I need to outline the knowledge that i need to obtain, to gain, in order to practice. I don't know who I'm trying to fool, the path of Ma'at IS the - faith - that resonates with me most. I just need to know more about it. I need to become a student, a seeker of this truth. With that in mind - the rough outlines of what I need to learn.
a) The Terminology
b) The Gods/Goddesses
c) The Scripture
d) The Declarations
e) The Calendar
f) The Festivals
g) The Rituals
Okay.
Now, I KNOW that Kemetism is not Wicca, in any way shape or form. However - it makes - sense to me - the structure of the Wiccan rituals. Opening and closing a circle gives me a tingle of connection - a feeling of an uprising of energy and potential. With that in mind - here is the information that I've found about rituals.
Daily Rites are something that was actually created by HoN - which makes sense - or at least I claim it makes sense because it didn't feel quite - right. In my head, there is a difference from daily RITUAL, and daily communion with the All. So - I doubt that daily RITUAL will become part of my practice - but there will be something - perhaps a little more casual instead.
| Direction | Female | Male | Quality |
| East | Nbt-Het | Hapi | Education |
| South | Serqet | Qebhsenuf | Health |
| West | Ast | Amset | Spirituality |
| North | Nit | Duamutef | Finance |
The remaining netjer in the ritual are:
Nut the feminine principle, whose essence corresponds to Heaven (Air)
Geb the masculine principle, whose essence corresponds to Earth
Shu the masculine principle, whose essence corresponds to Fire (light in the air)
Tefnut the feminine principle, whose essence corresponds to Water (moisture in air)
Paut Ntrw, The NTRW in the pre-existent, "water like" chaos form (Spirit)
And then, of course, there are the feast day rituals - which from my reading so far, seem to mainly be a celebration of the Netjer, including special offerings. In fact, interestingly enough, all of the rituals are pretty similar - it's just a matter of how elaborate they are.
One thing I really do like, are the 'rules'. They are found in what is commonly called the '42 Declarations of Innocence' from the Book of the Dead. The Egpytians believed that when they died, their heart would be weighed against the feather of Ma'at (Justice is about the closest translation, but leaves so much out). If they could proclaim the 42 declarations truthfully, they moved on to become one of the gods. If they messed up, their heart was eaten by an alligator.
I have not done iniquity.
I have not robbed with violence.
I have not stolen.
I have not made any to suffer pain.
I have not defrauded offerings.
I have done no murder nor bid anyone to slay on my behalf.
I have not trimmed the measure.
I have not spoken lies I have not robbed God.
I have not caused the shedding of tears.
I have not dealt deceitfully.
I have not acted guilefully.
I have not laid waste to the land.
I have not set my lips against anyone.
I have not been angry or wrathful without a just cause.
I have not lusted nor defiled the wife of any man.
I have not polluted myself.
I have not caused terror.
I have not done that which is abominable.
I have not multiplied words exceedingly.
I have never uttered fiery words.
I have not judged hastily.
I have not transgressed nor have I vexed or angered God.
I have not stopped my ears against the words of Right and Truth .
I have not burned with rage.
I have not worked grief.
I have not acted with insolence.
I have not avenged myself.
I have not stirred up strife.
I have not been an eavesdropper.
I have not wronged the people
I have done no harm nor have I done evil
I have not worked treason.
I have never fouled the water.
I have not spoken scornfully.
I have never cursed God.
I have not behaved with arrogance.
I have not envied or craved for that which belongs to another.
I have not filched food from the mouth of the infant.
I have done no hurt unto man, nor wrought harm unto beasts.
I have never magnified my condition beyond what was fitting.
