Wepwawet or Set?

[Gelfling]

I am pretty sure Kemeticism is the direction I want to be going, at least for now, which means that I've started to interpret my recent past in that light. My life over the past-- well, all of the years, now that I think about it-- seems to vacillate between charmed and pretty arduous (I got laid off, my landlord kicked me out of his house with 15 days notice so he could move his GF in and I ended up in a friend's spare room while my sister fostered my babycat, my unemployment got suspended by mistake and it was 8 weeks before I got the back pay as a lump sum, and all of this lead pretty directly to my meeting Mr. Right, just as an example). How does one tell the difference between Wepwawet clearing the path when it gets to be too much vs. the rewards of successfully overcoming the obstacles placed by Set?



For what it's worth, Set was the one who drew me to investigate Kemeticism to begin with, and I had an experience early on that I'm pretty sure was Set with a charmingly ambiguous message. I interpreted it as "You're not so bad, kid, but you're not Mine," but at the same time, the vehicle of the message was this (Youtube link of a worksafe pop song), which seems pretty straightforward but then I find myself wondering about some of the lyrics and then getting worried that I'm overthinking it but then why.... etc. So, there's that.

On the other hand, one of the posts on the old board (damned if I can remember which, unfortunately) piqued my interest in Wepwawet, and further reading only deepened my interest. Amusingly, I mentioned some of what I found to a friend of mine, and she's had a few experiences since then that suggest that Wepwawet's poking His nose into her life. Possibly I was just a temp? Or maybe my friend was right, and we're a two-for-one deal.

Or maybe they're tag-teaming me (kill me now plz (ok not really (yes, really))). Never knowing if the bad stuff is going to really be a cakewalk or if it's going to try to kill me to make me stronger will probably drive me nuts.

I realize no one can tell me the answer (at least, it is very, very, very improbable), but some ideas on how to approach the question would be awesome.

[Etheric1]

I am pretty sure Kemeticism is the direction I want to be going, at least for now, which means that I've started to interpret my recent past in that light. My life over the past-- well, all of the years, now that I think about it-- seems to vacillate between charmed and pretty arduous (I got laid off, my landlord kicked me out of his house with 15 days notice so he could move his GF in and I ended up in a friend's spare room while my sister fostered my babycat, my unemployment got suspended by mistake and it was 8 weeks before I got the back pay as a lump sum, and all of this lead pretty directly to my meeting Mr. Right, just as an example). How does one tell the difference between Wepwawet clearing the path when it gets to be too much vs. the rewards of successfully overcoming the obstacles placed by Set?

For what it's worth, Set was the one who drew me to investigate Kemeticism to begin with, and I had an experience early on that I'm pretty sure was Set with a charmingly ambiguous message. I interpreted it as "You're not so bad, kid, but you're not Mine," but at the same time, the vehicle of the message was this (Youtube link of a worksafe pop song), which seems pretty straightforward but then I find myself wondering about some of the lyrics and then getting worried that I'm overthinking it but then why.... etc. So, there's that.

On the other hand, one of the posts on the old board (damned if I can remember which, unfortunately) piqued my interest in Wepwawet, and further reading only deepened my interest. Amusingly, I mentioned some of what I found to a friend of mine, and she's had a few experiences since then that suggest that Wepwawet's poking His nose into her life. Possibly I was just a temp? Or maybe my friend was right, and we're a two-for-one deal.

Or maybe they're tag-teaming me (kill me now plz (ok not really (yes, really))). Never knowing if the bad stuff is going to really be a cakewalk or if it's going to try to kill me to make me stronger will probably drive me nuts.

I realize no one can tell me the answer (at least, it is very, very, very improbable), but some ideas on how to approach the question would be awesome.

It was somewhat backwards for me, Anubis lead me to Set.

One thing about this path that I like is you do not have to choose one or the other. I often work with Sutekh (Set) and Anpu (Anubis) there has been zero problem for me switching between the two. I've been able to connect with Heru (Horus) on occasion as well, which was something I did not think was going to be possible given their relationship.

I've found Set is exceptional for helping me deal with those dark nights of the soul. Personally I just send gratitude to whomever helped, since there generally isn't a way to be 100% certain who did what. I just go with my gut feeling if it leans one way or the other. And sometimes stuff plays out more just do to our own actions and not a deity.

Sounds to me like you should pursue learning about Wepwawet. For me, I thought I'd be devoted to Anubis but, as my temple-mates will attest to, once I started working with Set I became rather obsessed with him (and still am). I guess it's like finding Mr./Ms Right - you kinda just know. But unlike that, I've found the different gods will come and go. But as I said, you don't HAVE to devote yourself to one god. If you do, great, but I don't think it's necessary. Also keep in mind this path as a HUGE number of gods associated with it.

Best thing you can do is go with what you feel, and to not over think things. I'm very guilty of doing that myself.

[Lykaios]

I realize no one can tell me the answer (at least, it is very, very, very improbable), but some ideas on how to approach the question would be awesome.

I've only had limited dealings with Wepwawet, though I think he may have led me to the faith in the first place, and a lot of dealings with Set.

