Working with Egyptian Deities: Invocation & Devotional Practices

BY NICOLE LAU

You light the candle. You pour the water. You offer the incense, the flowers, the bread. You speak the name: "Isis, great of magic, I call upon you."

And you feel it—a presence, a warmth, a shift in the air. The goddess is here. She has heard you. She responds.

This is devotional practice—the art of building relationship with the divine, of invoking the gods, of making them present in your life.

Working with Egyptian deities is not about worshiping distant, abstract concepts. It is about relationship—a living, dynamic, reciprocal relationship between you and the gods.

You offer. They respond. You call. They come. You serve. They bless.

This is the ancient Egyptian way: The gods are real. They are present. They can be invoked. And they will work with you.

Understanding Egyptian Deities

The Gods Are Real

In Egyptian thought, the gods are not metaphors. They are not archetypes (though they can be understood that way). They are real beings—cosmic forces personified, divine intelligences, powers that exist independently of human belief.

The gods are:

• Netjeru ("divine powers")
• Cosmic forces made manifest
• Aspects of the one divine source (the Aten, the Nun, the primordial unity)
• Beings with personalities, preferences, powers

The Gods Are Many and One

Egyptian theology is both polytheistic (many gods) and henotheistic (one supreme god with many manifestations).

The gods are:

• Distinct beings with their own identities
• Aspects of the one divine source
• Able to merge and syncretize (Ra-Horakhty, Amun-Ra, Ptah-Sokar-Osiris)

You can work with the gods as distinct beings, or you can understand them as faces of the one divine.

The Gods Want Relationship

The Egyptian gods are not distant or aloof. They want relationship with humans. They want:

• To be honored and remembered
• To receive offerings
• To be invoked and called upon
• To help, guide, protect, and bless

The relationship is reciprocal. You give (offerings, devotion, service). They give (blessings, protection, guidance, power).

Choosing Your Deity

How do you know which Egyptian deity to work with?

1. You Are Called

Sometimes a deity calls you. You feel drawn to them. You see their symbols everywhere. You dream of them. You feel their presence.

This is the deity choosing you. Honor the call.

2. You Need Their Gifts

Sometimes you choose a deity because you need their specific gifts:

• Need wisdom? Work with Thoth
• Need healing? Work with Sekhmet or Isis
• Need protection? Work with Anubis or the Eye of Horus
• Need transformation? Work with Osiris or Khepri
• Need magic? Work with Isis or Heka

3. You Resonate with Their Story

Sometimes a deity's myth resonates with your life:

• Going through death and rebirth? Osiris
• Searching for lost pieces? Isis
• Navigating the underworld? Anubis
• Seeking sovereignty? Sekhmet or Hathor

4. You Are Drawn to Their Aesthetic

Sometimes it's simple—you love their imagery, their symbols, their energy. Trust that.

Creating an Egyptian Altar

An altar is your sacred space for working with the deities. It is where you make offerings, perform rituals, and connect with the divine.

Altar Basics:

1. Location
Choose a space that can remain undisturbed. It can be a shelf, a table, a corner of a room.

2. Cleansing
Cleanse the space before setting up your altar. Use incense, sound, or intention.

3. The Deity Image
Place an image or statue of the deity at the center. This is the naos (shrine), the dwelling place of the god.

4. Offerings
Place offering bowls or plates in front of the deity image. These will hold your offerings.

5. Candles
Candles represent the sacred flame, the light of the divine. Use colors associated with the deity.

6. Incense
Incense is the bridge between worlds. Use frankincense, myrrh, or kyphi (Egyptian incense).

7. Sacred Objects
Add symbols associated with the deity (ankh, Eye of Horus, scarab, etc.).

8. Personal Items
Add items that are meaningful to you—photos, crystals, jewelry.

Deity-Specific Altar Colors and Offerings:

Ra:

• Colors: Gold, red, orange
• Offerings: Beer, bread, honey, sunflowers
• Symbols: Solar disk, falcon, scarab

Isis:

• Colors: Blue, white, gold
• Offerings: Milk, honey, flowers (especially lotus), water
• Symbols: Throne, tyet knot, wings, ankh

Osiris:

• Colors: Green, black, white
• Offerings: Beer, bread, grain, water
• Symbols: Djed pillar, crook and flail, atef crown

Thoth:

• Colors: Blue, white, silver
• Offerings: Papyrus, ink, books, water, dates
• Symbols: Ibis, baboon, writing palette, moon

Sekhmet:

• Colors: Red, gold, black
• Offerings: Beer (especially red beer), meat, strong incense
• Symbols: Lioness, solar disk, uraeus, Eye of Ra

Anubis:

• Colors: Black, gold
• Offerings: Myrrh, frankincense, meat, beer
• Symbols: Jackal, was scepter, ankh

Hathor:

• Colors: Turquoise, gold, red
• Offerings: Wine, beer, milk, honey, music, dance
• Symbols: Cow, sistrum, menat necklace, mirror

Daily Devotional Practice

The ancient Egyptians performed the daily temple ritual every day. You can adapt this for your personal practice.

