What is Kamta?

KMT, Khem Ta or Kamta, which literally means “the black lands” physically refers to the southern region of the Kemet (Ancient Egypt) whose soil was covered with fertile black silt after the inundation of the Nile River. From the Kemetic perspective, the color black does not mean negativity and evil.  According to the ancient Kemetic sages, alchemically and metaphysically speaking the term “black” was used to refer to that which is hidden, a mystery, mysterious, invisible, regenerative, unlimited, rebirth, darkness, original place of origin,  etc. 

“The kingdom of heaven is within you; and whosoever shall know himself shall find it.” *** Kemetic Proverb

Therefore, KAMTA refers to the dark, invisible, mysterious, unlimited and hidden place within us that psychologically speaking is called the Superconscious.  This dark, invisible, mysterious and hidden place within our universe is what is commonly called the spiritual realm. 

Most of us are taught to focus on the limitations of the physical realm because we are led to believe that there are only two types of people that exists and they are “the haves and have nots.”

 So, if we want more money, we are taught that since only the “haves” have the money, then we must find ways (legal or illegal) to get it from them. If we want our business to succeed, since there is a limit number of customers we must outdo, belittle and beat our competition. If we want a loving relationship we must put on a façade because there is a shortage of good men or no good women.  

These limiting perspective on life is only based upon our conditioned experience, meaning are beliefs and experiences are shaped by the small circle of people we associated with daily such as our family, friends, media, etc. Our personal beliefs and experiences are not the true reality, it only appears that we because we are presently in the moment. They are illusions and misconceptions based upon erroneous beliefs due to our physical experience, so the physical realm is called TASETT.

Literally speaking, Ta Sett means “the red lands” and physically refers to the arid, desert region in the northern part of Kemet that received a limited amount of water from the Nile River, as it snaked its way to the Mediterranean Sea.  According to the Kemetic sages, alchemically and metaphysically speaking the term “red” was used to refer to life, aggressiveness, vitality, strength, limitations, etc.  

Therefore, TASETT refers to the visible, light, known, familiar, limited, and common place within us that psychologically speaking is called the subconscious.  This light, visible, known and familiar place within our universe is what is commonly called the physical realm.

However, the Kamta Shamanic tradition focuses on achieving goals and objectives through change by addressing both the physical and spiritual sides of life. Most people usually ignore the spiritual aspect but the physical and spiritual needed to be incorporated to bring about a complete solution to any problem or goal, because we are spiritual and physical beings.  For instance, if you want more money then you need to do something spiritual and physical to get more money. If you want to improve your business then you simply need to do something physically and spiritually to be visible to more customers. If you want a loving relationship you simply need to do something physically and spiritually, so that you encounter the right person for you.

Kamta can be practiced anywhere and at any time because it draws upon the unlimited Power of the spiritual realm that exists within all of us, as reflected on the Maa Aankh (shown below).

Copyright Derric “Rau Khu” Moore

The Maa Aankh (Click to see where the Maa Aankh came from), which means to “Righteous Living” or “To Swear an Oath to Live Righteously” is a cosmogram based upon the Kemetic concepts and principles and combined with the remnants of the Kongo-Angolan philosophy (notably the Kongo Cross or Dikenga) that survived slavery.  It is a practical and useful diagram symbolizing the human mind and the Universe, thus supporting the theory that wo/man are a microcosm of a Greater Macrocosm.  

The blue horizontal line is called nyun, which is the cosmic veil that separates the invisible spiritual realm from the visible physical realm.  While the yellow vertical or the Maa line reflects what is above below to ensure balance, order and truth.   

The discs surrounding KAMTA and TASETT symbolize the four moments of Ra and the sun.  They are:

• Khepera (in KiKongo Kala), which symbolizes Sunrise,  Birth, East, Spring, Children, the color black, etc.
• Ra (in KiKongo TuKula), which symbolizes Midday Sun, Life, South, Summer, Adolescences and Adults, vitality, the color red, etc.
• Ra Atum (in KiKongo Luvemba), which symbolizes Sunset, Death, West, Fall, Elders, the color white, etc.  
• Amun Ra (in KiKongo Musoni), which symbolizes Midnight (when the sun is believed to be on the other side), North, Winter, Ancestors/Spirit Guides, the color yellow, etc.  

Hru Osar and Set

So, as you can see, the Kemetic people did not worship the Sun.  The Sun was used to symbolize the human soul and the numerous names of Ra were attributes of the Divine. 

The Maa Aankh like most cosmograms can be interpreted numerous ways and indicates that the human soul is a sun. However, the general acceptance of the cosmogram is that only the righteous are reborn and since righteousness corresponds to the Spirit of Maat.  Righteousness means living the Maa Aankh by keeping the physical (lower) and spiritual (higher) realms in alignment with one another like Hru (Horus).

For more information visit the Land of Kam blog or the book page.