Also called Re, Ra-Horakhty, Amun-Ra, Atum-Ra.
Their story
Each day Ra sails across the sky in his barque, and each night he travels through the Duat, where he must pass the serpent Apep, who tries to swallow him. With the help of other gods he wins and is reborn at dawn. In the Book of the Heavenly Cow, grown old, he sent his Eye against rebellious people, then stopped the slaughter and withdrew into the sky.
Their day
Sunday. In modern practice, Sunday is the natural choice for the great sun god.
Best times to give to them
- dawn
- noon
- sunset
- Wepet Renpet
What they like being given
- fresh water
- bread
- frankincense or other incense
- flowers
- honey
How to honour them
- Greet the rising sun with a short hymn or prayer.
- Light incense at noon and give thanks for light and warmth.
- Say farewell at sunset and wish him safe passage through the night.
- Put your altar where morning light can reach it.
How they can help you
- vitality and energy
- confidence
- clarity
- starting fresh each day
Symbols
- the sun disc
- the solar barque
- the falcon
- the scarab at dawn
Ra was often joined with other gods, as Amun-Ra or Ra-Horakhty, rather than worshipped alone.
Festivals
- Wepet Renpet The Egyptian New Year, ideally at the dawn rising of Sirius (Sopdet); modern Kemetic groups usually keep it between mid July and early August
Herbs linked with them
- Chamomile Matricaria chamomilla
- Frankincense Boswellia sacra
More Egyptian gods
- Osiris Lord of the afterlife and new growth
- Horus The falcon, protector of the rightful king
- Thoth Scribe of the gods, lord of wisdom
- Anubis Guardian and guide of the dead
- Khonsu The Traveller, the moon who heals
- Amun The hidden king of the gods at Thebes
- Ptah Creator by word and patron of craftsmen
- Atum The self-created first god of Heliopolis