Kemetism

Kemetism (from km.t, the native name of Ancient Egypt) is a term for neopagan revivals of Ancient Egyptian religion which developed in the United States from the 1970s. There are three main groups, each of which take a different approach to their beliefs, ranging from eclectic to polytheistic reconstructionist.
*Kemetic Wicca (also Tameran Wicca, from t3 mry "land of two riverbanks", another native term for "Egypt") is an eclectic approach combining Ancient Egyptian elements with Wicca, a religion based on pagan practices, which utilises witchcraft.
*Kemetic Revivalism and Reconstruction, a reconstructionist, which include academic approaches informed by Egyptology, notably Kemetic Orthodoxy of Tamara L. Siuda and Kerry Wisner's Akhet Hwt Hwr.
*The Ausar Auset of Ra Un Nefer Amen is a syncretic Pan-Africanist approach targeted at the African diaspora.
==History and demographics==
Kemetic revivalism appears in the 1970s with the rise of neopaganism in the United States, the "Church of the Eternal Source" promoting New Age receptions of Egyptian spiritualism, founded in 1970, and the Ausar Auset Society promoting Pan-Africanism founded in 1973, Tamara Siuda's Kemetic Orthodoxy following in the late 1980s and Kerry Wisner's Akhet Kemetic reconstructionism in the 1990.
The movement is composed of a mixture of New Age, Wicca, and Afrocentrism, the latter in the context of "Afrocentrist Egyptology" which emerged in the United States in the 1990s, making Ancient Egypt a "Black Culture". Luckily Kemetic orthodoxy, reform, and reconstruction do not follow the false ideology of Afrocentrism
== Deities ==
Ancient Egyptian and Kemetic deities are divine beings wielding dominion over aspects of both the natural world and human endeavors. Preceding the mortal race, they are worshiped by humans as protectors and providers; respecting their strength as well as their ire and wisdom in hopes of reaching the Afterlife. The deities were and are an integral part of Egyptian religion and were worshipped for millennia. These gods and goddesses appear in virtually every aspect of ancient Egyptian civilization, and more than 1,500 of them are known by name. Many Egyptian texts mention deities' names without indicating their character or role, while other texts refer to specific deities without even stating their name, so a complete list of them is difficult to assemble. Some Egyptian Gods and Goddesses had the body of a human but the heads of animals. A small percentage of Egyptian deities are green or blue skinned, like Osiris and Amun.
== Worship ==
Most members of Kemetism, as part of their devotional practices, set up household shrines and offerings to the deities they worship. Followers of Kemetism generally worship a few gods (Maat, Bastet, Anubis, Sekhmet or Thoth, among others), but recognize the existence of every god. This worship generally takes the form of prayer and setting up altars, but there are no set guidelines for worship. Altars are most often constructed using a statue or two-dimensional representation of one or more given deities, as they serve as the focal point of worship. Other additional items include candles, votive offerings, prayer beads, incense burners, and one or more dishes for food offerings. The offering of food and drink is a very important part of any Kemetic ritual. The offering of food and drink helps to replenish the life force of the gods and maintain the relationship between the gods and humanity. In ancient Egyptian tradition, food and drink offered to the gods is traditionally consumed by humans after finishing the ritual, this is called the "Reversion of Offerings".
== Myth ==
=== Creation ===
In the beginning the universe only consisted of a great chaotic cosmic ocean, and the ocean itself was referred to as Nu, the primordial cosmic ocean and abyss god. At the beginning of time Mehet-Weret, portrayed as a cow with a sun disk between her horns, gives birth to the sun. The universe was enrapt by a vast mass of primordial waters, and the Benben, a pyramid mound, emerged amid this primal chaos. There was a Lotus flower with Benben, and this when it blossomed brought Ra, the sun and creator god, to the world. Then Ptah came to be and spoke the all aspects of the soul into existence while their sister, Neith gave birth to the first animals (the crocodile, scorpion, ibis, and hippo threw Sobek, Serket, Thoth, and Taweret) and then Khunum came and molded bodies for the souls out of clay once more gods were born (this is a syncretism from all ancient Egyptian version of creation)
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=== Afterlife ===
Ancient Egyptians and Kemetics believe that once somone has died Anubis would guide them across the threshold from the world of the living to the afterlife.
