When we discuss hosting gods or goddesses, we’re not referring to dinner parties and/or weekend getaways. Unfortunately, you’ll have to look elsewhere for those guidelines.
As certain divine entities look to conduct business in the mortal realm, they will often seek out a human host to, well, share in the fun of their immortality. We call it hosting. Many others call it bodily possession. The Egyptian gods and goddesses in particular are notorious for taking liberties with the concept of personal boundaries.
Becoming the host of a god or goddess can happen at any moment. While you’re out walking the dog. Or studying for midterms. Or waiting in line at the DMV. Or innocently reading from the Rosetta Stone located in the British Museum.
So what can you do when an ancient entity somehow escapes the Duat and decides to set up shop within your body? Well, if we’re being totally honest, not much! Odds are, your own indomitable will isn’t strong enough to turn the tide and reclaim your independence. But with a few tried-and-true coping mechanisms, you might be able to survive the experience. At least long enough to set up a forwarding address to the Land of the Dead.
Do Your Research
Brush up on your Egyptian mythology as soon as you can. And not only because you may already be hosting a sleeping god or goddess without even realizing it. The Egyptian gods and goddesses are known to be sweet talkers. They’ll say anything to convince you that hosting their essence is a net positive, not just for you but for all of humanity.
Something to remember is the Egyptian gods and goddesses have been feuding with each other for centuries. And certain figures, such as Set and Apophis, are willing to use and manipulate their mortal hosts to achieve their own nefarious ends, which typically involve large-scale chaos and destruction.
Learn their histories, and make a note if they have nicknames that raise a red flag, such as “The Dreaded One,” “Evil Day,” or “The Slaughterer of Souls.”
But don’t fret! Egyptian gods and goddesses are also known for switching from “good” to “evil” on a dime. Perhaps you’ll get lucky and the god or goddess possessing your body will ultimately realize that destroying the world/enacting revenge on their family isn’t in their best interest and will decide to let you go before your reputation is forever tainted. Hopefully long before a teenager whacks you in the face with a magical staff.
Work on Your Communication Skills
Establishing boundaries with a being who can theoretically disintegrate you with a wave of the hand is difficult, but not impossible. Remember, the god or goddess chose your body as a vessel. They must think you’re at least a little bit useful.
After you accept your duties as a host of a god or goddess, try to appeal to their reason and outline the things you will and will not do in service of their grand designs. For example: “I will help you save the earth from your angry brother/sister/cousin,” or “I will help prevent Ra from being eaten by a giant snake.”
On the other hand, you could also say, “I will not help you invade the House of Life,” or “I will not help you transform New York City into a desert.” We can’t promise that the god or goddess will listen to your protests, but maybe if you keep grumbling, they’ll get fed up with you and find someone else to act as a host. Just don’t come crying to us when you see their rebound host seated on a throne while you’re toiling away building pyramids for the new king or queen of the universe.
Don’t Get Swept Up in the Power
Hosting a god or goddess may sound like a serious hassle, a gross invasion of privacy, and a massive impediment to your daily life. And don’t get us wrong, it totally is. But let’s not pretend that hosting these divine beings doesn’t also involve some pretty sweet benefits.
For one, the host bodies of the Egyptian deities possess the ability to channel the vast magical powers associated with the divine. If the benevolent gods and goddesses trust you to employ these powers responsibly and not recklessly, they may even help you journey the Path of the Gods, thus allowing you to continue practicing magic long after your association ends.
Telekinesis, mystiokinesis, super strength shapeshifting, manipulation of the elements . . . . All these powers could be yours if your time hosting a god or goddess goes well. Convincing your followers on social media that you’re not just using special effects? You’re on your own for that. Even divine beings have some limits.
Convince a Loved One to Join You on Your Journey
Putting aside living with an additional voice in your head, hosting a god or goddess can be quite an isolating experience. Good luck talking to your friends, family, and psychiatrist about the 5,000-year-old god of war who keeps showing you visions of the apocalypse. Someone is bound to call social services.
Thankfully, the Egyptian gods and goddesses tend to travel in packs. If you’re hosting someone like Horus, odds are that figures such as Isis, Anubis, and Nephthys are either on the hunt for a new host or have already possessed someone close to you. Together, you and your fellow hosts can commiserate over how it feels to share a body with a divine entity, how to practice self-care for two, and even gossip about their ancient family drama and love lives.
Invite the whole family to join in on the fun! Siblings, parents, aunts, uncles. Even the family bird. Who knows? Maybe Horus will decide that your parakeet is a more suitable host. He has been known to inhabit falcons and pigeons in the past. But you may have to live with the embarrassment of learning that Chirpy saved the world from the Lord of Chaos while you stayed at home on the couch.
Consult With an Expert
Want to learn more about not only surviving but also thriving in your role as the host of an Egyptian god or goddess? Catch up with (or revisit) the story of the Kane siblings in The Kane Chronicles from best-selling author Rick Riordan!