#Ancient Egyptian Magic
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convexicalcrow · 2 years ago
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Oh? How normal are we about Pharaoh Cub?
Okay look. You gotta understand. I've been interested in ancient Egpyt since I was a kid. It's my longest-running special interest/hyperfixation, so much so that I've been practicing ancient Egyptian religion for over twenty years. It's something that's very, very precious to me, bc it's so personal to me, and bc I'm who I am, my knowledge of this stuff is arguably higher than the average person. This makes any kind of media about ancient Egypt actually not that interesting to me bc my brain will Not shut up about inaccuracies, so I tend to avoid them bc of that.
(I could go on about my issues with ancient Egyptian themed media, but I won't, that's a whole 'nuther essay frfr.)
(Also I hope you like infodumping, anon, bc that's what I'm about to do :D)
That said, I've actually written a whole lot of Egyptian myth rewrites, as well as ancient Egyptian stories exploring all kinds of various topics. I have some published on an old blog of mine, but some I never finished for various reasons. It's a whole thing. It's been a whole thing for me for a very, very long time.
So, you're me, someone with a more than average knowledge of and interest in ancient Egypt, and you've just become a Cub fan in s8 bc that was my first Hermitcraft season. I had heard about the pyramid, and Pharaoh Cub, and I was both SO INTERESTED but also actually quite hesitant to watch Cub's s7, bc I didn't want to be disappointed if he messed it up or did something wrong that caused my brain to Disagree. Again, very irrational bc my brain do be like that, but also based on previous experiences of seeing ppl just taking the aesthetics and doing whatever with it, and screw historical accuracy.
(Honestly, this is, like, my One (1) critism with the lore TrixyBlox built into the USW map. Can we Not have evil pharaohs plz just for once. ;_;)
I wanted to trust Cub, bc I'd seen the research that went into the canyon build. He's a smart dude. He cares about getting those kinda details right. And I did genuinely want to see how he approached the pyramid build and how he was going to use it as a base. But again, SO HESITANT. bc what if my blorbo messes it up and ruins the whole thing for me bc m brain is Stupid about this sort of thing. ;_;
But I'm so glad I trusted Cub when I did get around to watching s7, bc I fell in love with the pyramid. The fact that he cared about making it as life-size as possible, but also that he took an approach of taking what works, but also making it his own, and making it fit into the minecraft world. Like, using Standard Galactic for hieroglyphs! I loved that small little detail! It makes so much sense to use it that way.
Like, my very-not-srs gripes about the Pharaoh skin and its weird sleeves aside, his approach was very much how a lot of Egyptian pagans approach things today. Take what works, or what makes sense, and adapt it to where we currently are in the world and what we have access to. And I could tell from how he talked about it throughout the season that he really had done his research. And just- The Morning and The Evening Sun/Star epithet he gave himself like!!!!
Like, it's the little things, like the lapis roof, the stars - including Sirius!, the most important one bc its rising heralds the flood of the Nile and the new year - on the ceiling in the bedroom, the statue room and the way he built those five statues to represent aspects of himself (I cannot stress enough how much I adored those statues), allll the little tunnels and sekrit passageways, and the cartouche on the wall with his name in SGA and using SGA in the museum room, the treasure room with its traps, and the tomb of the Pharaoh himself. Like. It was such a perfect blend of Cub and Egyptian stuff. 10/10. I can find no faults. Although I do want to go back and finish the oasis room at some point. Make it a healing pool room with a shrine or two in it. Something like that.
Like, I had my doubts, but I trusted Cub and his process, and I was right to do so. It cemented Cub as my favourite Hermit at that point, bc he took my special interest and did it justice. And that's why I'm Very Normal about Pharaoh Cub.
But there are also other aspects too! Pyramids were designed to be tombs, and that's where the Pharaoh was left to rest at the end of s7. Which seems very appropriate, given where Hermitcraft went after that.
The reason I fixate so much on this is that there's this Egyptian underworld book called the Book of Caverns, that describes the King's journey through the underworld. It's not as well-known as the Book of the Dead, but the reason I keep coming back to it is because of Cub's canyon in s8. Where he built everything in little caverns in the canyon itself. And with the change of skin to young Cub, my brain just cannot let go of the idea of s8 being Pharaoh Cub's journey through the underworld, culminating with the final battle against the serpent we do not name so we do not give it power (a/p/o/p/h/i/s) that is here manifested in s8 as Moon Big. It's not a perfect metaphor, and I won't pretend it is. Especially bc while Cub escapes, the world is destroyed, and that's not necessarily accurate. But! He still escapes! He uses all his knowledge and resources that he's gained through his journey through the underworld to escape. To rise again in s9 as the new sun.
AND AND AND the fact that in s9 PHARAOH CUB DID ACTUALLY RETURN. Only now, we have the Pharaoh as a distinct entity. A divine akh/ancestor, a master magician, one who is clever and wiley like Thoth and who loves playing games and playing pranks. (Thoth is a trickster, and a very smart one.) And to have the distinction between Pharaoh Cub, who is a god, and mortal Cub, who is just Cub, like.
