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Anubis is the next divinity I've promised to write about, another divinity from the long ago atheists' graveyard.  However this divinity is closer to my heart than the many others I have written about.  As a devotee and messenger to Horus the elder, Anubis entered my practice in a sideways manner.  He pranked me and found my reaction hilarious.  I was pretty freaked out that the Egyptian funerary deity and guide to the dead was visiting me and even worse laughing at me.  He was the third Egyptian divinity to work his way into my life. Since then we've settled into a more comfortable "cousin" type relationship.

Hmmm, I need to explain that.  While many put their deities on pedestals, mine tend to become more like family. While I grew up with only one sibling, my parents come from large families and so I am familiar with that type of interaction.  My divinities have fallen into relationship "slots" such as divine mother, divine father, divine uncle, etc.  Every time I've tried for more "formal" tones or practices, I've been lectured on not doing "things" the way that others do or say I should do, to walk my own path and do my own thing.  I'm learning to be comfortable with that, many others may not be but then this is my practice and it is what my deities expect. YMMV.

I feel so much love for Anubis.  He is my Lord of Transitions, not just that final transition either.  He is often the calm in the midst of my storm.  I've got so many changes going on right now that my emotions are often in a turmoil.  I find Anubis to be the calm voice, directing, guiding my way through.  He's stood "honor guard" for me when I was drawing down Isis for my local Pagan retreat.  He's not above pranking me when I'm too serious but often it is more of a guiding hand, a presenter of options, a calm presence giving me space to think.  He is my Guardian of the West and has a (odd to my thinking) loving relationship with Bast, another of my deities.  When I drew down Bast for a festival, a friend drew down Anubis and we saw petitioners together. I honor him on Wednesdays and the deck I've dedicated to him is, strangely enough, the Osho Zen Tarot deck.  Sometimes he appears with his usual jackal head, other times like a goth teenager.  More recently as a dark skinned warrior.    He isn't as "loud" as some of my other divinities, but I value the time I spend with him. 

My relationship may differ from how others view Anubis.  When I asked Horus his views on Anubis, he described him in more fierce military terms:  as a shadow; strong and fierce; defiant at times, never meek or compliant; as his commander of troops.  I found this description a bit surprising, not because I don't think Anubis can be that way, but because that wasn't how I expected him to describe a divinity that he also sees as a cousin of sorts.  Horus had nothing else to say beyond that.

So I asked Anubis if there was anything he'd like others to know.  Again I was very surprised by the answer I received.  "People cling too much to the past.  Do not be afraid to try something new, take the leap.  Integration should be the goal, not compartmentalizing, not one way or one method.  Do not be afraid to do things differently, you are not a child of the past but of the present.  You have so much information available to you, do what feels right, what works for you.  Participation is key, not talking things to death.  Actively do, not actively talk about it."  Well.  There you go.

Honor to Anubis, by whichever name he cares to be called!  Thank you for being part of my life and for you wisdom and guidance.  Hail Anubis!