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Walking with the Pharaohs
For millennia, the history and culture of ancient Egypt has enthralled and excited humankind. The majesty of the Pyramids, the ornate and massive temples, and so many other things have captured our imaginations. At the center of the mysteries and majesty which are ancient Egypt is the complex and elaborate religion that appeared in so many forms throughout the land. This religion still exists today, and is widely practiced. It is known as Kemeticism.
Kemeticism, the worship of the ancient Egyptian gods, or Neteru, although varied in practice and
belief, does hold true to certain common tenets. The major common thread, of course, is the
belief in the existence and power of the Neteru, and the honoring and worship of these Neteru
through ritual and practice recorded thousands of years ago. Indeed, some of the religious
practices of modern Kemetics date back nearly 5,000 years.
The Kemetic also adheres to a certain code of ethics, known as Ma'at. Ma'at, as a goddess, is the personification of the divine order of the universe. Truth, justice, order and the like are Her domain. Ma'at, as a concept, is quite similar; the Kemetic strives to maintain a regimen of truth, wisdom and a sense of what is right. Ma'at is the ultimate standard by which a Kemetic is judged, for it is against Ma'at that the heart is weighed. Should one be equal to Ma'at, they proceed into the Field of Rushes, the Kemetic afterlife. Should one fail to meet the standard, the consequences are dire indeed; Ammit, a monster of fearsome countenance, devours their heart. To the ancient Egyptians, this was the true, total death - ultimate oblivion.
In addition to an adherence to Ma'at, the Kemetic also takes knowledge from the ancient texts of Egypt. Most common amongst these are the Chapters of Coming Forth by Day, also known (erroneously) as the Book of the Dead. It is within these funerary papyri that we know of such beliefs as the Judgment of the Dead - when the heart is weighed against Ma'at by Anubis - as well as what are commonly referred to as the "Negative Confessions". These are forty-two statements the deceased must deny, in truth, to be admitted before Osiris. The Kemetic strives to the best of their ability to adhere to this code of behavior, for it too is of Ma'at.
The Kemetic, in addition to taking wisdom from the ancient texts, is
also a student and practitioner of the ancient Egyptian forms of ritual
and magick. In Egypt, magick and religion were one and the same;
legends tell of priests with great powers and even greater wisdom. It was through ritual magick
that the priesthood communicated with the Neteru. Many texts refer to the ability of the priests
to draw down the ka, or life force, of a particular Neter, into the image of that Neter in the
temple, to give the Neter a physical form for a short time. Legends abound of divine wisdom
being brought to the people of Egypt in this way.
The magickal traditions of ancient Egypt were extremely powerful; even the Christian bible speaks of the great magicks of the Egyptian priests. This legacy continues today, influencing not only Kemetic faiths, but a plethora of magickal systems as well, such as the Hermetic and Thelemic systems. Truly, the influence of the Neteru cannot be overestimated!
I am a Kemetic. I have been so for a very long time, though I haven't always known it for what it is. It is through my worship of Isis, Nephthys, Ra and Anubis that I have found a peace of spirit the likes of which I have never known. Even in my childhood, the Neteru have called to me; even at the age of seven, I was having dreams about a great and wise woman, who changed my waking perceptions. Only when I was much older did I realize it was Great Isis who came to me in my sleep. I take great comfort and joy in knowing that each morning, the radiance of Ra shall light the world and drive back the darkness. I feel Their presence wherever I am, whatever I do. They drive me to seek what is Ma'at, and abide by it. They have saved me from the darkness in myself, and for that, They shall have my love and reverence in this life and beyond.
-Jaison Windcatcher
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Jaison Windcatcher is High Priest, Temple of the Celestial Sisters and Executive Director of the International Network of Kemetics. He may be contacted via e-mail: windcatcher1029@hotmail.com or check out http://afkf.freeservers.com/main.html