For over 15 years, I have been a professional witch. Writing books, running shops, and building an online community, but I have never written a blog post.
Until now.
I never intended to be political, but magic has always been political. Heka, the ancient Egyptian concept of magic, was not just about spells and rituals, it was about power. It was about survival. Even the gods wielded Heka as a tool to fight injustice, to protect the vulnerable, and to set the world right.
So why am I speaking out now?
Because my heart is breaking.
In 2025, trans people are under attack like never before. In the U.S., a country that claims to value freedom, laws are being passed that strip trans people of their rights, banning healthcare, criminalizing their existence, and erasing them from public spaces. And despite making up just 1% of the population, they are being treated as a threat.
I am a trans ally. I am a member of the LGBTQ+ community. I am a believer in Ma’at, the Egyptian principle of truth, justice, and balance. And I cannot stay silent.
History teaches us that oppression does not stop with one group. It spreads like a disease. What is happening to trans people now is a warning sign for all marginalized communities. And as someone who has dedicated their life to magic and history, I feel an obligation to speak the truth:
Trans and gender-diverse people have always existed. Their identities are not a modern trend. They are ancient, sacred, and divine.
You Cannot View the Ancient World Through a Modern Lens
One of the biggest mistakes people make when studying history is forcing modern Western ideas onto ancient cultures. Gender, as we define it today, did not exist in the same rigid way thousands of years ago.
Many Egyptologists and anthropologists argue that ancient Egypt had a much more fluid understanding of gender. They did not operate under the strict male-female binary that dominates today’s conversations. Instead, they recognized and even revered gender fluidity, seeing it as a source of power rather than something to be erased.
Dr. Kara Cooney, an Egyptologist at UCLA, has spoken extensively about how Egyptian rulers manipulated gender roles for political power. Studies on Akhenaten and Hatshepsut show that gender was not about identity but about authority, divinity, and cosmic balance.
So when people claim that trans identities are new, that they “ didn’t t exist back then” they are not only wrong, they are erasing history.
Trans Identities in Ancient Egypt
While ancient Egyptians did not have a direct word for transgender as we understand it today, their myths, deities, and rulers demonstrated a deep acceptance of gender fluidity.
Nonbinary and Genderfluid Deities
Egyptian gods existed beyond human gender norms:
Mut: the great mother goddess, was sometimes depicted with a phallus, embodying both male and female aspects. (Henadology) 
Hapi: god of the Nile and fertility, had breasts and a soft, rounded belly, symbolizing both masculine and feminine traits.
Neith: a creator goddess, was said to be both mother and father of the gods, a being who existed outside traditional gender roles.
Sekhmet-Ptah: the combination of the fierce lioness goddess Sekhmet and the androgynous Ptah, embodied the full spectrum of gender.
Egyptians didn’t see gender as a fixed binary. Their gods were complex, fluid, and powerful in their ambiguity.
The Androgynous Pharaohs: Akhenaten, Tutankhamun, and Hatshepsut
Pharaohs were considered divine, and their gender expression often reflected this sacred status:
Akhenaten, the revolutionary pharaoh, was often depicted with wide hips, a soft stomach, and elongated facial features, leading many scholars to believe he deliberately presented an androgynous image. (San Diego Tribune, NBC News)
Tutankhamun, his son, shared these feminine traits, reinforcing the idea that Egyptian rulers did not conform to rigid gender norms. (Hekint)
Hatshepsut, one of Egypt’s most successful rulers, took on male titles, wore a false beard, and was often depicted in traditionally masculine poses. But despite this, inscriptions still referred to her in both masculine and feminine terms. (Lindenwood Thesis)
These rulers defied gender expectations because Egyptian culture did not see gender as a limitations, iit was a tool, a sacred force.
Heka: Magic as Resistance
Egyptians believed that even Ra, the sun god, created Heka (magic) to help humanity overcome obstacles.
Magic has always been political. It has always been used as a tool for those in power to maintain control and for the oppressed to fight back.
Today, trans people are fighting for their right to exist. They are fighting against oppressive laws, against systemic violence, against a society that wants to erase them. And just like in ancient times, magic, whether through activism, education, or spiritual practice, remains a powerful force in this battle.
MA’AT: The Call to Action
Ma’at is the principle of truth, justice, and cosmic balance. To act against Ma’at at is to bring chaos (Isfet) into the world.
What is happening to trans people today is isfet. It is disorder, cruelty, and imbalance.
Laws banning gender-affirming care, restricting trans rights, and erasing trans existence are not just political moves, they are direct violations of Ma’at.
If you believe in justice, if you believe in balance, if you believe in magic, then you know there’s no room for Transphobia.
How To Help
Educate yourself. Learn about trans history, ancient gender diversity, and the reality of trans lives today.
Challenge misinformation. When someone claims trans people are “new thing”remind them of ancient Egypt, of the gods, of history.
Support trans people. Donate to gender-affirming care funds, speak up in your community, and stand against bigotry.
Use your magic. Light a candle, say a prayer, cast a spell for protection, healing, and justice.
Trans people have always existed. They were pharaohs, warriors, gods. Their identities are sacred.
This is not just history,this is now.
And now, more than ever, we must wield our own Heka to protect those who need it most.
In Ma’at,
Mystic Dylan