Saturday, August 23, 2014

Opening the Way of the Neteru: Hapi

Hapi

by Aura Agape


Depending on the source, Hapi is the body, essence, spirit, inundation (flooding) of the river, Nile itself. Hapi is significant in his importance as the Nile itself is the world's longest waterway, without which the Two Lands of Kemet (Egypt) would cease to exist. The Nile floods annually depositing precious nutrient-rich silt along the banks of the Nile that flows from the tropical rains hundreds of mils south in sub-Sahara Africa in the highlands of Uganda and Ethiopia.  All that is needed to sustain life, from fertile plant vegetation to the first civilization that is accounted for on this planet, flows from the Nile.


Hapi is one of Heru's Four Sons and guardians of the canopic jars of the deceased. Hapi guards the canopic jar that contain the lungs. Hapi is represented by the baboon canopic jar. Nebt-Het protects Hapi as he protects the lungs of the deceased. Also like Nebt-Het, Hapi has no known temple which has been specifically dedicated to him.




Hapi is depicted with a round belly and prominent breasts. Usually holding one or two plants. The Papyrus thrives in the marshes of Lower Kemet and the Lotus thrives along the banks of Upper Kemet. The symbolism of Hapi holding both plants indicate the support of both regions.


An alternate depiction of Hapi is shown pouring two vases of water which also indiccates the support of the Two Lands.

Hapi is also depicted as twins. Hapi of Lower Kemet was named Hap-Meht with the papyri on his head and Hapi of Upper Kemet was named Hap-Reset with the Lotus on his head. The twin Hapis tying two plants in a knot symbolizes the unification of the Two Lands (Smai Twai). 

Now there is a bit of confusion when I look among the current information of "Egyptologist" that is available today. I see an attempt to correct a "mistake". I remember learning in grade school about ancient Egypt (Kemet) in Social Studies and World history and one thing that always stuck with me was that while learning of all of the wonderful achievements and phenomenon of this great and powerful society of people, Upper Egypt was in the South and Lower Egypt in the North. Now some teachers tried to laugh it off like they did not know up from down but, as I contemplated further, it made sense to me that since all life, knowledge, commerce, etc...flowed from the Nile, it would be so important to look UP to the SOURCE of where this beautiful gift in what is otherwise a dessert flowed!!! Now put on your thinking cap and what does that tell you?  

Now that's a change of perspective! Wow!


Now, according to Akhenaton, the waters of the Nile depend on light. It was light that controlled the rhythm of the inundation (flooding) and light comes from Aten, the Sun itself. Therefore Aten created Hapi. The inundation is marked by the Summer Solstice/Kemetic New Year. This time is also marked by the appearance of the Sirius star system that shines the brightest in the night sky over Kemet during this time. 


Sepdet, the goddess that personified Sirius appeared annually during the time of the Solstice to herrald the time of the coming inundation of the Nile. The first new moon following the appearance of Sepdet marked the Kemetic New Year. Even if the inundation or Hapi has made its presence known by the rising of the waters or not, it is sure to soon come. Sepdet was seen as both goddess of inundation and fertility and thus came to be viewed as a manifestation of Auset. There is a powerful connection between the appearance of Sirius star system and the coming of Hapi (inundation). The Hapi is associated with the purifying life-giving Nile water (the breaking of Mother Auset's waters).

Additional Sources: 
http://tribes.tribe.net/darkgoddesses/thread/bb78d2e0-cce3-4973-8280-bcb26eb843d5




Friday, August 15, 2014

Opening The Way of the Neteru: Nebt Het

Nebt Het

by Aura Agape




A.K.A. Nephthys, Lady of the House, Mistress of the House, Lady of the Body of the Gods, Dweller within Senu, Lady of Heaven, Mistress of the Gods, Great Goddess, Lady of Life, Sister of the God, Eye of Ra, Mistress of the Two Lands, The Creative Goddess who Liveth within An

As I learn more about African (Kemetic) Spirituality and the practices of prayer, hesi, ritual and ceremony I am charged to learn more about the Neteru (nature spirits/dieties/gods/goddesses/various aspects of the Most High). I learned about the netert Nebt Het first as I journeyed through the gateways with my SiStar Circle as outlined by Queen Afua in her life-changing book, Sacred Woman in 2007. I truly learned what it meant to be "Lady of the House" as I journeyed through this gateway and my home became a sacred palace! Every aspect of my home became a sacred space as I purified it through clearing, cleansing, prayers, singing, feng shui, etc...I went all out and I could really see and feel the difference! My husband (at the time) and guests that would visit could feel the difference as well. However, I went through the gateways still knowing little about Nebt Het herself, other than that she is the sister of Auset and wife of Set and she was loyal as a sister and friend to help collect the scattered remains of Ausar and reassemble his parts to ressurect him back to life. It was a true display of sister-hood if I ever saw one! Nebt Het truly displayed the divine art of cooperation, which is very much in line with the principles of Maat.

Nebt Het, much like Maat, brings forth truth, balance, justice, order (within and without). She wears a crown on  her head that represents her divine house (be it in the sky or house for the divine body-temple) topped with a bowl of water for purification. She carries an Ankh in her right hand and extends her left for healing and blocking negativity from the righteous ones.

I am sure that there is still much for me to learn but, I what I know at this present moment is that Nebt Het is more of a title rather than a name. However, she is daughter of Geb and Nut. Sister of Ausar and Auset. Wife of Set. Mother of Anpu (Anubis) by Ausar. I find it interesting that her one offspring was not with her husband Set but, rather with Ausar.

I learned from my esteemed teacher and founder of the Ra Sekhi Arts Temple, Rekhit Kajara Nia Yaa Nebthet, that Nebt Het is associated with what is unseen, intuition, the dreams state. Incidentally, Nebt Het would be associated with the Mer arit (1st eye) or more popularly known as the third eye. Also from my search it seems that there are no known temples errected for Nebt Het. However, it does seem fitting since Nebt Het does represent the invisible, unseen aspects of life-death. 

Nebt Het is associated with funerary rituals throughout Kemetic history and today is venerated not as Death itself, but as the companion who gives guidance to the newly deceased, and as a "Lady with Wings" who comforts the living relatives of the deceased. Nebt Het is associated with death but, also with life that springs forth into existence from death (reproduction, regeneration, rebirth, ressurection). This is demonstrated when Nebt Het helped Auset prepare Ausar's funeral bed, make swathings for his body and ressurected Ausar to new life by chanting hesi over where his body lay, which caused Heru the warrior Sun, to be immaculately conceived and born. Nebt Het is the Mighty One of Words of Power. Ausar rose again with the Sun each day afterwards. So just as the "Lady of Life" is fittingly present as one enters and exits the realm of the living. She is present to offer her comfort. Her presence offers comfort during birth and helping with the birth of newborn children. She is also a comfort to the newly departed and the relatives of the deceased. So with every end there is a gateway to a new beginning especially if Nebt Het is at your side...and thus is the circle of life. 



Additional sources used: 
Sacred Woman: A Guide to Healing the Feminine Body, Mind, and Spirit
http://books.google.com/books?id=eRn6JODGsuAC&pg=PA123&lpg=PA123&dq=nebt+het+opening+way+east&source=bl&ots=lIJPjUjdQJ&sig=h56sNxuSkz7q8nGU9-b9BkLnH1g&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4kPuU8jcGcGUyATfh4HIDA&ved=0CGYQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=nebt%20het%20opening%20way%20east&f=false
www.kemet.org/taxonomy/term/29
www.angelfire.com/falcon/wily/whoisnebthet.html