This is where it all begins.
This is where life becomes,
where Hapi holds out His hands to us
among the flowers of Nefertem.
The bennu stands upon the stones,
bright sails are raised to catch the wind,
and in this moment all the world,
is new again,
is new again….
Satet, Anuket, be kind to me.
Send Your cooling waters rolling toward the far-off sea.
Nekhbet, Wadjet, watch over me,
everywhere the river flows on his journey
to the Field of Reeds,
to the Field of Reeds.
As swiftly as the hawk in flight,
as steady as the beating drum,
between the Red Land and the Black,
shimmering those waters run.
O great Lord of the Riverbank,
smiling under Hethert’s sky,
O Heryshef, O Soul of Ra,
how bright You shine,
how bright You shine….
Aset, Serqet, inspire me.
Send your breath of life to stir my soul and set me free.
Nunet, Nebthet, You sing to me.
Beyond those gates of birth and death, the mystery
of the Field of Reeds,
of the Field of Reeds.
And when I reach the water’s edge,
my Mother waits there for me.
Among the whispers of the reeds,
silent, She is watching me.
And every treasure is there,
a thousand jewels of the sun,
the lotus pool, the flashing wings,
the sweetest fragrance of Her love.
And in the cool of the evening,
as the golden light descends,
She brings a quiet to my heart,
the peace of Tem,
the peace of Tem….
Satet, Anuket, be kind to me.
Send Your cooling waters rolling toward the far-off sea.
Nekhbet, Wadjet, watch over me,
Everywhere the river flows on his journey.
Aset, Serqet, inspire me.
Send your breath of life to stir my soul and set me free.
Nunet, Nebthet, You sing to me.
Beyond those gates of birth and death, the mystery
of the Field of Reeds,
of the Field of Reeds,
of the Field of Reeds.
Notes: Recorded in March 2013, but written years back. This song is a journey, not just following the great river from the cataracts in the south of Kemet to the northern sea, but also following the movement of the sun from dawn to twilight and of a person’s life from awakening to completion, from birth to death. The tune was inspired by the song “Al-Sayyadin” (The Fishermen) from The Music of Islam vol 3: Music of the Nubians.
Great of love, living passionately,
rise in strength to slay anxiety.
When I’m afraid Your power sets me free.
Mighty Bast, send Your Arrows!
Nefertem, Your perfume comes to me.
Heru-hekenu, spread Your wings above me.
Khonsu-Heru, shining beautifully —
Mighty Bast, send Your Arrows!
Gracious Wadjet, come in peace for me.
Wenut, Eye of Ra, come joyfully.
Heryshef, crowned with majesty —
Mighty Bast, send Your Arrows!
Lift me up into the sunlight.
Walk with me by moon and starlight.
Teach me how to defeat my sorrows!
Send Your, send Your, send Your Arrows!
Mighty Bast, O You send Your Arrows!
Notes: Written in June 2010 for the Seven Arrows of Bast. Excellent heka against fear and depression.
Nefertem, beauty at morning,
pure as the blue waters that raise You
into the world of a new day.
Shine for me, shine for me, hey yeah —
Noble God, crowned with the lotus,
sweetness pours from you like the flood,
rising, rising til it meets the sky.
Lift my heart like Ra on the ben-ben!
Zep Tepi, Zep Tepi,
Khepera, You dazzle me like the sun.
Nefertem, You set me free,
kissed by joy to welcome the new day!
Ihy sings, shaking His sistrum.
Heru takes flight from the nest of Heaven.
Wepwawet opens the gates of dawn.
All is new, all is becoming, yeah —
Zep Tepi, Zep Tepi,
spread my flame-bright wings like the bennu,
flowering in ecstasy,
kissed by joy to welcome the new day!
Nefertem, You show us wonders.
Nefertem, You give us a place to stand
close to God, cradled in Your embrace,
Your light and breath of perfume so that we live in
Zep Tepi, Zep Tepi,
Khepera, You dazzle me like the sun.
Nefertem, You set me free,
kissed by joy to welcome the new day!
Zep Tepi, Zep Tepi,
spread my flame-bright wings like the bennu,
flowering in ecstasy,
kissed by joy to welcome the new day!
Zep Tepi, Zep Tepi!
Zep Tepi, Zep Tepi!
Your perfect love is all I need!
Shine for me, shine for me, hey yeah!