My Ib

A few weeks ago I saw this video:



...And I thought, "That's cool! Kaif, get yourself a little ib pot thingy, and do all of the heka!"

While I probably could have gotten away with using any sort of container, it was very important for me to get one that at least somewhat resembled the ib symbol. So for a couple of weeks I kept an eye out for something suitable, but unsurprisingly, didn't find a finished product that was the right shape and size and price. And then I got impatient, so I did what I usually end up doing, and made my own.

For a dollar or two at a craft store, I found a small glass vase that had more or less the right shape, minus the handles. It was a little bigger than I would have liked, but it was the best I'd found so far. I took it home and covered the entire thing in air dry clay. It was a gamble, because I had no idea if the dried clay would stick to it or not, but luckily, in the end it did. (Huzzah!) I then added some handles to the body (again using air dry clay) and painted it a deep, rich red. Aside from being the color that ibs are usually portrayed in, red also happens to be my favorite color, so it has a bit of added meaning right there.

The result was this:

And here is a picture of my ib pot stowed safely on my shrine, with my Wepwawet amulet and ankh necklace draped around it:

Heka, Masaru Emoto Style

I thought this video would make a good follow-up to my previous heka post. It is a brief yet brilliant summary of Masaru Emoto's work. For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, in a nutshell, Mr. Emoto took pictures of water molecules after they had been exposed to various words and intentions. I first heard of Masaru Emoto's work several years ago, but didn't give it much thought then. However, coming to Kemeticism and learning about the concept of heka gave me a new perspective on what he has done, as well as a great appreciation for it. Just watch this video, and you can see why.

Remember, words have the power to create. They have the power to heal. Saying so is not just fluffy nonsense - it's true!

Moon Ritual

As a followup to my sun ritual, I want to share with you a moon ritual as well. Because of my Irish Celtic focus, I always sing the following song for Boann, but it can work for any lunar goddess, such as Selene.

Simply go out into the light of the moon (a full one is most appropriate, I think!), light some incense and a candle, sing, and pray.

Welcome to you,

Jewel of the night!

Beauty of the heavens,

Jewel of the night!

Mother of the stars,

Jewel of the night!

Fosterling of the sun,

Jewel of the night!

Majesty of the stars,

Jewel of the night!
Jewel of the night!

A Sun Ritual

Sometimes, the simplest rituals are the most meaningful. Imagine going outside at dawn, lighting some incense, and then singing a song of praise to the sun as it rises....

I want to share with you a song I learned during my time at the temple. It can be used as I describe above, the crown of a simple outdoor ceremony, or integrated into a more elaborate ritual of any style. The song (and accompanying ritual, if you wish) is perfect to perform at sunrise or on the winter solstice. Or whenever the mood strikes you. I often sing it on cold days when the sun has come out to warm me up. In fact, because I enjoy singing it so much, I frequently find myself singing it just for the hell of it!

So here it is, "The Sun":

Welcome to you, O Sun of the Season!

You, walking high in the heavens,

your footsteps strong on the wings of the heights;

you, the adored Mother of the Stars.

You lie down in the destructive ocean

without misfortune and without fear;

you rise up on the forked wave of peace,

a queenly maiden blooming.

Hùg Air A' Bhonaid Mhòir

Music that feeds my soul....