==== Journey to the afterlife ====
Ancient Egyptians and Kemetics theorize the passage to the afterlife in a series of stages. The first phase was believed to encompass the vehicle of transportation, which would eventually direct their departed souls to immortality. Individuals were subjected to a multitude of passages; but the choice of route was not theirs, it was dependent on their status. The aspect that was most universally influential in determining what passage was taken was one's position among their leaders. Despite the differences between voyagers, beliefs concerning the afterlife were highly reliant on religious ideologies. For example, early people often used religion to understand, as well as relate to, natural occurrences since science had not yet defined everyday incidents. To demonstrate, there was no justification for the sun's orbit, so religious myths redefined and answered the questions prehistoric people had. Yet, since natural incidences were explained by religious beliefs, other realms of creed mimicked the natural patterns of life. For instance, the general ideology associated with the path to the underworld was believed that as night overshadowed the land, the deceased would begin their journey. And with the rising of the sun, a new day was not only thought to have begun, but a new life as well. 
Boat passages to the underworld were strictly reserved for pharaohs who had died. The Egyptian sun god, Ra, was believed to travel to the underworld by boat as the sun set. As a way to mimic Ra's daily expedition, the ancient people of Egypt would construct model boats, ranging in many sizes in which they would bury alongside their pharaohs. For example, next to the Pyramid of Khufu, researchers uncovered Khufu ship, a boat the size of traditional ships, which displayed not only the extreme devotion Egyptians had for their leader, but their dedication to obtaining eternity for all. In other words, a great deal of the requirements for the deceased to properly reach the underworld rested on the living. In order for the pharaoh to arrive at his final destination, his people had to construct a variety of boats to ensure his departure. As a result, communities had to come together to support each other, otherwise their perspective of immortality, as well as their beliefs, would end indefinitely. Therefore, commitment to helping others achieve eternity was a vital component to Egyptian culture, as demonstrated by the gallant boats buried with their rulers.
Additionally, an alternate vehicle for entrance to the underworld was the coffin. While kings often used coffins in addition to, or in substitution of the boat belief, everyday citizens had less choice. Therefore, this method was more universal while alluding to a different, more frequent path of entry. To compare, while passages by boat directed the deceased to the sun god Ra, coffins were thought to guide individuals to the sky goddess Nut. Each coffin was uniquely attributed to the person who rested in it. In other words, every coffin was subject to a variety of interpretations, all of which were intended to promote the deceased in obtaining eternity.
However, not all who died were presented with the opportunity to travel to the underworld. Since the living were obligated to ensure that the deceased could travel to the afterlife, it was also in their control to eliminate one's chance in achieving eternity. Therefore, the living had an array of options that prevented a second life to an unworthy individual who had died. The most famous included decapitation, which when executed, "killed a person twice". As a result, the second death associated with decapitation was also assumed to have annihilated the chance at another life. As noted in Egyptian texts, this instance was incredibly feared, but happened most often to those who rebelled or disobeyed the king.
==== Judgment of the dead ====
The judgment of the dead was the process that allowed the Egyptian deities to judge the worthiness of the souls of the deceased. Deeply rooted in the Egyptian belief of immortality, judgment was one of the most important parts of the journey through the afterlife. As such, many variations of judgment scenes appear in the Egyptian afterlife texts. Each soul that entered the afterlife was handled individually during judgment. Once the deceased finished their journey through the underworld, they arrived at the Hall of Maat. Here their purity would be the determining factor in whether they would be allowed to enter the Kingdom of Osiris.
