How did you come to Kemetism?

[David19]

I thought this might be a good thread to see how people came to Kemetism, as i'm waiting to get the lessons sent to me from Kemetic Orthodox.

Did you come to Kemetism from another 'pagan' path or another religion (e.g. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc) or did you have a path before (e.g. were you an atheist or agnostic?), what made you choose Kemetism, have you always liked Ancient Egypt (& and/or modern Egypt), did a god 'call' you so you 'had' to come to Kemetism (i've heard of some cases on other 'pagan' paths where gods choose someone and it's pretty clear that they're not going to take no for an answer).

What are your favourite things about Kemetism (e.g. do you like the gods, the spiritual experiences, etc).

For me, i can't really answer all my questions, as i haven't done the class yet, but i do like Ancient Egyptian 'mythology' and i like Egypt (i want to go there, as well as other places, on my gap year), and also it does seem like Kemetism is pretty accepting (i don't think i've heard of much homophobia and i think even some of the gods are pretty bi or gay e.g. Set and Horus, etc!) and i've heard that, as long as you keep the religions seperate, you can be part of another religion and worship other gods too (like i'm pretty interested in a few others too).

Anyway, what about you?.

[Zephyrstorm]

Hotep, David19!

In my case, I came to Kemetic Orthodoxy from practicing my own form of religious Witchcraft, which I still practice.

I was going through a pretty harsh time in my life, and Sekhmet started coming to me in my dreams. She guided me into healing and through that time, and it worked very well. I still have some scars from that time, but they are fading with time.

Anyway, the dreams recurred throughout that time period in my life, and by the end of it, I felt I owed Her enough that I needed to study Her and Her people. So I did. I began to try to fit Kemetic ideas into the framework I had, but was left... disatisfied.

And I kept coming across the HON website. At first, I was put off by the idea of a Nisut, but I kept finding myself back there. I checked out a variety of organizations, lurking and the like, but the only one that actually called to me was HON.

Almost a year and a half ago, I decided I'd listened to all the talk for and against HON and needed to just shut up and find out for myself. So I did.
The first anniversary of my conversion is next month. And Sekhmet's still there - just She's in my life more often as Het-Hert. heh

At the same time, throughout my life, I've collected cats, and Bast's image. I didn't have to worry about buying very much for Her after I was divined. And there are hundreds of little things that, in retrospect, point me right at Mom and my Dad, Amun.

I've never met anyone in any Pagan path that really suffered from Homophobia. Many of the Ancients just didn't think about sex or relationships the same way that we do. And that's fine.

In my experience, the key with being Kemetic Orthodox and another Path is: balance. It's hard sometimes, but it can be done. I still struggle with it sometimes.

Looking forward to hearing the responses. Good topic.

[OrionNeb87]

Ahhh so many questions :lol: Ok I was born a Christian but I wasn't raised in a religious family. About a couple years ago I entered the world of paganism, started off with Wicca then kind of entered a very eclectic path. I first learned about Egypt in 3rd grade and have been in love with it ever since. I always wondered back then if people still worshiped the Egyptian Gods. I was having a hard time choosing a path that felt wholy right to me. Tried Buddhism but my brain was way too chatty for it. It was a very good friend of mine who suggested I take my love of Ancient Egypt a little further and so I started searching around Mystic Wicks for Egypt related paths. I found out all about Kemet and HON here. But I still wasn't sure. Then Yinepu and Aset showed up, Bast too a couple times. Egyptian things kept popping up in random places, places you would never expect to find anything Egyptian. I talked to them a lot and could feel them pushing me towards HON. As Zephyrstorm mentioned HON kept showing up everywhere and I finally decided to take the beginner's class. Aset and Yinepu disappeared during this time and I had a feeling that they had showed up in my life to lead me to Kemet. Then Djehuty started talking to me during my chem labs and during ritual I had asked who was there and Djehuty answered. And during a really low moment I was having I had a stern talking to from Set. So I definitely knew right about then that I was going in the right direction and made the full conversion to Shemsu. I have never been happier spiritually.

