Today, in the Kemetic calendar, is the Establishment of the Celestial Cow. As my Mother, Hethert-Nut, is Hethert-as-Nut, cow-as-sky, I feel this is particularly appropriate to continue my research into the Book of the Celestial Cow.

Snippets obtained from the links found here. I am fairly sure the person who translated these into English and German was originally a francophone, because some of the English really doesn’t match the French. When I have time, I’m going to go back through and see if I can’t reckon some slightly more accurate translations. Thank Netjer I can still read French pretty well. For now, however, the bits involving (Hethert-)Nut:

“Be not disappointed, be not weary.
You have power over all You wish.”
Then said the majesty of Re
to the majesty of Nun:
“My limbs are feeble as in primeval times,
I will not return until another cycle overtakes Me.”
Then the majesty of Nun said:
“My son Shu!
Let Your eye look upon Your father, and protect Him.
My daughter Nut,
place Him on Your back!”

Nut became a cow,
and the majesty of Re was on Her back.

Men were astonished when,
from the location to which they had fled,
they saw Him on the back of the cow.

His majesty proceeded to His palace
on the back of this cow,
and He was together with the gods.

Then this god said to Nut:
“I placed myself on Your back to be elevated, what then?”
So said He, and Nut
became the sky.
The majesty of this god begged:
“Be far from them and elevate Me, that I may see them.”
And the On High came into being.
Then the majesty of this god
looked into Her,
and She said: “Make Me into a multitude!” And stars came into being.

Then Nut began to shake, owing to the height.
And the majesty of Re said:
“Had I only the Heh gods to support Her!” And then the Heh gods came into being.
Then the majesty of Re said:
“My son Shu,
place Yourself under My daughter Nut
and guard for Me the four Heh gods of the east and the four Heh gods of the west
who live in twilight.
Place Her on your head and keep Her.”

Full unedited text of the Book of the Celestial Cow, which I have not proofread or finished translate-tweaking:

Then it became to pass that the majesty of Re, he who created himself,
having been king
of men as well as of gods;
As to his majesty, let him live, be safe and in good health, he had grown old, his bones became like silver,
his flesh like gold,
his hair like real lapis lazuli.
Now his majesty had learned about the plans
which men were devising against him;
Then his majesty, let him live, be safe and in good health, said to those who were in his following:
“Call to me my Eye,
Shu, Tefnut,
Geb, and Nut,
together with the fathers and mothers who
were with me when I was in the nun,
as well as the god of the nun. Let him bring his attendants with him.
But bring them secretly,
lest men see, and their hearts escape.
Come with them to the Great Palace, let them confess their wicked plans, so
that I may go into the Watery Abyss
to the place from which I came into being.”
These gods were brought,
and these gods were standing on both sides
with heads inclined toward the earth before his majesty,
in order that he might speak his words in front of the father of the eldest gods
who created men and is king of the common people.
Then they said before his majesty:
“Speak to us so that we may hear!”
Then Re spoke to Nun:
“O Eldest One out of whom I came into being,
and you primeval gods!
Behold, men who came into being from my Eye devise plans against me.
Tell me what would you do about it.
Behold, I seek not to kill them before having heard what you will say.”
Then spoke the majesty of Nun:
“My son Re,
god greater than he who created thee,
older than he who made thee,
be seated on thy throne! Great is the fear before thee
when thy Eye comes out against those who scheme against thee!”
Then the majesty of Re said:
“Behold, they have escaped into the desert land,
their hearts being afraid that I speak to them.”
Then they said before his majesty:
“May thy Eye go out and catch for thee
those who conspire (against thee).
There is no Eye more fit to strike them for thee.
Let it come down as Hethert!”
Then this goddess came back after having killed men in the desert land.
Then the majesty of this god said:
“Welcome in peace, O Hethert,
Thou hast accomplished (that) for which I came.”
Then this goddess said: “As true as thou livest,
I overpowered men;
it was sweet for my heart.”
Then the majesty of this god said:
“I shall have power over them as king by diminishing their number.”
That is how the Powerful One (Sekhmet) came into being, the Confused One in the night,
to wade in their blood
as far as Heracleopolis.

