June 17th-20th

The Year of Egypt

All participants gather in the circle prepared in the upper meadow (posts, torches, and the five symbols of the cults turned to their silver sides and veiled. Thoth, two ushabti, the boat and bearers present at center circle.) At nine o'clock The group is called to attention and Thoth creates the world. Beginning in the West and moving deosil as he narrates the Creation. Ushabti follow behind removing veils at the appropriate times.

Thoth: In the ancient beginning as in the beginning that is Now, only the vast formless waters of Nun extended to the edges of everywhere. Nun, no movement, no thought, no sound, stillness.

Ushabti remove the veil from the Anubis symbol (West) and continue, moving mannequin-like, with Thoth. As he comes to Osirian symbol...

Thoth: In the stillness motion began to stir. From the original waters rose the first Earth, a tall, dry mountain. Where Earth and Water met there was movement and sound.

Ushabti remove the veil from the Osiris symbol and continue with Thoth.

Thoth: From the remaining darkness a great mystery took place, that the Great Sun God, Ra spontaneously came into being. His light pouring over the edge of the first mountain was the first sunrise.

Ushabti remove the veil from the Isis symbol and continue.

Thoth: The Sun's original journey thru the sky was begun. Reaching the height of day, Ra now illuminated the whole primeval world. His heat warmed the Land and Sea, his light comingled with these and gave rise to Life.

Ushabti remove the veil from the Geb/Nut symbol and continue.

Thoth:As height rests upon depth, as beginning precipitates end, so Ra's first decline toward the horizon came. Drawing closer the the edge of the world, Life saw twilight and knew darkness would return.

Ushabti removes the veil from the Nephthys symbol. Thoth comes to the center near the boat, flanked by the Ushabti.

Thoth: Ra's journey takes him to the Underworld where his light may illuminate the Mysteries of Life and Death. To help in his triumph and return to the Upperworld will you, the Company of the Gods, journey with him?

Company of the Gods: We Will! Hail to you Ra! Who in your setting are called Tem!

Sistra begin shaking. Thoth leadsThe cults around one round of the Upperworld then out the SW'rn gate toward the Gate of Anubis. Ushabti stay behind and change symbols from silver to gold side and set out vessel for the mixing of the tears of Isis and Nephthys water of death then catch up with the ritual group.

Anubis,spell, response and notes.

Ritual group arrives at the Gate of Anubis (located at the God/Goddess shrines). Anubis waits in the gateway. As the group arrives the bearers of the Boat of Millions of Years will set the boat down and the Anubian group is to come forward.

<Here please insert a spoken introduction of your God, Anubis, including a couple of "I am" statements or otherwise as you are moved to do.>

Cult of Anubis recites the spell to open the Gates of the Underworld (phrases with response in italics):

"Homage to thee, Anubis. (pause for response) Thoth, the King of Eternity is with us.
We are the company of the Great God. (pause for response)
O ye who cause souls to enter into the Hall of Osiris, May ye cause the soul of Ra and
his Company to enter into the House of Osiris.
May we hear as He hear. (pause for response) May we see as He sees. (pause for response)
May we stand as He stands. (pause for response) May we sit as He sits. (pause for response)
O ye who open the way and lay open the paths to souls in the Hall of Osiris,
Lay open the paths to the Soul of Ra and His Company
Open ye the way!" (pause for response)

Anubis responds:

"Know ye that enter here: I stand with you at the Gates of the Underworld and by you with the Gods.
Know also that no living thing passes this way. As you come through this gate, you pass from Life
into Death. The tongues of the Devourer of the Dead await you in the darkness. In this passage your
hearts are weighed against the Feather of Truth. Stand with the God of the Sun and let no fear enter
your soul. Pass now into the beautiful land of Amenti."

Anubis turns aside with one arm out to each side of the gate allowing the group to pass. Please imbellish upon your own spoken part as you feel moved to do. I will appreciate knowing what changes you will make.

As instructed in pre-rite workshop, Anubis cult members form a tunnel holding hands up with "horned one" style gestures, thumb touching tips of middle and ring finger form an Anubis head, softly chanting, "From Life to Death, From Life to Death....."

