Egyptian Pantheon: Set

Set (also Seth, Sutekh, Setekh) is the Egyptian God of Chaos, Storms, the Desert, and Transformation. Once a powerful protector of Ra’s solar barque, he later became known as the God of Disorder and Opposition, the force that challenges both gods and mortals to evolve through conflict and endurance.

He is the embodiment of the untamed wilderness, the red desert, and the forces of disruption that bring both destruction and renewal. Though feared and vilified in later myths, Set is also revered as a divine tester, warrior, and catalyst for strength — the necessary storm that clears the path for new creation.

Mythology & Lore

Set’s story is deeply intertwined with that of his brother Osiris, sister Isis, and nephew Horus — the archetypal Egyptian tale of balance between chaos and order.

Originally, Set was a protector deity, associated with the desert, foreign lands, and the storms that raged beyond the fertile Nile valley. He stood at the prow of Ra’s solar barque each night, defending the sun god from the serpent Apophis (Apep) — a symbol of true, consuming chaos. In this role, Set was not an enemy of Ma’at (cosmic order), but its defender through confrontation.

However, in the later Osirian myth cycle, Set becomes the murderer of Osiris, representing betrayal and upheaval. Out of jealousy and hunger for power, Set slays Osiris, scattering his pieces across Egypt. Yet even in this act, he becomes the agent of transformation, forcing resurrection through Isis’s devotion and Horus’s ascension.

In the great conflict between Set and Horus, the two gods battle for the throne of Egypt. Their struggle — fierce, destructive, and endless — embodies the cosmic tension between chaos and order, necessary for creation to continue.

Set’s animal form, the mysterious Set-beast (a composite creature with square ears, forked tail, and curved snout), symbolizes that which defies definition — the outsider, the unpredictable, the wild.

Despite his dark reputation, Set was worshipped for millennia. In the New Kingdom, pharaohs like Seti I proudly bore his name, honoring him as the divine strength behind kingship, resilience, and survival.

Aspects & Domains

✦ Set the Storm Bringer

Embodies the desert winds and thunderstorms that bring both devastation and renewal.
Keywords: Power, disruption, cleansing, transformation.

✦ Set the Protector of Ra

Defender of the solar barque, guardian against the true chaos of Apep.
Keywords: Strength, defense, divine courage, perseverance.

✦ Set the Destroyer

Breaker of illusions and stagnant patterns; his chaos forces rebirth through endings.
Keywords: Change, destruction, evolution, challenge.

✦ Set the Outsider

Patron of those who walk beyond the norm — rebels, outcasts, and survivors.
Keywords: Independence, authenticity, strength through adversity.

Symbols & Colors

• Colors: Red (desert, vitality, fire), black (chaos, depth), gold (power), silver (lightning), ochre (earth, survival)

• Symbols: Storm, desert, lightning, spear, scepter (was), Set-animal, red sand, solar barque, eye of storm

• Animals: Set-beast, donkey, boar, crocodile, serpent, oryx

• Plants/Herbs: Myrrh, red pepper, cedar, dragon’s blood, desert sage, tobacco, acacia

• Sacred Associations: Desert, thunder, fire, transformation, trials, independence, opposition, shadow

Crystals & Stones

Set’s energy is fierce, grounding, and transformational — best used for shadow work, power reclamation, and resilience:

• Obsidian – shadow integration, clarity, truth in darkness

• Garnet – vitality, power, blood energy, courage

• Carnelian – life force, motivation, passion

• Hematite – grounding, protection, physical endurance

• Black Tourmaline – defense against negative forces

• Pyrite – confidence, boldness, willpower

• Red Jasper - brick work, laying foundations, grounding

Rituals & Offerings

• Storm Invocation: During thunder or high wind, stand facing the storm and speak Set’s name, asking him to clear away stagnation and falsehood.

• Shadow Offering: Burn myrrh or dragon’s blood while journaling about inner conflict or fear; dedicate your insight to Set’s fire of transformation.

• Offerings: Red wine, spicy foods, beer, meat, myrrh, obsidian, garlic, red candles, or symbols of strength and survival.

• Acts of Devotion: Speak your truth fearlessly, defend the underdog, and embrace challenge as sacred.

• Desert Meditation: Sit in silence (indoors or outdoors) and feel the vast emptiness of Set’s realm as a mirror of your inner clarity.

Metaphysical Work with Set

• Transformation: Burns away stagnation and false identities, revealing strength beneath chaos.

• Shadow Work: Confronts fear, anger, and ego without judgment; teaches self-mastery through awareness.

• Protection: Guards the self during times of upheaval, shielding from deception and weakness.

• Empowerment: Encourages independence, assertiveness, and authenticity.

• Breaking Cycles: Dismantles unhealthy attachments and outdated systems.

• Courage & Survival: Inspires resilience and raw willpower through struggle.

Invocation Example

"Set of storm, wild flame and sky,
Teach me how to live, not why.
Break my walls but guard my core,
Through chaos, I am born once more."

Modern Worship & Practice

In modern spirituality, Set is embraced as a patron of transformation, authenticity, and personal power. He appeals to those walking unconventional paths — witches, warriors, survivors, and truth-seekers — who honor the strength born from chaos.

• Altars: Red or black cloth, candles, stormwater, obsidian, myrrh, or the image of the Set-beast.

• Chants: “Dua Set! Lord of Storms and Strength!” or “Set, breaker of chains, reveal my power!”

• Ritual Timing: During storms, at the waning moon, or at moments of crisis or rebirth.

• Daily Practice: Face discomfort with honesty, channel anger constructively, and allow challenge to forge growth.

To walk with Set is to accept that chaos is not your enemy but your teacher. He strips away weakness, clears illusions, and reminds you that true order is born only after the storm.

He is not the villain of Egypt — he is the desert wind that tempers the soul, the thunder that wakes the heart, and the fire that makes strength sacred.