#Heka deity

[homeybadger]

Of Gods and Lattes (Part One)

Summary: When you- local coffee barista turned Avatar of an ancient Egyptian god- get kidnapped, you're thrust into a whole new world Warning(s): Non-detailed kidnapping of reader, mild non-graphic combat Note(s): I'm torn between a few possible deities in connection to this story: Thoth, Heka, Ra and Anubis. I'm open to any suggestions!

Coffee making had always been a kind of a personal ritual for you. Humming to the rhythm of the milk frother, each step was precise, measured. You'd often imagined that brewing a latte was akin to crafting a potion, each ingredient essential to the final result- smooth, energizing, and restorative. There was something special about it, providing tired mothers and businessmen alike with the necessary energy for their days. But, your shift was cut short when you were taken. You didn't remember the exact details- it all happened too fast. One moment, you were wiping down the counter after a busy lunch rush, and the next, someone grabbed you from behind, pulling you into an alley behind the café. A van. Darkness. Rope. Now, here you were, hands bound and sitting on the cold ground in some dilapidated warehouse. Cold metal presses against your wrists, the uncomfortable bite of handcuffs incessantly reminding you of your current predicament. You shift slightly, testing the restraints, and a wave of dull pain ripples through your body. Of course kidnappers weren't gentle. In front of you was a man. He’s tall, broad-shouldered, and wearing what looks like an approximation of tactical gear, face obscured by a mask. You narrow your eyes. This is the guy, the one who took you “Ah, you’re awake,” he says, his voice deep but trying a little too hard to sound intimidating. He paces slowly in front of you, his boots echoing in the room. You lean back- feigning more discomfort than you actually feel. It's difficult to feel very threatened when a literal god is nearby. "Yeah, guess I am. If this is about money, I’m not really-" “Money?” He cuts you off with a harsh laugh. “No, no. This isn’t about money.” He stops pacing, turning to face you fully. “I know what you are. I know who you serve.” At that, you raise an eyebrow. This should be good. "Anubis' power will be mine!" your captor croons, pacing once more like a professor rehearsing a lecture. You eye the crude symbols scrawled across the floor a bit behind him, white chalk instantly declaring their presence. They're meant to be ancient, powerful runes- instead, they look more like the artistic attempt of a child high on sugar. The symbols are sloppy, some even backward, and you swear a good portion of them are just random doodles. Whatever this guy thinks he's doing, it's nowhere near invoking anything close to Anubis. You feel him, your god, closer this time. Your captor continues his rant about power, the gods, and his supposed mastery of ancient Egyptian rites. Something about raising a man named Arthur from the grave. Arthur... Sparrow? Farrow? It was hard to hear behind his mask. You sigh internally, feeling the distinct thrum of your god's power settling behind you. "Anubis will rise," your captor says, voice reaching a crescendo, "and he will grant me dominion over life and death!" You can't help it. A chuckle slips past your lips. The man stops dead in his tracks, glare attempting to shoot daggers into your soul, "What's so funny?" You shake your head, biting your lip. "What?" "Your symbols." you gesture with your chin to the floor, "They're wrong. Even if Anubis was the one you were trying to summon, which- by the way, he isn't- this wouldn't work." His eyes narrow behind the mask, clearly thrown off. "What are you talking about? These are ancient runes of power, crafted by-" "By someone who hates you apparently." you interrupt, "You think you can bring death under your control with that?"

