u/wuwei-kemetic

So while ancient Egyptians seem to have been life-affirmative and enjoying life as much as possible; they were also very aware that life can be short and end abruptly. It was important for ancient Kemetics to prepare for death not only by how they lived but also by preparing for their funeral.

I'm wondering about how I can adapt the idea that the Ka needs the body to stay connected? Especially because I don't exactly believe that the physical corps needs to stay intact. At the same time I believe it's important to have "something" as a "connection point" for the akh to stay connected to their family and their life on earth. The grave? An [akhu-shrine] presence in form of a photo kept by their loved ones?

As not everyone could afford embalming, what did ancient Egyptians do?

What do you think is important - from a [modern] Kemetic pov - in terms of funeral? What would you want for yourself?

Personally I find important to have a funeral ceremony or celebration of life/remembrance ceremony which reflects the person who has passed on. In my case I would also want hymns and prayers to the netheru - especially those connected to the afterlife plus to the netjeru I have been devoted to most. I would also want prayers to my akhu (including pets) and me joining them. I personally want a green burial - so anything to go into the basket coffin has to be bio-degradable (the complete opposite of the original idea ik). I would want offerings to go with me - prayers and amulets and symbolic things (they can all be biodegradable) - and I want shabtis! 😆

But I'm unsure about if I need something to offset the biodegradable aspect - like idk?

Any ideas?

Hi all,
Let me start by saying this is a genuine question and I have no preconceptions: If you are working with/worshiping a deity/deities from a specific ancient culture (Hellenic, Kemetic, Norse, etc.) do you take the deities culture into regard? I.e. learn how They were worshiped in Their original culture and what the culture was like (as far as we can tell) and adapt it for your circumstances? Also, if you only work with one or a few deities of a culture, do you still honour *all* deities of said culture [and the culture]? What if you work with deities from different cultures - do you worship each of Them according to Their cultural setting?

Hi all,
Let me start by saying this is a genuine question and I have no preconceptions: If you are working with/worshiping a deity/deities from a specific ancient culture (Hellenic, Kemetic, Norse, etc.) do you take the deities culture into regard? I.e. learn how They were worshiped in Their original culture and what the culture was like (as far as we can tell) and adapt it for your circumstances? Also, if you only work with one or a few deities of a culture, do you still honour *all* deities of said culture [and the culture]? What if you work with deities from different cultures - do you worship each of Them according to Their cultural setting?

Hi all,

I have come to realise that I'm an odd one... meaning, I just can't build/hold a ritualistic ("traditional") practice, as in worshiping formally - and regularly/every day - at an altar/shrine, give material offerings, use formal hymns (or even craft my own ones), have any form of calendar of religious festivals/occasions etc. Having said that, I feel really deeply devoted to my gods the netjeru (I am especially devoted to Khnum and Hathor but also a few netjeru I am communing with frequently, as well as worshiping all of the netjeru in principle).

My 'devotional practice' is in a nutshell that I think and act constantly with Them in mind; thinking of ma'at, my Kemetic world-view / metaphysics and philosophy. I will so often just think a Name - for example seeing an exquisitely shaped beetle and think 'Khnum' with love in my heart. Or someone close to me feeling depressed and stuck, I reach out to Khepri for uplifting them and wishing the person a positive new start. There's kind of a chain of little on-the-spot prayers and devotional thoughts dotted through my day, every day.

Similarly with festivals: quite a while ago, I've realised that I don't mark specific days but rather see the year as unfolding with themes - Winter Solstice to Spring Equinox is the season of Light; the Spring Equinox to Summer Solstice is the season of Growth; the Summer Solstice to Autumn Equinox is the season of Fullness; the Autumn Equinox to Winter Solstice is the season of Return. We will have "Christmas" marking the change from Return to Light; "Easter" as celebrating Growth; the Summer Holidays (my partner and I work at school) as Fullness; "Halloween" and "Advent" for marking the End of Fullness and Return respectively.
- Clearly these are not Kemetic holidays, nor do we observe them in a pagan or any kind of "spiritual" way.

Maybe because I don't feel a divide between devotion and ordinary life that rituals just don't work for me? But I can't help thinking if this is enough? For example with the person I mentioned being stuck and depressed: is a short on-the-spot prayer to Khepri and pouring my wishes to this person out to Khepri *enough* ? Would I not have to do a ritual as in reciting proper prayers at my shrine and giving offerings?

[Btw, I have 2 "shrines" but these are not formal altars - more what I call 'set-ups'. They are visual reminders and connections to my gods.]

But then every time I tried the formal thing, it just feels like play-acting and empty. I have flip-flopped a few times between a) making myself adopt a formal practice to match my devotion, and b) give up devotion as I feel I'm not adequate in my practice. Neither of this works.

So really, I guess I'm just asking what you people think or if there are others who are like me?
(Please be kind, I'm not saying my way is the right or only way and I'm only talking for myself.)

Thank you for reading <3

Hi all,

I have come to realise that I'm an odd one... meaning, I just can't build/hold a ritualistic ("traditional") practice, as in worshiping formally - and regularly/every day - at an altar/shrine, give material offerings, use formal hymns (or even craft my own ones), have any form of calendar of religious festivals/occasions etc. Having said that, I feel really deeply devoted to my gods the netjeru (I am especially devoted to Khnum and Hathor but also a few netjeru I am communing with frequently, as well as worshiping all of the netjeru in principle).

