or devotions.]

14. Thanking the Beings
I have prayed with a good fire.
I have made offerings to the Kindred,
And I have received their blessings.
Now, I give thanks.
*
To Sobek, I give thanks.
To Heru-sa-Aset, I give thanks.
To Yinpu-Wepwawet, I give thanks.
To Set, I give thanks.
To the Gods and Shining Ones, I give thanks.
To the spirits of Wajuk country, I give thanks.
To the ancestors who came before, I give thanks.
To all those who have aided us, I give thanks.

I thank you all for joining me on this High Day,
for receiving my offerings,
And for your great generosity.
I am blessed to be in relationship
With you.

15. Thanking the Earth
[Offer water to the land spirits and say:]
I have come in peace to honour the spirits and ancestors of Wajuk country,
Whose land upon which I stand.
May we be at peace, Great Spirits and Ancestors.
May I leave only footprints on your land.

16. Final offering to Yinepu-Wepwawet
[Offer Henu and pour a libation of water.]
Greetings to you, Yinepu,
Greetings to you, Wepwawet,
Foremost of the Westerners,
Guardian of the Gates,
This libation is for you, Mighty Ones,
This libation is for you.
I thank you for your protection, Great Jackals,
Close the gates, the ritual is done, and make this place safe.
May all spirits present go well, and go in peace.

17. Closing the Gate(s)
I call on you now, Yinepu-Wepwawet,
Foremost of the Westerners,
Opener of the Ways,
Guardian of the cemeteries,
Come, now, to close the gates.
By Land, Sky, and Sea,
By Starfire, River, and Tree:
O Yinepu-Wepwawet,
Let the Gates be closed!
Let the Gates be closed!

18. Closing the Rite
I am one, and we are many.
Fellowship in solitude.
I have brought my offerings,
I have come to the hearth,
I have prayed with a good fire,
Here before the sacred stars,
Sacred river, and sacred tree,
To celebrate the Kindred Three.
I go forth into the world,
Strengthened by this Druid rite.
May we pray with a good fire,
And make the Old Ways new again.

Dua Sobek!
Dua Heru-sa-Aset!
Dua Yinepu-Wepwawet!
Dua Set!
Nekhtet!