"You know nothing of these powers! Anubis will answer, and I will-" "You don't even want to summon Anubis." If it was physically possible for your captor to glare harder, you're sure he would have by this point. Your god stands in the corner, his eyes gleaming in the shadows. He doesn't speak, but his presence fills your soul with a sense of calm. Of inevitability. "What?" "Anubis is about funerary rites, guiding souls," you continue, "not... whatever it is you're aiming for here. Osiris is the one you're thinking of with this resurrection business." Your captor tenses, fist slowly curling into a ball. "You said you know what I am, you have to have assumed I researched things." He scowled, clearly thrown off by the correction, but before he could respond, the door slams open. She's quick, moving with a grace that immediately makes it clear she's not here to talk things out. You've seen her before- the woman who's been making appearances in the headlines recently, the Scarlet Scarab. Her appearance is striking, strong and purposeful, like she's not here to take nonsense from anyone. But it's what you see just behind her that really makes your breath snag in your throat. Hovering over her shoulder, watching with an intense curiosity, is the goddess Taweret. You almost wave- an instinctive gesture, like you’re greeting someone you recognize- but then you remember your hands are securely bound. Khonshu is there too, looming at the edge of the room, his towering skeletal form and crescent-shaped staff impossible to ignore. You’ve heard of Moon Knight too- another vigilante working alongside the Scarlet Scarab some days. Khonshu’s presence is cold, oppressive, but you know he’s not here for you. The Scarlet Scarab strides toward your captor, her expression hard. “It’s over,” she says flatly, no room for argument in her voice. Your captor stumbles backward, panic setting in. He gestures once more toward the chalk symbols on the floor, muttering something incoherent about power and magic. “Anubis is not coming to help you,” you say, unable to keep the exhaustion out of your voice. “And even if he was, this isn’t how you’d get his attention. You’ve got it all wrong.” Your captor spins to face you, his face contorted with anger. “You think you know more than me? I’ve spent years studying these texts!” You feel the sheer, absolute weight of your god’s presence now, a calm certainty settling over you like a familiar blanket. Your god is always with you- but in moments like these, his influence becomes palpable. It’s as if he’s standing just behind you, his ancient hands resting on your shoulders, steadying your resolve. Relax, you hear him whisper in the quiet corner of your mind, a voice like rolling thunder, yet somehow soothing. He is a fool.You shift slightly, testing your cuffs again. The metal bites into your skin, but you feel the tension begin to give, a soft pulsing energy coiling beneath your skin. There. he whispers again, Got it. The cuffs click, and with one last movement, they snap open. “I’m telling you,” you say, that same hum of power underscoring your words, “You might’ve spent years studying those texts, but you don’t understand a thing.” The captor’s rant finally falters. His eyes flick toward the Scarlet Scarab, and for the briefest moment, you see his bravado finally crack. She takes a step forward, ready to finish things, but something shifts in the air. An unnatural pulse of energy, twisted and wrong. A shadowy figure emerges from the darkness, an ethereal form that seems to manifest out of thin air. Some kind of twisted guardian or specter, summoned by the captor’s sloppy rituals. A flash of white and silver darts forward, crescent shaped weapons glinting faintly in the lighting. Your captor slams the door open, fleeing into the night- and you decidedly ignore the coward in favor of ducking.

[apiswitchcraft]

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

[headlessmage]

One thing I think people forget about when looking at heka, or Ancient Egyptian magic, is that it wasn't just prayers and praising the Gods to convince Them to help.

Sometimes it was more forceful, in the manner of bargaining or threatening, where the magician made their intent clear and the Gods either acted upon it or accepted the results.

Obviously I do not go around threatening my Gods (no need to straddle the line between earned respect and anger), but I do bargain with Them a good amount.

For example, I found a job within my niche that I desperately wanted. When I applied, I fit most of their requirements (besides missing a strongly preferred certification). I also knew that as it was a remote position, there would be plenty of other, more well qualified candidates. Of course I focused on preparing for the interviews appropriately, but figured extra divine help couldn't hurt.

I went to my shrine, and asked the Gods, "do these offerings and paintings and statuary please you? Are you content with just what I have already given freely, or do you wish for more?"

I told Them that as it stands, I cannot afford much else with this current job. However, if They helped get a new job, I could afford more for Them. More space, more offerings, more paintings and statuary. After all, I want to please Them with this shrine and fill it with all that Their hearts desire, and yet how can I supply it with no help?

And so They provided Their strength and assistance, with the promise that should things go well, I will compensate Them. I received the offer for the position, and am slowly working on providing Them with new offerings and statuary as thanks and payment.

[artistandtales]

I have a strong interest in Kemetic and practice it alittle. I saw in the reddit group that someone is starting an inktober but with the Egyptians gods, I thought "why not participate in it?". Here I did Heka: the god of magic and medicine. 

#akhtober #egyptian #deities #drawing #mythology #art #heka #day3 #digitaldrawing #magic #pagan #witchcraft #illustration #simple #kemetic #firealpaca #artist #artistoninstagram #myart #dahkyarts #artistoftales #artistonig

[bad4amficideas]

Imagine you're playing your DC Online so calmly on the device of your choice and you get a cramp from it and weird but swear you're going blind for a moment.

At the moment everything is GamesRules!Reader x DC

Except you go with the above merits... Wait wait wait, is it with your previous merits not a reboot or something??? Urgent clarification please. You can't go through choosing your starter (specialization) again

And you were proud yourself on the title "Outlaw" which is only given to players who do enough good and bad and civil and neutral enough not to earn "(Super)hero" or "(Super) )villain" which is more difficult than it seems.

On the other hand, you are thankful that you did not participate in the "Joker Gangz Member" event, like, everyone who has played for more than a year has at least one Lantern Corps title of their choice, and sure you have a few suspicious titles in the glove box (though to be fair "Harley Quinn Appearing Patient" is not that bad of a title) but that one and Outlaw could cost you the neck now.

