How to Embrace the Kemetic Path

Being Kemetic offers you the freedom to explore a spiritual journey that aligns with your own beliefs and encourages a life of positivity. Kemetism is the contemporary revival of the ancient Egyptian faith, known as Kemet. As a part of the neopagan movement, Kemetism seeks to restore old religions and practices. Follow these steps to begin learning about this faith and develop your own personal spiritual practice.

Study literature on Kemetism. Seek out books on ancient Egypt, particularly those that focus on religion. While exploring ancient texts is valuable for understanding the origins of the beliefs, it is also important to read about how these practices have evolved to fit into modern life.

• For deeper insights into ancient Egypt, consider reading Ancient Egyptian Religion: An Interpretation by Henri Frankfort and The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt by Richard H. Wilkinson.
• To understand how these ancient practices have been adapted for the present day, check out Eternal Egypt: Ancient Rituals for the Modern World by Richard J. Reidy, Red Land, Black Land by Barbara Mertz, or Temple of the Cosmos: The Ancient Egyptian Experience of the Sacred by Jeremy Naydler.

Expand your perspective on the nature of magic. Kemetism incorporates ritual magic as a central practice, but it differs greatly from the magic often portrayed in films. You won't gain supernatural abilities, nor will you be making pacts with malevolent forces. Rather, it is more akin to a spiritual expression, much like a miracle.

• Consider what magic truly means to you. Ask yourself questions such as, “Why is this faith significant to me? What do I seek to gain? How does this practice support my spiritual development?”
• For example, a ritual could involve actions such as ringing a bell, lighting incense, inviting your deity to manifest, offering food, honoring your deity, requesting their guidance, and concluding with a prayer.

Conduct online research. There are numerous websites dedicated to Kemetism, some of which feature interactive forums where you can connect with knowledgeable practitioners. By browsing these sites and blogs, you'll be able to explore modern expressions of the religion. These platforms can also serve as a valuable space for discussing your emerging faith, especially if such conversations aren't possible in your immediate community.

• Consider visiting sites like these:
  • http://www.kemet.org
  • https://thetwistedrope.wordpress.com/kemeticism/kemetic-starter-guide/

Enroll in online classes. Some Kemetic temples offer online programs to guide you in understanding and joining the religion. If you prefer a structured, traditional approach, this could be an ideal path for you. You can find such courses available on various websites.

• One option is The Kemetic Orthodox Temple’s offerings.

Visit a local shrine or temple. If you are fortunate enough to live near a Kemetic shrine or temple, take the opportunity to meet with the local priest or a community member. Engage in a conversation about the faith and inquire whether you can participate in a service. You may even find a mentor within the community who is willing to share their knowledge and experiences.

• Try saying, “Hello, I’m interested in exploring Kemeticism. Would it be possible for me to attend a service at your temple?”
• Alternatively, you could ask, “You seem very knowledgeable about this faith. Would you have time to share your experiences with me or answer a few questions?”

Live in harmony with creation, striving for the best life for all. In Kemetism, practitioners focus not only on their own well-being but also on the welfare of the community. Therefore, align your thoughts and goals with the greater good and work towards creating an unselfish mindset through kindness and generosity.

• Share your wealth and resources with others.
• Extend well wishes to both yourself and others.
• Collaborate and unite with others to pursue shared objectives.
• Work toward making positive, impactful changes in your community.

Select the deities you wish to honor. Within Kemetism, you will offer reverence to the gods and goddesses, as the faith embraces polytheism. While there are many deities, they work in harmony, and most practitioners choose one or two to focus on.

• Begin by reaching out to these deities. Light a candle, burn incense, and engage in conversation with them. As time passes, one or two deities may reveal themselves as the ones you should honor.

Set up your personal shrine. Select a space in your home, such as a shelf, cabinet, or small table, where you can establish a shrine. Place an image, statue, or icon of the deity or deities you honor, along with an offering plate or bowl. Consider including incense, flowers, herbs, oils, and gems in your shrine.