(Cub and his possession kink is also a whole 'nuther essay frfr)
That distinction makes sense in an Egyptian theological framework. Once the Pharaoh dies, they become divine akhu/ancestors. Very few were Actually Deified in a way we would recognise, but Cub is still not wrong when he calls the Pharaoh a god. The Pharaoh was a conduit between the people and the gods. He acted as the only high priest of the religion. He became King by hosting the Kingly Ka, the divine soul of Horus that legitimises their rule. This Ka/soul, has been with every king before it, and all the kings are attached/accessed through it. Kings live forever, after all. My own personal religious work has involved various Kings and Queens and working with them. (Not the most famous ones, tho, it's mostly the Sobek ones bc I worship Sobek first and foremost.)(Sobek being a crocodile god, a strong protector, and a god who was incorporated in Horus at one stage and gained Kingship attributes from that.)
And so it makes so much sense for the Pharaoh to be a separate entity now. The old man died, bc Cub is mortal, and ba/eternal soul of Cub was reborn into a new, younger body, with a whole new ka. Everyone has a ka, it is the soul that belongs to a particular lifetime and is the one that goes through judgement after death. The ba is eternal, and can have many kau/souls throughout its existence.
And bc the Pharaoh has died and become an akh, he can be contacted and manifest in the world again through the mortal Cub. The fact that Cub never actually changed the Pharaoh skin to reflect his younger self? It still has the old man's face? Like. This helps the distinction work. They're two different souls. This is theologically sound. And honestly I never imagined the Pharaoh lore would get to that point. But here we are, in s9, and we have the Pharaoh and mortal Cub, and I am Just So Normal about this bc I thought I'd missed my chance at Pharaoh Cub bc I only started watching in s8. BUT NO. s9 came along and is like, would you like some more Pharaoh Cub? and it's eating my brain like. oh my gods.
And also like, the Vex Magic Grimoire I've been working on? Canonically (to me), it's being written by Pharaoh Cub. Once the ConVex and ConCorp shenanigans settled down, and Cub had space to really focus on his magic, that's when he starts working on the grimoire. bc almost all Pharaohs were also master magicians. They had to be! It was part of their work as high priest and conduit for the gods. So Cub has Pharaoh magic on top of Vex magic, and in working through his new powers, decides to start recording down all he knows about Vex magic. Scar does some as well, but it is intended to be mostly Cub.
(I have an ask I STILL have not got around to about the Pharaoh's magic, and I will save a longer discussion for that there. I will get to it, I promise, anon! It's just taken a while to get my thoughts in order. <3)
It's like, in Pharaoh Cub, I can combine my love of writing about Egyptian things with my current hyperfixation on Cub, and it's so much fun omg. Cub doesn't do deep lore the way someone like Sausage does (again, whole 'nuther essay lol), but there's enough there to make a really good story, and build up these aspects of his character and make a really coherent story out of it.
And with Pharaoh Cub, I can explore all kinds of things that maybe don't work with other characters. Like death! In a way that doesn't really happen in minecraft bc players just respawn. Permanent death is something I've really only encountered on Empires, not Hermitcraft. But with the Pharaoh dying and being laid to rest in his pyramid? Like. That's something to work with. There's lore there to explore. Old Man Cub coming to terms with dying and what happens afterwards. and bc like. idk if anyone has actually ever written Old Man Cub as an actual Old Man. But as someone who's approaching 40, and has their own chronic pain stuff to deal with, like? Maybe I see it differently. Maybe I want to approach Old Man Cub as an old man. And maybe the Old Man dying as Pharaoh, and being reborn into a younger body is one way to do that.
Sure, it may not be the most popular fics for ppl. Maybe ppl are more interested in my other works. But I don't care. It's all my special interests in one place and I'm having the time of my life. :D
Even if I STILL don't know what to do with the journey through the afterlife!s8 caverns idea. Maybe one day I will find the right spark to do that idea justice. <3
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stardustmagicalnews · 3 months ago
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Ancient Egyptian Magic: Spells, Amulets, and Rituals from One of the Oldest Magical Traditions
When you think of Egypt, you might picture grand pyramids, mysterious hieroglyphs, and powerful pharaohs. But did you know that magic was a huge part of daily life in Ancient Egypt? 
From protective amulets to powerful spells, Egyptians had a deep belief in the supernatural and weren’t shy about using it to navigate their world.
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Magic in Everyday Life: The Power of Heka
First things first—let’s talk about Heka. In Ancient Egypt, Heka wasn’t just a concept; it was considered the divine force that made magic possible.
Egyptians believed that Heka was a gift from the gods that could heal, protect, and even influence events. Everyone from the highest priest to the everyday farmer believed in the power of Heka and used it in their daily lives.
Amulets: Tiny Objects, Big Power
One of the coolest aspects of Egyptian magic was their use of amulets. These were small objects, often shaped like animals or symbols, that people wore or carried to protect themselves.
The Egyptians believed that these amulets were infused with magical properties that could ward off evil, bring good luck, or even help in the afterlife.
Some of the most popular amulets included:
The Ankh Symbolizing life and immortality, this cross-like symbol was one of the most powerful amulets.
The Eye of Horus Known as the “Wadjet,” this amulet offered protection and healing.
The Scarab Representing the sun god Ra, this beetle-shaped amulet was believed to bring rebirth and regeneration.
These amulets were often placed in tombs to protect the deceased in the afterlife, but they were also worn in daily life to keep the wearer safe from harm.
Spells and Incantations: Words of Power
The Egyptians took their spells seriously. These weren’t just a bunch of random words—they were carefully crafted incantations that called upon gods and goddesses for help.
These spells were often written on papyrus, carved into tombs, or inscribed on everyday objects.
One famous collection of spells is known as the Book of the Dead. Despite its spooky name, this wasn’t a book about death but rather a guide for the deceased to navigate the afterlife.