What I like the most is interacting with the Gods. Heru-wer has left feathers in my path when I was feeling down or really happy. Everytime the sun shines or I see a bright yellow flower I think of Ra (He keeps telling me to look for sunflowers but I haven't seen any around). I have been writing poetry like crazy lately and I know its Djehuty fueling my creative spree. Set has been quiet, I hope he speaks up a little more because he intrigues me so (oh just now he said "So I intrigue you huh?" :lol: ).

Nice topic David, really got me thinking. :)

[Ishtara]

Got dragged onto the path, kicking and screaming, by Ma'at, Djehuty and Yinepu.

Up until then, I was nominally Lutheran, actually agnostic and quite frankly not caring much about religion or spirituality. I always had a passion for Ancient Egyptian art and civilisation, but I never would have thought that one day I would follow its faith.

[Temwa]

I was never religious, or spirituality interested, or even raised with a faith. Up until a few years ago, I actually held a strong dislike for religion in general. But then, something sparked. Questions. Wonder. I don't know, but I started taking an interest, more to satisfy my curiosity about faith than to find faith myself. It was a scholarly study, if you will.

I stumbled across paganism, when a woman on another forum so wonderfully described her pagan faith to me. I was fascinated! I read everything I could, but it was still not quite... right. Wicca, paganism, asatru - it was all interesting, but not RIGHT.

Then I read about kemetic reconstructionism. I was astounded. I'd always loved ancient Egypt, and for years it (and its mythology especially) had been a special interest of mine. Once again, I read everything I could.

Bast has always been around. Always. But I didn't recognize Her presence as a divine one until then. She poked me towards the House of Netjer, and eventually I joined - to study, I told myself, not to become a Shemsu. Upon my graduation from the beginners class, however, I felt that I needed to know if Bast was my Mother - and IF She was, and only then, would I join shemsuhood.

Never dare Bast, heh. She is my Mother, it was confirmed, and I kept my promise. I'm a shemsu, and I quite like it. ;) I enjoy the community, my relationship with Netjer - heck, everything. It was finally RIGHT. :)

[maiem]

When I was quite little, I worshipped a storm god, Who I now beleive to be Amun.

I discovered Wicca when I was 13 I beleive, but it never sat right with me. Left it for a generic paganism, then somehow stumbled upon Kemetic Orthodoxy via an ex-member's blog when I was 16. Lurked about on the website for a while, and finally took the beginner's class when I was 18, and converted the following February.

Amun-Ra is just...you have to know Him to understand, I think. He is the King of my heart and my soul, and I do not say this lightly. While I am currently studying other religions and other gods, He is my one true King. ::love::

[David19]

Bast has always been around. Always. But I didn't recognize Her presence as a divine one until then. She poked me towards the House of Netjer, and eventually I joined - to study, I told myself, not to become a Shemsu. Upon my graduation from the beginners class, however, I felt that I needed to know if Bast was my Mother - and IF She was, and only then, would I join shemsuhood.

Never dare Bast, heh. She is my Mother, it was confirmed, and I kept my promise. I'm a shemsu, and I quite like it. ;) I enjoy the community, my relationship with Netjer - heck, everything. It was finally RIGHT. :)

Thanks for all the replies, and if you don't mind me asking, what's a 'Shemsu', is it a Kemetic word for a follower of the Kemetic faith or is it a word meaning something like priest or something?.

That's probably a dumb question, but i don't know what it means.

BTW, i've noticed a lot of people have had experiences with the Kemetic gods before you became Kemetic, but i don't think i've had any (or with any god, maybe the only ones are Athene and Lilith), do you think something may be 'wrong' with me or that the gods 'don't want' me?, or something.

Anyway, again, thanks for all the posts, it's good seeing how people came to Kemetism.

[Duwayitheru]

Hmm.. I wasn't raised in a very religious house, but I have believed in God since I was a very little girl.

A few months before turning 11 I found a book about Wicca, and was facinated by the idea of paganism. I was especially interested in the Gods being worshiped, as I was always told that no one worshiped these old Deities anymore.
I worshiped Heru-sa-Aset on and off through the next several years, He made it very clear He was there.. but didn't say much other than that. I explored a lot of pagan traditions, but none of them seemed right for me. I finally found Kemetic reconstructionism, but didn't feel ready for it at the time. I went on to study Christianity, Hinduism, and Shinto (my grandmother's religion). Still, I again found myself back at Egyptian reconstruction, and this time I decided to do something with it. I spent a while .. on my own, I guess you could say. I wasn't with any particular temple, or group. Heru-sa-Aset was there in full force, and other Names started to show up as well. Then, I was lead to Kemetic Orthodoxy, and have been following for less than a year.

