UPG. Living in Ma’at Guide
Hello everyone, this is the Priest(tess) mentioned in Prince’s Kemetic guide about Set, here to compile my ideas for getting isfet and ma’at in some semblance of proper balance, at least in your immediate area, because it looks like the next couple months at least are going to be a riot.
Disclaimer: I’m neither a scholar nor a formal authority on the topic, and properly worship only one of the gods, which will color my perceptions, but I felt the need to share my thoughts on the matter nonetheless, due to circumstances that have cropped up in a lot of places, including my interactions with people and my own faith.
Welcome to Chess’ guide to adopting Ma’at into your daily life.
Part One: Ma’at is not peace.
Ma’at is usually translated as order, harmony, truth, and balance. That doesn’t mean it’s peace and quiet, though those can be side-effects.
The goal of Ma’at is to keep the world functioning as it should
Ma’at counters Isfet, in every place that Isfet occurs
To practice Ma’at is to counter Isfet at its core, by every means you can. Means will be different from person to person, but the next part will cover common ways.
Part Two: Countering Isfet
Commonly perceived as doing things in old ways or rituals, but countering Isfet isn’t so simple as waving a candle and praying.
However, prayer does help a lot; sincere prayer, sans formality, sans pretention, is at its core one of the best ways to foster Ma’at in your life. Through prayer you can learn to speak freely and directly, which won’t always make things nice but if you’re true then you’re doing what needs to be done.
Directly, even, because fostering Ma’at in yourself and for the gods will directly affect their nature. The gods fight Isfet at every turn; to foster Ma’at is to aid the gods themselves, doing your part to keep the world turning.
However, prayer won’t be enough.
Here are other ways you can foster Ma’at through yourself and others.:
Bring others to an understanding
Bring others to an understanding
Draw out the truth of the matter before you
Practice emotional maturity and sincerity
Practice understanding when you or a situation needs help
Be fair and just even when (especially when) it’s inconvenient or someone is noisy about it
You don’t have to do all of them, but if you see the opportunity within your means, take it. Many of these will be difficult and frustrating, but in the end it will ease the pressure off your immediate area.
Everyone has a different way of doing things. More concrete examples would be like mediating or even facilitating an argument to draw out the grievances within and thus result in proper harmony, or advocating for reforms that will benefit those in need.
Part Three: Take care of yourself
I understand that these things can be dangerous to a lot of people. I understand that every one of these things can put your life on the line, in an abusive home or relationship, or a misguided community. Bear in mind: You cannot work Ma’at if you’re already dead, and the above are not absolutes.
Know when to stop and regroup; if you burn out that day, Ma’at will prosper later if you will yourself to keep a level head and fix the problem from inside.
Don’t sell yourself short; you have worth and to believe it will help you.
Understand people but separate your self from that of others; one of the fastest ways to burn out is to put yourself in every situation that you see Isfet in.
Cleanliness, organization, and proper nutrition all foster Ma’at; if you can’t do it for yourself that day, keep in mind that your gods need you to be in top form, and to do it for them or yourself is the same result.
Monitor yourself closely; unnecessary destruction of any kind, including of yourself through abuse or mishandling your capabilities, not only causes you trouble but also fosters Isfet in a lot of sometimes unnoticeable but later significant ways.
Don’t forget the little things; not everyone has the means to go out there and fight Isfet in big, flashy ways, and it’s equally important to keep your internal harmony and balance.
This isn’t to say to shy away from pain, but to know that you shouldn’t kill yourself over the work. If it hurts, understand why, and address it as positively as you can, by what means are available and in-line with Ma’at.
If you know it’s necessary, even if you’re afraid of it, voice your thoughts and do what must be done.
Part Four: Ma’at for the gods
The above covers Ma’at among people, and the below will cover Ma’at in your communication and interactions with your gods, whether scholarly or mystical.
Some of these were covered in the above, but here they are doubly emphasized:
Speak truly, clearly, and respectfully
Feel sincerely, but don’t let yourself be overwhelmed
Know when to draw the line, for yourself and for them
Let yourself believe you have influence, whether it sounds crazy or not
Be willing to listen and discern the truth from anything, direct or indirect
Be willing to consider both the negatives and positives of the gods, and reconcile them
Respect that some people will have unusual beliefs and interactions with their faith, differing from yours
FOR MYSTICAL KEMETICS: Be empathetic, but know your limits; be careful with what they ask of you, and whether or not it will be good for both of you, and whether or not you yourself are influencing what you might hear; understand that some people don’t believe the way you believe and that’s fine, the gods have accounted for such.
FOR SCHOLARLY KEMETICS: Respect that some kemetics believe in the gods in a more direct fashion, that others will have differing interpretations of the gods and their stories, and that the truth of Ma’at is in the core of the stories and not the details, timeless and universal.
Part 5: Devotional activities
A word of notice first of all: This is a difficult faith to practice openly, but it’s one that shouldn’t be hidden away. If you can’t practice openly, this might not be the faith for you, at least at the current time.
That said, if you can devote only a small amount of time to the gods, do so as regularly as you can. Any activity can be a devotional if you offer it up to the gods you want to give it to, though some of them may have preferences.
Miscellaneous acts you can offer the gods:
Eating, as if you were sharing a meal off the same plate (pray over the food, say you’re offering it, ask them to share with you in the moment, that kind of thing)
Art or writing of any kind
Magic and rituals, if that’s your thing
Talking to them (basically prayer, though with the express purpose of just talking; tell them about your day)
Exercise (yoga, aerobics, tai-chi, zumba; if you feel the burn you can offer it)
Playing games, whether videogames, puzzles, visual novels, or physical activities
Going places (museums and parks are a good choice, movies are also good)
Advocating for the proper treatment of those in need
Basically any projects or activities that take time and make you meditate on the gods or the activity in question, especially if you do it by yourself or can get a group moving in harmony.
Things you find (cool pebbles, flowers, a nice purchase)
Things you own (jewelry, books, old things you’ve made)
Things you experience (a memory, a story, your feelings)
Significant moments in your life (celebrations, upheavals, opportunities)
With the above, remember: Offering doesn’t mean something is given up, but that it’s shared.
(Quick tip: I offer food off my plate because I can’t always make a shrine, and I do it by murmuring over it, “[god’s form of address], I offer you this [food, named as if you’re describing it to the judge of a cooking show], please enjoy this offering with me/eat together with me.” Modify as you please, but the basic idea is there.
This is specifically a devotional act if you eat slowly, enjoy the food, and have dinner conversation, so you might want to either save it for special meals or do it a lot and very quietly. When you’re done, thank them for sharing with you.)
In the end, this is only a guide. Each of us fight Isfet and devote ourselves differently, personally, and most of all, with Ma’at, which might not always be fun but should always bring about something better than what came before.
Always keep in mind that what you do, what Ma’at is, is to make things better than they were before, as the world should be.
If you have other questions about this guide or just want to talk about this kind of thing, please direct asks or messages to
areudirty
blakekathryn
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