Wednesday September 22, 2021 was the Autumnal Equinox, coming on the heels of full moon day and coinciding with the completion of the bas reliefs on the Akem-Shield of Sekhmet the Eye of Ra Who is Mistress of Heaven. I do everything in my power to align each phase of completion of a divine image with a lunar festival day or a high day linked with the deity whose body is being birthed. Due to the rigors and time requirements of the mediums I work in this is not always possible

All praise to You, mighty Sobek, Son of Neith Whose arrows are with Him! Beloved lord, the Great, the raging and fearsome, hidden in His waters, the flooding in His time of becoming. Yours is the face of Ra in the First Time; Dazzling, the waters are parted before You, all green things sprout from the void, the vault shudders at the moment of Your birth. All praise to You! O Lord of Green things, Your body brings to life all that has passed away, the Great River swells as You

Words to be spoken: The fire is laid, the fire shines; the incense is laid on the fire, the incense shines. Your perfume comes to me, O incense; may my perfume come to you, O incense. Your perfume comes to me, You Netjeru; may my perfume come to You, You Netjeru. May I be with You, You Netjeru; May You be with me, You Netjeru. May I live with You, You Netjeru; May You live with me, You Netjeru. I love You, You Netjeru; may You love me, You Netjeru. - Pyramid Texts, Utterance

"New Flower Day in Shrines. Every day can present moments of divine renewal if offering is part of your regular practice. When we bring our best to the Gods, They match that by bringing the best to us. Reciprocity is a virtue in polytheism. Give=receive. Receive=give."

"Pilgrimage is a way to generate boons and bring us closer to the Gods through ACTION, which is what defines polytheism, what we DO for the Gods. Pilgrimage is an offering and sacrifice unto itself because of the effort involved, which can renew our connectedness with the Powers."

"I don't expect my life to be easy going or to get everything I ask for, but I know that whatever happens my Gods are present and I am never alone. In my grief the Gods are there. In my triumphs the Gods are there. I always ask myself how I can be there with Them through it all."

"The Gods don't suffer from insecurities. They don't ask for your belief or need you to believe in Them. The Gods exist whether we believe in Them or not. It's action that engages the Gods, cultus, worship. Establishing right relationship is about behavior not beliefs. Do."

"Some of you aren't able to practice your faith in the open or serve the Gods in outward demonstrations. You are no less committed to the Gods for that. Internalize your service. Pray inside, offer inside, make your heart a living shrine to the Gods. Your life is your service."

"The Gods are where we find Them, not only in lavish shrines or extravagant celebrations. We will find the Gods in the world that surrounds us, the air and mountains, sky, and expanses of land. We can worship in these temples, too, and give our hearts in simple acts that inspire."

"Let the ignorant scoff at our love and label our devotion fundamentalism. Love and devotion have been with us from the beginning and have stood the test of time. Lack of devotion for the Gods is a void returned in kind. The rewards of devotion are boundless. Who is the loser?"

"If you're feeling disconnected from the Gods it's not because the Gods have deserted you, but because you need to take the time to listen better, engage more, and prioritize your sacred relationships. We're the ones who abandon the Gods. They are always here and ready when we are."

"If our beliefs inform our actions, take a look at your actions and see what that says about your beliefs. If our beliefs provoke destructive behavior, behavior that seeks to hinder the free will of others, then our beliefs are contrary to justice and are forms of injustice."

"True love is not attachment, possession, or exclusion. True love always includes, never excludes, and liberates us- it never constrains. This is the kind of love the Gods foster in us when we awaken to Their Mysteries. This is the liberation They provide through service."

"If you really feel called by the Gods, be a voice the naysayers can't deny, not by declaring what you believe, but living your calling in actions that demonstrate the powers of the Gods speaking to your heart. Let your hands and feet move for Them, revealing Their glory."

Final photos of the reliefs on the Akem-Shield of Sekhmet the Eye of Ra before moving on to gilding prep. Each of these reliefs is a complete work of *art* in its own right, each detail has been laboriously achieved. I am finally satisfied.