My favorite thing about it is the spiritual experiances I have had with my Gods. No other religion gave me these feelings, so I'm pretty sure I'm on the right path. I woulnd't trade my experiances in other religions for anything though, while it didn't give me the same spiritually filled feeling, I learned so much from them, things that help me in my current path.


Thanks for all the replies, and if you don't mind me asking, what's a 'Shemsu', is it a Kemetic word for a follower of the Kemetic faith or is it a word meaning something like priest or something?.
Specifically within Kemetic Orthodoxy, a Shemsu is a.. level of membership? I guess you could say. After the beginner class, one becomes a remetj, one of the people of Kemet. They have not taken oaths or anything, though they can be divined. Shemsu have been divined, named, and taken their shemsu vows. It does mean follower, and shemsu aren't consitered priests in Kemetic Orthodoxy.


BTW, i've noticed a lot of people have had experiences with the Kemetic gods before you became Kemetic, but i don't think i've had any (or with any god, maybe the only ones are Athene and Lilith), do you think something may be 'wrong' with me or that the gods 'don't want' me?, or something.
I don't think there is anything wrong with you. Perhaps they're just waiting for you to find your way. Or staying quiet for another reason.. Or you are just missing their signals. Who knows..? ;)

[TaysatWesir]

I was raised Roman Catholic but didn't take the religion as seriously as my mother would. My father opened me up to other religions and cultures. He bout me my first tarot card deck and book. My mom also introduced me to Santeria, botincas and pyschics.

I came to discover Kemeticism when I researched Yinepu and other Netjer. I was invited to join KOL (Kemetonline) then PerAnkh (their temple). I met a couple of people from HoN who told me about KO. I'm currently in the begginers' class hoping to become Shemsu and get Divined.

[Temwa]

BTW, i've noticed a lot of people have had experiences with the Kemetic gods before you became Kemetic, but i don't think i've had any (or with any god, maybe the only ones are Athene and Lilith), do you think something may be 'wrong' with me or that the gods 'don't want' me?, or something.

Not at all. :) And signs are so easy to miss! One day you might go "Well DUH - of course They were there all along!" when you look back on things.

And besides, many of us have contact with gods from outside the Egyptian pantheon, so you're not alone in that area either. I, for example, am very fond of Lilith as you mentioned, and also Hestia, along with a few others.

[Duwayitheru]

Not at all. :) And signs are so easy to miss! One day you might go "Well DUH - of course They were there all along!" when you look back on things.


Very true. While I mention that I've known my Father to be in my life for a very long time now, I totally missed the fact that Shu was around for just as long until a few months ago. Looking back, it's obvious. Then, there is Ra, who even looking back I think I'm missing a lot of the signs still.. ;) Nut has been around for a few years, and I knew it.. It just depends on you, the Names in question, and your life.

[Ptah]

Not at all. :) And signs are so easy to miss! One day you might go "Well DUH - of course They were there all along!" when you look back on things.

This was certainly true for me.. one day I looked back and realized Ptah had been guiding me all along. I saw his hand in a lot of my actions and the results of those actions. Now I just wait and listen for his word, while Sekhmet guides me. Eventually there will be a balance there, but right now I just need to be patient and let her finish her work.

[Zephyrstorm]

It wasn't until my RPD brought up Amun that I could see His influence in my life, despite the way that He is in almost everything in my life. He's subtle.

And I'm also a huge fan of Hestia. Artemis was the first Goddess to help me out, and I keep a tiny shrine to Her in my bedroom. I've always been of the opinion that if a God asks for your attention, then you learn what you can about Them and listen to Them for that time. *shrugs* Who am I to tell a God or Goddess no?

[OrionNeb87]

Based on my experience, some Names are very subtle, dropping barely noticable hints here and there and some like to wait until you least expect it and then hit you over the head with their presence. Maybe they're waiting for the right moment. :)

[Senushemi]

OK, one more post, THEN off for my cat nap...