The deceased's first task was to correctly address each of the forty-two Assessors of Maat by name, while reciting the sins they did not commit during their lifetime. This process allowed the dead to demonstrate that they knew each of the judges’ names or Ren and established that they were pure, and free of sin. After confirming that they were sinless, the deceased was presented with the balance that was used to weigh their heart against the feather of Maat. Anubis was the god often seen administering this test. If the deceased's heart balanced with the feather of Maat, Thoth would record the result and they would be presented to Osiris, who admitted them into the Sekhet-Aaru. However, if their heart was heavier than the feather, it was to be devoured by the Goddess Ammit, permanently destroying the soul of the deceased.
==== Aaru ====
The souls who qualify undergo a long journey and face many perils before reaching Aaru. Ra then takes them to Osiris, who gives them final oprival to enter the afterlife. Once they arrive, they enter through a series of gates. You are believed to spend the rest of eternity in Aaru, also know as the Field of Reeds, a heavenly paradise where Osiris rules. Here there is no sadness, pain, fear or anger.
==== Duat ====
Duat is the underworld, ruled by Osiris, through which the sun god Ra traveled from west to east each night, and it was where he battled Apep, who embodied the primordial chaos which the sun had to defeat in order to rise each morning and bring order back to the earth. It was also the place where people's souls went after death for judgment. The rest of the dead journeyed through the various parts of the Duat to be judged, but not to be unified with the sun god like the dead king. If the deceased was successfully able to pass various demons and challenges, then he or she would reach the weighing of the heart. The Duat was also a residence for various gods, including Osiris, Anubis, Thoth, Horus, Hathor, and Maat, who all appear to the dead soul as it makes its way toward judgement.
==Individual traditions==
===Ausar Auset Society===
The "Ausar Auset Society" is a Pan-African religious organization founded in 1973 by Ra Un Nefer Amen. It is based in Brooklyn, New York with chapters in several major cities in the United States. The organization was created for the purpose of providing members a societal framework through which the Kemetic spiritual way of life can be lived daily. The organization provides afrocentric-based spiritual training to the African American community and to the African diaspora. The religion uses the "Kemetic" Tree of Life (Paut Neteru) as the basis of its cosmogony and philosophical underpinning. It seeks to reunite the traditions of the founders of civilization into a spiritually empowering way of life that aims at the awakening of the Osiris/Ausar principle (the Atman (Hinduism),Divine Self) within each individual.
===Church of the Eternal Source===
The Church of the Eternal Source (Burbank, California, since 1970), and the affiliated Temple of Ptah and Circle of Anubis (since 1975, based in Portland, Oregon) are "open to all interested pagans and wiccans who have an interest in the Ancient Egyptian Religions."
===Kemetic Orthodoxy===
"Kemetic Orthodoxy" is a specific tradition within Kemetic reconstructionism. It gained federal recognition in the United States of America as a religion under the name "House of Netjer" in 1994, and its tenets emphasize monolatry, ancestor veneration, and personal devotion. Although based on ancient Egyptian beliefs and practices, the religion was founded in 1988 by Tamara L. Siuda, known formally within her faith as "Her Holiness, Sekhenet-Ma'at-Ra setep-en-Ra Hekatawy I, Nisut-Bity of the Kemetic Orthodox faith." She underwent her coronation as Nisut-Bity in 1996 through ceremonies performed in Egypt by herself, and in 2000 she achieved a master's degree in Egyptology. The organization is centered around the Tawy House temple in Joliet, Illinois but there are followers of the faith located around the world who correspond via the internet.
The House of Netjer was legally recognized by the state of Illinois in 1993, and granted tax-exempt status in 1999. By 2007, Kemetic Orthodoxy claimed some 450 members.