2)
I have not committed sin
I have not committed robbery with violence
I have not stolen
I have not slain men and women
I have not stolen food
I have not swindled offerings
I have not stolen from God
I have not told lies
I have not carried away food
I have not cursed
I have not closed my ears to truth
I have not committed adultery
I have not made anyone cry
I have not felt sorrow without reason
I have not assaulted anyone
I am not deceitful
I have not stolen anyone's land
I have not been an eavesdropper
I have not falsely accused anyone
I have not been angry without reason
I have not seduced anyone's wife
I have not polluted myself
I have not terrorized anyone
I have not disobeyed the law
I have not been excessively angry
I have not cursed God
I have not behaved with violence
I have not caused disruption of peace
I have not acted hastily or without thought
I have not overstepped my boundaries of concern
I have not exaggerated my words when speaking
I have not worked evil
I have not used evil thoughts, words or deeds
I have not polluted the water
I have not spoken angrily or arrogantly
I have not cursed anyone in thought, word or deed
I have not placed myself on a pedestal
I have not stolen that which belongs to God
I have not stolen from or disrespected the deceased
I have not taken food from a child
I have not acted with insolence
I have not destroyed property belonging to God
There are also virtues that one should strive to acheive on the journey of becoming like Ma'at.
Control of thoughts;
Control of actions;
Devotion of purpose;
Have faith in the ability of your teacher to teach you the truth;
Have faith in yourself to assimilate the truth;
Have faith in yourself to wield the truth;
Be free from resentment under the experience of persecution;
Be free from resentment under the experience of wrong;
Cultivate the ability to distinguish between right and wrong; and
Cultivate the ability to distinguish between the real and the unreal
http://www.polysyllabic.com/Egyptian.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_calendar
http://showcase.netins.net/web/ankh/calendar1.html
http://hometown.aol.com/tokapu/calendar00.htm
http://www.digitalegypt.ucl.ac.uk/ideology/festivaldates.html
http://ourworld.cs.com/frankherbert10/heliacAN.html#LINKvbs
There were 3 seasons in the Egyptian year, Akhet (inundation) (spring to early summer), Peret (emergence) (early summer to mid fall) and Shemu (low water) (mid fall to the spring)which corresponded to the annual flooding of the Nile. Each season held 3 months. The seasons were determined by the rising of heliacal rising of the star Sirius (Sothis in Egyptian), which roughly coincided with the flooding of the Nile. The waters started rising around the end of June, and the flood period (Akhet) lasted until October, covering the land with rich black mud and preparing it for the sowing and growing period (Peret). The harvest time (Shemu) started at the end of February and ended with the new Nile flood.
Akhet: June 21st to October 21stPeret: October 21st to February 21stShemu: February 21st to June 21st| No. | Seasonal Names | Individual Names | Coptic Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | First of Akhet | Tekh | Thout |
| II | Second of Akhet | Menhet | Paopi |
| III | Third of Akhet | Hwt-Hwr | Hathor |
| IV | Fourth of Akhet | Ka-Hr-Ka | Koiak |
| V | First of Peret | Sf-Bdt | Tobi |
| VI | Second of Peret | Rekh Wer | Meshir |
| VII | Third of Peret | Rekh Neds | Paremhat |
| VIII | Fourth of Peret | Renwet | Paremoude |
| IX | First of Shemu | Hnsw | Pashons |
| X | Second of Shemu | Hnt-Htj | Paoni |
| XI | Third of Shemu | Ipt-Hmt | Epip |
| XII | Fourth of Shemu | Wep-Renpet | Mesori |
There were 12 months, each month lasting exactly 30 days. There were 3 weeks in a month, each week being 10 days. The last five days of the year (Epagomenal Days) did not belong to a month, and they were as follows:
1 | Mswt wsjr | The Birth of Osiris |
2 | Mswt Hr | The Birth of Horus |
3 | Mswt stx | The Birth of Set |
4 | Mswt Ast | The Birth of Isis |
5 | Mswt nbt-!wt | The Birth of Nephthys |
At a later date, a sixth day was added (Leap day) every four years to keep the calendar in sync with the Gregorian calendar.
There are few good records of festival dates and the like, so those will have to be found and added later. It does seem, however, that they had a festival to some god or other almost every day of the year!