I was born and raised as a fairly fundamentalist Christian (Protestant variety, Presbyterian flavor). When I was 30 I converted to Catholicism as my DH is Catholic and we were baptising our first-born into the church. I have to admit, I loved the mass (and still do).

You might imagine, then, how difficult it was for me to move into paganism. The "candle magic" of the mass made it a bit easier to ease into the "candle magic" of witchcraft (once I got past the old "witches burn in he!!" fear). In fact, it wasn't until I realized that (IMHO) the Bible was written by men as a means to control their fellow men (and whatever wealth was in the region at the time), and that my God(s) were not limited to the old Jewish man in the sky that Christianity worshiped, that I was finally able to make the break from all of the fear of he!! and damnation.

About 1 1/2 years ago, I had a dream where I was being called to become a "drummer of Thoth"... mind you I love music, and have been singing and playing the flute for - well, let's just say a long time. ;) But I've never been a drummer, much less one dedicated to drumming for one of the gods of the Pharoahs! Well, that I know of, anyway...

So to make a long story short (I know, too late!) my searching after that dream led me to HoN, which has quickly come to be home for me. It was no real surprise that Djehuty (Thoth) is my Father, nor that Bast is my mother (I've always loved cats, usually have 2 or 3 about the house, and statues/stuffed animals/etc abound). The surprise was being beloved of Sekhmet... but then, I always have loved red... :hahugh:

[Zephyrstorm]

:hugz: the Shemi. :)

[David19]

Not at all. :) And signs are so easy to miss! One day you might go "Well DUH - of course They were there all along!" when you look back on things.

And besides, many of us have contact with gods from outside the Egyptian pantheon, so you're not alone in that area either. I, for example, am very fond of Lilith as you mentioned, and also Hestia, along with a few others.

Thanks for that (and to the others who replied), it's helped me a lot.

I'm not sure what Kemetic gods may be interested (maybe when i start the class, i'll get a better idea), but sometimes, recently in fact, i've been thinking of Sokar (i'm not sure if that's his actual Kemetic name, though), and sometimes Anubis comes into my head, but i have no idea, if that's just me 'day dreaming', or if it's really them sending me some kind of sign (BTW, does anyone here have Sokar as a 'parent', i know that a lot seemed to have Anubis).

And this may be too off topic, but if you're Kemetic, can you also have shrines or altars to other deities (e.g. like would i be able to have a shrine or something similar to Greek gods such as Athene or Apollo (& maybe if i look into it enough, Lilith)), as i think Athene and Apollo have both helped me and i'd like to say 'thanks' in some way (Athene especially when i have exams or essays, Lol), and Lilith, as i kind of felt like she provided a kind of comfort to me. I wouldn't put them on the same Kemetic altar (when i have one), but is it ok to have them in the same room (or would the gods have something to say about that) or if you've had experiences with other gods, how do the Kemetic gods 'treat' them.

Anyway, thanks again to all those that replied :).

[Senushemi]

/me _pounce_ the Zephyrstorm.


David19 - I maintain a shrine to Brigid to this day. I have it in an alcove in my kitchen. Most of my Kemetic shrines are in the bedroom (Bast, Djehuty and Sekhmet); I have a small one in the computer room (Ra and Heru-sa-Aset), and my akhu shrine is out in my living room.

So the answer is yes, you can have shrines to non-Kemetic deities. The only difference is that once you become Shemsu in Kemetic Orthodoxy, you are promising to put the Kemetic gods *first* - but even then, there is no reason to shun any other god/desses. :)

[amunakht]

Not at all. And signs are so easy to miss! One day you might go "Well DUH - of course They were there all along!" when you look back on things.

Temwa is right. You can miss the signs. Like one time when fishing I missed a falcon (although in a rural area in IL) my fishing partner saw it and pointed it out but it was too late. Then about 3 weeks later I was in the park IN CHICAGO (which is next to impossible to find a falcon) and I saw a sign from perhaps Ra or Heru (Horus), it was a falcon swooping down to strike at a flock of pigeons below. Im not sure what particular God it was but it was a sign for me to come into Kemeticism.