It contained spells to protect the soul on its journey and ensure a safe passage to the afterlife.
There were also spells for everyday problems. Whether you needed protection from a snake bite, help with a love interest, or success in a business deal, there was likely a spell for that.
The key was in the words themselves—Egyptians believed that speaking these words aloud had the power to make things happen.
Rituals: Connecting with the Divine
Rituals were another major part of Egyptian magic. These were elaborate ceremonies often performed by priests in temples, but sometimes by individuals at home.
The purpose of these rituals varied—some were meant to honor the gods, others to ensure a good harvest, and some were even designed to control the forces of nature.
One of the most famous rituals was the Opening of the Mouth ceremony. This was performed on the deceased to restore their senses in the afterlife, allowing them to eat, drink, and speak again.
It’s a powerful example of how seriously the Egyptians took the idea of life after death and the role of magic in ensuring it.
The Legacy of Egyptian Magic
So, why does all this matter today? Well, Ancient Egyptian magic has had a huge influence on the world. Many of the symbols, rituals, and ideas from Ancient Egypt have made their way into other cultures and even into modern spiritual practices.
Whether you’re fascinated by history or just love the idea of ancient wisdom, there’s a lot we can learn from the Egyptians and their magical traditions.
At the end of the day, Egyptian magic is a reminder that humans have always been searching for ways to connect with the world around them, to find meaning, and to protect themselves from the unknown. And honestly, that’s something that never really goes out of style.
Until next time, friends. Stay curious, keep exploring, and remember—magic is everywhere if you know where to look!
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rosario-aurelius · 2 months ago
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Always Learning, Always Evolving
A Review of Pyromantic Verses: Scrying the Flame of Ascent by Bill Duvendack In Pyromantic Verses, Bill Duvendack expands on his previous work and gnosis from within the Draconian Luciferian tradition defining an antediluvian framework. He makes some clever associations between the tales of prehistoric animal-human hybrid experiments and descriptions of divinity as anthropomorphisms. The…
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milky-rozen · 6 months ago
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Meaning of Colors in Anciet Egyptian Art:
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illustratus · 3 days ago
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apiswitchcraft · 25 days ago
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altars for kemetic/egyptian gods
hi yall, another purely based in UPG, new agey post! historically, deity offerings for the ancient egyptians often took the form of art/sculpture/hymns, incense (like frankincense or myrrh), or offerings of food (especially meat and bread) and drink (wine/ale, mostly). dialogue with the gods was often facilitated through the pharaohs or funerary rites, but your average person had access to daily magic and regular temples as well.
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RA
Colors: yellow, orange, red for the sun
Offerings: eye of ra, dates, figs, grapes, apricots, sunflowers, morning glories, chocolate, pastries, orange juice, honey
Crystals: sunstone, yellow/red jasper, citrine, carnelian, honey calcite, angelite, kyanite
Animals: falcon
SHU
Colors: white, blue for the air/sky
Offerings: feathers (especially ostrich), sandalwood, gardenia, anise, paper fans, cornflower
Crystals: white/clear quartz, angelite, selenite, blue calcite, fluorite, blue lace agate
Animals: lion, ostrich
TEFNUT
Colors: white, blue for water
Offerings: sea salt, reeds, shells, water, coral, water (especially dew), lotus root/flower
Crystals: blue calcite, sodalite, lapis lazuli, amethyst, larimar, ocean/blue lace agate, aquamarine
Animals: lioness
NUT
Colors: blue, black for night. white for stars
Offerings: amber, sandalwood, sycamore, moonflowers, morning glories, milk
Crystals: lapis lazuli, star jasper, azurite, obsidian, smokey quartz, black tourmaline, labradorite, sodalite, moonstone (especially black)
Animals: boar, cow, sow
GEB
Colors: green, brown for earth. black for the underworld
Offerings: grain, beans, yarrow, cinnamon, coffee, egg shells, foliage, dirt, rocks, snake shed, milk
Crystals: jasper (various types), aventurine, moss/tree agate, unakite, obsidian, jade, malachite
Animals: snake, goose, rabbit, bull
OSIRIS
Colors: green for renewal, black for death, white for rebirth
Offerings: bandages, dark chocolate, dried fruit (especially oranges or dates), dark chocolate, coffee, cedar, vetiver, bones
Crystals: lapis lazuli, moss agate, jasper (various types), malachite, obsidian, smokey quartz, pyrite, jade, howlite, star jasper (for his astral form)
Animals: heron, ram, cow
ISIS
Colors: white, grey for the moon. blue, black for the night. green for life and resurrection.
Offerings: the tyet symbol, cow horn, milk, sycamore, feathers, dried fruit (such as raisins or dates), pomegranates, nuts, pastries
Crystals: star jasper, moonstone, rose quartz, amethyst, fluorite, bloodstone, red jasper, carnelian, labradorite, aventurine
Animals: birds (especially a kite hawk or vulture), cow, cat, scorpion, sow
HORUS
Colors: blue, purple for insight and intuition. white and red for pharoahship.