Then Re said: “Call to me (my) messengers,
who hurry
and run like the shadow of a body.”
And these messengers were brought at once.
Then the majesty of this god said:
“Let them run to Elephantine
and bring me a large quantity of red ocher.”
Then this red ocher was brought to him,
and the majesty of this god ordered
the Tufted One, He of Heliopolis, to squeeze this red ocher.
Then the slave girls brewed beer out of oats,
and this red ocher was poured into this beer,
and it looked like the blood of men,
and made 7000 jars.
Then the majesty of Re, King of Upper and Lower Egypt, went out
with these gods to see this beer.
And when the earth was light for the killing of men by this goddess,
in the day when they went South,
the majesty of Re said:
“It is good indeed, I shall protect men from her!”
Re said: “Carry it
to the place where she intends to kill men.”
The majesty of Re, King of Upper and Lower Egypt, arose early
when it was still night in order to let this sleeping draught be poured out.
And the fields were covered three palms high
according to the wish of the majesty of this god.
When the goddess came in the morning,
she found the land inundated
and her face looked beautiful in the beer. Then she drank,
and it was pleasant for her heart.
She became drunk and failed to recognize men.
The majesty of Re said to this goddess:
“Welcome in peace, O Beautiful One!”
And the beautiful ones came into being in the city of Yamit.
The majesty of Re said to this goddess:
“Let there be made for her intoxicating drinks on feasts of the year,
and let this be entrusted to my servants.”
And since the first day the custom came into being that all people entrust to the servants the preparation of intoxicating drinks
on the Feast of Hethert,
and for all the men after this first day.
Then the majesty of Re said to this goddess:
“Is there a burning pain of sickness?”
And the period of sickness came into being.
Then the majesty of Re said: “As true as I live,
my heart is weary to remain with them.
I keep on killing them to the last one – the small remainder is not my gift!”
The gods who were in his following said:
“Be not disappointed, be not weary.
Thou hast power over all thou wishest.”
Then said the majesty of this god
to the majesty of Nun:
“My limbs are feeble as in primeval times,
I will not return until another cycle overtakes me.”
Then the majesty of Nun said:
“My son Shu!
Let thine eye (look upon thy) father, and protect him.
My daughter Nut,
place him (on thy back)!”
Then Nut said: “How is that,
my father Nun?”
So Nut said in … the nun.
Nut became (a cow),
and the majesty of Re was on her back.

Men were (astonished when) …
from the location to which they fled
they saw him on the back of the cow.
Then these men spoke to him:
“We will overthrow thine enemies
who devise plots to do this.”
His majesty proceeded to his palace
on the back of this cow,
and he was together with the gods. And earth was in darkness.
When it dawned in the morning,
these men came out with their bows
and shot (arrows) against the enemies.
The majesty of this god said:
“Beware and take care of the slaughter,
the massacre is far off.”
Then this massacre (came into being) among men.
Then this god said to Nut:
“I placed myself on thy back to be elevated, what then?”
So said he, and Nut
became the sky.
The majesty of this god begged:
“Be far from them and elevate me, that I may see (them).”
And the On High came into being.
Then the majesty of this god
looked into her,
and she said: “Make me into a multitude!” And (stars) came into being.
The majesty of this god, let him live, be safe and in good health, said:
“Peaceful is the field here!” And the Field of Peace came into being.
“Oh, I shall plant green herbs in it!” And these Yaru fields came into being.
“I shall provide it with everything.”
And these Ihih stars (came into being).
Then Nut began to shake, owing to the height.
And the majesty of Re said:
“Had I only the Heh gods to support her!” And then the Heh gods came into being.
Then the majesty of Re said:
“My son Shu,
place yourself under my daughter Nut
and guard for me the four Heh gods of the east and the four Heh gods of the west
who live in twilight.
Place her on thy head and keep her.”
And it came to pass that a nurse is given to a son or daughter
and that a father places his son on his head.
This spell is to be recited over a cow
with the Heh gods (represented) on her chest,
and with the Heh gods who are behind her.
Her four legs are painted (as well as)
nine stars on her belly.
Her tail hangs behind her back legs.
Shu is under her belly,
painted in yellow color.
His arms support these stars,
and his name is placed between them

which says “Shu is himself.”
The barge with the rudder and the shrine which is in it,
with the disk on it, and Re inside it,
are in front of Shu, close to his hand.
According to others, behind him, close to his hand.
Her two udders are placed in the middle of her left leg,
one half of them is painted in the middle of the leg
with words written on the outside:
“I am myself, I do not permit them to act.”
What is written under the barque, in front:
“Be not weary, my son” – this is reversed writing,
with words: “Your state is like everlasting life.”
With words: “Thy son is in me,
let life, stability, and health be for thy nose!”
What is written behind Shu, close by his arm: “Guard them.”
What is written behind him, behind his back, in reversed writing:
“Ma’at, I am each day, assuredly.”
What is written under the arm of the figure
which is below her left leg, behind her: “All things are sealed up.”
What is written over his head, below the hind part of the cow,
on her two legs: “Release is possible.”
What is written behind the two figures, on her two legs, over their heads:
“Ancient One,
praise be given to him when he enters.”
What is over the head, over the two figures which are between her two hind legs:
“He who adores his mother, the One Who Hears, Scepter of the Sky.”
Then the majesty of this god said to Thoth:
“Call to me the majesty of Geb.”
Saying “Come, hurry at once.”
Then the majesty of Geb came.
The majesty of this god said:
“Take heed of the serpents which are within you!
Behold, they fear me in my form, but you know their use.
Go then to this place
in which thy father Nun is.
Tell him he should keep guard over the serpents in the earth and in the water.
Write it down as well, and betake thyself to every spot
where thy serpents are,
and say, Beware you spoil anything!
They should know that I am here, for behold, I rise for them as well!
Behold, their property will be
in this land forever.
Beware also of these magical spells, which their mouths know,
for the god Heka himself
is therein, as indeed the god Sia is with thee.
It will not happen, that being as great as I am, I shall have to keep guard over them as before.
I hand them therefore to thy son Wesir
that he may keep guard over their children, and that the hearts of their sires be made to forget.
It is useful what they do out of their love
for the whole land with their magic which is in their bellies.”
Then the majesty of Re said:
“Call then Djehuty to me.”
And he was brought at once.

