So a while ago I posted about some exciting things that were happening that I wasn’t going to post about until the time was right.
Well, the time is right.
On August 6th, 2010 I was consecrated as a W’ab priest of Wepwawet and Sekhmet-Mut. W’ab priesthood is lay priesthood; I don’t get the title “reverend”, I don’t have any sort of pastoral or clergy responsibilities. What I *am* responsible for, in a word, is purity. Purity of ritual participants, my own purity, purity on behalf of all the Remetj.
This has led to some interesting reflections on purity, for me. What, exactly, does it mean to be pure? It has its obvious meanings: being clean physically, psychologically, and ritually – which all go hand in hand in consideration for purity for rituals with requirements – and living in Ma’at and eliminating isfet, doing that which is right.
In one sense I’ve found that it means to be true to oneself; to know what is and is not necessary in one’s life, and to remove that which is completely unnecessary and inappropriate. I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on who I am and what I need, what is really important to me feeling like myself, rather than someone who is going through the motions. Faith, friends, family, the ability to retreat into my own solitary space from time to time with a cup of tea and my own thoughts… these are the things I need. These are food for the ka, things that feel good and are good, not just cheap fixes to patch a deeper hunger. Snark, bitterness, judgment, I do not need.
In this way, I think purity is simplicity: not a lack of ornamentation or excitement, but a lack of willing involvement in unnecessary strife.
carrying their light 