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Scents, Stones, Herbs, Food & Drink Thoughts About: Offerings |
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Scents, Stones, Herbs, Food & Drink Thoughts About: Offerings |
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From Ancient Egyptian Traditional List:
Kyphi Incense (Kyphi Tsa)
This recipe was reconstructed from ancient Egyptian papyrii. Although an ingredient or two may not have translated correctly, this should be pretty close to the actual incense used in Egyptian temples.
Amount (In Parts)
Ingredients:
3/4 Honey
3 Raisins
1/4 Copal
1/4 Myrrh
1/4 Orris
1 Sandalwood
1/4 Storax
1/2 Frankincense
1/2 Cinnamon (REAL stuff only, and grind it forever)
Red Wine (enough to moisten mixture)
Benzoin (enough to roll balls in)
Thoroughly grind all ingredients separately, then mix together groups of ingredients by nature: resinous together, powdery together, etc. Finally, mix all batches together, add red wine to moisten, then roll into 5/8" balls and roll balls in benzoin. Lay out on waxed paper for a week or so, until firm.
CAUTION: Incense balls will look like donut holes. Be careful that folks know that these scrumptious looking balls of incense that you've left lying around are NOT edible!
The balls can be used when firm, but for best results, they should be allowed to cure a few weeks. Kyphi which I've had for two years is better than ever.
Black and gold (metallic, not dirty yellow). Obsidian and quartz crystal. At least that's what I find works best, perhaps because those are "my" colours/stones and my own work is enhanced with them. Sekhmet concurs, however, as she has never given me any indication that I should change.
These sound very appropriate.. especially if the quartz is rudilated (has those fine 'gold hairs' in it). And obsidian has the useful quality of reflecting yourSelf back at you, so people with unsavory motives tend to leave rooms with lots of obsidian in it. ;->
Similarly, I've used 'my' colors and stones (purple, black, amethyst and red amber) successfully with Sekhmet... I think that as long as it works for you and your intentions are correct, She can be flexible ;->. But I would love to know if She has any historically associated with Her.
Oh -- one anomaly ... She doesn't seem to want me to wear garnets... I've had garnets disappear out of two rings within a couple of days of putting them on. Meanwhile, the folks who have the matching rings still have their's a year later. I thought She'd like blood red stones... any suggestions?? She's been tight-lipped about it... and about what stone She'd like as replacement stones...
Funny you should mention Black and Gold! I never noticed that on my altars before! It just "felt" right when I put a Thailand silk scarf from friend there which just happens to have gold/ black and a burnt read pattern to it. But I didn't pay attention to the colors...
As for obsidan, if memory serves me at all, obsidan was what the Aztecs made mirrors from and where the concept of their's "smoking mirror" came from.
I carry obsidan with me all the time and have always been drawn to crystals.
Some of the stones I have observed Sekhmet likes are:
garnet ruby
carnellian
Gold (of course!)
Stones used for statues such as basalt, granite, obsidian, etc. and such are usually of volcanic type rock. Basalt is a form of obsidian that is Sekhmet's fire essence in a cooled state.
I have a really great picture of my favorite Sekhmet statue which is in the British Museum, carved in black basalt. In this photo right next to the statue it is a fire extinguisher! I didnt even notice the fire extinguisher being there until after I had the film devleoped! (G)
I guess its a precautionary measure! ;)
I have found some (historical) info but you know what, I don't know if it has any fact or historical value to it. I think it might be one person's dealings or interepations but here's what I have found so far:
Incense-dragon's blood
Stones-bloodstone and tiger's eye (but is it bloodstone as in Hematite
or bloodstone as in Helitrope?)
Colors-red, green, gold and white
Direction of altar-east (though some say that's Bast's directions),
west, and south.
Aufu-smokey quartz
Ka-amethyst
haidit-rosey quartz
Khu-garnet
Sahu-double terminated quartz
I just have to remember we are all individuals and what works for one may not work with another. Some people can't stand opal or saphire etc. So it makes sense there might not be a set stone or color :)
I don't know way Sekhmet doesn't want garnets on you (Aostara) either. But here's a story I have about a somewhat similar situation. About ten years ago, my friend ordered some pieces of jewelry from Jane Iris for her store. We ordered some for ourselves and that was my first introduction to Sekhmet. And I read the description and my friend said "so you want garnet in the headpiece?" As you may know, you can choice from certain stones, and thought about it and thought about it and then I heard a voice say "no!" "This piece is for you to honor me and garnet is not what you need. You want something green" Well at that time Jane Iris had a stone called eilat, which consists of turquoise/chryscolla and malachite together. This is the stone I picked and it just fit.