The ritual group, led by Thoth and following the Boat of Millions of Years, passes thuough the tunnel and into a lit passage toward the lower ritual area. When the greater group of celebrants have passed through the Anubian group may now join with the greater group as their individual majik has been put forth. Anubis may also move the rest of ritual with the group.

The Anubian workshop needs to cover this material such that the Cult of Anubis will be well prepared to perform their part of the ritual. I will also recommend that a guided meditation, or short ritual invocation of Anubis be included in the workshop. We want there to be a cohesive feeling amongst those of each deity's group. Each group forms an important part of making the rite complete. When your group comes to the front of all celebrants they should have an understanding and strong feeling of the energy/divinity they are invoking. Let's make majik!

Passage to the Underworld

Having passed through the Gate of Anubis the Company of Ra goes on the path described by luminaria, Sistra shaking. Outside the described path are eight demons, masked and black clad with "crocodile snappers". They snap and jeer at the passing company telling of how awful the underworld is and that they should abandon the Sun God and go back the way they came! As the group passes, the first two demons will jeer and snap, then a bit down the path two more join and on until all eight demons have joined the heckling.

Of course, our cults are to valiantly defy these creatures and go forth undaunted upon their journey with Ra.

Osiris, spell, response and notes.

Ritual group will have come through the Anubian Gate and passed by the Daemonae nasty crocodile-butt-faced creatures. After describing a deosil arc from SE to W and bringing the Boat of Millions of Years to rest at the Osirian shrine (a painted backdrop facing away from central fire pit, lit with torches). Osiris waits at his shrine. The Cult of Osiris comes to the front of the general group.

<Here please insert a spoken introduction of your God, Osiris, including a couple of "I am" staements or otherwise as you feel moved to do.>

Cult of Osiris recites the taught spell (phases with responses in italics):

"Hail, Bull of Amenti. (pause for response) We have come unto thee, We are the oars of Ra
where with he ferried over the Apep serpent. Let us not be buried nor consumed.
We are the First-born of Osiris. (pause for response) We are the heir, the Exalted, the Mighty
Ones, tho Still of Heart. We have made our names to flourish.
Make us to live on this day!" (pause for response)

Osiris responds:

"Welcome to my house. you have balanced your hearts, shed your living forms and come to me as I am here.
The seed, the germ of mystery that lies at the heart of all that exists; which be mindful, contains the tree
that yielded it, the leaf and the shade. (present in the bowl of grain to be placed in the Boat) Receive me
the seed of Life. I will journey with you in the Boat of Millions of Years. Repeat my words-
I am the seed. (pause for response)
I am an Osiris. (pause for response)
With my blessing and with me in you, go on your way."

The ritual group, led by Thoth following the Boat of Millions of years, continues on its way now widdershins from W to S to the Isis shrine. Osirian cult joins the general group.

Please embellish upon your own spoken part as you feel moved to do. I will appreciate knowing what changes you will make. The Osirian workhop needs to cover this material such that the Cult of Osiris will be well prepared to perform their part of the ritual. I will also recommend that a guided meditation or short ritual invocation of Osiris be included in the workshop. We want there to be a cohesive feeling amongst those of each deity's group. Each group forms an important part of making this rite complete. When your group comes to the front of all celebrants they should have an understanding and strong feeling of the energy/divinity they are invoking. Let's make majik!

Isis, spell and notes.

Ritual group has come from the W (Osiris shrine) to the S (Isis shrine) describing a widdershins arc. Bringing the Boat of Millions of Years to rest at the Isiac shrine. The Cult of Isis comes to the front of the general group.

<Here please insert a spoken introduction of your Goddess, Isis, including a couple of "I am" statments or otherwise as you feel moved to do.>

Cult of Isis recites their Cult's spell (phrases with responses in italics):

"Aset, Great in Majik. (pause for response) you with whose utterance Heaven is content.
A charm is your word having Life. You are the Mother of the World who drivest away evil
by your speaking.
We share your mourning. (pause for response) We are in lonliness and sorrow as you mourn.
Thy hidden son shall grow. He will become endowed of two-fold strength
Give Life, we pray, to the seed of the beloved.
Our tears fall with yours. Aset, give Life to the world!"

