Questions for Kemetics

[Finnyhaha]

How do you encorporate your beliefs into every-day life?
Are there any rituals you practice, any major holidays?
How do you determine which days to celebrate certain holidays? I found two calendars of Kemetic holidays online, but they have different dates for many of the same celebrations. I find it somewhat freeing that there seems to be no orthodoxy to adhere to, but I'd like to know if anyone tries to follow the ancient calendar, and how they do so.

http://members.aol.com/tokapu/calendar00.htm
http://showcase.netins.net/web/ankh/calendar1.html

In Wilkinson's "The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt" he writes that Thoth, Horus, Dunanwi, and Seth and considered to be representative of each of the four cardinal directions, but doesn't appear to state which is which. Anyone know offhand?

Also, he writes that Isis, Nepthys, Neith and Serket are protective deities who watch over the organs in the canopic jars, or protect the guardians of the jars, or something to that effect, and I was wondering which is which.

Finally, any books to recomend? :jiggy:

Thanks,
Finny

 

[Duwayitheru]

I'll try my best to answer your questions. Daily (or.. as often as I can anyway) I preform ritual at my shrine. I also pray randomly through the day. I make offerings when I cook. And basically just try to keep Netjer (divine power) in my mind.

About orthodoxy.. There actually is a path called Kemetic Orthodoxy (http://www.kemet.org/home.html) though of course we arent the only kemetic path out there. Other traditions may do things differently. We try to keep as close to the ancient Egyptian ways as possable, however. Which also means following along with their calender. You might find some more information on their site useful to you.
About holidays, and the calender, you may want to read this http://www.kemet.org/faq/FAQ-06.html It is not the best explanitation, but it is much better than I could do..

I do not know about those four gods being connected to the different directions.. Sorry.

Those four Goddesses are protective. However, it is the four sons of Horus who watch over the jars.. they are then protected by the goddesses. This link gives links to information of the four sons and which jars they are associated with. http://www.kemet.org/glossary/four_sons_of_heru.html

Hope that helped at all.

 

[kreeden]

Seth is called the Lord of the Northern Sky in the Book of the Dead . Other then that I can't help you .

 

[Finnyhaha]

Well thanks for the answers. I did eventually find which goddesses are said to protect which guardians of which jars. Still stuck on the directions though. Thanks.
Finny

 

[argento_occhi]

I've heard about the directions, though I couldn't tell you what they are.

As to my own practice, I'm going to do the next Kemetic Orthodox beginner's class to get an idea of how to structure my path and so forth. Actually, I've just spent the last 8 hours or so cleaning my room, Altar and shrine. Fina;;y, it's all done and I can relax. Of course now it's half past 10 at night, so there's not much time to relax before bed, but oh well. my room's clean, my mum's happy. All's right with the world. For the moment at least. But, I'm sliding OT, so I'll stop now.

Argent