Offerings: eye of horus, weaponry/iron, lotus flower/root, feathers (especially hawk or falcon), yarrow, chocolate
Crystals: malachite, aventurine, pyrite, amethyst, lapis lazuli, jasper (various), howlite, sunstone, aquamarine, labradorite, hematite
Animals: falcon
NEPHTHYS
Colors: black for darkness and funerary rites
Offerings: beer, linen, feathers (especially of a crow or vulture), bones, coffee, nuts, milk
Crystals: obsidian, smokey quartz, black moonstone (because of association with Isis), black tourmaline, red jasper, bloodstone
Animals: vulture, crow
SET
Colors: red, black for chaos and storms
Offerings: lettuce, sand, alcohol, dragon's blood, patchouli, yarrow, vetiver, charcoal, dark chocolate, black pepper
Crystals: red jasper, black tourmaline, howlite, obsidian, labradorite, sodalite, bloodstone, malachite, pyrite
Animals: the set animal (which resembles a canine, giraffe, and aardvark), donkey
THOTH
Colors: grey, blue for intuition/intelligence. white for the moon
Offerings: quill, ink, pieces of writing/books, feathers, rosemary, citrus, sage, moon water, lavender, nuts
Crystals: amethyst, lapis lazuli, malachite, moonstone, selenite, howlite, angelite, sodalite, fluorite
Animals: ibis, baboon
ANUBIS
Colors: black, grey for funerary rites/death
Offerings: bones, ash, charcoal, red/black peppercorns, marigold (associated with the dead), linen, yarrow
Crystals: hematite, obsidian, black tourmaline, howlite, jasper (various, but especially red), smokey/rutilated quartz, bloodstone
Animals: canines, especially a jackal
BASTET
Colors: white, red for pharaohship
Offerings: ointments/perfumes of most types, cedar, anything cat related, rosemary, black salt
Crystals: tiger's eye, cat's eye quartz, bloodstone, red jasper, black tourmaline, howlite, milky/smokey quartz, pyrite, carnelian
Animals: lioness, cat
SEKHMET
Colors: red for war. grey for justice
Offerings: sand (especially red), scales of justice, iron, cypress, red pepper, black salt
Crystals: bloodstone, red jasper, carnelian, garnet, ruby kyanite, jade, smokey/clear, hematite
Animals: lioness
HATHOR
Colors: pink, red for love/sexuality
Offerings: dancing, dried fruits (especially figs/dates), pomegranates, sycamore, milk, honey, pastries
Crystals: rose quartz, amethyst, citrine, carnelian, fluorite, jade, aquamarine, garnet/ruby
Animals: cow, lioness, cobra
KHONSU
Colors: white, grey for the moon. blue, black for the night.
Offerings: lavender, sage, mugwort, dried fruit, moon shaped items, moon flower, ash
Crystals: moonstone, selenite, sodalite, obsidian, black tourmaline, smokey/milky quartz, jasper (various), blue lace agate, lapis lazuli
Animals: falcon
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luciferianchild · 6 months ago
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Simple offerings for Anubis ⚖️🪶
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-Gold or black candles
-Jackal imagery
-Dog related items
-Scale imagery
-Feathers
Crystals:
-Black obsidian
-Labradorite
-Amethyst
-Pyrite
-Amber
Food offerings:
-Dark chocolate
-Pineapple
-Honey
-A bowl or glass of water
-Wine
-Beer
-Rum
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chthonic-sorcery · 4 months ago
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"I know everything about ancient Egyptian theology" okay bet
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joelchaimholtzman · 6 months ago
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Happy to share this painting from around a year ago I painted for Isfet; A board game in an ancient Egypt Mythology setting.
This Ramses II the Great. He is by many considered to be the most famous pharaoh, having bested mighty empires and bringing Egypt to a golden age. He is also presumed to be the pharaoh of the Exodus in the Old Testament.
Thanks to my art director for pushing me with this piece. It went through many iterations but I am happy with the additional time spent on this one, as I learned a lot and I consider this piece to be one of my favourites from this set.
Next week another one!
Best,
JCH
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ask-sonata-dusk · 4 months ago
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The Dazzlings Through the Ages - Ancient Egypt 🇪🇬
The Dazzlings throughout the ages:
Ancient Greece
Egyptian Era (here)
1125 - Middle Ages
1600’s
1700’s France
Early & Mid 1800’s - England/United Kingdom
Late 1800’s & Early 1900’s - American Frontier/Old West
1930’s - Mississippi - American
1960’s (Old) (New)
1970’s
1980’s
1990’s
Note: I’ve tried to be as historically accurate as possible when it comes to this series, but I’m no expert! So please forgive me for any mistakes!
Unlike other eras, The Dazzlings don’t have any biological children. As you can imagine, this was another reason for them to be as toxic and morbid as they can be 😂
This is one of Adagio’s favorite time eras, with all the riches and control that she can possibly have. Also, with none of them having children, the weight of responsibility isn’t a key issue for any of them in this point of time.
They managed to collect a lot of gold and fortune around this time, confirming that the Dazzlings are actually rich and have a secret location where they keep their gold.
This era is one of the few eras where they’ve gotten good amount of negative energy, especially Adagio.
The Dazzlings use their magic to enchant people into thinking they were queens.
This era is one of their more “top prime” ones, where they were more cunning, cruel and manipulative.
They had slaves.
(More may or may not be added soon.)
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alephskoteinos · 9 months ago
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I'd like to share some fascinating insights about the ancient Egyptian concept of Heka, which refers both to basically the concept of "magic" in Egyptian terms and to the deity who personified that concept, derived from The Mechanics of Ancient Egyptian Magical Practice by Robert Kriech Ritner. I do not doubt it will have a certain relevance to the broad milieu of Left Hand Path occultism, though in a larger sense I figure it has important things to say about magic in paganism. What follows is an overview of how Ritner covers the concept of heka.