<Insert response. It needs to conclude with your presenting the vessel of tears to the Cult leader/spellkeeper for placing in the Boat. Then perhaps a moderately stated directive to move along...>

Having received the Mystery and Tears of Isis the ritual group continues on its way, following the Boat of Millions of Years, from S to center moving widdershins still to the Geb/Nut shrine. The Isiac cult joins the general group.

The Isiac workshop needs to cover this material such that they will be well prepared to perform their part of the ritual. I also recommend that the workshop include a guided meditaion or short ritual invocation of Isis. We want there to be a cohesive feeling amongst those of each deity's group. Each group forms an important part of making this rite complete. When your group comes to the front of the celebrants they should have an understanding and strong feeling of the energy/divinity they are invoking. Let's make majik!

Geb and Nut, chant and notes.

Ritual group has come from the S (Isis shrine) to the center (Geb/Nut shrine) describing a widdershins arc, bringing the Boat of Millions of Years to rest at the central shrine. Geb devotees of the Cult of Geb/Nut stand behing Him in the S, Nut devotees of the Cult of Geb/Nut stand behind Her in the N.

<Here please insert spoken introductions of each of your deities, including a couple of "I am" staements or otherwise as you feel moved to do.>

The deities instruct their cult following to assist them in the sacred work of joining the soul and the body. Geb will have a body container and stand to the S of the shrine. Nut will bear a Soul (secrets forthcoming) and stand to the N of the shrine.

Geb and Nut start to chant:

"As Heaven 'n' Earth
Have no boundary
Body to Soul
Soul to Body"

Cult joins in chanting and pushing energy with hands to assist the joining. Geb and Nut move closer together and as energy comes up chant drops to:

"Body & Soul
Soul & Body"

Moving closer yet and eventually placing the soul into the body the chant becomes:

"Are one! Are one!"

With body and soul united and energy placed in this container, deities say
<split this as you will>
"At no time are we apart from each other
There is no thing on Earth that is not of Heaven
There is no thing in Heaven that is not of Earth"

At this point the body/soul is placed in the chest cavity of the seated Ra.

Carry this knowing with you
And bring (Life/Understanding....?) to the Upperworld.

Ritual group continues on its way, following the Boat of Millions of Years, snaking W then NE to describe a deosil arc and come to the N. The Geb/Nut Cult joins the general group.

The Geb/Nut cult workshop needs to cover this material such that they will be prepared to perform their part of the ritual. I also recommend that the workshop include a guided meditation or short ritual invocation of Geb and Nut. We want there to be a cohesive feeling amongst those of each deity's group. Each group forms an important part of making this rite complete. When your group comes to the front of the celebrants they should have an understanding and strong feeling of the energy/divinity they are invoking. Let's make majik!

Nephthys, spell and notes.

Ritual group has just come from the Geb/Nut shrine and has magically joined the body and the soul together and put them into the chest of the body of Ra. They bring the Boat of Millions of Years to rest at the Nephthys Shrine.The Cult of Nephthys comes torward.

<Here please insert a spoken introduction of your Goddess andinclude a couple of "I am" statements or otherwise as you feel moved to do so.>

Cult of Nephthys recites their spell (phrases with responses underlined):

"Nebt-Het, Lady of the House (pause for response), Lady of the Body. (pause for response)

"You who hast fashioned the body of the Company of Gods, You who hast united again the members of the body, We, the Osiris call to you, (pause for response)

"We call you to come as you came to Isis in the Swamp (Nephthys assists Isis in the Swamp to protect Horns (Osiris reborn) until he was old enough to reveal his presence)
Come protect us that we may rise up in peace." (response)

Nephthys responds:

"I go 'round about behind Osiris, I have come that I may protect thee, and my strength which protecteth shall be behind thee for ever and ever. Be joyful in life, compassionate and caring with each other. Know that as you return to life, I come with you in your hearts carrying the Water of Death. I am Death in Life, It is your knowing me that gives depth to all that is Life". (A vessel of water is brought forth and placed in the Boat. This would be a good place for Isis wings and a short chant for energy raising.)

Nephthys:

"Take this mystery with you to the upper world'.

The Cult of Nephthys rejoins the general group and all move deosil from N to E, to the Shrine of Ra.