Anyway, everything is better than Market Thief, Sewer Rat, Bootlicker of the Rich, Contributor to Capitalism, Little Civilian's Helper and all those initial titles they gave you in your first missions

Wait, why the affection meter of Good, Bad, Civil and Neutral, are they now all divided into branches and more branches. Oh my god, do you have to be More careful to be liked by everyone??? (Your title 🥲)

Oh my god, and your top batmanesque equipment, your rewards (you just got the weird ultra difficult full pack of cheat the death 1 use tools -only one set per player- and the title "Member of the Council of Inmortals": lazarus pit bath, joker never dies, batman is death, there is one (1) kyptonite for everything, white lantern of life, death deities are nice, a wizard dit it, and; flash rewind for your convenience), your connections *cries a river*

oh. you will never get lost. that is a cool function. and wifi everywhere!!!! and it's like, it's always a bit visible a few meters around you. that's useful. Change of clothes and automatic washing and bandaging where you have been all my life....

Did you see for a moment.. those where the symbols of SIMS care necessities??? Someone, remove that immediately or you'll start talking giglerish.

... now you remember when you had to get the hate of all of Atlantis to get the "good" side of the LoA, damnit "Auntie Sea -and surrogated family- wanna kill me" that was a weird title. Remember you when read "Sky is literally my Daddy" (in Diana and Cassie) and "Mommy Nature favourite" (Swamp Thing and sometimes Poison Ivy) though. Maybe the sea dont try kill you will be nice, shame you can have everything.

Oh, look, be in your house counts as HP recovery!!! although apparently you have to update the house every so often or you'll start to lose HP... how unpleasant and not at all threatening that sounds.

Let's give a minute of silence to bless the child reader who started the tutorial in easy mode because it was their first rpg (so their background is from a rich orphan witn an emprise) and not from just out of jail for something they didn't do, with nothing like in hard mode.

uhm... is it possible that the characters have realized that it's a game? Or that they think you've gone crazy and you think it's a game? you should look it up I don't like how the dcmites look at you.

[whencyclopedia]

Egyptian Medical Treatments

The ancient Egyptians experienced the same wide array of disease that people do in the present day, but unlike most people in the modern era, they attributed the experience to supernatural causes. The common cold, for example, was prevalent, but one's symptoms would not have been treated with medicine and bed rest, or not these alone, but with magical spells and incantations. The Ebers Papyrus (dated to c. 1550 BCE), the longest and most complete medical text extant, clearly expresses the Egyptian view of medical treatment: "Magic is effective together with medicine. Medicine is effective together with magic." The magic referred to took the form of spells, incantations, and rituals, which called on higher supernatural powers to cure the patient or treat symptoms.

Heka was the god of magic and also of medicine, but there were a number of deities called upon for different diseases. Serket (Selket) was invoked for the bite of the scorpion. Sekhmet was called upon for a variety of medical problems. Nefertum would be appealed to in administering aroma therapy. Bes and Tawreret protected pregnant women and children. Sobek would intervene in surgeries. One could call upon any god for help, however, and Isis and Hathor were also invoked, as was the demon-god Pazuzu. Even Set, a god associated with chaos and discord, sometimes appears in magic spells because of his protective qualities and great strength. All of these deities, however, no matter how powerful, had to be called by an experienced practitioner and this was the doctor of ancient Egypt; part magician, part priest, and part physician.

Injury & Disease

Physical injury was common in a culture which not only engaged in monumental building projects but had to contend with wild animal attacks from lions, hippos, jackals, and others. Injuries were easily recognized and treated in much the same way they would be today: bandages, splints, and casts. Since the Egyptians had no concept of bacteria or the germ theory, however, the cause of the disease was less clear. The gods were thought to mean only the best for the people of the land, and so the cause of a disease like cancer was as mysterious to the ancient Egyptians as the origin of evil and suffering is for religiously-minded people in the present.

The most common reasons for disease were thought to be sin, evil spirits, an angry ghost, or the will of the gods to teach someone an important lesson. Although the embalmers who dissected the bodies at death were aware of the internal organs and their relationship with each other spatially in the body's cavity, they did not share this information with doctors, and doctors did not consult with embalmers; the two professions were considered distinctly different with nothing of note to contribute to each other.

Doctors were aware that the heart was a pump and that veins and arteries supplied blood to the body, but they did not know how. They were aware of liver disease but not the function of the liver. The brain was considered a useless organ; all thought, feeling, one's character, was believed to come from the heart. A woman's uterus was believed to be a free-floating organ which could affect every other part of the body. Still, although their understanding of physiology was limited, Egyptian physicians seem to have been quite successful in treating their patients and were highly regarded by other cultures.

Continue reading...

[thequeer07puss]

What exactly IS the Eye of Ra?

