A Setian Halloween Story
When I first converted away from Christianity, I joined my friends in their Wiccan coven. I never really felt 100% commited to Wicca, perhaps I never really could get behind duotheism, I was mainly using it to lay the groundwork for a more modern pagan practice, which I think it is very useful for. And this was when I learned about the Wheel of the Year, and Samhain. Halloween is my favorite holiday, but it’s not all slasher films and candy to me, it is a spiritual experience. It’s the day we honor our ancestors, the “akhu” in ancient Egyptian. Honoring the akhu is a big deal in Kemeticism as well as Armenian paganism, so I feel no need to drop the holiday. Not to mention, I do have some Scottish, Irish and English in my background on my mother’s side.
How to tie it in properly with Kemeticism, though? Kemetic Orthodoxy came up with “Moomas” as a replacement for Christmas/Yule based on the Ascension of the Celestial Cow (while Anpu and Wepwawet deliver presents to Kemetic kids around the world from a flying chariot pulled by jackals). I thought I might come up with a Kemetic, or better yet a Setian, Halloween. I call this holiday Magaween.
—————
The story is based on the birth of Maga, the Son of Set (no relation to American right-wing nutjobs). To explain, Set, famously infertile, managed to impregnate Astarte and Anat using forbidden Heka from the Book of Thoth, after the botched attempt in the Story of the Seed Goddess. Astarte birthed the Ka, and Anat birthed the Ba, which came together into the crocodile netjer Maga. Maga was born knowing what injustice had befallen Set, and immediately escaped to exact revenge on Set’s enemies, against Set’s will. Maga has the power to cross through dimensions, and escaped to Duat, where Osiris was sailing in his underworld barge with His entourage, including the mysterious demon Medjed. Catching everyone by surprise, Maga lept out of the water and bit a chunk out of Osiris’ shoulder, disappearing into the inky black waters before anyone could retaliate. Osiris was rushed to Heliopolis and treated for His wounds. He declared that Maga must be killed on the spot if seen again, and tasked Medjed with this. That night as Osiris slept, Maga climbed through the window, and tried to finish Osiris off. He screamed, and Medjed breathed fire and shot light from His eyes at Maga, who retreated out the window and back into the celestial Nile.
The next day, Horus, son of Osiris and Pharaoh of the Netjeru, was sailing the Nile with His entourge, spearing river animals for sport. Maga knew that Horus was also His father’s enemy, so he again leaped from the water and bit off part of Horus’ shoulder, disappearing before anyone could fight back. Now the Netjeru were on high alert, after the attack on Horus. Even Ra knew to be on the lookout for this dangerous menace. No one expected that this menace was the son of Set.
Eventually news of the attacks reached Set’s oasis. Set and His consorts had been distraught at Maga’s disappearance, and unable to find Him anywhere else, Set knew and dreaded that he would have to descend into Duat, the realm of His brother, as this was the only clue they had about Maga’s whereabouts. Set went to Duat with his consorts Astarte, Anat, Nephthys, and Ash. The five of them encountered many obstacles, but Set and His consorts were all formidable opponents and made short work of the many demons They encountered, until they reached the Burning Pits of Duat, a large lake of fire, and were confronted by the shrouded figure of Medjed, also looking for Maga. Medjed was dressed in a white sheet with holes cut out for His eyes, His bare feet the only part of His body that was exposed. Despite this mysterious but somewhat comical appearance, Medjed was one of the most feared entities of the House of Osiris. His name means “the Smiter”. When Osiris threatened to send his minions to the mortal realm to terrorize the living if His son Horus was not put on the throne, He was talking about Medjed. Medjed knew that Set was enemy number one as far as Osiris was concerned, and was about to shoot light from His eyes and cut Set to pieces when Ash approached Medjed with a gift basket, filled with delicious offerings of bread, fruit, treats and wine. Medjed glared at this basket, and asked if this were some kind of trick, or was it a treat? Set and His consorts insisted it was a treat. Ash soothingly told Medjed that it was about time someone gave an offering to such a mighty and impressive netjer. Medjed never had a temple to Himself, only appearing once in the Book of Going Forth by Day, the humans barely knew who He was. So to receive offerings after so many centuries, even from another netjer, melted Medjed’s heart.
Set explained that they were only there to retrieve His son Maga, that he meant no harm to Osiris and they would be on their way once Maga was found. He promised to discipline Maga and keep Him in the oasis where Set and His consorts made their home, beyond the Big Dipper and the Field of Reeds. Medjed agreed to help them, and after a long journey through Duat, they eventually found Maga. Medjed used His power of invisibility to startle Maga while Set snuck up from behind and wrestled His son into submission; a difficult feat. Set performed a powerful binding spell on Maga, so that Maga could not bite Him, and gaining Maga’s obedience, left back to His oasis with thanks to Medjed. As a result the Netjeru banned Maga from leaving the oasis, and it was after this incident that Set became further villified and demonized, as most of the Netjeru believed Set had sent His son to attack Osiris and Horus on purpose. But, at least Set and His consorts finally had their son, handful that Maga was.
Because of this story, we dress in disguises like Medjed, and anyone who is dressed up in costume should be offered treats, in honor of Medjed and of Ash, whose quick thinking and ability to calm and refresh anyone was able to pacifiy the mighty Medjed.