I'm still wigging on the season shift. Akhet will end up starting in late summer! *shakes head* I'm actually kinda puzzled on how the seasons are so different. Egypt should have roughly the same seasons as Orlando, and heaven KNOWS August in Orlando is SOOOOOOOO not springy. I don't know. What's more important - the aura that surronds me, or the date of rising of a star that I most likely won't even acknowledge? They started using Sirius as the start of their New Year because of a correlation between it's apperance and the flooding of the Nile. The flooding of the Nile, to the Ancient Egyptians, represented the beginning of the agricultural year - a sign that the Earth was again preparing herself to be fertile and to grow and to be bountiful. The festival calendar was linked to the civil calendar based on the first new moon after the rising of Sothis.So, if I wanted to hold to the spirit rather than the letter (hah, talk about REALLY making my own thing!!) I would need to pick some event in MY climate that resonates to me as the first sign that the world is warming up. In addition - it shold be about 4 months before I would start seriously planting. *thinks* Akhet should END around the last frost, roughly. Hmm... I'll have to mull over this one a little more.
I need to outline the knowledge that i need to obtain, to gain, in order to practice. I don't know who I'm trying to fool, the path of Ma'at IS the - faith - that resonates with me most. I just need to know more about it. I need to become a student, a seeker of this truth. With that in mind - the rough outlines of what I need to learn.
a) The Terminology
b) The Gods/Goddesses
c) The Scripture
d) The Declarations
e) The Calendar
f) The Festivals
g) The Rituals
Okay.
See - this is the issue. To start out blind - there is really an almost OVERWHELMING amount of information out there - it's just like - Damn! Where do you start?
Names:
Kemetism
Tameran Wicca
Churches:
Kemetic Orthodoxy
House of Netjer
Per-Ankh
Per-Set
Per-Het Hert
Informational Links:
http://maat.sofiatopia.org
http://www.hethert.org/
http://www.sacred-texts.com/egy/ema/index.htm
http://www.thelivingnuhati.org/
http://www.geocities.com/hclasalle/index.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~senni/temple/Page_1x.html
http://www.kemetonline.com/
http://www.ecauldron.com/reconegypt.php
http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/main.asp?webtag=tamery&nav=start&prettyurl=%2Ftamery%2Fstart
http://www.per-yinepu.org/home.html
http://www.per-bast.org/bast/historical.html
http://altreligion.about.com/od/kemet/
http://www.hwt-hrw.com/
http://www.idolhands.com/egypt/
http://www.per-heh.org/
http://www.templeofkhem.com/
http://www.branwenscauldron.com/resources/kemetic.html
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0SOR/is_2_65/ai_n6141942
http://fyrekat.livejournal.com/
http://www.kindredofshiendra.org/
http://www.inkemetic.org/
http://www.persekhmet.org/
http://www.thekeep.org/%7Ekunoichi/kunoichi/themestream/egypt_column.html
http://www.sacredshrineofmwtast.org/
www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=14054925210921215138
http://thepaganheart.com/
http://www.mythiccrossroads.com/egyptian.htm
http://www.isisnefertari.clara.net/
http://www.thetroth.org/memsvc/stewards/flyers/benw/reconflyer.pdf
http://wicca.timerift.net/index.html (not really Kemetic - just seemed interesting)
http://www.hermeticfellowship.org/HFEgyptianResources.html
http://www.godulike.co.uk/index.php
http://www.dreamofhorn.com/nest/wings.html
http://www.cesidaho.org/
http://www.touregypt.net/literature.htm
http://obsidianmagazine.com
http://www.bunny-puppy.net/folk/
Books:
Ancient Egyptian Magic by Cassandra Eason
Magic of Ancient Egypt by Geraldine Pinch
Ancient Egyptian Magic by Bob Brier
The Mechanics of Ancient Egyptian Magical Practice by Robert Kriech Ritner
Circle of Isis by Ellen Cannon Reed
The Book of the Dead
The Book of Egyptian Ritual by Jocelyn Almond and Keith Seddon
See - this is the issue. To start out blind - there is really an almost OVERWHELMING amount of information out there - it's just like - Damn! Where do you start?