Ra, the creator, the Sun, the one who emerged from his own will, once plucked out his eye, worried about the disappearance of his children Shu and Tefnut, and placed it upon his head as the uraeus when it stomped in anger at having been replaced by the Lord. He did so once again, enraged at the disobedience of early humans, and in the form of Sekhmet the Eye of Ra raged until its rampage was stopped by the cleverness of the gods, whereupon she turned into the benevolent Hathor/Bastet. Such stories we heard about the Eye of the creator, the instrument and indicator of his will, but what is she, what role does she have?

The Eye of Ra as an extension of him

As the name implies, the Eye of Ra is quite literally, his eye, a part of him, made from his purest essence. She is the part of him that dwells on earth while he is in the sky and that regulates mortal affairs. Perhaps the “Eye” is not literal, but in the metaphorical sense of her function as a spy or a representative of Ra among humans (the Egyptians were, after all, fans of wordplay). This may be why so many functions of the Eye of Ra are related to human affairs: birth, marriage, love, joy, war, plague, healing…all these functions and aspects to distribute his blessings (and curses) to humanity while he rolls on the back of the Heavenly Cow.

The Eye of Ra as an assistant to him

On the Atet boat, the Lord, his uraeus circling the sun disk shining on his forehead, is not alone. He is attended by a flurry of deities. Among them, Heka with their knowledge of magical words, Sia with their powerful psyche, Hu with an equally prolific tongue, and most brilliant of them all, the Eye of Ra, in the form of Hathor or Bastet, his aide and attendant, his very own daughter, who helps him ride on the back of the Heavenly Cow, and even sometimes IS the Heavenly Cow, in the form of Mehet-Weret, from whose back the Lord brings his light to the world. Her undying fealty is essential to keeping the world running and mortals living.

The Eye of Ra as his consort and counterpart

Depending on who you ask, the goddess Hathor is Ra’s mother, his sister, his wife or his daughter. Similarly, the goddess Raet-Tawy is quite literally a female Ra, Ra as a goddess, an aspect of his Eye that seems to be just him in a female version. Through his Eye, maybe Ra makes himself our mother, as well as our father when he is in Heaven. Maybe the heavenly aspect of the creator feels male, but their aspect on earth is female, maybe the Eye of Ra IS Ra’s form on earth. Maybe Ra’s eye, cares for the world as our mother (for we are Ra’s children and she was the first mother), our shepherd (for we are Ra’s cattle), because she helped to create us as much as Ra did. Maybe she is one of the many, many kas of the infinite mystery that is our creator, one expressed in a variety of ways that blend with each other while staying perfectly distinct.

This last bit actually terrifies me a little. It is a thought that fills me with awe and makes so much sense while tying the rest of my tirade together. The thought of just how vast, how strange and truly unknowable Ra is —how any of the gods is, to be honest— fills me with awe, reverence and a little fear as I contemplate the god that made this world. The one who is male and female on his kas, the one who is our father and mother, whose presence in the sky is the sun, and whose presence on earth is in love, joy, pleasure, healing, but also rage, plague, death and desolation. How versatile in interpretation is the concept of the Eye of Ra, who is a being made directly from him, while being independent and different from him.

[alephskoteinos]

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.

[steve-the-bear]

Minecraft Deities Because I Can

There are High Deities, that rule over larger domains. Every High Diety has Minor Deities attached to them, that encompass smaller pieces under their domain. Minor deity does not mean weak or unknown, simply that they have a smaller domain within anothers.

if u see anything based off of mcyt no u dont <3

Prie'ama

Prie'ama is considered to be "The Creator", known for creating and protecting the overworld. Overworlders believe Prie'ama created all realms, and most overworld cultures believe Prie'ama [or whatever name they use for Prie'ama] is the Deity Emperor, or above all other deities.

Prie'ama was not the original creator, though there are little to no records or religions/cultures that remember this.

N'xtun

N'xtun is the deity of life and death. She is believed to be the one to create souls, and then return to bring souls from their living hosts to the lands of death. She is also the guardian of the "limbo" space, a place between dimensions, most often used to house partial souls [souls of those with unfinished business, half of themselves left behind, clinging to their old life. These souls are volatile and considered dangerous, even if they don't intend to be] and be the creation space for new souls.

N'xtun is the second eldest deity. She is older than Prie'ama, though many modern cultures believe her to have come after their supposed creator.

Exdea and De'ex

Exdea and De'ex are twin deities who both reign over the domains of sleep and dreams. They are considered to be guardians and guides through the lives of living creatures between N'xtun's embraces. De'ex has closer relation to "good" or "strange" dreams, and they are often associated with pleasant premonitions and silly mishaps within dreams. Exdea is the opposite, typically related to nightmares and ominous or foreboding premonitions.

Exdea and De'ex were given the role of guardians over the End and the Overworld, respectively. They help the elder deities in their roles and are able to interact and interfere more than their elders.

