Does anyone work with/worship Thoth?

[Devo]

How did you actually get your practice started? What suggestions can you give to someone who has little personal time or space to make anything even remotely resembling a shrine and probably can't afford any icons of deities or anything else? How about if there's no place to do ritual that you can access? I'm probably just making excuses, but it's still of concern to me.

If you have no money for icons, print something off of the computer. Find a picture. Close your eyes and make a picture. Go outside and find the gods there. There is more to connecting with gods than doo-dads and resin statues.

How do you go about making your religion and worship "not weird, not strange at all" to any significant others? I have a boyfriend, he's not really a religious type, but he is very curious, and very skeptical XD I've tried explaining the concept of Kemeticism before and his face was just like but at the same time he's curious and knows I'm not completely bonkers so he would be asking questions, or worse, staring XD, once we live together and I have the freedom to do whatever lol Not really sure how to explain it to him, or invite him to join in, since his first response would likely be "ok but you know I don't know what I'm doing". He admits to having a difficulty understanding some religious concepts, like I said, he's a long time skeptic. I have a tendency to explain things really academically though, which can make him feel more than a little alienated and slow. I try not to though

I am curious why he needs to be a part of it? Does he want to be a part of this? Or is he just curious? If he's curious, you can show him websites you've found. Let him poke around the SIG, etc. Let him find his own answers. Having him piggy back on your religious pursuits won't necessarily help him to figure things out (imo).

The whole point of Kemeticism isn't god worship (per say). It's not about altars, shrines or rituals. Everyone talks about them, yes. But the point of this religion is to live according to Ma'at. If gods are meant to work with you, they will come to you in time. Seems to me that perhaps focusing on living the religion first would be the best idea. Let the other pieces fall in as they may.

-Devo

What sorts of daily things do you do everyday? How is it more connected to your life than what your birth religion might be? What are your particular chosen deities like to you? Should I have more expectations, less expectations?

See, I have questions XD[/QUOTE]

[SatSekhem]

Well this post makes me feel better then :3 although, a plant, that would make me feel weird because my plants are individuals, though I guess one could think of them as messengers of sorts if used in the way you've used one lol that's an interesting concept at least. And trust me, I'm reading lol I love reading, so that's fine :D

You don't have to use the plant idea. I just threw it out there in case you wanted/needed the visual stimulation. If you do, and you're uncomfortable with plants, you can always go with a candle.

Oh and I don't want him to stare in curiousity, that would just be distracting lol

I hate it when the Hubby stares, too, so I can totally understand that.

I'm not sure how to bring him into it without making him feel awkward or confused or something. He expressed interest in essentially following me around the merry-go-round since he really isn't sure what he wants or expects out of any religion or how to go about choosing a new one for himself. He has a very hard time praying to anything, it's not so much he doesn't believe God exists but that he has a difficult time connecting and so that troubles and discourages him and makes him worry and doubt and then he feels like a bad Christian so he avoids church and religious discussions. And then he feels stupid for not understanding.

Doubt is an important part, I think, to religion. Without it, we wouldn't grow and change and develop our spiritual beliefs. It is via doubt that we learn, I think, the most from what we expect from our religion and how the best road to practice is.

It could just be that he's not ready for a religion, period. I went through a very long phase where I self-identified as an atheist, although that was never the case. It was this "backing off" period that left me more open to a pagan lifestyle later on. So, if he wants to watch and ask questions, then that's great. Answer as best you can (and don't forget "I don't know" is a totally acceptable answer) but let him come to his own conclusions. And just be there for the moment when he starts opening up more (if it comes) about what he wants out of his religion.

[SatSekhem]

The whole point of Kemeticism isn't god worship (per say). It's not about altars, shrines or rituals. Everyone talks about them, yes. But the point of this religion is to live according to Ma'at. If gods are meant to work with you, they will come to you in time. Seems to me that perhaps focusing on living the religion first would be the best idea. Let the other pieces fall in as they may.

-Devo

Succinct.

Darkhawk wrote about ma'at. It's a great article and I think embodies a lot of our thoughts on living ma'at.

[Aine Rayne]

If you have no money for icons, print something off of the computer. Find a picture. Close your eyes and make a picture. Go outside and find the gods there. There is more to connecting with gods than doo-dads and resin statues.



I am curious why he needs to be a part of it? Does he want to be a part of this? Or is he just curious? If he's curious, you can show him websites you've found. Let him poke around the SIG, etc. Let him find his own answers. Having him piggy back on your religious pursuits won't necessarily help him to figure things out (imo).

The whole point of Kemeticism isn't god worship (per say). It's not about altars, shrines or rituals. Everyone talks about them, yes. But the point of this religion is to live according to Ma'at. If gods are meant to work with you, they will come to you in time. Seems to me that perhaps focusing on living the religion first would be the best idea. Let the other pieces fall in as they may.

-Devo

My printer is broken XD but that sounds like a fine idea to me :3 as far as my bf, it's both actually. And I invited him to come on the forum, but he's not really much into that sort of reading, sometimes it's boring, sometimes he can't understand it and it discourages him, so he'd prefer I just informed him of what I've learned. And I guess I know that it's not about all the shiny things but all the shiny concepts, I'm easily paranoid that I'm doing something wrong so I always try and do it right.

