Who is Senyt-menu?

I was raised in a moderately liberal, Christian home. My father was a teacher and intellectual, and therefore encouraged an open mind. After years of resisting altar calls in my church, school functions and revival meetings (which never felt right to me), I decided in my late 20s that the religion I was brought up in no longer met my spiritual needs.

I experimented with various facets of Wicca, having found its earth-based spirituality to be more satisfying than anything I had experienced before. I followed this path for 14 years until I began dreaming of Yinepu (Anubis). In these dreams He would appear to save me from difficult situations, and seemed to want to lead me somewhere. I was extremely perplexed by this phenomenon; after all, why would a happily devoted Wiccan start dreaming of an Egyptian deity? Other than having a general interest in Egypt, I hadn't actively pursed its religion. But the dreams persisted, culminating in a mystical experience with Hethert (Hathor).

Having formed a friendship with a Shemsu in the House of Netjer while I was still Wiccan, I now knew where I must go. I admired the House of Netjer for its practice of the Egyptian religion as revealed by the ancient texts (i.e. Kemetic Orthodoxy). I also liked that its founder and spiritual leader, the Nisut Hekatawy (Rev. Tamara Siuda), held a Master's Degree in Egyptology from the Oriental Institute in Chicago. I applied for membership, went through the required probationary class and became a member of the House of Netjer on December 18, 1999.

My Spiritual Parents, Sekhmet and Wepwawet, were revealed to me on June 14, 2000 by the casting of cowrie shells by Rev. Siuda. This divination method is a common practice in many African Traditional Religions in order to determine what god "owns" the enquiring person. I decided to become Shemsu at this time as well. Needless to say, I was not surprised that one of my Parents was Wepwawet, Who is dual-aspected with Yinepu! Also, Hethert is the "flip side" of Sekhmet. My previous dreams now made sense.

I was given my Kemetic name at the New Year’s Festival and Retreat in Chicago in August of 2000 by Rev. Siuda. The picture on the left shows my naming ceremony.

I was granted Shemsu-Ankh status later on in 2001, which is a "senior member" category for those who have maintained a commitment to the House of Netjer for at least two years following their divination and decision to become Shemsu.

In August, 2002, at the Fifth Annual Retreat for the Faithful sponsored by the House of Netjer, I completed my training to become a w'ab (purity) priest, which qualified me as a "ritual technician" or lay priest (the House of Netjer uses the term "priest" for both sexes, as do other faiths).

My hands are washed by the Nisut Hekatawy (foreground), assisted by Chief Priest Kai-Imakhu Antybast (to my left), as part of my w'ab consecration showing that I am "pure of hands."

At the Sixth Annual Retreat in August of 2003, I was dedicated as imy-set'a (minister-in-training) in preparation for my becoming an officially ordained cleric.

On the evening of February 17, 2006, I was officially ordained as a priest of my spiritual Parents. My ordination name is Aha-ti em Nakhtsen Mereret, which means "She stands in (or for) Their loving strength.

On the more secular side, I began my study of belly dancing in the early 90s and have danced with four different troupes. I occasionally teach beginning dance classes, conduct workshops and give private lessons. I also enjoy drumming on doumbek, ashiko and frame drums.

I have found my spiritual calling in a religion that I experience every day, and not just once a week or on special holidays. I wish the same happiness for everyone who reads this. May you always be open to God’s communications—expected or otherwise!