===Kemetic Reconstruction===
Kemetic Reconstructionists acknowledge that there is no unbroken Kemetic tradition and because of this believe that to really understand ancient ways requires much serious study. Kemetic Reconstructionists emphasize the Reconstruction of the ritual and religious practices of the ancient Egyptians as accurately as possible based on Egyptological and archeological academic research. They identify themselves with Pagan Reconstructionist Religions
The experience of Netjer occurs in the context of ritual practice and daily life. Each member is seen as having a unique and personal relationship with Netjer. The truth of the one's experience of Netjer is always measured against the scholarly sources so as to avoid falling into "personal gnosis" (Knowledge of the divine based solely on experience) .
There is little discussion of culture in these groups which tend to believe that as moderns applying such ancient cultural constructs to modern lives outside of religious practices is in most cases unnecessary.
An example of this is their position regarding the role of the "Nisut". They believe that in modern times there is no nation thus no basis or need for a King. Further they believe that giving that sort of power to any one individual in modern times is dangerous and ultimately may lead to a cult. The temples leadership runs like a modern committee making decisions for the faith based on research and experience.
The Largest of these organizations is Akhet Het Heru which describes itself as a mystery school like other occult organizations and provides material for individual study and practice which draws on both western mystery schools and Egyptological sources.
A big difference between the reconstructionists and both the Orthodox and Traditional Kemetic practitioners is the focus on solitary practitioners and individual distance instruction.
In addition Kemetic reconstructionists are most likely to identify themselves with modern neo-pagan and occult organizations although through the influence of the two other schools of thought more and more reconstructionists speak of Kemetic faith as an African religion. However, neither practices nor teaching draws on African sources or those of other African Traditions. Rather they feel the ideas and principles of Kemetic Religion are best understood through Egyptological sources and the mystery traditions.
Along with this Akhet Hwt Hrw defines itself as “An educational resource and school for esoteric studies”
The leader of Akhet Hwt Hrw is Kerry Wisner. Mr Wisner is trained in hypnosis, a martial artist and is a certified Forsensic Hypnotist. He has studied and practiced within the western mystery tradition for over 20 years before starting Akhet Hwt Hwr. He was initiated into the “Egyptian mysteries” more than 20 years ago
===Atenism===
Atenism, the Aten religion, the Amarna religion, or the "Amarna heresy" is a religion and the religious changes associated with the ancient Egyptian Eighteenth Dynasty pharaoh Akhenaten. The religion centered on the cult of the god Aten, the sun disk deity and originally an aspect of Ra, the sun god in traditional ancient Egyptian religion. Although earlier in the religion Aten was a supreme god introduced into the Ancient Egyptian religion, later Aten became a single deity making it a monotheistic religion of itself, no modern believers are present.
==References==
* Marilyn C. Krogh; Brooke Ashley Pillifant, Kemetic Orthodoxy: Ancient Egyptian Religion on the Internet: A Research Note, Sociology of Religion (2004).
*Ellen Cannon Reed, Circle of Isis: Ancient Egyptian Magic for Modern Witches (2002), ISBN 978-1564145680.
*J. G. Melton, Encyclopedia of American Religions, 5th ed., Detroit (1996).
== External links ==
===Wiccan and esoteric===
* Church of the Eternal Source - Wiccan/Kemetic
* Kemetic FAQ from eCauldron
* Temple Harakhte by author Rosemary Clark
===Revivalist and Reconstructionist===
* Kemetic Orthodox House of Netjer
* Akhet Hwt Hrw "A school of Ancient Egyptian and Esoteric Studies"
* Nuhati-am-Nutjeru "founded by His Holiness Ptahmassu Kaamptah Marianptah Nofra-Uaa and Brother Sonamnuhati Uwserhatuwatchit Ariaanmaat in 2001"
* International Network of Kemetics
* Ta Noutri French kemetic group (in French)
*Akhetaten Fellowship (Atenism)
* Temple of Maat, a Kemetic temple devoted to the ancient wisdom of Maat
===Afrocentric===
*Unofficial History of Ra Un Nefer Amen I and Ausar Auset Society International
* Nikhtah Ma'eyah Kimata - The Black Nation
Category:Paganism
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