The Daily Ritual Structure:

1. Purification (Morning)
Wash your hands and face. Put on clean clothes (ideally white or light-colored).

2. Approach the Altar
Stand or sit before your altar. Take a moment to center yourself.

3. Light the Candle
Light the candle, saying: "I light this flame in honor of [deity name]. May your light shine upon me."

4. Offer Incense
Light incense, saying: "I offer this incense to [deity name]. May it rise as my prayer, as my devotion, as my offering."

5. Greet the Deity
Say: "Awake in peace, [deity name]! Your awakening is in peace! I greet you this day. I honor you. I thank you for your presence."

6. Make Offerings
Offer water, food, flowers. Say: "I offer you water for refreshment, bread for sustenance, flowers for beauty. Accept my offerings, [deity name]."

7. Recite a Hymn or Prayer
Recite a traditional hymn (from ancient texts) or speak from your heart.

8. Sit in Meditation
Sit quietly. Feel the presence of the deity. Listen. Receive.

9. Give Thanks
Say: "Thank you, [deity name], for your presence, your blessings, your guidance. I honor you. I serve you. I walk with you."

10. Close the Ritual
Bow or place your hands over your heart. The ritual is complete.

Invocation: Calling the Deity

Invocation is the act of calling the deity, making them present, inviting them into your space.

The Invocation Structure:

1. Purify the Space
Cleanse with incense or sound.

2. State Your Intention
Say: "I call upon [deity name] for [purpose]."

3. Speak the Deity's Names and Titles
Use their full titles. The more names you speak, the more you invoke their presence.

Example for Isis:
"Isis, great of magic! Throne of Egypt! Mother of Horus! Lady of the words of power! She who knows the secret name of Ra! Goddess of ten thousand names! I call upon you!"

4. Describe the Deity
Describe their appearance, their powers, their deeds. This makes them more present.

Example:
"You who spread your wings over Osiris! You who searched for the scattered pieces! You who spoke the words that brought the dead to life! You who are mighty in magic!"

5. Make Your Request
State what you need. Be clear, be respectful.

Example:
"I ask for your protection. I ask for your healing. I ask for your guidance."

6. Make an Offering
Offer something—incense, water, food, your devotion, your service.

7. Listen and Receive
Sit quietly. Feel the deity's presence. Listen for guidance, for signs, for blessings.

8. Give Thanks
Always thank the deity. Gratitude is essential.

Working with Specific Deities

Ra: The Sun God

When to invoke: For vitality, life force, leadership, clarity, dispelling darkness

Invocation:
"Hail Ra! Lord of the sky! Creator of all! You who sail the solar barque across the heavens! You who bring light to the world! You who defeat Apophis each night! I call upon you! Fill me with your light! Grant me your vitality! Shine upon me!"

Practice: Greet Ra at sunrise. Face east. Speak the invocation. Feel the sun's warmth on your face.

Isis: The Great Mother

When to invoke: For magic, healing, protection, finding what is lost, motherhood, devotion

Invocation:
"Isis, great of magic! Mother of Horus! Lady of the words of power! You who healed the sick! You who raised the dead! You who found the scattered pieces! I call upon you! Teach me your magic! Heal me! Protect me! Guide me!"

Practice: Create an Isis altar. Offer milk and honey. Recite her many names.

Thoth: The Scribe

When to invoke: For wisdom, learning, writing, magic, communication, judgment

Invocation:
"Thoth, lord of divine words! Scribe of the gods! Master of magic! You who record all things! You who weigh the heart! You who speak truth! I call upon you! Grant me wisdom! Help me to learn! Guide my words!"

Practice: Invoke Thoth before studying, writing, or performing magic. Offer papyrus or books.

Sekhmet: The Lioness

When to invoke: For fierce protection, healing through destruction, boundaries, courage, transformation

Invocation:
"Sekhmet, Eye of Ra! Lioness goddess! Fierce protector! You who destroy the enemies of Ma'at! You who heal the sick! You who are mighty in battle! I call upon you! Grant me your fierceness! Protect me! Heal me through your fire!"

Practice: Invoke Sekhmet when you need courage or fierce protection. Offer red beer or strong incense.

Anubis: The Guardian

When to invoke: For protection, guidance through transitions, death work, shadow work, psychopomp work

Invocation:
"Anubis, guardian of the dead! Guide of souls! Protector of the tomb! You who walk between the worlds! You who know the paths of the Duat! I call upon you! Guide me! Protect me! Help me navigate the darkness!"

Practice: Invoke Anubis during major life transitions or when doing shadow work. Offer myrrh.

The Gift of Devotional Practice: Relationship with the Divine

Working with Egyptian deities is not about one-time invocations. It is about building relationship—a living, ongoing, reciprocal relationship with the divine.

Through devotional practice, you:

• Make the gods present in your life
• Receive their blessings, protection, and guidance
• Learn their mysteries
• Become a vessel for their power
• Serve Ma'at (cosmic order)

The gods are real. They are here. They are waiting to be invoked.

Create your altar. Make your offerings. Speak their names. Build relationship.

The gods will respond. They always do.

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