For me...I recognize Set's fingerprints on something when the gift is in the chaos, so to speak. At one point my family really needed a new car...suddenly: car crash! Insurance paid for a new one. I didn't have to seek anything out, it just happened; all I did was endure the cost, ie a sudden relapse of my car related phobias, fighting the insurance company, dealing with the fact that the man who hit us was my high school Physic's teacher, etc.. my family and I came out of those trials stronger and with a new car to boot.

Wepwawet seemed more about opening up doors and giving opportunities: when I wasn't certain how to go about getting more serious with my writing, I suddenly got a random flyer which alerted me to the fact that my favorite author was going to be at a nearby conference for a Q&A session about publishing. But I had to be the one to find the money, arrange the travel, take time off, get my questions in order, get there early for a good spot, etc... I had to make good on the opportunity. Once I did, the opportunity kicked in: I happened to be one of only a handful of people who attended and the only one who had read his book. He turned out to be an awesome guy and I stayed after to chat and even got to walk him to his car afterward. He gave me some great perspectives and his advice has been invaluable. I got a "clear" picture of where to go next with my craft, and the way was opened, so to speak.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is that I look at it this way: Set=Trials Wepwawet=Doors. Of course, that's just me personally. YMMV.

[Gelfling]

Personally I just send gratitude to whomever helped, since there generally isn't a way to be 100% certain who did what. I just go with my gut feeling if it leans one way or the other.

I may be doing a lot of that, especially to start. :D Part of me does feel like whomever it was should speak up if they want proper credit.

But unlike that, I've found the different gods will come and go. But as I said, you don't HAVE to devote yourself to one god. If you do, great, but I don't think it's necessary. Also keep in mind this path as a HUGE number of gods associated with it.

Best thing you can do is go with what you feel, and to not over think things. I'm very guilty of doing that myself.

So far none of the others have shown up yet, at least not recognizably so, but I'm also just taking my first baby steps. Eternal Egypt is first on my (rather long) list when I have disposable income again, but until then I'm mostly operating on instinct and what I can piece together from the Internet.

Thank you for your advice!

[Gelfling]

So I guess what I'm trying to say is that I look at it this way: Set=Trials Wepwawet=Doors. Of course, that's just me personally. YMMV.

Thank you. I suspect I'm probably overthinking it, but I got my brain tilted funny in the process last night and couldn't seem to shake it loose.

[Devo]

I may be doing a lot of that, especially to start. :D Part of me does feel like whomever it was should speak up if they want proper credit.

If it's Set, and you're not paying attn, believe you me- he'll find a way to make sure you hear him.

-Devo

[Etheric1]

If it's Set, and you're not paying attn, believe you me- he'll find a way to make sure you hear him.

-Devo

^ This. My experience is he is very much in your face when it comes to Set making his presence known.

[Gelfling]

If it's Set, and you're not paying attn, believe you me- he'll find a way to make sure you hear him.

-Devo

Why do I get the feeling I'd better make damned sure I'm paying attention?

[Devo]

Why do I get the feeling I'd better make damned sure I'm paying attention?

lol. Honestly, you can not pay attn. He will find a way.

It took me a few weeks when he first wanted my attn. It started as this white noise.. this little...something in the back of my head. I ignored it. Thought it was nothing. Over the weeks, it got louder, and louder, and louder, etc. It became that it started to effect my mood, made it hard to concentrate. He wanted my attn, and he was going to drive me nuts in order to get it.

So, if you don't want to go through that, then paying attn might be nice. Otherwise, you might get a shock XD Course, you could always give him offerings anyways, but then he might think you're kissing his ass. Which might not be a bad idea either.

-Devo

[Etheric1]

Why do I get the feeling I'd better make damned sure I'm paying attention?

Well, don't psych yourself out. I've found that the gods are patient and know it will take some time to tune into them. It takes practice. Set may be an intense deity, but I have to believe he gets that it's not like Kemeticism is mainstream and the practices and ritual techniques are commonplace in this day and age. Set will keep turning up the volume if a point needs to be taken.

For me, I had to get over a sense of fear with him and the idea that he was a god that's easily offended by not knowing something. It's okay to make mistakes. That's how we learn. There is no sense in grinding a person into nothing because they don't know any better.

Now, if you make a promise and break it, that's different. And probably something I would not recommend. But I've found that for me, Set has been very accepting of my flaws and seemed to be very happy that I accepted him (again, this is my experience, it may be different for others). That doesn't mean he isn't volatile and occasionally intense. He's not light and fluffy, but he's not abusive either. I'd say he gets the concept of tough love very well and doing what you have to do. To use a quote that I think fits: "the truth only hurts if it should."

Cutting through our own bullshit can be incredibly uncomfortable, just like working with our own darksides. It can be very enlightening and empowering, but it can be uncomfortable. Just because we may not like what we encounter does not mean it's a bad thing.

I try to be positive, but at the same time life isn't always about being nice too, our dark sides are every bit as much a part of us as our sides of us that are cheery, positive, and easy going.