New online course with Roundtable by 92NY – "Origins of the Cosmos in Ancient Egypt"

Join Kara for her new live, virtual course on September 22nd, 29th, and October 6th

UPDATE: Kara’s course with 92NY has been rescheduled for Winter/Spring 2026. More information soon!

Online Course: Origins of the Cosmos in Ancient Egypt

Ever wondered how the Egyptian cosmos was created? Well, it was a very sexy / sacred encounter between the god Atum and himself (because how are you going to create the world when you’re only one dude floating in darkness, primeval matter, infinite space, and hidden realities?). He created himself in an act of masturbatory glory! After differentiating himself from the blackness of procreation, he sneezed out the dry, light filled void, otherwise known as the god Shu (because you need space to put stuff), and spat out his feminine companion associated with wetness and darkness, the goddess Tefnut (because you need the feminine container, all wet and full of life). These two divinities had sex the way God / Atum intended and created the Earth (the god Geb) and Sky (the goddess Nut), who in turn propagated Osiris, Isis, Seth, and Nephthys. The whole story ends up in a battle royal for the throne, propping up the god of kingship, the hawk god Horus, making the creation of the world all about rule, order, and, yes, alas, politics.

This is the Heliopolitan version of creation (Helios + polis = city of the sun, or the place the Egyptians called Iunu, because Atum was a sun god), and it’s just one of many creation mythologies according to the ancient Egyptians.

So let’s get to the point: I’m doing a live, three-part, virtual course hosted through

Roundtable by 92NY

, which includes interactive opportunities and post-course recordings available for all course participants. I’ve done a course before with 92NY, and they are great fun. We all gather on zoom, see each other’s faces; I post my slides, and off we go, with lots of time for questions at the end as I get all passionate and shit…

We will be dealing with the origin of the known world, from the ancient Egyptian perspective of course. Come and ask me questions about ancient Egyptian cosmology and cosmogony (just fancy Greek words for the study of the world and the creation of the world, respectively)!

Also 92NY is going to send some special deals my way. Leave a comment on this post for a chance to get into this class for *freeee*…..

Roundtable.org by 92NY Course Description:

The ancient Egyptians believed that understanding how the universe, the world, and life came into being was key to unlocking the secrets of resurrection and sustaining the cosmos itself. Through their rituals, they re-created the sep tepy (“first time”), ensuring the sun rose, the Nile flooded, and life continued in harmony with the divine. Every god, temple, pyramid, obelisk, and symbol was part of this grand effort to keep the universe from collapsing into nonexistence. The stakes were nothing less than cosmic survival.

This three-session course introduces you to the richness of ancient Egyptian creation mythology, where each major cult center—Heliopolis, Hermopolis, Thebes—had its own version of the world’s beginning. With Dr. Kara Cooney as your guide, you'll explore these layered and sometimes contradictory stories through religious texts, art, and ritual. The course takes a “yes and, but also” approach to understanding Egyptian divinity and cosmology, offering insight not only into ancient beliefs but also into the people who held them—and their lasting echoes in modern religious traditions.

This is a live, virtual course hosted by Roundtable, which includes interactive opportunities and post-course recordings available for all course participants.

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More about the course

Session 1: The Creation Myth of Heliopolis

When: September 22nd 9:00 - 10:00 AM PT

Duration: 60 min

Session 2: The Creation Myth of Hermopolis

When: September 29th 9:00 - 10:00 AM PT

Duration: 60 min

Session 3: The Creation Myth of Thebes

When: October 6th 9:00 - 10:00 AM PT

Duration: 60 min