Names:
Kemetism
Tameran Wicca
Churches:
Kemetic Orthodoxy
House of Netjer
Per-Ankh
Per-Set
Per-Het Hert
Informational Links:
http://maat.sofiatopia.org
http://www.hethert.org/
http://www.sacred-texts.com/egy/ema/index.htm
http://www.thelivingnuhati.org/
http://www.geocities.com/hclasalle/index.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~senni/temple/Page_1x.html
http://www.kemetonline.com/
http://www.ecauldron.com/reconegypt.php
http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/main.asp?webtag=tamery&nav=start&prettyurl=%2Ftamery%2Fstart
http://www.per-yinepu.org/home.html
http://www.per-bast.org/bast/historical.html
http://altreligion.about.com/od/kemet/
http://www.hwt-hrw.com/
http://www.idolhands.com/egypt/
http://www.per-heh.org/
http://www.templeofkhem.com/
http://www.branwenscauldron.com/resources/kemetic.html
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0SOR/is_2_65/ai_n6141942
http://fyrekat.livejournal.com/
http://www.kindredofshiendra.org/
http://www.inkemetic.org/
http://www.persekhmet.org/
http://www.thekeep.org/%7Ekunoichi/kunoichi/themestream/egypt_column.html
http://www.sacredshrineofmwtast.org/
www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=14054925210921215138
http://thepaganheart.com/
http://www.mythiccrossroads.com/egyptian.htm
http://www.isisnefertari.clara.net/
http://www.thetroth.org/memsvc/stewards/flyers/benw/reconflyer.pdf
http://wicca.timerift.net/index.html (not really Kemetic - just seemed interesting)
http://www.hermeticfellowship.org/HFEgyptianResources.html
http://www.godulike.co.uk/index.php
http://www.dreamofhorn.com/nest/wings.html
http://www.cesidaho.org/
http://www.touregypt.net/literature.htm
http://obsidianmagazine.com
http://www.bunny-puppy.net/folk/
http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/EGYINRES.HTM
http://s2.excoboard.com/exco/index.php?boardid=5203
http://www.egyptianmyths.net/aegypt.htm
http://www.egypt-tehuti.org/
http://www.etana.org/abzu/
http://home.prcn.org/sfryer/Hieratic/
Books:
Ancient Egyptian Magic by Cassandra Eason
Magic of Ancient Egypt by Geraldine Pinch
Ancient Egyptian Magic by Bob Brier
The Mechanics of Ancient Egyptian Magical Practice by Robert Kriech Ritner
Circle of Isis by Ellen Cannon Reed
The Book of the Dead
The Book of Egyptian Ritual by Jocelyn Almond and Keith Seddon
*sighs* Once again, I'm craving a spiritual path that I can call my own. I've swung through two of the Big Three (Islam and Christianity) both of whom I - discarded as not being true to me. While I find Judiasm to be an interesting faith - it doesn't - call to me - in any shape or form. For years, if asked what I 'was' I would either claim to be pagan, or heathen, or nothing at all. Lately, Heathen has become my standard answer - but my issue with that is that it is sooo very, very, vague. I'm not Wiccan, in any way shape or form - largely because as much as I've TRIED to immerse myself into it - it isn't mine. As a black woman - it doesn't feel - right nor authentic to worship a European/Celtic/Roman pantheon. I've looked into the Diaspora religions, hoping those would resonate more - and while there is more - comfort - I don't feel like I'm wandering outside of myself - and I very very much so want a Tarot set with Vodun imagery on it - it still doesn't speak to my spirit in a way that allows me to say - Yes! This is how I should commune with the All.