Heka is an Egyptian word that was selected by Coptic scribes to translate the Greek terms "mageia", and therefore magic. Magic is often defined in opposition to traditional religion, and this understanding was sadly, to varying degrees, reflected in pre-Christian Roman and Greek cultures almost as much as it was across Christianity (remember, the Greek word "mageia" was typically derogatory), but this was just not the case for ancient Egyptians. In fact, if by magic we mean heka and by heka we mean magic, magic was seen by ancient Egyptians as an important part of religious life and the life of the cosmos itself. Egyptian texts such as the Pyramid Texts treated magic or heka as something that someone could possess and work over the cosmos or the world around them. That being said, understanding what heka means also depends on understanding the god Heka.
Heka is a deity who is first attested to in visual form at the funerary temple of the Fifth Dynasty pharaoh Sahure, where Heka is depicted leading a procession of gods bearing offerings to the pharoah. In the Coffin Texts, there is a spell meant to allow a magician to become Heka, which also serves as the longest theological exposition on the concept of heka or magic. In this text, the god Heka is shown as the first being to have been created by Re-Atum, who was created before the emanation of Hu (the first word) and before the emergence of duality, gave rise to the Ennead, and thus preceded almost all of the other Egyptian deities. In this sense, however, Ritner argues that the god Heka is really a hypostasis of the creative power of Re-Atum which is the source of the order of the cosmos itself. Further, in the Coffin Texts, Heka is also said to inspire fear in all the gods who came into being after him through his powers, and came into being of himself. Heka's creative power is not limited to a single event but is instead re-enacted daily. In fact, Heka is depicted as taking his place on the solar barque of Ra as a protector of Ra.
Heka, as magic, was understood as a power that could be used defensively, both by the gods and by humans, to destroy their enemies or preserve existence. In fact, according to the Instructions for King Merikare, magic was divinely created as a "weapon" for human beings to use for their own defense. Heka was thus, on its own, perfectly religiously legitimate, not to mention perfectly legal, but in a sense it was also basically "morally" neutral. It could be used to defend or create things, but it could also be used for "evil", presumably usually meaning hostile or "criminal" acts. "Sorcery" in itself was not illegal in ancient Egypt, but it was illegal to use magic against the king. In that context, though, one might assume that the crime was not magic itself but rather was understood simply as a form of sedition or seditious conspiracy. In fact, there is only one trial in the whole of Egyptian history for sorcery: the crime was using wax figures for magic in a plot against the throne, and even so the magic itself came from books that belonged to the king himself. Otherwise, the Coffin Texts also apparently mention an "evil magic", a form of heka used by spirits of the underworld and sorcerers that the deceased does not obey, but this is in the sense of meaning "hostile" magic - as in "hostile" from the perspective of deceased souls, and Ritner stresses this is nothing like the concept of "black magic" taken for granted in our Western Christocentric culture. Even Apep, who is daily destroyed by Heka, has his own heka and spells that he wields ineffectually against Ra.
Even so, Heka has an interestingly ambiguous stature, even in relationship to the cosmic order. On the one hand, the god Heka is depicted as the generator and protector of cosmic order. On the other hand, heka is something that can be used to threaten other gods and the order of the cosmos. In the Book of the Heavenly Cow, Ra flees into the heavens from magicians who act as they please using the magic that is in their bodies. In Egyptian myth, Ra refuses to share his divine name with Isis on the grounds that he doesnt want magicians knowing it and therefore being able to threaten him with it. Egyptian theologians sometimes responded to this idea by declaring that at least some gods (for example, Shu and the divine bull of Medamud) were immune to the effects of magic. Despite this, there are numerous magical texts and spells in which magic had the power to threaten gods, the solar barque, and even the existence of the cosmos. According to Ritner, this reflects a widely held Egyptian belief in the power of heka as something all beings are subject to. You can see this clearly in the Greek Magical Papyri, in which lots and lots of spells featured compulsion rites or "threats" made to various gods by magicians, often assimilating into the identity of other gods.
Incidentally, the god Heka was also sometimes seen as having the power to threaten the souls of the deceased: in the Book of Coming Forth by Day (or "The Book of the Dead"), Heka can be threatening to the deceased soul along with a thousand violent divine guardians who stand beside him, and this threat has to be overcome by the deceased (though, again, this isn't necessarily supposed to mean something demonic).
Interestingly, the Egyptians did not see heka as something "supernatural" in the sense that we think of it today, and neither was it seen as "prenatural" as such, but rather as something present within "nature", or at least within the order of the cosmos itself, and as something that gives life to the cosmos itself. It was thought to reside in the bodies of gods and humans as well as in the plants and stones of the earth. This is actually very much in line with the concept of sunthemata as presented by "Neoplatonist" philosophers such as Iamblichus and Proclus, in which The One and/or the divine is diffused across all things in the cosmos, even plants and stones. In the Book of the Heavenly Cow, Ra is also depicted as being immanent in heka or Heka, which in turn is imminent in everything else. This is very interesting because it's as if Ra sees himself as being threatened by that which he himself is immanent in. Even more interesting is the text's ba-theology, in which heka is established as the ba-spirit of Ra himself, who created and established the heavens to house the ba-spirits of the other gods in. So heka is the ba-spirit of Ra, who is immanent in heka, which in turn is immanent in the bodies of the magicians who now threaten Ra. On the other hand, a separate hymn currently housed in Berlin depicts heka or magic as the ba-spirit of the god Ptah. In later papyri, heka is describe as the ka of Ra.
