About Wepwawet, the Opener of Ways:
Wepwawet, also known as Apuat, Upuaut, Ophios, and other permutations thereof, is the ancient Egyptian Jackal-headed deity of way-opening. His name literally means “Opener of Ways”, and His role was to perform that function in a number of different settings: His standards were carried before processionals in high festivals, and before the first ranks of the infantry in military settings. He was given the role of performing the Opening of the Mouth on deceased, protecting the King in the afterlife, defending the Two Lands, and legitimizing the king’s status.
Some resources for Wepwawet:
Per-Sabu: House of Jackals
Bezenwepwy’s Jackal Blog
Ancient Egypt Online: Wepwawet
Tour Egypt: Wepwawet
Wilkinson, Richard H. The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt. London: Thames and Hudson, 2003.
Rice, Michael. Swifter than the Arrow: The Golden Hunting Hounds of Ancient Egypt. I.B. Taurus, 2006.
DuQuesne, Terence. The Jackal Divinities of Egypt: From the Archaic Period to Dynasty X Pt. 1. Darengo Publications, 2005.
Keywords:
- New opportunities
- Luck and chance
- Roads, paths, ways
- The opening of doors and gates
- Locks and keys
- Travel
- Ancestry; lineage and nobility
- Spiritual journeys
- The gates between the Seen and Unseen worlds
- Hidden knowledge, secrets
- The psyche
- Guide of the dead
- Guide of the not-yet-born
- Success in battle
- Wisdom
- Cunning, slyness; trickster
- Animals: Coyote, jackal, fox
- Colors: Purple, grey, brown, silver, burgundy, gold
Suggested Offerings:
- Alcohol: dark rum, spiced rum, bourbon, whiskey, Jack Daniels, beer (ales, stouts, lagers), Irish cream, absinthe, sambuca.
- Red meat, steak
- Games and items of chance; dice and playing cards
- Pipe tobacco, cigars, clove cigarettes
- Arrows, spears, swords and daggers; shields
- Boxes
- Stones: hematite, tigers’ eye, obsidian, snowflake obsidian, onyx, carnelian, leopard jasper, smoky quartz
- Sand
- Fragrances: myrrh, cedarwood, frankincense, sandalwood, clove
- Chai tea
- Spiced foods – nutmeg, cinnamon, clove; Indian and Asian foods
- Cheese, cream, dairy products
- Cool water
- Toys such as yo-yos or Newton’s Cradles
- Dark, bitter chocolate; dark chocolate with almonds & cranberries
- Locks and keys
- Dried cranberries
- Old coins, especially copper ones (US pennies, etc)
- Root beer, birch beer, ginger ale
- Ginger
Avoid offering: raw vegetables, hasty offerings, processed cakes.
If you want to get to know Wepwawet:
Wepwawet can take many different forms. He tends to be less formal and easily approachable. Many consider Him to be casual and somewhat comical. However, if He should become a part of your life long-term, He may become demanding and strict. He expects His followers to be attentive and expend effort on His challenges. Approaching Him may be as simple as making a small offering and saying a simple prayer. He does not usually demand formality.
