The first new moon after the heliacal rising of Sopdet (Sothis, Sirius, the Dog-Star) marks the beginning of the lunar new year and the first lunar month of Tekhi, arriving this year on Saturday August 27. Since our local temple is primarily a lunar temple, lunar Wep Ronpet is a significant event marked by special offerings and outings for the primary temple Gods. Neb (Lord) Djehuty takes His place as Master and Initiator of the day and the new year, as Lord of Time and Lord

Join me with Caitlin Stormbreaker, Sarenth Odinsson and Jim TwoSnakes on episode 96 of the Around Grandfather Fire Podcast (Love The Gods) as we approach devotional polytheism from the lived experience of Kemeticism and the mystical path of the iconographer. How do I differentiate between a consecrated god-image and an awakened god-image? How do we negotiate our personal relationships with the Gods? How did I come to the path and vocation of a Kemetic iconographer? Enjoy this

"When I am in sacred space there is nothing between me and my gods. I see the Gods with my eyes and They see me. That's what sacred space is and what ritual is, a seeing that takes place between worshiper and the Gods, a meeting between the physical and the Numinous. SEEING."

"When I perform ritual I am entering into Sacred Time, mythic time, where the actions of the Gods are perpetually renewed, where each action I perform takes part in the Divine essences through which creation comes into being and continues to be created. Ritual=creation=manifestation."

"What makes sacred space is the presence of the Gods and the Gods are present where They are worshipped. This means that sacred space can be at any time, in any place, as long as the hearts of worshipers are there. The Gods are never closed to hearts that are OPEN. Open your heart."

"For me devotion is the easiest aspect of practice, the one I've found the Gods respond to instantly and with zeal. A bowed heart provokes the Gods more than any complex ritual or mystical treatise. When our heart becomes the temple, the Gods never cease to enter and stay within."

"A reminder that knowing is in the doing and engagement means action. Study as you go along, you can always learn on the job, but the Gods respond to our honest efforts and actions. Dive right in with both hands offering and you'll never be turned away from the table. Action."

"In my service and my practice I seek to connect with how I can express my devotion and cultivate mindfulness with each step, so I opt for doing things with joy; arranging flowers just so, taking pride in an offering bowl, making my service an art form. I never forget the joy."

(Twitter update from August 17). Today work continued on my final sanding and touching up of the reliefs on the Akem-Shield of Sekhmet Who Incinerates the Rebels. I'm such a perfectionist in my work that I won't move on until I know I've achieved everything I'm capable of.

Our new Was Staff commissioned as a cult image of the God Sutekh received the Union With the Sun Ritual this Wep Ronpet morning. His head is purple heart wood inlaid with moldavite and opal, His body yew wood. Mighty Sutekh clears obstacles from the Divine House.

"Aset-Sopdet, O Goddess of the beautiful year, the Shining One Who brings with Her appearance the giving of life, health, and strength. Golden One, shine upon us for all the days of the year, and remove our sorrows with Your two hands of life and becoming!"

"The beauty of the Gods is seen not only in external things, in the forms of the earth and sky, but also in the unseen, internal things; in love and devotion, which are the sustenance of the soul and cannot be measured by material riches. The heart is where they thrive."

"The Akem-Shield of Sekhmet the Eye of Ra and Mistress of Heaven was fed and kissed the sun as Ra spread His rays on this Wep Ronpet morning. Many cult images are brought out from the Sanctuary to be fed and empowered on this holiest day of the year."

"Our Mother Sky is witness to our devotion, to the appearances of the Gods across the earth on Their holy day, to the truth that the Gods appear wherever They are worshipped, wherever there is a heart reaching out to Them. The Gods appear to all Their adorers."

"The Goddess Aset-Sopdet (Isis-Sothis) receives special veneration on this day of Her reappearance, together with the Djed Column which is raised at dawn. The primary cult statue of Ptah makes His yearly pilgrimage outdoors to kiss the sun and renew the temple. The year is new!"