Seshmu

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Seshmu as depicted on the ceiling of the Dendera Temple on the Dendera D Zodiac

Seshmu is the 16th decan of the main decanal stars of Egyptian astrology. The decan has its heliacal rise during the week of II Peret 1-10 in the Egyptian calendar. Its name is translated as "guides," "crew," or "winepress."

Name

Around the time of the New Kingdom, the two-person glyph for this decan changed to that of a winepress, which is where the name Seshmu comes from. Either Crew or Winepress may be used as the translation because both are used in a similar context: a crew member on Ra's solar barque, exerted by rowing, journeying through the celestial sky on a path to eternity. Or a person stomping grapes in a winepress, exerting themselves to turn grape juice into the holy elixir of wine.

Divination meaning

The Egyptian Star Oracle connects this decan with spiritual struggles. Seshmu literally represents you: your spiritual potential, and the path of your soul.

Characteristics

In ritual work, Seshmu is a powerful force that can destroy your enemies and bestow magical abilities upon you. Spell 274 of the Pyramid Texts states: “Shesmu cuts up your enemies for you and cooks a meal out of them in his evening cook pots. It is you who eats their magic, who swallows their spirits.” The Coffin Text spell 473 says the oar of the boat is the thigh of Shesmu (you move yourself though this journey).

The Dendera D zodiac ceiling depicts this decan as a snake holding two nw-jars. The same ceiling gives its minerals as glass and gold.



The Decans of Egyptian Astrology
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Hery-ib Wia Seshmu Kenmu