Monthly Archives: February 2022

Mystery Cults of Egypt

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Source: Traunecker, Claude., and David Lorton. The Gods of Egypt. Ithaca, N.Y. ; London: Cornell UP, 2001. Print.

Mystery cults in Late Egypt – met in crypts beneath temple of Khonsu- on the cusp of Corpus Hermetica & PGM, it’s practical side. An example of their mysteries – the ten souls of Amun

1. The Sun  (right eye)
2. The Moon (left eye)
3. Breath & space
4. Water
5. Fire
6. Humanity (the Royal Ka)
7. Large & Small Cattle
8. Flying Creatures
9. Aquatic creatures
10. Forces of plant growth (the serpent provider of kas) 

Some may find the image provokes nervous laughter  and is disturbing. This sketch is based on special photographic imaging, of otherwise now invisible images. The intention is that they look something like the image of the androgrynous Nile god:

Image result for nile god egypt

Unsettling because these are hidden aspects of Egyptian magical-religion, suppressed by previous commentators, the #tantrik #tankhem. An important part of my own research, viz “Egyptian Magick, a spirited guide”. I’ve always been interesting in this theme – the sketch is from the Opet shrine adjoining temple of Khonsu at Karnak. Which can be difficult to visit, I managed to photograph some of it, but the crypt itself is off limits.

I wrote about the theme of initiation in “Isis in India” with the pictures I have. There is also theme of “Sexuality and Religion” in a chapter in the new one “Egyptian Magick” – keep finding more data – so often comes up … one day might have to do a compilation.

But it seems to be intentional, sexuality is key component of images for meditational in the ancient mystery cult. There are lots more. Imagine what those candidates for initiation took from it before entering trance for the night journey?

Since writing this I’ve been in touch with Claude Traunecker and have a copy of his long article on the crypt – together with more photographs to share. 

Shu – “The Breath of Life”

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I learn how this is a central concept in the old Egyptian Magical religion – proto Tantra.

There’s a thing called the Shu theology- Atum the creator, but then two children, Shu & Tefnut who do all the life giving stuff – like an ancient Shiva-Shakti. And think prana, the breath in Tantra. 

Shu, Tefnut & Amarna religion
“The Shu theology of Egypt’s Middle Kingdom, as far as it can be reconstructed from the Coffin Text spells (75-80), distinguished between cosmology and biogony, creator god and life god. Atum was the creator of the world and life according to this theology, but the task of life-giving and developing both fell to his two children Shu and Tefnut. In this capacity Shu received the name Ankh “life” and was called “endless time” , while Tefnut was called Maat “truth /justice/order” and dt “invariable permanence”. Life, truth and time were the energies that perpetuated the world created by Atum. Akhenaten must have known about this theology. It offers the only example of a triad with the structure, 1:2 (father/two children) – so in Amarna, Akhenaten and Nefertiti assume roles of Shu and Tefnut.” #tankhem #prana