Greetings again. Let me start by saying congratulations on doing a good deal of accurate research. Be advised the Kemetian path is not an exact science or subject to rules of definitive orthodoxy (unless you choose a distinctive sub-path of such nature). As a result much of what you read, or even what I tell you can be held up for debate and subject to conjecture and opinion. Often personal experience and where your own sense of what feels right for you will be your best guides to direct you on your own personal course and destination. I will now address, in the order you presented them, my ideas on items you have presented.
Kemetism, Kemeticism, Kemeticism Reconstructionism. All names, titles. Mostly meaning the same thing (except the last which is a specific sub-path). “Kemet” means (Ancient) Egypt in the Ancient Egyptian language. Literally translated “the black lands” (because the primary race in Ancient Egypt was black/African). Kemet is also sometimes used to refer to all of the continent of Africa. I personally prefer the term Kemetian to describe myself as a practitioner of the Ancient Egyptian religion and culture. It just feels right to me. Possibly because that’s what I was raised to refer to it as. But you should call it what your comfortable with, as long as the root “Kemet” is part of the title, should be fine.
One thing I do want to address is the various primary forms of Kemetian practice. We’re not all Kemeticism Reconstructionismists. I’m sure you’ve heard of or encountered also New Age/Wiccan Kemetism, which is quite different. Non-traditional in form. That is they take traditional ideas and alter them to fit other predisposed ideas and notions (like “harm none” for instance). A third form of Kemetian practice is non-traditionalists, they adhere to mostly modern ideas with only some traditional influences. Some just make things up, but a few have solid ground in the form of direct (channeled) contact with the Netjer. Those who combine traditional teachings and modern channeled communication I call Awakened Kemetians, I am of this sort. I’m also a Hereditary Kemetian, not a Reconstructionist as my family has practiced the Kemetian path for 98 generations and can trace our lineage to Kemet in ancient times. We don’t practice a reconstructed, once “dead” path, but rather one that has been handled down from generation to generation through the women, mother to daughter. The same as we trace our lineage. This is not a put down to the Reconstructionists, they have gotten a lot right, for a revival of a basically dead religion. But they are not the only game in town as some would have you believe. The biggest downside they have, which is the same with all dead religions (like Judaism, Christianity etc) is that they have evolved little since ancient times. It’s as if the Netjer no longer speak to us, or rather to them. For those of us who never stopped practicing, the Netjer never stopped communication. If you choose the Reconstructionists path, one of the best groups I can recommend is the House of Netjer (Netjer.org). If not you may find inspiration from them still plus many others. Overall though I would say your summary is good, if not somewhat lacking. But contrary to what’s generally taken as fact, you cannot always find everything about certain topics easily online.
Regarding names, and selection based on deities by birth month, yes and no. It’s a good thing for beginners. But in time, hopefully, one will themselves contact the Netjer personally. Usually by trance communication, or even by channeling if one is so blessed. You cannot seek out a specific Netjer, one will seek you out when you and they are ready. This will be your patron Netjer, and it’s usually more based on past life experience than the events of your current life. Awakened Kemetians like myself embrace reincarnation, the Netjer have acknowledged it’s existence. The time after each life spent in Duat is only temporary. Each life is a step in learning towards Ascension. My patron Netjer is Sekhmet and has been many generations. My clan also teaches reincarnation through ones own bloodline, thus I am many of my own ancestors. This differs from non-evolved traditionalist/Reconstructionist thought, just so you know.
Mummification, yes, we no longer need to practice it, as you correctly observed. The human spiritual connection to Duat and the Netjer is stronger now than it once was as the overall human psyche has evolved. In general at least.
Alters in homes are indeed generally kept inside cabinets or similar enclosures. The reason for this is to maintain a separate sanctified holy space, separate from your regular mundane environment. An alternative solution is to construct a ritual chamber sanctified to the Netjer. But such a space has to be sanctified from ceiling to floor, kept meticulously clean, and kept from the eyes of all non-believers. A cabinet is usually easier to maintain and far cheaper also. Although groups like the one I work with do use more elaborate Temple spaces as it becomes more practical.
As to those *ratings*, if I understand them I from personal experience have to disagree with three of them. Afterlife quality I would rate a 5, based on my memories there (the tests and the gates to pass to get to Duat are not Duat or the experience or existence of Duat itself — the destination is not the journey), Traditional I would rate a 4 (it’s one of the oldest traditions on the planet, regardless of the mode practiced), and Holidays I would rate a 5 (every single day of the entire year is a holiday of some sort or another, many day encompassing multiple holidays) so whoever gave some of those ratings, I seriously have to question their research. Especially with regard to holidays.
The general purpose of life you have correct. But the purpose of many lifetimes is Ascension. To reach a point of enlightenment wherein reincarnation is no longer needed. A CRST-state such as Heru/Horus attained. Horus attained this state in the underworld then resurrected and Ascended. Most will achieve this is smaller steps of enlightenment. The Temple of Set calls these steps “Xeper” (pronounced “Kepher” and named after the scarab headed Netjer of enlightenment).
As to the nature of the Kemetian path, I’m a hard monotheist. The Netjer are not literally gods, but rather the outpouring of the *pleroma* (fullness) of the ONE (God). They are entities descended from the ONE, they are also sometimes known by modernists as Aeons. The ONE himself is nameless, unknown and unknowable, beyond human understanding at our current stage of spiritual evolution. Only individuals who have Ascended can conceive his true form. This is part of the reason why the Netjer exist, to act a a bridge of understanding and communication between humanity and the ONE. A nontraditionalist who channeled communication from one of the Netjer wrote a very good piece online explaining the ONE, creation, and much more, called the Books of Foundation. I agree with probably 95% of it (owning some loss of accuracy to human error). Remember nothing in this world is perfect, including religious texts. Only fools believe otherwise. But as an Awakened Kemetian finding new texts and newly channeled scripts from the Netjer is not surprising. The Netjer are not dead and nether has their path ever truly been without adherents. I judge the Book of Foundation as truly inspired based on my own generational feeling and experience, your experience may vary. I’ll give you the link though and you can see for yourself. There is little else like it online. Read at least Ontology to get an idea of the ONE (the exact same interpretation my clan has shared for generations). The also have it right on the three most essential ancient Kemetian texts. Those being the Book of Pylons (Gates), Pyramid Texts, and Book of the Dead (more correctly called the Book of Coming Forth by Day). Here is the link http://thebooksoffoundation.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/the-books-of-foundation-books-of.html?m=1
If you have any further questions feel free to ask. Many Blessings of the Netjer
