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

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