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.
Heri-sha-ef, Lord of the Green!
Heri-sha-ef, under Your naret tree,
Heri-sha-ef, bringing the sun’s return,
lengthening days as the year turns!
Heri-sha-ef, Master of Spring!
Heri-sha-ef, give life to everything!
Heri-sha-ef, regal in Your command,
gentle of mien, smile on the land,
O Heri-sha-ef!
Notes: Written in January 2012 for the Feast of Heri-sha-ef (aka Heryshef; here I’m using the House of Netjer’s official spelling rather than the more commonly used one). The naret tree was possibly a sacred tree near His temple, perhaps a sycamore.
King of the Two Lands,
great upon Your lake,
splendid sharp-horned ram,
all that lives You make.
Lord of Henen-nesu,
master of the land,
Bast comes forth to wake You;
You walk hand in hand
all along the river,
welcoming the day.
Green the new growth rises
where the floods once lay.
Mighty on the hill,
foremost of the field,
where the heart is still,
there You are revealed.
The sun is Your right eye,
the moon is Your left.
Send the winds of new life,
sweetened by Your breath.
Lusty in the springtime,
pure within Your hall,
O soul of the Great Nine,
come and bless us all.
King of the Two Lands,
great upon Your lake,
splendid sharp-horned ram,
all that lives You make.
Heryshef, arise!
Heryshef, awake!
The Eye of Ra has come to You
in beauty on Your lake.
Notes: Written in February 2010 for the Feast of Heryshef. Henen-nesu: the city later known as Heracleopolis, cult center of the ram-headed God Heryshef, whose name means “He who is upon His lake.” The sun is Your right eye…sweetened by Your breath: adapted from/inspired by the stela of Somtutefnakht (in Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, vol. 3).