A Basic Offering Rite

A mainstay of Egyptian Pagan-Kemetic practice is a personal offering rite performed at a private shrine. Such rites can be observed anywhere from every day to once a week; sometimes more or less, depending on the practitioner. Some groups have their own specific rites, and some books offer rituals of varying complexity. Many independent worshipers choose to write their own. If you'd like to start observing your own rituals but don't know where to start, the rite below is a useful starting point. It can be added to or incorporated as needed.

This rite, which can be found along with longer variations in Following the Sun, is called Iru, which comes from an Egyptian word for ritual that means "things done".

A Simple Iru:

Light the candle to start. Use this as a quiet moment, to signal your mind and body that it is time to slow down and relax.

Pour water into a water cup. Say: "Take these, Your cool waters that are the Inundation."

Pour milk into a milk cup. Say: "Milk, milk, may You taste it in Your shrine."

Light incense. Say: "I give You incense, I give You incense, great of purity."

Place food offering. Say: "Take this, Your bread on which gods live."

Reversion of Offerings. Holding open your hands to the offerings, say: "Turn Yourself to these, Your offerings; receive them from me."

Silent Prayer. This can be whatever you need it to be; quiet time for reflection or meditation, requests for things needed or for guidance, and so on. You can use the prayers found in the next chapter or your own. This time is between you and your Gods.

Closing. This can vary. Some Egyptian Pagans use a gesture of adoration (commonly called 'henu") in which you raise your hands, palms forward, to shoulder height and bow your head. If you have a sistrum, you can shake it to open and close your service; or you can just place your palms together.

Say: "In-un-Ma'a [Truly it is]."

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