[Aine Rayne]

You don't have to use the plant idea. I just threw it out there in case you wanted/needed the visual stimulation. If you do, and you're uncomfortable with plants, you can always go with a candle.

I hate it when the Hubby stares, too, so I can totally understand that.

Doubt is an important part, I think, to religion. Without it, we wouldn't grow and change and develop our spiritual beliefs. It is via doubt that we learn, I think, the most from what we expect from our religion and how the best road to practice is.

It could just be that he's not ready for a religion, period. I went through a very long phase where I self-identified as an atheist, although that was never the case. It was this "backing off" period that left me more open to a pagan lifestyle later on. So, if he wants to watch and ask questions, then that's great. Answer as best you can (and don't forget "I don't know" is a totally acceptable answer) but let him come to his own conclusions. And just be there for the moment when he starts opening up more (if it comes) about what he wants out of his religion.

I think he really wants to be ready and just doesn't know how to be, so he stays "aloof" essentially from religion and divinity because he doesn't know how to relate to it and is insecure about his understanding or lack thereof. I've no desire to push him, though it is a bit hard because I want to share. He hasn't really had the opportunity to stare though lol we have limited space and privacy and time to be together so we're usually doing other things XD I'm sure that he'll stare when we get our own place though X3 he'll try his best not to though lol nonetheless he's very supportive, even if he does find it a bit weird XD

I appreciate the suggestion of the plant and candle , at least if I'm trying to do something specific as opposed to just having something to talk to and touch and look at when I want to talk or feel safeguarded. Now all I need is a candlestick XD I asked for suggestions because I guess I'm just tryin to "go by the book" until I can figure out what works best for me. For the time being I've just been writing short little letters to Anoupe, Djehuty, and Opoue (aka Anubis, Thoth, and Wepwawet. Trying to remember their pronunciations, hence the mildly funky spelling lol).

[Aine Rayne]

Succinct.

Darkhawk wrote about ma'at. It's a great article and I think embodies a lot of our thoughts on living ma'at.

I love this link :D

[Devo]

My printer is broken XD but that sounds like a fine idea to me :3 as far as my bf, it's both actually. And I invited him to come on the forum, but he's not really much into that sort of reading, sometimes it's boring, sometimes he can't understand it and it discourages him, so he'd prefer I just informed him of what I've learned. And I guess I know that it's not about all the shiny things but all the shiny concepts, I'm easily paranoid that I'm doing something wrong so I always try and do it right.

There isn't much I can offer for him, then. He's gotta be willing to put himself out there a bit if he wants to really work with the religion. Ironically, my SO is similar. He doesn't want to really join the forums, he doesn't want to read... etc. So he can't really complain if he doesn't get a concept.

I wouldn't worry about doing things wrong. Start small, and take your time. Everyone has to start somewhere. There is a learning curve to all of this. I do have a beginners guide on my blog, if you wanted to flip through it. But there isn't much on there that hasn't been said here.

-Devo

[Aine Rayne]

There isn't much I can offer for him, then. He's gotta be willing to put himself out there a bit if he wants to really work with the religion. Ironically, my SO is similar. He doesn't want to really join the forums, he doesn't want to read... etc. So he can't really complain if he doesn't get a concept.

I wouldn't worry about doing things wrong. Start small, and take your time. Everyone has to start somewhere. There is a learning curve to all of this. I do have a beginners guide on my blog, if you wanted to flip through it. But there isn't much on there that hasn't been said here.

-Devo

lol i read your blog already :3 you gave me the link in another thread of mine XD at least I'm not alone with the SO thing lol

[Nehet]

Nehet, I think, also has a shrine to him but she hasn't been around much lately, either.

I'm alive! (Waves)

With regards to Djehuty, he's been wonderful to work with over the years. For me, he manifests as a supportive professor whose door is always open for questions. He has sort of a Giles - like personality. (Without the dark and rebellious past). I think people see him as "distant", but I don't find that to be the case. I see him as formal, but that doesn't mean he's cold. He's not a loud, in-your-face God who whopped me over the head and demanded attention, but he has been there when I need him.

I get the sense that he lets people come to him. This makes sense, given the fact that he's a God of magic. Occult practices aren't immediately accessible, but effective magic can be found, for those patient enough to seek it out. Djehuty, himself, has always seemed like a patient God. He's there for people who are ready to find him. For me, he hovered in the background for years. He may have been working behind the scenes and guiding me toward my current path...but he never put a lot of pressure on me to get there.

[Etheric1]

I'm alive! (Waves)

With regards to Djehuty, he's been wonderful to work with over the years. For me, he manifests as a supportive professor whose door is always open for questions. He has sort of a Giles - like personality. (Without the dark and rebellious past). I think people see him as "distant", but I don't find that to be the case. I see him as formal, but that doesn't mean he's cold. He's not a loud, in-your-face God who whopped me over the head and demanded attention, but he has been there when I need him.

I get the sense that he lets people come to him. This makes sense, given the fact that he's a God of magic. Occult practices aren't immediately accessible, but effective magic can be found, for those patient enough to seek it out. Djehuty, himself, has always seemed like a patient God. He's there for people who are ready to find him. For me, he hovered in the background for years. He may have been working behind the scenes and guiding me toward my current path...but he never put a lot of pressure on me to get there.

I've done one ritual to him. I'd agree with Nehet's assessment here. I found him to be quite impressive.