Ritner suggests that Heka's association with ka is linked to the power of heka to enter or penetrate the ka of anything in creation and invest it with either generative or destructive power. Power itself becomes the emblem of Heka's name. In Ptolemaic hieroglyphs, the image of Heka featured a phty-sign on his head, which Ritner suggests is a way of writing the word "ntr", or neteru, meaning "god" or "deity", thus reflecting the notion of the gods as being sources of heka or magical power. In another payprus, Re-Atum says "magic (heka) is my name".
Heka (magic) is to be understood as a power immanent throughout the cosmos, which both underwrites the very existence of the cosmos and might potentially destroy it, and can both support the order of the cosmos and subvert and shatter it; divine power that also threatens gods. That last part is in the sense that heka (magic) comes from the gods, is immanent in gods and at least one god is immanent in it, but it is also capable of threatening gods and spirits, or allowing magicians to do so. The way that works runs along lines similar to the theurgical logic of sunthemata, but also runs along the lines of Egyptian theology concerning ka. From that very standpoint, you can see the true extent to which the magic of the PGM is underwritten by Egyptian theology.
Those who align with a "Left Hand Path" magical orientation can clearly derive something useful from this conception, especially when seeking a link to paganism that might break them from what they see as the confines of the Christocentric religious imaginary. It seems then that those who want a pagan magical worldview that also allows the same kind of Promethean conceit so present in modern Satanism and similar systems would do well to explore the subject of ancient Egyptian magic and theology.
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ghostofmybones · 1 year ago
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Hymn to Hathor, Lady of Gold
O my Lady, come and protect me, give me abundant life. Make me healthy on the east side of the sky, So that I will be established in the horizon.
O my Lady, come and restore me, O come! Lady of Gold! Keep me safely on the east side of the sky, So that I will be protected in the horizon.
O Come, Lady of Gold, O Come! For millions of years you have sailed in the Sun Barque of Your Father without ceasing.
As you ride in the boat of your Father, so, I pray for happiness! I pray for prosperity! I pray for health! I pray for protection! May they flow from you without ceasing!
Available here and here
I absolutely love this hymn and say it almost everyday
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thesorceresstemple · 2 years ago
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Egypt (3rd Intermediate Period, 1069-664 BC), Amulet: cat © Musée du Louvre - Georges Poncet
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apiswitchcraft · 1 year ago
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the egyptian gods
MA'AT: the essence of harmony and balance
in the beginning, well, there were a lot of different beginnings,
AMUN/AMUN-RA: god of the sun and air, supreme king of the gods in some periods. some stories say that he created himself and then everything else in the universe
ATUM: sometimes considered another name for Ra, but when separated he represents the evening sun. he was the first of the Ennead to emerge from Nu, and was the supreme ruler of the gods, and creator of the universe and human beings
RA/RE: when separated from Atum, he represents the midday sun, but other stories say that his aspect changes as he advances his sun barge across the sky. also considered the supreme ruler and creator of the universe. later merged with Amun as he rose in popularity
PTAH: another creator of the universe, Ptah was lord of truth, and the patron god of sculptors and craftsmen (since he was considered to have sculpted the earth). he created the first mound of earth from Nu by imagining it in his heart and breathed life into things with his voice
KHNUM: said to have created everything on his potter's wheel. in a different story he created humans on his potter's wheel then raised them up to the sun so that Ra could breathe life into them
NEITH: a war and funerary goddess, she created all things from her innards. she invented birth, therefore considered the "mother goddess" and closely associated with life and living things
MUT: emerged from Nu and gave birth to the world on her own, or in other stories was the wife of Amun. she was a goddess of protection, guarding humans in life, and against demons in death
MEHET-WERET: celestial cow goddess that emerged from Nu and gave birth to Ra at the beginning of time. goddess of water, creation, and rebirth
then under Atum/Ra creation stories, there were the first gods, called the Ennead,
SHU: the primordial god of air, he was born from Atum/Ra with his sister Tefnut to create the world. it's said that after bein gone for so long, Atum/Ra sent the eye of Ra to search for them, and his tears of happiness at having them returned became humans
TEFNUT: the sister and wife of Shu, she was the primordial god of moisture and rainfall
NUT: child of Shu and Tefnut, she represented the sky, but her relationship with her brother Geb disturbed Atum/Ra so he pushed her high above Geb, decreeing that she could not give birth on any day of the year. however, Thoth then gambled with Iah (or Khonsu) winning five days of moonlight he transformed into days. On those five days, her five children were born
GEB: god of the earth and growing things
OSIRIS: child of Nut and Geb, he was lord and god of the underworld and afterlife. he was said to be the first god to die, after being killed by his brother Set, wherein Isis then resurrected him and they bore Horus.
ISIS: child of Nut and Geb, she was the goddess of the moon, healing, fertility, and magic
NEPHTHYS: child of Nut and Geb, she is the twin sister of Isis and wife of Set. she is considered a goddess of funeral rites, darkness (not in an evil sense), and protector of women.
SET/SETH: child of Nut and Geb god of war, chaos, and storms. although he was the first murderer, he was considered a necessary balance to the good of Osiris. he killed Osiris to usurp his throne, only to later be usurped by Horus.