I saw that you like amethyst and amber colors, perhaps a nice piece of amber in it or amethyst? Mayb apache tear? I think in time you literally "stumble" across the stone for your rings and you will know!:)
Interesting, I have that same Jane Iris piece and it works fine for me. I also have a ring from India, just a simple cabachon mounted in a ring of whats called a "star garnet" -- supposedly works very closely vibrationally with Higher Will. When the sunlight hits the stone in the ring, it looks like very much like a star ruby, any other time it looks like a piece of black obsidian. The sunlight must be just right and then it is the stone is bright blood red with a star radiating the entire breadth and width of the stone. I have always worn it and it came at a time when Sekhmet claimed me as Hers or when I was conscious of Her.
She has never had a problem with me wearing garnets, and indeed when I travelled to England I wore that piece constantly. Interestingly I had a mate to that piece that I gave to the person whom I was visiting over there who interestingly lost it after my return to the states . I can only assume it ended up or will end up with someone who can deal with its and Sekhmet's energy. In that I have complete confidence. ;)
I do have an azurite and malchite point that Sekhmet seems to like and I keep it in a medicine bag that I have with me all the time - in this bag there is also a small statuette of Sekhmet about an inch and a half tall of sterling silver. :)
I have heard of Star garnets! Didn't know what they looked like though! Sounds beautiful!
I have heard stories about crystals protecting the wearer and shattering or turquoise turning green and breaking when danger came to a person and the stone took it and not the wearer. Maybe the garnet stone in the rings absorbed some serious negative energy and the only way was for it disappear and be cleansed back in to Mother Earth.
And Christina has a point too. I have had "things" lost and disappear, and I just hope that whoever finds it, uses it for good. I figure that I no longer needed it and someone else did. Though funny I still think I needed it! :)
I will just add as a final note regarding what burnt offerings Sekhmet likes that my very favorite kind of votive candles, Black Cherry, is being discontinued! When I found out I was rather distressed and bought out every single one of the store's stock, as they were half price. So I now have almost thirty, but how long will they last? I got a package of cinnamon tea lights, as a lot of people seemed to find Sekhmet liked those too, but they just aren't the same!! It feels like a compromise. . .
I tend to give to Sekhmet the scents that I like the best because I feel She and I are similar in many ways and may well have similar taste, and because dedicating my very special favorite irreplaceable Grail incense from Avebury to be used only on special occasions for Her pleasure and honor seems the most devoted thing to do, to willingly and cheerfully give up something I value and enjoy more than anything else like it as token of my love for Her.
Party Lites sells a really NICE line of black cherry candles, and they burn a long time and there is very little waste. If you want I can get more information for you.
I've found in my own experience that when I give Sekhmet REAL frankincense resin, versus the imitation scented stuff in a stick form, I get much better results. Now, it smokes up my house a whole lot more since you have to burn it on a charcoal block, but its very interesting how you shift the focus when you make that extra effort. The energy definitely feels different.
Something marvelous happened to me....
Last week during meditation, I was holding a new quartz point from Mt. Ida, ARK. After dedicating it to goddess Sekhmet, I received a huge jolt as my hand, while holding the crystal, plopped itself onto my 3rd eye! I began channeling Her after that, but I've never experienced anything so profound as this! Amazing! To say that Sekhmet is all-powerful and has lightning moves is an understatement! :)
On Tues, during the full moon, I placed a tray of my crystal babies out for their moon bath. I smudge them regularly with sage and rotate each crystal for meditation, so as not to over-tax them.
Blessings to all!
To me, Sekhmet's stones are primarily tiger's eye and secondarily garnet.
Her herbs are dragonsblood, copal, civet (a scent not an oil), bay, basil, catnip, musk (another scent), patchouli, galangal, jalap, dittany and frankincense. Good luck, I can't wait to see what other's use.