Kinïstra

Kinïstra is the deity of the nether, having created both the hellish landscape and all of its residents. While the other dimensions have little to no records of her, the netherborn cherish her as their "mother," despite her lack of interaction with the netherfolk. Kinïstra, unlike the other deities, can't traverse dimensions, having been exiled to the dimension of her own creation eons prior.

It is unknown how old Kinïstra is due to the lack of record within overworld scripts and carvings. She is as old as the nether, perhaps even more ancient. She was once called Parima.

Cruor

One of N'xtuns minor deities, created to aid both N'xtun and Parima Prie'ama with the creation and destruction of their living creations. Cruor is often titled "The Blood God." Most cultures associate them with violence, bloodshed, and war. Cruor, like Exdea and De'ex, has more freedom than the elder deities to interact and interfere with mortals. Unlike the twins, however, Cruor instead picks a host, a "vassal," to bless. Their vassal carries out the more dramatic work for them, laying waste to villages and cities who dare defy them or turning the tides of battle in either sides favor single-handedly.

Cruor is a more tabboo deity in many cultures due to their association with war and bloodshed. Some cultures, such as the Piglins of the nether and the Illagers of the overworld, remember that Cruor is also the giver of life, as they control the lifeblood that flows through people and animals alike.

Heka

The deity of magic, they go by many names across cultures, but their most notable name is Heka, the deity most witches worship. In most stories, Heka is regarded as a Prometheus-type role, granting the use of magic and enchantments to mortals despite the orders of the other deities, and in turn facing a terrible punishment. Many overworld cultures portray Heka as blind, with poison, or acid, being dripped onto her forehead and rolling down her face as her eternal punishment.

Shaeol

A minor deity of Prie'ama, associated with all forms of water, from riverbeds to vast oceans. The ocean monuments are a testament of her once great influence in the overworld and the attempt at life she once created against the wishes and guidance of the elder deities. Shaeol did not have the power to sustain life for extended periods, and eventually, her people devolved beyond her control, ultimately becoming known as The Drowned.

Shaeol is known to be shapeshifter, as fluid and changing as the sea. Many stories involve Shaeol coming ashore and falling in love with mortals, their villages and people, and ways of life, only to return one day and find the place she held dear gone, either by herself or by time.

Aeshed

A minor deity of Prie'ama, associated with the earth itself, and the biomes within it. Aeshed was once known to walk the earth, going from forest to forest, biome to biome, with a gentle smile and a trail of blossoms behind him. Aeshed has not been seen wandering the earth for many generations now.

It is widely believed that Aeshed has fallen asleep in the heart of the earth or some variation. Some stories say Aeshed is merely resting from their many years of wandering, and will one day return, while others say Aeshed was cursed by a jealous Shaeol or De'ex to sleep for a thousand lifetimes, and yet others believe Aeshed has simply abandoned the overworld altogether.

Wiethesh

A minor deity of Prie'ama, associated with the wind and storms. Many stories associate Wiethesh with the Wither, either as the creator of the Wither or as the Wither itself. Most mythos believe Wiethesh has been sealed away by the other deities because they caused too much destruction upon the earth, only able to be called forth through the souls of those long past and the skulls of their infected hosts.

It is often told that stormy nights and windy gales are Wiethesh' attempt at breaking free from their imprisonment to wreak havoc once more.

Deshae

A minor deity of Prie'ama, often associated with fire and the hearth. Deshae has many appearances across cultures, some with disaster, some with the warmth of a hearth or the fire of a furnace, but many keep Deshae fairly neutral, balanced both in blazing, destructive fury, and gentle comforting warmth.

Ca'alohn

The deity of chaos. Often portrayed with horns or antlers and associated with the wild. Ca'alohn is typically considered to be wild and free spirited, oft portrayed with a voice like thunder, so that no mere mortal can hear them.

It's rumored that Ca'alohn has abandoned the peoples of the overworld in favor of roaming across the known dimensions as he sees fit. While most disasters and chaos are blamed on Ca'alohn's interference in some way, shape, or form, Ca'alohn himself has not been seen in hundreds of years.

Myx

Deity of change. They are known to have at least 4 distinct appearances, another constant shifter similar to Shaeol. Myx is often associated with horns, creepers, and divides between biomes.

