The kappu is a symbol of Natib Qadish Natib Qadish is a modern polytheistic religion based upon the religious practices of ancient Canaan and the veneration of the Canaanite Deities. This religion is often included under the "umbrella" category of modern Paganism, Neopaganism, or Reconstructionism. To the ancient Canaanites, religion was inherently a part of life such that they did not have a separate word that means "religion". The word "Natib" in the ancient Ugaritic language means "path," while "qadish" means "sacred," thus the name means "sacred path". Sometimes a Canaanite Pagan is called a "Qadish" ("Qadishuma" plural) simply referring to the belief that we are all "sacred ones". Visit: http://canaanitepath.com
Geography Ancient Canaan corresponded with areas which are now part of the modern-day Middle-Eastern countries of Syria, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and the Palestinian territories.
History For more information regarding the history of Canaan, please see Canaan, Ugarit, Ebla, Tyre, Sidon, and Byblos. The Phoenicians are often classified as one of the sister or daughter cultures of Canaan, and Carthage was a daughter- colony of the Phoenicians. Some modern practitioners blend Phoenician religion into their Canaanite religious practices. The Hebrew people may also be descended from the Canaanites, with possible early polytheistic roots of the Jewish religion being siteted to demonstrate a close tie to the ancient Canaanites. However, it should be noted that Natib Qadish, Canaanite Paganism is not the same religion as that of the Hebrews, and it is also not the same religious path as JudeoPaganism, Ceremonial magic or practices involving the Kabbalah, although some Canaanite
Pagans may choose to incorporate these a part of their own personal practices. The modern religion has not been established long enough to have much written about it in a history section. An early self-proclaimed Canaanite-Phoenician Pagan is Lilinah biti-Anat who, with three other friends in California, began to practice a form of Canaanite-Phoenician Paganism. Lilinah biti-Anat's site Qadash Kinahnu was the first site concerning the subject in some depth. The first networking online group for Canaanite Pagans was started in the late 1990s by Qadash Kinahnu, but due to lack of participation was dissolved several years later. For more information on Natib Qadish, visit: http://canaanitepath.com
Deities Many of the Deities revered by Canaanite Pagans include the Deities listed in the Ugaritic texts found in modern-day Ras Shamra around 1928. Some of these Deities include: ● ● ●
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Ilu, Ilu, the the ben benevo evolen lentt King King of the the Deit Deities ies ○ see also Athira Athirat, t, wise wise Quee Queen n of of the the Deiti Deities es ○ see see als also o the the Hebr Hebrew ew Ashe Ashera rah h Anat, Anat, impetuo impetuous us adole adolescen scentt Goddes Goddess s of war and and passio passion n ○ see also also the Greek Greek Astart Astarte e and the the composit composite e Goddess Goddess Qudshu Qudshu known known to to the Egyptians Ba'al-Had Ba'al-Hadad, ad, also known known as Ba'lu Ba'lu - God God of of the the Storms Storms ○ see see als also o Baa Baall and and Hada Hadad d Kothar-wa Kothar-wa-Kha -Khasis, sis, God God of Crafting Crafting and Magic, Magic, his name name may may mean "skillfu "skillfull and clever" clever" ○ see see also also the the Egyp Egypti tian an God God Ptah Ptah Shapshu Shapshu,, also also known known as as Shapa Shapash, sh, Godd Goddess ess of of the the Sun Sun Yam, Yam, also also known known as Nahar, Nahar, the serpenti serpentine ne God God of of the Seas Mot, Mot, God God of Dea Death th and and Ste Steri rili lity ty Rasha Rashap, p, God God of of Plagu Plague, e, and and perh perhap aps s healin healing g ○ see see als also o Res Reshe hep p or or Res Reshe hef f Athtartu Athtartu,, also known known as Athtara Athtarat, t, a Godde Goddess ss who is is often often paired paired with with Anat Anat ○ see also the Greek Greek Astart Astarte e and and the the Biblical Biblical Ashtoret Ashtoreth h Gapan Gapan and Ugar, Ugar, Gods Gods of of Vine and and Field, Field, respect respectively ively are are helpers helpers of of Ba'al Ba'al Choron, Choron, also also known as as Horon; Horon; God of Treaties Treaties,, Curses, Curses, and perhap perhaps s healing healing venomou venomous s bites and stings ○ see see also also Egyp Egypti tian an Haur Hauron on Yari Yarikh kh,, God God of the the Moo Moon n Nikkal-waNikkal-wa-Ib Ib or simply simply Nikka Nikkal, l, Goddes Goddess s of Orchard Orchards, s, and perha perhaps ps a former former Mesopotamian Moon deity The Kathira Kathirat, t, also written written as Kothara Kotharat: t: the seven seven bird-like bird-like Godde Goddesses sses who who ensure ensure human human fertility Athtar, Athtar, an astral astral God God and/or and/or a God God of Irrigatio Irrigation n Shach Shachar ar and and Sha Shalim lim,, the the dawn dawn and and dus dusk k The kkbm kkbm (perhap (perhaps s "kakabum "kakabuma") a") -this -this may refer refer to "Star "Star Gods", Gods", or simpl simply y "stars". "stars".
Rituals In Natib Qadish, there are three basic kinds of offerings:
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Burnt Offerings: Offerings: offering, usually foodstuffs, foodstuffs, is completely completely burned. burned. This This is a very rare kind of offering. Peace Offerings: offering is made made complete complete and whole. whole. Food Food or or material material items items may be then used in service of the Deities, buried, or, if food, left for the animals. Libations can be consumed in service of the Deities at a communal meal, or may be poured into the earth. "Peace" offerings are the most common of offerings. Performance Performance Offerings: Offerings: often consist of dance, dance, recitation recitation of myth, myth, or artistic creation creation to be used in service to the Deities.
Ethics The ancient Canaanites had a concept of "sin," but it differed from the modern concept. To the Canaanites, it did not necessarily mean a disobedience to a Divine mandate. Instead, it meant that one committed an act that caused social and universal imbalance. In order to free oneself of sin, one would do an act to repair the imbalance, and/or perform acts to cleanse and purify oneself, and perform certain incantations.
Holidays Natib Qadish celebrate holidays at certain times of the year, as well as observing the phases of the moon. The Shanat Qadish is a reconstructed Canaanite festival calendar based upon the Ugaritic texts from roughly 14-13th Century BCE found at Ugarit, upon the Gezer Calendar written in roughly 925 BCE, and upon the seasonal occurrences in this part of the world during the Bronze Age. The word "Ashuru" means "festival" or "feast". ● ● ● ● ●
Ashuru Ashuru Mathbatu Mathbatu:: Festival Festival of Dwellin Dwellings, gs, new new moon of of month month of Autumn Autumnal al Equinox Equinox Marzichu Marzichu:: Funerary Funerary Celebr Celebratio ation, n, sometim sometimes es placed placed at new new moon in in Novembe NovemberrDecember Ashuru Ashuru Aru: Festival Festival of Light, Light, Winter Winter Solstice Solstice Ashuru Ashuru Shamnu Shamnu:: Festival Festival of Oil, Oil, seventh seventh day day after the the new moon moon after after winter winter solstice solstice Ashuru Ashuru Gannu Gannu:: Festiva Festivall of the the Garde Garden, n, Sprin Spring g Equino Equinox x