Also, Solomon's seal and pomegranate. :)
Does anyone know the gemstone of Sekhmet? What about her herbs and incense?
I use copal almost exclusively (always have because it was extensively used by the Aztecs and therefore something with which I was comfortable and it worked well) and then, in due course, discovered that Sekhmet really likes it as well. When I don't use copal, I use cinnabar which comes in a close second, it seems.
I didn't know about stones, though, and really appreciate that piece of info as I was guessing and used amber, which seemed to be fine, too. Tiger Eye and Garnet certainly makes sense and I also have both. Thanks.
Ooh, I like the idea of using topaz --have to try that. For me, tiger's eye is prime but I know a lot of people also associate it with Bast.
Cardamom is good in Sekhmet incenses too.
I use copal alot too ---I was pleasantly surprised at how much She likes it. I have to try cinnabar -- I've never used it! Thank you for that suggestion. :)
I would think that ruby, citrine, topaz and fire opal would all be appropriate stones, as well. Not having those kind of finances, I use red bloodstone, myself. I'd prefer garnet over tiger's eye -- for me, tiger's eye is too orangey, and opaque, despite the reflections.
I don't know much about herbs; and as far as scents go, I was informed recently that She did not like my choice of candle (black cherry), or the incense I was using. She requested repeatedly that I find something "spicy", and not "sickly sweet"; I imagine that cinnamon might be a very good choice. Something also prompts me to suggest that She might have a bit of a leaning to curry -- I would think firey, pungent things would work well as offerings to Her. I know I'm having a rare steak with Montreal steak spice tomorrow as part of my honoring of the feast of Sekhmet-Bast-Re!
Do you think Bast would like Key Lime Pie?
Pungent and spicy - I agree with you, but curry? Maybe I'm putting too much of myself in that one, though. We have a lot of curry-based dishes here as we have a large East Indian population. Some of their dishes are absolutely fabulous and certainly hot. They use a spice called Garam Masala which I cannot stand because of it's pungency and they stick it in everything. My sister loves East Indian food and has learned to cook some of it so the currey and the Masala ends up in all sorts of things. Maybe Sekhmet can have my share! :-)
I do not know about Bast liking key lime pie, but it sounds good to me.
I know beer was used as a drink (and I hate beer, well, maybe some of the stouts). I do not think Margaretas would go over well. Maybe something peppery? (as you can tell, I am in the southwest).
HEhheh, I always offer Sekhmet Guinness and She seems to love it!! :)
> Do you think Bast would like Key Lime Pie?
I kind of think of Bast in terms of Sekhmet's complimentary and opposite, so when I think "red, hot, spicy" for Sekhmet, I think "green, cool, sweet" for Bast.
Then try planning a menu around those adjectives!
I'm skipping the beer personally, because I never drink it. I'm going to use Chambord liqueur, because it's that lovely deep blood red color. Sekhmet may not like the sweetness much, but it's for Bast and Re too, tomorrow.
From my experience both from traditional Kemetic (Egyptian) sources, Sekhmet's stones are anything volcanic or red. Some of these include:
This last weekend I made a special trip in order to go to the Field Museum and see MOM because this weekend would not have been possible in all likelihood this weekend. At the Sekhmet statue there in the lower level I offered Her a bouquet of red roses. You often feel when an offering is well received an this was I am certain. This is a *VERY* powerful statue of Her, it just resonates like a power beacon. I encourage all who can to go see it. I should have pictures in about a week to share with you all. :)
Also there is an actual Bast shrine there as well. ;)
Anyways, enough of my rambling. When at all possible (with the exception of musks and civet) use the 100% real Stuff. Your offerings to Sekhmet are indeed considered "sacrifices" and as you would not skimp on preparing a meal for a guest of some importance coming to be a guest in your home, so you should not skimp *ever * IMHO on your offerings to Netjer -- Particularly those to Sekhmet. It is much better to have small amounts of the very best things that you can afford than vast amounts of cheap imitations or questionable quality offerings. The results are far better that I've observed.
Senbty!
Imakhu Sekhem em Ma'at Meritamen Hemt Sekhmet