My 'devotional practice' is in a nutshell that I think and act constantly with Them in mind; thinking of ma'at, my Kemetic world-view / metaphysics and philosophy. I will so often just think a Name - for example seeing an exquisitely shaped beetle and think 'Khnum' with love in my heart. Or someone close to me feeling depressed and stuck, I reach out to Khepri for uplifting them and wishing the person a positive new start. There's kind of a chain of little on-the-spot prayers and devotional thoughts dotted through my day, every day.

Similarly with festivals: quite a while ago, I've realised that I don't mark specific days but rather see the year as unfolding with themes - Winter Solstice to Spring Equinox is the season of Light; the Spring Equinox to Summer Solstice is the season of Growth; the Summer Solstice to Autumn Equinox is the season of Fullness; the Autumn Equinox to Winter Solstice is the season of Return. We will have "Christmas" marking the change from Return to Light; "Easter" as celebrating Growth; the Summer Holidays (my partner and I work at school) as Fullness; "Halloween" and "Advent" for marking the End of Fullness and Return respectively.
- Clearly these are not Kemetic holidays, nor do we observe them in a pagan or any kind of "spiritual" way.

Maybe because I don't feel a divide between devotion and ordinary life that rituals just don't work for me? But I can't help thinking if this is enough? For example with the person I mentioned being stuck and depressed: is a short on-the-spot prayer to Khepri and pouring my wishes to this person out to Khepri *enough* ? Would I not have to do a ritual as in reciting proper prayers at my shrine and giving offerings?

[Btw, I have 2 "shrines" but these are not formal altars - more what I call 'set-ups'. They are visual reminders and connections to my gods.]

But then every time I tried the formal thing, it just feels like play-acting and empty. I have flip-flopped a few times between a) making myself adopt a formal practice to match my devotion, and b) give up devotion as I feel I'm not adequate in my practice. Neither of this works.

So really, I guess I'm just asking what you people think or if there are others who are like me?
(Please be kind, I'm not saying my way is the right or only way and I'm only talking for myself.)

Thank you for reading <3

Em hotep! Hi all,

I have come to realise that I'm an odd one... meaning, I just can't build/hold a ritualistic ("traditional") practice, as in worshiping formally - and regularly/every day - at an altar/shrine, give material offerings, use formal hymns (or even craft my own ones), have any form of calendar of religious festivals/occasions etc. Having said that, I feel really deeply devoted to my gods the netjeru (I am especially devoted to Khnum and Hathor but also a few netjeru I am communing with frequently, as well as worshiping all of the netjeru in principle).

My 'devotional practice' is in a nutshell that I think and act constantly with Them in mind; thinking of ma'at, my Kemetic world-view / metaphysics and philosophy. I will so often just think a Name - for example seeing an exquisitely shaped beetle and think 'Khnum' with love in my heart. Or someone close to me feeling depressed and stuck, I reach out to Khepri for uplifting them and wishing the person a positive new start. There's kind of a chain of little on-the-spot prayers and devotional thoughts dotted through my day, every day.

Similarly with festivals: quite a while ago, I've realised that I don't mark specific days but rather see the year as unfolding with themes - Winter Solstice to Spring Equinox is the season of Light; the Spring Equinox to Summer Solstice is the season of Growth; the Summer Solstice to Autumn Equinox is the season of Fullness; the Autumn Equinox to Winter Solstice is the season of Return. We will have "Christmas" marking the change from Return to Light; "Easter" as celebrating Growth; the Summer Holidays (my partner and I work at school) as Fullness; "Halloween" and "Advent" for marking the End of Fullness and Return respectively.
- Clearly these are not Kemetic holidays, nor do we observe them in a pagan or any kind of "spiritual" way.

Maybe because I don't feel a divide between devotion and ordinary life that rituals just don't work for me? But I can't help thinking if this is enough? For example with the person I mentioned being stuck and depressed: is a short on-the-spot prayer to Khepri and pouring my wishes to this person out to Khepri *enough* ? Would I not have to do a ritual as in reciting proper prayers at my shrine and giving offerings?

[Btw, I have 2 "shrines" but these are not formal altars - more what I call 'set-ups'. They are visual reminders and connections to my gods.]

But then every time I tried the formal thing, it just feels like play-acting and empty. I have flip-flopped a few times between a) making myself adopt a formal practice to match my devotion, and b) give up devotion as I feel I'm not adequate in my practice. Neither of this works.

So really, I guess I'm just asking what you people think or if there are others who are like me?
(Please be kind, I'm not saying my way is the right or only way and I'm only talking for myself.)

Thank you for reading <3

Im Hotep!
To start with, this is not a question of right or wrong, I'm just interested how others see this:
So I work at a Christian primary school (elementary school); which is not merely *tolerant* of other religions - including Pagan ones - but positively respectful :-) Twice now the term Paganism (yes, spelled with a capital 'P') has come up in my class during Guided Reading and I have said each time that I am a type of Pagan; which, being in the UK, always goes completely accepted/respected without any questioning let alone challenging. (In each instance, there were two other adults in the room with me.)
The thing is, personally, I don't quite feel comfortable with the label 'Pagan'. To me, the term is inextricably connected to Western/Indo-European; 'pagan' coming from the Latin 'paganus', i.e. 'country dweller', used in a derogative way ("hilly billy"). Now, Kemeticism, as we know, is neither Western, nor Indo-European. Personally, I consciously distinguish myself from Indo-European Paganism - both ancient and revived. So I feel 'Pagan' doesn't actually apply to me.
Do you describe yourself as 'Pagan'?