[sonofthemummy]

One reason I think it is important for the followers of this or that Netjer to have closer contact with one another is that the angelic beings who carry on the activities of the temple in the invisible worlds have similar values and similar semantics. What is incorrect behavior because it might generate confusion in the greater community is moderated by the order-keeping gods like Horus. But, when creativity and spirituality are involved, getting more contact with the masters and devotees in ones own denomination can help facilitate more specific manifestations and goals.

[La Fortuna]

Hi :wave:

I have been a pagan for about 37 years now. I have practiced many paths and one day by accident I came across the HON after I a noticed that one of its member had been plagraizing on another site.

After having connected with them, I joined.
I am Udjat Sekhmet, beloved of Ptah, Amun and Heru-sa-Aset
However, in my shrine I have Ra-Herakhte, Sekhmet and Upuat/Yinepu

I have found the teachings of Rosemary Clark to be more effective for me.
She wrote The Sacred Magic of Ancient Egypt.





What I like the most is interacting with the Gods. Heru-wer has left feathers in my path when I was feeling down or really happy. Everytime the sun shines or I see a bright yellow flower I think of Ra (He keeps telling me to look for sunflowers but I haven't seen any around). I have been writing poetry like crazy lately and I know its Djehuty fueling my creative spree. Set has been quiet, I hope he speaks up a little more because he intrigues me so (oh just now he said "So I intrigue you huh?" :lol: ).

Nice topic David, really got me thinking. :)

Dear Orion,

Heru gave me a hawk's feather the day before my initiation. It appears we see them very much alike. I too, speak to RA and use the sun as His symbol. I call him "Grandfather". He answers all my prayers with manifestation.

Em Hotep La Fortuna (Udjat)

[Romani Vixen]

this is the quick version... I've posted the long elsewhere a few times.

I've been Pagan of some variety sence I was 17. About a year and a half ago, I got a bug up my butt to do some research on Bast. that led me to the per-bast.org site, and the HoN. Then I found far more than just my Mother.

I'd also missed many *many* signs through the years. but I learned a lot on my path. I don't think that it was a mistake that I didn't go Kemetic earlier. I learned too much that helped me fully realise more of what the world view meant.

[sonofthemummy]

Oh, and I came to Classical Egyptian Religion by way of Zen. When I was a kid, the walls were plastered with pictures of China. When I saw the text of the Book of the Dead, China went down and Egypt went up. Maybe that is why I would love to make Egyptian fortune cookies. Here is one from a papyrus of the Late Period:

http://pics.livejournal.com/bubbahotep111/pic/00014f7t

And, when I read the sayings of Master Da-hui, I am assured that he was an avatar of Thoth. I am certainly interested in going about things in the most authentic and traditional way possible. But, I think it is better to follow the living god of your actualizing division rather than trying to be "more Egyptian" than someone else. I do love the way folk art reassures from without, but real lunar power is more about reinforcement from within.

Most world views are like training wheels. Why not see the world as it is, with all its hidden beauties that non-pagans simply cannot see? The gods exist. I think we should understand Them, rather than interpreting Them.

[creast]

I was originaly Christian but very early on took to Paganism, first in Wicca. A few years later though I switched to Kemetism when I gained the ability to commune with my past self and discovered I was once a warrior who faught in the name of the protector Bast and her father, the light of the earth Ra. Now I do my best to stay true to my past self and when I can spread the word of Kemetism.

[Sionnach le Fey]

It was Djehuty (Thoth) that introduced me to Kemeticism, specifically Kemetic Orthodoxy, back in 2005.

It took me 'til 2008 to finally take the beginner's class.

I became a Shemsu in January '09 - Sat Wesir, meryt Amun-Ra, Shu her Heru-wer.

[Sekhmet Soul30]

I had always been drawn to Egypt ever since I was a little girl. There was just something about it that I loved. Little over a year ago I discovered the reconstruction religions and got involved in Celtic for awhile but even though it was part of my blood I wasn't connected to it. Then I discovered Kemetic and later on Hellenism. I did Kemetic for several months and then I suddenly found myself in Hellenism. Of course I got yanked back here and I have just set up my shrine to Isis, Ma'at, and Sekhmet.

Soon Horus, Bastet, and Anubis will be joining the party and naturally Set is on his way.