Please embellish upon your own spoken part as you feel moved to do. I will appreciate knowing what changes you will make. The Nephthian workshop needs to cover this material such that the Cult of Nephthys will be well prepared to perform their part of the ritual. I wiIl also recommend that a guided meditation or short ritual invocation of Nephthys be included in the workshop. We want there to be a cohesive feeling amongst those of each deity's group. Each group forms an important part of making this rite complete. When your group comes to the front of all celebrants they should have an understanding and strong feeling of the energy/divinity they are invoking. Let's make majik!

Priest at the Shrine of Ra:

The Shrine of Ra is set with a painted backdrop and lit with torches. Curtains are placed that may be raised to conceal the boat when it comes to rest. As the ritual group arrives the boat is placed at the shrine of Ra and the bearers raise the curtains. when the group is assembled the priest of Ra addresses the group.

Priest of Ra:
"Welcome to the company of the Great God.
As I adore the god, let my words call to the Sun in each of you.
(now directing invocation toward concealed boat)
Homage to thee, thou who art Kephra in thy rising, who art
Ra in thy splendor, who art Temu in thy setting.
Thy father is Nu, thy mother is Nut, thou art crowned Ra-Temu-Kephra-Heru-Khuti.
No enemies art in thy path. Thy sacred boat advanceth in peace.
O mayest thou be at peace with me, may I behold thy beauties.
May I see Horus in charge of the rudder with Thoth and Ma'at beside.
May we come forth in the day and move about as we so pleaseth.
May our names be proclaimed upon the board of the table of offerings.
May we be with the boat of the Sun on the day of Going forth.
Thou wakest up in beauty at the dawn,
The house of the prince rejoiceth.
(addressing the group again)
Now let us use our combined majik to bring the God to rise to the Upperworld!
(chant) Ra-Temu-Kephra-Heru-Khuti"

During this time Ra, who has been concealed in the boat, climbs out, puts the manikkin Ra inside the boat, exchanges seed of Osiris for the Loaf and dons his headdress. When Ra is ready and the chant peaks bearers drop the curtains and the revealed, living Ra hails the company.

Ra:
"Ankh! Unja! Seneb! Life, health and strength!

"I am Ra! Lord of millions of years.
I am Temu-Kephra. I gave birth to myself on the thigh of the Divine Mother.
Behold, you have gathered together the charm from every place and from every divinity
with whom it is, the Mysteries which createth the forms of existence from the Mother and createth the Gods from Silence.

"Hail, thou who tow along the Boat of Millions of years, the stays of thy sails and of thy rudder are taut
in the wind as thou sailest in Amenti, swifter than greyhounds and fleeter than light.

"Behold the Truth of these Mysteries in the transformation of seed to bread! (present the 'ttransformed' loaf)

"Know and remember what you have seen in the beautiful land of Amenti,
Know and remember that these Mysteries are within you,
Know and remember, at every hour of every day, I, the Sun in the sky am also the Sun of your heart.
With the knowledge and joy of these Mysteries let us return, bringing Life reborn to the Upperworld!

Return to the Upperworld
Ra returns to being seated in the boat and the group led by Thoth and following the Boat of millions of years returns thru the underworld passage to the upperworld. After one deosil circumambulation the boat comes to rest at the center. Ra stands flanked by Thoth and Anubis saying:

"Let the daughters of Isis and Nephthys come forth!
The daughters come forward and take the vessels of Isis' tears and water of Death from the boat."

Daughter of Isis pours a bit on the ground saying, "To Isis!"

Daughter of Nephthys pours a bit on the ground saying,: "To nephthys!"

Ra: "Now mingle the Tears of Isis with Nephthys' water of death that the company of the Gods may drink of Life and Death!"

Daughters pour the fluid together in the third vessel (provided by Ushabti) begin the chant:

"Life in Death, Death in Life
Body and soul are one,
Life in Death, Death in Life
Hail, the Infinite Sun!"

When fluids are mixed the daughters with Ushabti assistance bring bread and the waters of life and death to the circle. Upon completion they return to the center and address the circle:

Daughter of Isis: "We have honored the Gods, travelled through the Underworld and gathered the Mysteries of Life and Death."

Daughter of Nephthys: "We are transformesd through the juorney of Ra, we have returned with renewed Life to the upperworld. Now, go forth into the Sunny night and celebrate the peak of the Suns power!"

Together: "This circle is open and yet unbroken! May peace be in your hearts! merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!

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