Tamara Siuda

Tamara L. Siuda (b. 1970), known formally within her faith as Her Holiness, Sekhenet-Ma'at-Ra setep-en-Ra Hekatawy I, Nisut-Bity of the Kemetic Orthodox faith, is the spiritual leader of the House of Netjer, a Kemetic orthodox organization she founded in 1996. In her capacity as Nisut-bity, a title that in ancient Egypt was assigned only to the Pharaoh, she is considered by her followers to be "the current incarnation of the kingly ka, or the invested spirit of Heru, the Kemetic aspect of divinity incarnate in its spiritual leaders."

Studies and vocation

Tamara Siuda's involvement with the Egyptian religion began in 1988, after her graduation from Mundelein College. She subsequently enrolled in the Egyptology program at the University of Chicago, obtaining a master's degree in August of 2000. and is currently engaged in more post-graduate degree study through the Coptic Studies program at Macquarie University.

Some of the impetus for Siuda's involvement in Kemetic reconstructionism occurred in her youth. Raised in a Methodist family in the midwestern United States, Siuda found great inspiration in the Bible, and in particular in the stories of Samuel, who consecrated his life to the love and contemplation of God. She found particular meaning in Samuel's utterance, "Here I am, Lord, send me!" In 1988, Siuda had an ecstatic vision, in which she was requested to bring The Ancient Egyptian religion back to life in order to newly reveal to the world the eternal and mysterious law of Ma'at. She had this vision at a time when she was AbOUT to be ordained as a Wiccan priestess. As a result of this mystical experience, she left Wicca in order to dedicate herself to the creation of a Kemetic religious organization. First referred to as the House of Bast, her temple, renamed the House of Netjer, was legally recognized as a church in the United States beginning in February, 1994. Her ordination as Nisut-bity took place in November 1996 in Egypt, between the ruins of the sacred places of the ancient Egyptians and by means of traditional rituals. Previous to this, she had served only as chief priest of the House of Netjer Kemetic Orthodox Temple.

Siuda represents the House of Netjer in the World Interfaith Congress.2

Bibliography

  • Siuda, Tamara L. (published as Siuda-Legan, Tamara L.) The Neteru of Kemet: An Introduction. Eschaton Productions, 1994. ISBN 1-57353-105-7
  • Siuda, Tamara L. The Ancient Egyptian Prayerbook. 2005. ISBN 1-894981-04-9

cs:Tamara Siuda it:Nisut Hekatawy I