However, sometimes Set was replaced with Horus in the Ennead,
HORUS: technically there were two Horuses, Horus the Elder, who was a child of Nut and Geb, and Horus the younger, who was the better known Horus. however, they ended up merging into one deity, a god of the sun, sky, and kingship
under the Amun (and sometimes Ptah) creation myth(s) there was the group called the Ogdoad, including Amun and
AMUNET: the female counterpart of Amun, together they represented forces unseen, including the wind and air
KEK: the god of the hours before dawn, he guided the sun barge of Ra from the underworld to earth
KAUKET: the female aspect of Kek, she represented the hours after sunset, and guided the sun barge of Ra into the underworld. Together these gods represent darkness (but not in an evil way)
HEH AND HAUHET: often not separated in any meaningful way, these two were the gods of infinity, eternity, and time
NUN AND NAUNET: personification of the primordial waters, from which everything was created. Naunet is only ever referenced when it comes to the Ogdoad
However, when Amun became revered as a god of creation, him and Amunet were sometimes replaced by
NIA AND NIAT: gods of the void
so then the rest of the gods,
THOTH: advisor of Atum/Ra, he was the god of wisdom, writing, and truth, and was associated with the moon. sometimes he is the child of Atum/Ra, other times he is the son of Horus. he gave humanity the gift of language and marked the passage of time
SESHAT: consort of Thoth, she was the goddess of writing, books, and measurements
ANUBIS: son of Nephthys and Osiris, he was the god of the dead and associated with embalming. he leads the souls of the dead to the Hall of Truth and weighs their heart to determine if they were good or evil
KABECHET/QEBEHT: daughter of Anubis and a funerary deity. she provides cool, pure water to the souls awaiting judgement in the Hall of Truth
BASTET: daughter of Ra, although her image has tempered over time, Bastet was often considered a defender of pharaohs and the hearth. goddess of cats, women, and fertility
SEKHMET: sister of Bastet, she was goddess of destruction, justice, and desert winds. after Ra became tired of the sins of humanity, he sent Sekhmet to destroy them. she ravaged the land until the other gods implored Ra to stop her, where he took beer dyed red (to emulate blood) and left it at Dendera. when she drank it, she fell asleep and woke as the benevolent goddess Hathor
MAAHES: solar god and protector of the innocent, sometimes the son of Bastet, sometimes Sekhmet
HATHOR: goddess of joy, celebration, love, women, drunkenness, and sometimes animals. in some stories she is the wife of Horus the elder, in some Horus the younger, and in some Ra
MA'AT: embodiment of the principle of ma'at, she was the goddess of truth, justice, and harmony
KHONSU: the son of Amun and Mut, god of the moon and healing
MONTU: a god of war and the vitality of pharaohs, he was later replaced by Khonsu as a child of Amun and Mut
TENENIT: goddess of beer and brewing, consort of Montu
HEKA: patron god of magic and medicine, but was also said to be present at the creation of the universe
HU: god of the spoken word, personification of the first word Atum/Ra ever spoke. represented the tongue
SIA: personification of perception and thoughtfulness who represented the heart
ANAT: goddess of fertility, sexuality, love, and war. sometimes she is a virgin goddess, others she is sensuous and erotic
APEP/APOPHIS: the celestial serpent that would assault the sun barge of Ra every night as it travels through the underworld
BA-PEF: god of terror
BES/BISU/AHA: god of childbirth, fertility, sexuality, humor, and war. he protected women and children, fended off evil, and fought for divine justice
TAWERET/TAURET: considered a consort of Set, goddess of childbirth and fertility. guarded children and invoked to help with pregnancy and birth
HRAF-HAF: the ferryman of the dead, he would carry good souls across the Lily Lake to the shores of paradise in the Field of Reeds
AMENET: consort of the divine ferryman, she welcomed souls of the dead to afterlife with food and drink
FETKET: cupbearer of Ra, patron of bartenders
MAFDET: goddess of justice, protected people from venomous bites, later replaced by Serket
SERKET: goddess of protection and funerals, protected people against venom
HEDET: goddess of scorpions and protector against their venom
IHY: son of Hathor and Horus the elder, he was the god of music and joy
IMHOTEP: the deified vizier of the king Djoser, god of wisdom and medicine
MESKHENIT: goddess of childbirth, created a person's ka (life force) and breathed it into them, creating their destiny
NEHEBKAU: joined a persons ka to their body at birth, and with the ba (winged aspect of the soul) at death. has always existed, and swam in the primordial waters before Atum rose
NEFERTUM: god of perfume and beauty, said to be born from the bud of a blue lotus flower at the beginning of creation. associated with rebirth and transformation due to his association with Atum
RENENUTET: goddess of nursing children and the harvest. she determined the length of a person's life and the important events that would occur, sometimes considered the mother of Osiris as consort of Atum
NEPER: son of Renenutet, god of grain and fertility
ONURIS/ANHUR: a son of Ra, god of war and hunting
SHAY: personification of fate, no one could alter her decisions
SHED: god who protected against wild animals and mortal enemies
SHEZMU: god of wine, perfume and plenty
SOBEK: god of water and medicine, namely surgery. lord of marshes and wetlands
SOTHIS/SOPDET: astral form of Isis, represented the star Sirius
SAH: astral form of Osiris, represented the constellation Orion
SOPDU: son of Sothis and Sah, astral form of Horus, guarded over outposts and soldiers on the frontier
TAYET/TAIT: goddess of weaving and associated with embalming
WENEG: held up the sky and maintained balance between the heavens and earth
WEPWAWET: the "opener of ways," a funerary and hunter god
KHENTYAMENTIU: the "Chief of the Dead," a funerary god believed to have created important funerary rites
and the sons of Horus, who get their own special spot,
DUAMUTEF: protector god of the stomach, he represented East
HAPY: protector god of the lungs, he represented the North
IMSETY: protector god of the liver, he represented the South
QEBEHSENUEF: protector god of the intestines, he represented the West
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blackrainbowblade · 8 months ago
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Chapter 17 of the Book of the Dead from the tomb of Nefertari. This chapter focuses on the healing and rebirth of the deceased, drawing parallels with Osiris resurrection, Horus' sight being restored after the loss of his eye, and peace being restored after Sekhmet's rampage. It perfectly demonstrates how Egyptian magic works. By referencing these three elements of myth, where Osiris, Horus and peace and order in the land are all restored, these texts gain the power to effect that same restoration of the deceased. Thus as the deceased is reborn to life in the next world, they are simultaneously healed (like Horus), reborn (like Osiris) and order is restored (as it was after Sekhemet's rampage).
