Djahuti (Thoth, Hermes) the first scribe, inventor of language, writing, mathematics, science, medicine, culture, music, magick and alchemy.
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Marked by Djahuti
How I Was Called to Shamanism
I was born in Detroit, Michigan to two very loving parents. My father was a Pentecostal preacher and my mother a songstress/teacher. I had a relatively good childhood because my parents made it a point to travel every summer around the country, so that my brothers and I would have a broader experience. But, also during the summer my mother (being a teacher) would give my brothers and I summer assignments. Since most kids would forget all that they learned during summer break, my mother made my brothers and I practice math and read a book of our choosing.
Initially, I did not mind doing math because the more I practiced, the better I got so it was rewarding. However, I did not like reading because I did not find any books that were interesting to me until my mother introduced me to the Greek classic Homer’s Illiad.
Now, I absolutely fell in love with Greek mythology even though I found the Greek gods and goddesses to be a bit bizarre and crazy. I remember after reading the Illiad, I went on to read other books about Greek mythology. Then around this same time is when the crack-cocaine epidemic hit Detroit.
The devastation that crack cocaine caused was epically horrific because even people who were not using the drug could be caught up in the drug related violence. Most of the victims who were either strung out on the drug or caught in the crossfire were teenagers my age. Consequently, all of the homicides, brutality and the constant reminder that I might not live to 18, 21 and/or 25, made me reflect back to Greek mythology and wonder if God was punishing people because of the color of their skin.
All of the doom and gloom made me depressed and when I turned to the church for answers. All they could tell me to do was to pray and give my life over to Jesus. When I did this and failed, I concluded in my young adolescent mind that God did not love me, so I contemplated committing suicide. It was at that moment that I met my first spirit guide, who advised me to study the ancient Egyptian religion.
For years, I read and studied the ancient Egyptian religion, philosophy and mythology but when I tried to implement it into my life. Something always went wrong so, I joined several study groups and followed various paths but still I found that something was missing. All of that changed when I met a little black man from Cuba whom I called Papa.
Papa was a Babalawo (High Priest) in the Lukumi (Santeria) religion, a practicing spiritist in the Afro-Cuban Espiritismo Cruzado (Crossed Spiritism) and a member of the all-male Abakua Society in Cuba. Papa taught me a lot of things about African spirituality and told me to focus on the concepts and principles instead of mimicking the Kemetic religion.
Shortly after, I loss contact with Papa and I ignored what he taught me because this spiritual path was too frustrating. Then, I met a Yoruba priestess who divined a reading and told me that the reason I was having so many problems trying to apply what I had learned spiritually is because Djahuti walked with me and I was called to be a shaman, but I was ignoring my calling.
Prior to hearing this news, I had read that shaman life was hard so again, I ignored the messages that were given to me. Then, a few years later I became deathly ill and was diagnosed with lupus. While laying on the gurney in the hospital, I surrendered and finally accepted my calling. Almost immediately afterwards, I met my spirit guides who explained to me that the basis of shamanism is that while you are focused on healing others you also heal yourself, and that the only reason shaman life is difficult is when a shaman is selfish.
At that moment it became apparent to me that although I believed that I was fleeing and ignoring my calling. I was actually being selfish by refusing to help others and thereby unable to help myself. When I stopped focusing on my wants, that’s when my spirit guides helped me to discover the Maa Aankh cosmogram, which culturally connects the Kemetic with the Bantu-Kongo. Shortly after this discovery my health, well-being and finances improved as well as I finally found my way, which I call Kamta.
Kamta is a shamanic and spiritualist perspective on the Kemetic tradition, which can be practice alone or within a group, while driving, on the street, in a classroom, etc. because it works primarily with the mind. Consequently, all of my books are based upon personal experience and experimentation. So, if you have any questions or need help regarding your spiritual growth, feel free to contact me because in helping you, I help myself.
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