[poptod]

i don’t usually talk about my private life unless it interferes with my writing or maybe inspires it, but i wanted to share something with you all. i talk a lot—because i want you to understand—so i will put this under a read more

well, it’s been a tumultuous two or so years since moving with my parents to this beach town in CA. some very good, some incredibly bad. and… it’s coming to an end. it’s a very complicated story and i suppose i don’t really want to share all the details, but i think i will share the big parts

like most people i have a complicated relationship with my parents. they are very kind but they also have done some irreparable damage to my psyche, like a lot of parents do. and maybe irreparable is the wrong word because i do forgive them, but regardless i will be moving out of this home without their knowledge.

i tried to do it once and i got caught. who i thought was my best friend decided to tell my parents and i got yelled at and berated for weeks, and my dreams crushed. i was going to go to egypt. i was going to go with my partner, my soul partner, who lived in another country. don’t worry, i met her in real life first while i was traveling. but.. i was going to go to egypt! the land of my Deities! my beautiful Gods Nefertem and Nuit, Hapy, Heka, Khonsu, and Amun… all of Them. Their beautiful faces. carved in the stone of Kemet. my parents never would have let me go but i was ready, i was willing, i would give up anything i own to be there in egypt with my Gods and my love. and then my friend, who was living in my room since he didn’t want to live with his parents, told my secret and nearly had my passport taken away permanently. he left my house and i can’t talk to him anymore because i won’t. can’t stand his words or his voice. but i forgive him.. i just don’t want to communicate with him anymore. i wish him the best.

i travelled to my ancestral homeland of korea after the separation and heartbreak. i visited many Buddhist temples and learned and engrained myself more with the act of worship and the Buddhas teachings; i fell in love with worshipping. i fell in love with the temples. and i revisited the ideas i’d learned in the sixth grade—idea of giving things up. of releasing material want, which leads to the cessation of dukkha. the idea is beautiful. and i think it’s accurate. stopping our desires for material things of this world will stop our suffering; suffering emanates from our greed. fear emanates from greed. in the end what matters is our connections to people, and in this case, my connection to my Love and my Deities. in korea, i found the knowledge, independence, and courage that has allowed me to bring to realization what i want not from this world, but from my life.

and now i’m trying again. i’m telling no one of my plan. actually, two people know—one is my closest friend of eight years who lives five hours north of me. another is someone i vetted thoroughly to confirm his ideology and make sure he wouldn’t tell my parents. and actually, he supports me! he almost admires my decision, the courage to get what you want despite the odds. and he is helping me. he’s a blessing from Hathor, an aid of Khonsu to help me travel to the airport to see my Love and my holy land.

there is no greater excitement than this! i will be able to feel the Nile through my feet and hands and hair. and the light of Amun-Re and Khons will shine on my face. and my love will hold my hand. does it seem like a fantasy? well, the world is love, the world is hate… the world is what you make of it. i know people who have easy lives and are incredibly depressed. and there is my Love, who has had an incredibly hard life and will talk much about it, but she is incredibly happy. she is enlightened. i want to be like her—i want to be with her.

do i sound insane? probably. but i’ve learned being crazy is a good thing. especially for writers. i don’t know how many more stories i will write about our beloved Ahkmenrah. i still have the Breeding Kings to finish as well as the Night Grows Dim. then i have a story i want to write about Nabataeans, and i might write a long forgotten story i used to call Hiding in the Light. i hope i will get published some day but it’s not my greatest desire. my greatest desire is to see the world with unending clarity, to know things as they truly are; in other words, to be enlightened. to worship my Deities. this is my path towards that.

to put it in perspective, i have two paths. literally two. i can follow what my parents ask of me; go to college, get a job, work for a long while, and then i can travel when i happen to get free time once a year for one or two weeks at a time. i can settle down in america without my Love; she is already a refugee in israel and can’t move to america. so i would be alone. this path has its good parts. my parents will love me, so will my grandparents. i’ll be well-off with many physical belongings tying me to this realm (which is debatably good thing—bad thing in my eyes), and i will be a normal person. how delightful.

the other path is the one i am choosing. i am going to follow my dreams, which is a terrifying thing to hear a 19 year old say. but i didn’t even think i’d live this long. i’ve healed so much. and this will further my healing. i wonder if it is possible for you to understand… maybe not. it’s difficult to comprehend. but i want you to know. i want you to understand. and it’s not because i want you to know what’s going on (though i do of course), actually it’s selfish, because i want to be understood, very desperately i want to be understood because no one except my friend who is driving me to the airport understands me. and even he is a little on the edge with it despite fully supporting me. this feeling of desire to be understood fades slowly from my life, little by little. i come to realize—or perhaps question—is it worth it? most people are incredibly close minded. most people live their lives blind to happiness and the truth of the world. most people do not even care about themselves. and i do not want to end up like that. that is not the future i’ve worked so hard to heal myself for.

everything will go. and all will change.

someday i will die. someday my love will die. someday all my possessions will be dust. someday this land will erupt in lava or sink into the crevices of earthquakes, or maybe it will slowly fade into the ocean. someday this earth will be unrecognizable. someday, our home will not seem like our home at all, and the only indication that we ever existed will be stones in the shape of our skeletons, and maybe even those will not exist. and someday the earth will be gone. our sun will implode, and the black love of space will enshroud everything. at that point, i really don’t want to be walking around talking about how i went to college. i don’t even want to be talking about how i managed to run away from america and go to egypt.

i want to be learned. i want to see it all in its beauty as the earth dies in its many wondrous colors—i want to smile as the sun evaporates into particles of gold, i want to understand this cycle and it’s end. and the way to get here—to this sense of bliss and enlightenment—is to separate from what the modern world wants me to be.

listen to me very well, because no one ever really does this—you have to live.

please live. this word carries weight like love; which means that not many understand it’s depth. you know it’s definition. but the meaning of it is indescribable and beautiful like a supernova the size of a galaxy.