I was briefly exposed to Kemetism while I lived in Atlanta, and considering how much of an Egyptophile I am, I almost instantly thought that I had found my path. As I looked further into it though (largely in bookstores) I began to realize that it was very - nationalistic/Afrikan. While I have made the CHOICE to not practice Wicca because it doesn't fit my concept of my ethnic profile, I could not see myself choosing a path that purposefully excluded people because of their race - it felt wrong enough that despite my love for all that is Egypt, I just - couldn't. Then, last year I was wandering through the boards on Beliefnet, and shock upon shock - found practioners of Kemetism who were black, white, hispanic - and the form of Kemetism that they praticed was open to all who would follow the path of Ma'at.
Joy! Hope! Eagerness! This - this could be - this should be my path. The - resonance was there. The - culture - was there. I could commune with the All along that path - as soon as I knew what the path was. And there - that is the point at which my dichotomy reared it's ugly head again. I had finally come to the point where I could put a NAME on the path that I wished to follow - but I had no teachers, no guides, no companions along the path. Because Kemetism is a relatively new reclamation path - those who have been traveling it seem to only be sharing their knowledge within a small circle of devotees (who all seem to live in California!) and only the Afrikan Nationalistic path seemed to be publishing books.
So what did I do? I let it slip to the back of my mind - keeping my eyes open for signposts to Kemetism, but - not actively pursuing it. I read a little, I scanned through forums, I tried to find local heathens who practiced this path. And - nothing. My mental dichotomy was working, pushing me to claim this path, yet holding me back from simply creating it as an Ecletic because that did not feel authentic. *grins* I mean, just give me a syallbus!
So where does that leave me now? With my new awareness of my dichotomy - what can I do to work around it? Kemetism isn't like becoming a doula/midwife - there are deeper things of the spirit that cannot be explained - and that I'm afraid I won't recognize. I can't sit down and create a guideline of how to travel through the Mysteries - if I knew that, I would have already traveled that path! So - what do I do? What can I do? I'm not sure. I don't even know where to start. *laughs* lately, I've been considering making this a research project of mine. I suspect that my best resource will be the internet, and heaven knows that I have more than enough time at work to collect and collate at least the first few steps along this path.
Since I want to be able to access my information from anywhere, I figured I would put together a new chapter on my OD to keep track of the information I find & the like....
Just to make it clear - I really have NO intention of joining a 'church'. I'm seriously a solitary for LIFE. *smiles* I was talking about this to one of my boys (I love my men!) and he asked me what role I expected religion/spirituality to play in my life. It took me aback for a second, (and see - this is why I love him, cuz he forces me to articulate my feelings) and I said that I want it to be a ritualized connection to the All/Universe. *grins* He then noted that, really - I could make that up. And ya know, I've tried - but it just doesn't feel AUTHENTIC. It FEELS made up. That's also why I've avoided some other paths - there is always SOMETHING missing, and I can't quite put my finger on what it is. Anyhow - once I do determine what my path is - it will be mine. It will be based within a specific religious 'structure' - but it will DEFINITELY be self-guided.
I've realized that So & Anyhow are my two 'words'. Anyhow (see!!), I'm gonna be rambling.
1) EEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeee!! The client (remember, the one that AM never responded to me about and I was all worried that her & her husband hated me??) lost her mucus plug AND is 1cm!!! eeeeeeeee!!! She's due the 23rd, so - Eeeeeeeeeee!!!!
2) Somehow (*glares at a certain diarist*) I've gotten sucked into trying to finish a short story EVERY MONTH. Every month ya'll. Oh, my god. Okay - two things I've learned, right? a) I really ain't fond of short stories - I usually have too much stuff going on to squeeze it into 5000 words or so. b) I have a hard time finishing stuff - I want the endings to be funny and smart and suprising and GOOD and a lot of times they just seem to - trickle - to an end.
But!! At least I'm working on FINISHING them. And one cool thing about short stories is that - well, they're short. They are easy to edit, and easy to read through, and it's practically impossible to lose track of a plot point. Now, if I could just finish one. Ohhh.... I might have my very own 'First Rejection Letter' soon.
