Level 1, Lesson 16 Audio Assignment: 102AA Introduction to Kemetic Diet
1) Main teachings of the audio lecture
The hekau “Hotep di se neter ir mettu wadj” means that if we make offerings to the divine, the divine will grant us health in the form of the flourishing of the channels of the body. Thus, the key to health is the cleansing of the mettu.
In the same way that it is now known that when cholesterol clogs the blood vessels which leads to strokes, heart attacks, and other ailments, it was known in Kemetic culture that disease occurs due “ukhedu”: a process of obstruction of the vascular system, digestion system, or any aspect of the body that requires free-flowing energy and fluids. Ukhedu forms as a result of toxicities in the body, mind, and/or soul.
According to Kemetic wisdom, spiritual enlightenment requires health. Health is of three interrelated types: physical, mental, and spiritual. It is impossible to succeed in life without health, and true health occurs in the state of enlightenment. Enlightenment equates to a constant state of pure peace, joy, and happiness.
Moving into the place of true health, or enlightenment, involves movement away from ignorance and into knowledge. Thus the Kemetic diet speaks to the right foods for nourish mind, body, and soul. Sages and initiates of the Kemetic religion practiced disciplines that lead to physical, mental, and emotional purity.
The center of the plate of vegetables and fruit on the cover of the Kemetic diet book includes images that represent the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of health. First is an ankh symbol, which represents the life process in which life produces life. The physical body constantly breaks itself down and builds itself anew until the soul is ready to pass on. The second is a strip of papyrus with the words “un em ka un” means that the food of the mind is the righteous teaching or everlasting word. Third is the eye of Heru. This is the eye of the divine which represents consciousness, or awareness of the divine nature; this awareness is what the soul truly wants. The opening of the eye, which is in the center of the forehead, represents openness to divine consciousness.
Foods of the body, mind, and spirit must be consumed in the proper amounts, or else physical, psychological and spiritual disease will result. Spiritual disease manifests as an inability to find fulfillment.
Meanwhile, modern medications are limited to the masking of disease through attempts to modify symptoms through use of pharmaceuticals. Unlike doctors in Kemetic culture, doctors of today subject themselves to impurities such as meat and cigarettes. Meanwhile, instead of discouraging intake of artificial substances and other impurities, they encourage patients to increase their intake of artificial substances (pharmaceutical drugs.) Artificial means are used to increase longevity of people who are racked with pain and disease, while a healthy lifestyle would lead to a vibrant state of being through the end of life.
Part of a healthy lifestyle involves abstinence from meats, including poultry and fish. Meat is grounding, and prevents connection with spiritual energies. Also, the human digestive tract is not designed for the intake of meats; meats rot within the digestive tract, causing toxicity in the body. One can see that humans are not designed to eat meat, because we lack the sharpness of the teeth that we see in carnivorous animals. Additionally, the slaughter of animals amounts to murder, and the stress hormones the animals produce in moments of fear and inhumane conditions enter our body if we choose to eat meat. The intake of meats, especially in the terrible conditions in which animals are farmed today, is part of what has lead to the progression of large enough amounts of ukhedu. As a result, people are unable to fight bacterial and other types of infections.
While the general public ate meat in ancient Kemet, the meat was not full of toxic chemicals and artificial growth hormones as it is today. Also, those who were spiritually-inclined abstained from meats altogether.
2) Which aspects of the lecture do I currently follow?
I abstain from meats and animal products. I also abstain from intoxicants such as alcohol and drugs. I eat all-natural foods, and organic as much as possible. I avoid negative personalities, and strive for complete elimination of negative qualities such as anger, jealousy, fear, and impatience within myself. I practice the Shedy disciplines for spiritual purification.
3) How will I implement teachings I do not currently follow into my life and spiritual practice?
One way I could enhance my process of purification is by eliminating consumption of dry foods (crackers, e.t.c.) from my diet. At the moment, I find it difficult to remove cereals from my diet altogether. I eat little wheat, but I do eat oats and brown rice regularly. I hope to decrease my intake of these over time.
Also, I think it might help for me to seek clarification about some things:
One question I have is about “pulse.” Page 97 of the Workbook lists pulse among the foods that promote dullness. From my understanding, pulse refers to certain legumes such as dried peas, chickpeas, and lentils. I was surprised to read that they promote dullness. I am wondering if I have the correct understanding of the term, and if so, what about pulse causes it to promote dullness.
Another question I have is about honey. I can no longer find the reference page, but at one point I thought I saw honey listed in the Kemetic diet book as a food that promotes lucidity. I am wondering if I am correct in this, or if honey is a food that initiates should avoid.
