#shemsu

Originally posted July 25th 2010

I got my RPD and boy was it a little scary but an amazing experience.

I am a child of Wepwawet-Ra and Set and my beloveds are Heru-wer, Bast-Mut, and Amun.

Two portrait of Semenkhara (my egyptian OC), one -the first- with the shemsu hor  outfit. 

Perhaps that's not the right word, considering the circumstances, but it's the best one I could think of for what l'll be talking about.

Over a year ago I lost my father. I've talked about it now and then. But not a lot.

My mother and I have never really gotten along. I don't think she's a bad person, and I think she loves me in her way, but she's done questionable things in the past.

I was closest to my father.

Now, some of my gods came into my life before he passed. (At least, if I remember the sequence of events correctly).

But when I lost my father, I could've never imagined that so many male gods- as officially as possible, in the case of the RPD- would stand up and say, "Hi hungry, I'm dad" (okay, probably more serious than that, haha).

Heru-wer was the first who stood out to me as "dad". I called him that basically from day one, though I doubted myself because it's the way I am. And as time went on, I believe that he was the big push encouraging me to get divined. I think he wanted to claim me as his daughter in front of both the gods and in front of me.

Ptah-Sokar-Wesir is a bit more mysterious to me because I have trouble discerning what's him and what's Osiris (who, as careful readers of my blog may know, I don't think of in a fatherly way). The clearest I've gotten him is in dreams and in times I really needed some clarity. He seems to be quiet in general- and still - patient- but he has told me through dreams that he considers me his daughter, and loves me with a father's love.

Manannán mac Lir I'm not entirely sure of. I suspect he is strongly in cahoots with Heru-wer, with whom he takes on a fatherly tone. But when he isn't coming with the Netjeru it's more of a "friend" feeling. It's hard to put my finger on.

And my Shemsu name, "Teritui", means: "I respect my two fathers".

I respect MY two fathers. There's almost a familiarity there. A belonging. A devotion. They're mine in a way, and I'm there's.

(Of course there are other children of my fathers, but I hope you guys get what I mean).

I lost one father (though he's technically an akhu I get the feeling he doesn't appreciate being included in Kemetic devotions), and gained like... three more at least.

Today marks the four year anniversary of my Rite of Parent Divination and Shemsu naming with the House of Netjer. Four years of being blessed to have such a wonderful spiritual line-up and of being included in such a loving community.

Bast has taught me to always be kind to myself.

Wepwawet has blessed me with such amazing opportunities.

Sekhmet has taught me courage

Heru-sa-Aset has taught me loyalty.

Four years of struggling to find time for Senut, worrying that the Nether think I’ve abandoned them, and having to carefully package my shrine up each time I move apartment! Sometimes, I admit, the realities of spiritual practice are difficult for me.

Becoming a Shemsu and receiving my name was an experience I’ll never forget. Here’s to four more years!

Semenkhara

Shemsu-hor; Semenkhara