You have to love. You have to live. Please.

[dwellerinthelibrary]

Cleopatra VII by Heidi  Kontkanen Via Flickr: Donation stele. The queen and king making offerings to the deities Heka and Sekhmet. Based on a study conducted by Dr Jean Yoyotte, the queen has been identified as Cleopatra VII and the king as Ptolemy XIII or Ptolemy XIV. Ptolemaic Period (c.51-30 BCE)m no provenance. Museu Egipci de Barcelona.

[onyxandemerald]

i almost understand why the masses were encouraged to remain illiterate; all language is powerful and being able to use it properly is tricky.

Even with my family at home sometimes it feels like I'm negotiating with a genie in trying to both i) get my needs met and ii) not accidentally step on someone's feelings. We understand that it happens and the forgiveness is real but we all came more or less from childhoods where our words, our cries for help were not taken seriously and the ripple effect holy shit.

Words are so powerful. Often there's intention laced in words you don't intend to send. A sharp tongue ends up in a real, actually cursing of friendship. When these wounds aren't taken seriously can't heal.

This is influenced by, as I understand it, the Ancient Egyptian interpretation of magick through the form of the written word (icon?). If anyone would like to tale this as an invitation - I would love to learn something new. How does this concept affect your day to day? Do you incorporate Heka, as the force or the deity, into your practices? love you guys

[headlessmage]

Heqat Rebirth Heka

Heqat is often viewed as a frog headed goddess who presides over birth (as well as rebirth). She sits with Khnum at His potters wheel, and breathes life into His creation. She is also present at birth, and acts as a midwife to the Netjeru.

In terms of rebirth and recreation, She is often tied to the resurrection of Wesir and the dead. She is there for us in death, just as She is at birth.

This heka focuses on the rebirth and recreation aspect, to have Her assistance in facilitating change and growth within our lives. When approaching Her to do this heka, I would recommend having a clear idea of what rebirth and change means to you, and how you wish for it to come in your life (whether it is in terms of personal, professional, or other matters).

As with all heka, I recommend cleansing yourself beforehand. Speak the words aloud, and allow your magic and strength to be behind each word.

The magician approaches their shrine with offerings and a glass of cool water. They call upon Heqat, and present the offerings while speaking aloud.

Words to be said:

"O' Heqat, Mistress of Creation, You who were present at my birth, I come to Thee as Thy beloved child!

O' Heqat, Great Mother, You who are constant in my life, I come to Thee for Thy assistance!

I have brought [name of offerings], May they please You, May they nourish You, May You hear my prayers now!"

The magician then focuses on rebirth and recreation. They pray to Heqat, touching on what they need assistance with, while praising and thanking Her for Her help in such matters.

They then take the glass of water, and hold it above or within the shrine.

Words to be said:

"From the waters of the Nun, creation was born. From the waters of the Nun, all is created. I too was created and born within the Nun, at the hand of Heqat.

She has brought me forth, born anew! She has brought me forth, in strength and prosperity! She leads me now, to my future! She leads me now, to my desires!"

The magician may now 'revert', or drink the water. The offerings may sit upon the shrine if nonperishable, or 'reverted' as well if a perishable food item.

[lensky-polonium]

me: obsessed with hands on a fragile neck, find symbolism in the ancient egyptian deity Heka with similar hands, associated with magic and medicine, standing behind all the gods at the creation of the world, watching over souls and giving them strength and rebirth, his symbols are hieroglyphs literally two hands (meaning ka) and knots!!!!

kojima: I suddenly thought, "I'd like to "like (hand sign)" and rest the chin with both hands even when you have luggage in both hands"

[stevenspector]

Happy Moon Knight Thursday! Did y'all like episode 4? I sure did! I especially liked that Steven got to use his knowledge for Egyptian history and mythology! And that we got to see so many cool details and nods to said history and mythology! Which, of course, led me to do another deep dive and research into topics. Have fun with more Moon Knight rambles about the details in episode 4

Starting with: "The Eyes of Horus"