It's really easy to consider the Egyptian myths as simply stories, but that overlooks the dynamic and active part that they play in magic. In many ways, they are a toolkit for the priests. By referencing them and weaving them together, they are able to confer the narratives onto the 'real' world and thereby control events - in this case, the rebirth of Nefertari after her death.
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chthonic-sorcery · 4 months ago
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Direct Vision Spell for an Oracle 𓂀
A 2000 year old Greco-Egyptian magic spell
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─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
[PGM V 54 – 69]
So sick of all these fake bs Tumblr and Pinterest spells-
"what color candle means what lol" with zero cultural or historical significance, it's like they just pulled things out of their ass.
So, here is a real 2000 year old Greek and Egyptian syncretic spell from Thebes to receive a direct vision from the beyond....WITH cultural and historical context.
Because, yes, history is important, and anyone giving you "spell tips" without telling you where the fuck they're from or what they mean is bullshitting you.
Ancient Greek oracular spells were rituals and invocations performed to gain insights or predictions from the gods, the Theoi, as well as Daemons and the Dead, particularly through seers known as oracles.
The Spell: PGM V 54 – 69 from the Greek Magical Papyri
Context of the Spell:
This spell is an interesting blend of Egyptian and Greek oracular practice: the use of Coptic or Egyptian eyepaint, kohl, here is interesting– as well as it's mixture with water from a sunken ship. Water from such locations are normally reserved for love spells, as we see previously in the PGM. The relationship or correspondence between a literal sunken vessel and sinking into the throes of passion. However, here, with its use in an oracular spell, it seems to correspond more to the chthonic or otherworldly realm, giving te wearer the ability to see past the normal, mundane world; past the ‘veil’ so to speak and into the beyond.
The use of the magical mystery word or voces magicae “Akrammachamarei” here is also notable; it is quite often seen throughout the PGM, and is associated with the God/Daemon/Archon of both Gnostic (Jewish-Egyptian) as well as Greek origin, Abrasax.
In spell PGM V. 96-172, Abrasax is identified as part of the "true name which has been transmitted to the prophets of Israel" of the "Headless One, (also known as the Egyptian god Bês) who created heaven and earth, who created night and day ... Osoronnophris whom none has ever seen ... awesome and invisible god with an empty spirit"; the name also includes Iaō and Adōnai, the ineffablenames of the Jewish god. "Osoronnophris" represents Egyptian Wsir Wn-nfr, or "Osiris the Perfect Being.” Another identification with Osiris is made in PGM VII. 643-51: "you are not wine, but the guts of Osiris, the guts of ... Ablanathanalba Akrammachamarei Eee, who has been stationed over necessity, Iakoub Ia Iaō Sabaōth Adōnai Abrasax."
Instructions:
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
After you have purified yourself (through ritual bathing and declarations) you must put on your clean linen robes and sandals of Papyrus.
Then, taking a purified bronze censer, place the laurel leaves inside and light them until the smoke fills the room. Walk clockwise around the room, and your workspace, Chanting the Ephesia Grammata:
ΑΣΚΙ(ΟΝ) ΚΑΤΑΣΚΙ(ΟΝ) ΛΙΞ ΤΕΤΡΑΞ ΔΑΜΝΑΜΕΝΕΥΣ ΑΙΣΙΟΝ (or ΑΙΣΙΑ)
“askion kataskion lix tetrax damnameneus aision”
Then, taking the olive oil, pour it into the waiting bronze dish.
With your right hand, anoint your right eye with the prepared water from a shipwreck.
With your left hand, mix 1 part kohl with 1 part water until it is a viscous paint, from the same dish, and anoint your left eye so that it is completely surrounded by the paint.
Then, pronounce the incantations:
"EEIM TO EIM ALALĒP BARBARIATH / MENEBREIO ARBATHIAÔTH IOUĒL IAĒL OUĒNĒIIE MESOMMIAS,
let the god who prophesics to me come and let him not go away until I dismiss him,
OURNAOUR SOUL ZASOUL / OUGOT NOOUMBIAOU THABRAT BERIAOU ACHTHIRI MARAI ELPHEŌN TABAŌTH KIRASINA LAMPSOURĒ IABOE ABLAMATHANALBA AKRAMMACHAMAREI.”
Once the incantations are finished, present any offerings and ask over the prepared olive oil dish what your question(s) are. Stare into the oil, lit only by candle or oil lamp light, and you will receive a direct vision.
─── ⋆⋅𓂀⋅⋆ ──
For more information & how to pronounce the incantations, check here.
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