dess” party, to celebrate the birth of five Egyptian deities. I am unaware of any traditional birth dates for deities of other pantheons, so we celebrated the birthdays of all the Gods and Goddesses of all pantheons at this party.
These celebrations were held on the Saturday or Sunday that fell within the five days preceding July 19th, the date of the rising of Sirius.
This ritual celebrates the births of the five deities, but is designed so that you may add names in order to celebrate Gods of all pantheons, if you wish.
A participant should be chosen to represent each of the five deities. All others in the circle should be given (or choose) the name of other deities of the Egyptian pantheon (or any pantheon).
To add to the spirit of the celebration, this ritual can (and should be) followed by a potluck feast. Information on tradi- tional foods can be found later in this section.
Circle Is Opened
Priest: My friends, we are gathered here to celebrate, with joy and love, the birthday of five deities worshiped in an ancient land.
Priestess: Five they were, born of the sky, fathered by the
Earth. Five they were, born one each day in the five days not of the year.
Priest: Five were born of the sky mother; three sons and two daughters. Let us first honor Them, one by one.
Priestess goes to the participant representing Asar, bows and says:
Praise to Thee, Asar, eldest Son of Nut. God of Life, Lord of Death, Ruler of the Unborn. Receive Thee our love and adoration as we celebrate the day of your birth.
Asar: First born of our mother am I, first to see the land, first to call it beloved. I am the grain that must fall if life is to be renewed. It is my voice you hear in the last sigh of death and the first cry of birth. If you would honor me, then honor all phases of life in- cluding its end, for I am both, and I shall be with you when your life begins and when it ceases.
Priest goes to the one representing Aset, bows and says:
All love to Thee, Aset, Lady of the Moon, Daughter of the Sky. Mother, Mistress of all Magic, our hearts rejoice at Your presence on the day of your birth.
Aset: I am my mother’s first daughter the fullness of the Moon am I. I am the brightness of learning. Magic is mine, and power. I am all that is Woman, all its strengths and all its burdens. If you would honor me, honor all my children. Serve them, and you will serve me.
Priestess goes to one chosen to represent Heru, bows and says:
Her Ur, Thou Great Sky, Thou Great Face, honor praise we bring to Thee. Lord of all, hear our joy as we celebrate the time of thy birth.
Heru: I am the sky beyond the sky, watching all, seeing all through the Sun and the Moon. Little known am I, but that does not limit my power. If you would honor me, then honor yourselves, for all creation is mine.
Priest goes to one chosen to represent Nebet Het, bows and says:
Beautiful Nebet Het, Lady of the House, Lady of the Womb, happily do we praise Thee. Know Thou of our love as we celebrate your birth.
Nebet Het: All that is unseen am I all that is unknown. Mystery
is mine, and meditation. Do not seek to know me, I will come when I choose, and when you least ex- pect me. If you would honor me, honor that which you do not know, nor understand.
Priestess goes to one chosen to represent Set, bows and says:
Hail, Mighty Set! Sword wielder, storm bringer, reaper of the grain. Hear us, hear our praise as we honor the season of your birth.
Set: I am the desert storm, wind scouring, sand blast- ing. I cleanse, but not gently. Those who do not understand see me as evil, for they do not see that I give by cutting away. If you would honor me, then honor your eternal selves, for that is what I honor in my work.
Priest and priestess return to their original positions. Priestess takes up the chalice, saying:
The Mother of these Gods, the womb from which they came forth, was the Goddess of the Sky, the Lady Nut. We cannot honor Them, without honoring Her. Partake of the cup, taking within you the Mother of the Gods, rejoicing in the joy and pain of birth.
Priestess raises the chalice in a salute, sips from it, and passes it to the Priest who follows suit, and passes the chalice on.
When that chalice has returned, the Priest takes up the bread, saying:
Nor can we celebrate this birth without honoring the Father of the Gods, Geb, Lord of the Earth. Partake of the bread, honoring this Great God, rejoicing in the strength and beauty of His seed.
Priest raises the bread, takes a small piece and eats it. He then passes the plate to the next person.
When the bread has returned, the Priestess says:
Though we honor the deities of ancient Egypt with this rite, we know that there are others of other lands equally worthy of honor. Let us now, in that spirit, call out the names of other Lords and La- dies, with love and praise, that we may, as much as possible, honor all of them.
She calls out a name and the others follow suit around the circle. It will be most effective if, after you’ve gone around the circle once, you do it again, several times. If, instead of calling out the names, each person sings the name, in whatever notes they choose, you will find it quite lovely and moving.
Priest: Hail to the Lord and Lady by all Their Names!
Priestess: Let us now close our circle and continue our cel-
ebration with feasting and laughter, remembering as we do that this is as much a part of our celebra- tion as this ritual.
Circle Is Closed.