Lord of the Northern Sky,
wearing the crown of winter,
far to the south Ra’s Eye
is walking the road in Her season,
bringing the summer,
bringing the sun’s light.
When will You cease Your raging,
soldier of many battles?
Where is the end of fighting
when everything has been forgotten
except for the struggle,
the thunder and iron.
Look, here She comes, the Mistress of Joy,
bringing You sweetness, bringing You love.
Look, here She comes, Her hands full of pleasure.
Taste Her milk, close Your eyes.
Lord of the Northern Sky
for whom the whole world trembles,
let go the snow and ice,
lay down Your mighty scepter.
Lord of the Northern Sky,
dream of a desert wind.
Lie down and sleep for a while
until the new day.
And when You waken,
a thousand flowers bloom.
Notes: Written in March 2013 for the Feast of Set, Lord of the Oasis. This is based on an entirely personal, modern myth in which Set as the Lord of Winter must step aside when the once-wrathful Eye of Ra returns to the land with the waxing sunlight of spring — but it takes a little convincing. (“Lord of the Northern Sky” is, however, a traditional epithet.)
Eye of Ra, now the hunt is over.
Eye of Ra, all the foes of Ra are slain.
You are pure, You are peaceful, You are pure.
You are pure, You are peaceful, You are pure.
Cleanse Your hands with water from the river.
Cleanse Your hands of every crimson stain.
You are pure, You are peaceful, You are pure.
You are pure, You are peaceful, You are pure.
Eye of Ra, coming forth from Isheru.
Eye of Ra, rising from the holy lake.
You are pure, You are peaceful, You are pure.
You are pure, You are peaceful, You are pure.
Bast, You are pacified; Your heart is cooled.
Bast, return gladly to Your sacred place.
You are pure, You are peaceful, You are pure.
You are pure, You are peaceful, You are pure.
You are pure, You are peaceful, You are pure.
You are pure, You are peaceful, You are pure.
Notes: Begun in January 2012 and completed in January 2013. For some reason, the idea of a “purification of Bast” has tugged at my imagination for quite a while. Here, after tearing out the hearts of the enemies of ma’at, the Eye of Ra bathes in the sacred temple lake before returning to Her home in the shrine.
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.
Mother Bast,
smile upon us,
singing for the Udjat!
Lord Heru,
we all praise You,
singing for the Udjat!
Joyful day —
we dance and play,
singing for the Udjat!
As You give,
so we all live,
singing for the Udjat!
Netjer bright,
giving us life
as we sing for the Udjat!
Notes: Written in January 2013 for the Udjat “Procession for Singing,” part of the Rekeh Wer festival for Heru. Bast is called upon here as an Eye of Heru.
Nesret, Goddess of the Flame,
piercing arrow of heaven!
Lioness in Your fury,
light the valley with Your gaze!
Shake the mountain as You roar!
Tumble towers and high walls!
Kings and princes, trembling,
kiss the ground as You draw near!
Beautiful, You come to remind me
to respect Your awesome power.
Beautiful, You come to remind me
of the curse and gift of anger.
Beautiful, You come to remind me
to see clearly what’s before me.
Beautiful, You come to remind me —
Nesret!
Treading softly in the night,
vast and silent as the sky,
when You settle by my side,
velvet paws and dreaming eyes.
In the ring of firelight,
in the candle and the spark,
burning, burning, You are there
in the mirror of my heart.
Beautiful, You come to remind me
that Your love will cast out all fear.
Beautiful, You come to remind me
to walk tall and hold myself dear.
Beautiful, You come to remind me
of the strength that shines within me.
Beautiful, You come to remind me —
Nesret
Nesret
Nesret
Nesret
Notes: Written in February 2012. Nesret means “She of the Flame,” an epithet of various Goddesses. I primarily use it for Bast.
You rise, You rise, You shine.
You rise, You rise, You shine.
You rise, You rise, You shine.
You rise, You rise, You shine.
You kiss the sleeping earth.
You wake the land to rebirth.
You kiss the sleeping earth.
You wake the land to rebirth.
You rise, You rise, You shine.
You rise, You rise, You shine.
You rise, You rise, You shine.
You rise, You rise, You shine.
Notes: Written in February 2012 for the Procession of Nesret in the month of III Peret. Nesret means “She of the Flame”; in this case, referring to Bast. In my personal practice, this festival, along with the Feast of Heryshef at the start of the month, signals the beginning of the return of spring.
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.
Ii-wy em hotep
Ii-wy em hotep
Ii-wy em hotep
Holy Mother….
Holy Mother
Holy Mother
You burn like the river at dawn
You burn like the river at dawn
Holy Mother
Holy Mother
As gold as the sun when You rise
As gold as the sun when You rise
Holy Mother
Holy Mother
Your perfume brings joy to my heart
Your perfume brings joy to my heart
Holy Mother
Holy Mother
Your love brings peace to my soul
Your love brings peace to my soul
Bring me life
Bring me life
Bring me life
Holy Mother….
Notes: Written in May 2009. It was literally twenty minutes from the first notes hitting me in the shower to my getting this recording down, so it may be a little rough. I’d like to think that it captures the spontaneity of the moment. (Though I still might make a better recording someday.)