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Mdw Hwt-Hrw: Reconstructions of Religious Ritual from Ancient Egypt, Vol by Kerry Wisner. Hwt-Hrw Publications, Nashua, NH. 2001.

A Book of the Emanations of Ra Vol. I: The Morning Ritual in the Temple of Amun-Ra by Richard J. Reidy. Hwt-Hrw Publications, Nashua, NH. 2002.

Reviewed by Denise Thomas for Cup of Wonder Issue 6

One of the needs of new Kemetics is an accessible source of ritual liturgy, and religious practice. Akhet Hwt-Hrw's Jemjra Hem, Kerry Wisner, has embarked on a publishing project which provides us with just such material. A Book of the Emanations of Ra is perhaps the more accessible of the two texts here, but both are constructions based upon the actual liturgies of ancient religion, and both provide notes and bibliographies.

Mdw Hwt-Hrw consists of offering liturgies to Hwt-Hr, Heru-ur (the Elder), Heru, Aset, and Ra-Horakhty (of the horizon); invocations of Hwt-Hr, and of "several male Neteru;" hymns and glorifications of Hwt-Hr, Sekhmet, and Aset; an appeasement ritual to Sekhmet; and a purification ritual. Wisner has also included a glossary for those unfamiliar with Kemetic terms and AE names for the Ntru, etc. The rites, as most rites of ancient Egypt, are quite lovely and stir the spirit of the worshiper. A good handbook to have on one's shelf and to use in one's devotions. I do wish the proofreader(s) and editors had been more on the ball with this volume, however. Inconsistent punctuation, the dropping of vital, number-indicating "s's" and the like, annoy this reader.

The Morning Ritual in the Temple of Amun-Ra is one of those (chap)books that thrills the heart of bibliophiles- and of "ritualphiles." Again, a publication of Hwt-Hrw Publications, this text by Richard Reidy is beautiful in execution and style. Again, a bibliography is provided, as well as notes and an appendix of ritual items. The rite here does not come from a single source, but from several, and in the Preface, the author notes that the daily ritual was the ". . . central ritual act that marked the beginning of each day in every temple . . . the central act of service to the god or goddess." Reidy also gives us his philosophy and intention with this text, and then begins with the Utterances before the Closed Doors of the Temple, right through the Reversion of Offerings.

The ritual and liturgy is again, beautiful and inspiring, and I encourage all Kemetics to have this text, too, on their shelves.