• Choose incense, stones, flowers, herbs, oils, or gems that resonate with you or that you believe your deity desires.

Offer gifts to your god or goddess. As part of your religious practice, place offerings such as bread, water, milk, or rice on your altar. While daily offerings are common among Kemetics, they are not mandatory. After the ceremony, consume the offering as a way of returning it to the universe. Express gratitude to your deity for the nourishment shared through the offering.

• If you prefer not to consume the offerings, you can choose alternatives like liquids or symbolic items, such as stones or gems.
• The type of offering depends on what feels right for you, your resources, and your connection to the divine. Bread and water are traditional, but any offering that resonates with you is acceptable.

Commit to a daily prayer routine. Set aside time each day to offer prayers at your shrine. This sacred moment is your chance to connect with the gods and goddesses. Your prayers need not be elaborate, but they should be a consistent part of your daily practice.

• In your prayers, invite, honor, and give thanks to your chosen deities. You may also use this time to converse with them and seek guidance.
• If desired, you can incorporate pre-written Kemetic prayers into your practice.
• Consider lighting a candle or incense during your prayers to help focus your mind.
• Select a time each day that is most convenient for you to maintain consistency.

Honor your family life. Family holds significant value in the Kemetic tradition, so make an effort to nurture and strengthen your family relationships. Share meals with your loved ones, speak kindly to them, and carve out time to be together. Don't forget to remember those who have passed on, as your ancestors are forever part of the family, even beyond death.

Embrace a communal perspective. Kemetism emphasizes the importance of the group over the individual. Finding and connecting with a larger community can enrich your practice of the faith.

• Carry this communal mindset into your daily activities. Be a supportive team member at work or school, and aim to contribute positively to your local community.
• Consider volunteering in your community, donating to local food banks, and offering help to those in need.

Search for a local group. Look for a community group that includes a trained priest knowledgeable about ancient Kemetic practices, which have been well-preserved through texts and temple inscriptions. This priest will conduct traditional ceremonies at a community shrine or temple.

• Search online using Google to find temples or shrines in your area.
• Explore platforms like meetup.com or Facebook to discover smaller community groups that may host rituals or even travel as a group to a nearby temple.

Engage with an online group or forum. If finding other Kemetics in your area proves difficult, consider reaching out to online communities and forums. The internet provides a fast and effective way to connect with fellow practitioners from around the world.

Collaborate with other neopagans. If you are unable to locate a Kemetic group in your area, reach out to other neopagans who might be open to working together. Although your beliefs may differ, there will be areas of overlap. Finding someone to discuss your faith with, who is receptive to it, can provide you with a space to grow spiritually.

Address your ancestors as Akhu, which means the blessed dead. As your ancestors have transitioned, they now dwell closer to the gods and goddesses, making them blessed.

• It doesn't matter if your ancestors weren't Kemetic. They remain a part of you and, by extension, a part of your faith.

Set up a small shrine to honor your ancestors. Place a photograph or a meaningful token of your ancestors, along with small gifts such as flowers or candles. As long as you remember your ancestors, they remain present.

• These items can be displayed on a shelf, mantle, or even a dedicated wall in your home for ancestral photographs, if available.
• The number of ancestors you include in your shrine is entirely up to you. When reflecting on your ancestors, include as many as you can in your thoughts. For example, you might send a general message of gratitude to all your ancestors, even those you never had the chance to meet.

Express gratitude to your ancestors for their watchful care. In Kemetism, those ancestors who are honored continue to guide their descendants from the spirit world. Show thanks for their ongoing blessings.

• As you walk past your ancestor shrine, you might say, “Thank you for giving me life and always looking out for me.”

• Learn about Kemetic beliefs and form your own personal perspective on them.
• If there is no Kemetic community in your area, think about creating one yourself.
• Engage with other Kemetics! Numerous temples, like Kemetic Orthodoxy, and online platforms such as eCauldron offer spaces to connect and gain insights from experienced individuals in Kemetism.