3) I've started on writing out my 'Life Plan' and really - most of the stuff on there isn't scary AT ALL. It's really just another way to keep me organized. I managed to knock off one or two things at work yesterday - stuff that requires research and online purchase and the like. But - it's makes it all so much CLEARER when I do it like this - it pushes the thought of just quitting to the back of my mind, and forces me to focus on the path to being ABLE to quit, rather than letting focus on the despondency of the fact that I can't do it right NOW! *stomps foot* Anyhow - I think it's going to be very useful.
4) Lunchtime!
Wow - I got lots of responses to that last entry, rather thoughtful ones too. Funnily enough, I had forgotten I had written that, and when I logged in I was like - DANG!! Where all the notes come from? Anyhow!
Had a wonderful, wonderful weekend. Me & the Boy crept out of town and had a wonderful weekend in South Carolina - did ya'll know they have palm trees there? It was rather trippy - I thought I was just still sleepy - but nope, they were real palm trees. We stayed in this wonderful sexy hotel, and wandered around the city (and can I tell you how LOVELY the weather was) and ate food that just isn't offered in Memphis (like GREEK!!!) and - generally had a fabulous time.
We're actually going to be going out/social birds for the rest of the month. On the 20th, we are going to a wrestling event (that I brought tickets for and didn't tell the Boy about - he's gonna CRAP!) and a Grizzlies game (the company offered tickets for 5 bucks - but we ARE in the nosebleed section, so we may or may not go to that one) on the 28th - which is also our first wedding anniversary. We'll most likely celebrate the second this year, as it lands on a weekend.
Also - I finally got the ovaries up to email AM (the doula I'm working with) and ask her about the long silence and wonder of wonders!! She actually got really GOOD feedback from the couple we saw, and she's just been really busy and didn't get a chance to answer my email. Can I tell you how much better (and worse) that makes me feel? Better because, well, I don't suck. Worse, because well - she didn't respond to the email - is that a sign of things to come? Anyhow, she suggested that I pack a doula bag (which, I already have - the only thing missing out of it is something for my hands - I should learn how to knit or something). So *deep breath* I feel SO much better about that.
I still haven't made up my brochures - largely because I'm debating being cheap and flimsy, or being expensive and sturdy. Basically, it's all about paper weight. Standard paper weight is 24lbs - but it's also rather flimsy and - well, it has a rather homemade feel about it. Brochure weight is 32lbs - a little more sturdy, but still a heck of a lot lighter than cardstock. It's also a heck of alot more expensive than cardstock OR regular paper - I think because it's mainly used for resumes. I don't really WANT to use glossy brochure paper (even more expensive), and I haven't found a good source for 32lb paper in the color I want. I need to go to xpedx and see if I can find some there. Maybe I'll do that tonight.
Ohhhh!! Yes - during the drive to SC, something CLICKED in my head around the whole 'fear of my own light' issue. I realized that I don't LIKE going outside of - predetermined paths. I'm not a real pathbreaker - I like to travel paths that others have traveled and that I KNOW will get me to exactly where I'm going. I'm not all that eager to experiment with my life. And - as I was thinking about that, I realized, that ya know - the path that I want to follow isn't one that can be mapped out ahead of time for one person, and then work perfectly for everyone else. It's too - unique, too specialized, too much me and not enough society. So - with that thought in mind, I realized that one thing that I can do to - ease - a lot of the fear that I have is to map OUT my path. I've done it from the financial side via our budget (oh, our poor creaky budget), but I've never really outlined in detail the other things that I need to do in order to get where I want to be going.
If I have my path mapped out - I can at least follow the first few steps that I think are right, then at least I've made a start. And once I follow those first few steps, I can regroup, and see where I am, and figure out the next ones to take. I basically have to scout out my life. *creep&crawlcreep&crawl* So, yeah. That's my goal for this week - actuall get down on paper what I want to do - and list out at least five steps of how to further that. *nods* And ya know, that's not the LEAST bit scary.