Then the majesty of Re said to Djehuty:
“Behold, I am here
in heaven, in my place.
As I am going to give light and brilliance
in the Netherworld, as well as on the Island of Baba(t),
Be a scribe here, have power over those who are here,
those whom we created and those who rebelled.
It is thou who shalt repulse the followers of this Angry One.
Thou shalt be in my place, my vicar.
It will be said of thee: Djehuty, the vicar of Re.
And I shall make thee send out those who are greater than thee.” And this Ibis of Djehuty came into being.
“And I will cause thee to stretch thy arm in the presence of the primeval gods, who are greater than thee.
My speech is good if thou actest so.”
And the ibis of Djehuty came into being.
“And I will cause thee to encompass the two heavens with thy beauty and with thy light.”
And the moon of Djehuty came into being.
“And I will let thee go around the Hanebu.” And this baboon of Djehuty
came into being and became the vizier.
“Thou shalt be my vicar
and when people see thee, their faces will be open through thee,
(they will see in the dark) and they will praise god for thee.”
If a man pronounces this spell over himself
he should be anointed with oil and unguent,
the censer being in his hands with incense.
Natron must be behind his ears,
bed-natron must be in his mouth,
dressed in two new garments,
having washed himself in inundation water,
shod in white sandals,
and the figure of Ma’at being painted on his tongue
in green painter’s colors.
If Djehuty intends

to read this for Re,
he should purify himself with a purification of nine days.
Servants (of the god) and men should do the same.
If one recites this spell, he will take the forms mentioned in this book,
he will pass his life in the midst of common folk.
He should have his two eyes, all members, and his footsteps should not go wrong,
so that people say about him:
“He is like Re on the day of his birth.”
He should not be a child of his possessions nor should his doorway be blocked.
This is exceedingly good, a million times so!
Nun was embraced by the Eldest God himself,
who said to the gods who came out (with him) of the Western Sky:
“Let praises be given to the Eldest God! As I came into being through him,
I who created the sky, who established (earth) to let the souls of the gods reside in it.
I will be together with them in all eternity. The years are born
but this Magic is my soul, it is greater than they.
This soul of Shu is Khnum.
This soul of eternity is …
This soul of Darkness is the Night.
This soul of Nun is Re.
This soul of Wesir is the Ram of Mendes.
These souls of Sobek are the crocodiles.
While the souls of every god, of every goddess, are in the snakes,
the soul of Apophis is in the Eastern Mountain,
while the soul of Re is all over the earth.
If a man pronounces (this spell), he should make a magical protection, saying:
“I am this Pure Magic which is in the mouth and in the body of Re.
O gods, you who are far from me,
I am Re the Luminous One!”
Thou shouldst say,
when thou comest out at night, and darkness is over thee:
“Thou art overthrown, enemy of Re!
I am his soul – Pure Magic!
O lord of eternity who created everlastingness,
who diminished the years of the gods. When Re comes down,
Lord of his godliness, ruler who created his own creator,
beloved one of the father of the gods.”
A magician, his head being purified,
should make a female figure standing by his south side.
He should represent on her a goddess, and in the middle of her
a snake standing erect on its tail,
her hand being placed on its body
while its tail is on the ground.
Thoth should adore him (the magician),
all the dignity of heaven being on him
while Shu stretches him arms toward it. (He should recite:)
“I am safe from these great and mighty gods,
who sit in the eastern part of heaven,
who guard the sky, who guard the earth, the mysterious functionaries.”
Then, they shall say: “Great is he who comes out to see the Watery Abyss.”
Words to be spoken by a priest on the first and on the fifteenth of the month, and on every day likewise,
according to these ancient rules.
He who pronounces this spell shall live in the Necropolis,
fear before him shall be greater than before those who are on earth.
If they pronounce they names
Eternity and Everlastingness,
let them say: “God.”

Let them say: “He reached us here on this way.
I know the name of this god, it is
He who is on his lake.
I am he to whom an amulet is attached at night.
I am Re amidst his Ennead
and his surroundings made of charms.
I pass by being complete.
I belong to the flame, which is this soul of fire.”
He will have no adversaries among men,
among gods, among spirits, among the dead,
in everything, in the whole of this land.