First off, this scene begs the question of just how many times Steven has drawn the eye? Because his movements were smooth and that eye looked great. Now onto the eye of Horus. It stems from the conflict between Horus and his uncle Seth who were rivalling about who would be the successor to the title of "King of Gods" after Seth killed the former King, Osiris; his brother and Horus’ father. It’s one of my favourite stories and I could get into all of it, but I won’t. I'll just say that it’s both very interesting and very entertaining. During their conflict, they had a fight in which Seth took out Horus’ eyes in order to defeat him and make him unable to take the title. Now, this is where it gets interesting for the plot. Horus gets his eyes back with the help of another deity. Who that is tho is up for different interpretations and retellings of the story. Some say it was Hathor who healed him and gave him another pair of eyes. That would be a cool connection since we have met Hathors avatar! And they helped Marc and Khonshu previously. Other retellings on the other hand have Thoth replace his eyes. Thoth himself is known to be associated with the moon which would fit with, well, Moon Knight. We also see an ibis statue in the tomb later on, next to the sarcophagus, which could potentially represent Thoth as well since he is often depicted with an ibis head. In general, the eye of Horus itself represents healing and regenerative properties which is why it was chosen for the shape of the tomb, as Steven states. Additionally, the eye is connected to the moon as well. It is said that one of his eyes represents the moon and the other the sun. So we have another nod to the moon (knight). If you wanna get a nice rundown of the story, I can recommend The History of Egypt Podcast

Secondly: "The Heka Priests and a God™"

Heka was the god of magic and medicine. His most devoted followers often were doctors. In the scene were the Heka priests are introduced however, we also see this drawing on the wall. There’s another god next to them and yes, i did look into who that could be for WAY too long. My conclusion is that it could be Khnum. The only thing not fitting is him being depicted with a disc above his head, yet everything else matches up. Khnum is the god of cataracts, pottery and creativity, but he started out as the guardian of the source of the Nile River. Fun Fact perhaps: The full name of Khufu, a pharao of the fourth dynasty, who commissioned the Great Pyramid of Giza (or at least is widely accepted to have done that) is Khnum-Khufwy or "Khnum is my Protector". Do with that info what you will. And lastly: "The Tomb of Alexander the Great"

In general, I really loved the tomb scene. For one, because of how excited Steven is to see all the relics and then he also finds out it’s the lost tomb of Alexander the Great? That's an interesting twist! Another fun fact perhaps: the tomb and dig site in the show are in the Siwa-Desert which is also where Alexander’s tomb was supposedly found. Egyptian officials claimed to have identified his tomb at the Siwa Oasis in 2021. But from what i’ve read it’s not actually completely confirmed. Alexander having been Ammit’s avatar could even make sense if you look at his life and “accomplishments”. He started and fought many battles and wars, conquered many lands, killed many people and believed he was in the right to do so. It would fit in with what Harrow wants to do. Which is to kill people for a cause he believes to be good and righteous.

So in conclusion: I love Moon Knight and it's details

[omegaphilosophia]

The Philosophy of Kemetic Orthodoxy

Kemetic Orthodoxy is a modern religious movement that revives the ancient Egyptian religious practices, also known as Kemetism. Rooted in the religious traditions of ancient Egypt, Kemetic Orthodoxy emphasizes the worship of the Egyptian gods, a deep connection with ancestors, and the pursuit of Ma’at, the concept of balance, truth, and cosmic order.

Key Principles of Kemetic Orthodoxy

Ma’at (Cosmic Order, Truth, and Balance):

The central philosophical concept in Kemetic Orthodoxy is Ma’at, which represents the natural order of the universe, encompassing justice, harmony, balance, truth, and morality.

Followers strive to live in accordance with Ma’at by fostering balance in their relationships, communities, and with nature. It also involves resisting Isfet, or chaos, which is the opposite of Ma’at.

Polytheism and the Egyptian Gods:

Kemetic Orthodoxy recognizes the pantheon of ancient Egyptian deities, such as Ra, Isis, Osiris, Hathor, Anubis, and others. These gods represent various aspects of the cosmos and human life, and each deity has a specific role and domain.

Worship involves rituals, offerings, prayers, and meditation to honor the gods and cultivate a relationship with them. Temples and priests historically played a major role, but in modern practice, rituals may be conducted individually or in community.

Divine Kingship:

Ancient Egypt viewed the Pharaoh as both a political and spiritual leader, a living incarnation of the god Horus on Earth, and an intermediary between the gods and humanity. While there is no modern equivalent to the Pharaoh in Kemetic Orthodoxy, the idea of divine leadership and service to the community is still respected.

Modern adherents honor leaders who preserve the teachings of the gods and maintain the connection between the divine and earthly realms.

Ancestor Veneration:

A strong emphasis is placed on ancestor worship, where practitioners pay homage to deceased relatives and historical figures. Ancestors are believed to offer guidance, protection, and support in the spiritual journey.

Ancestor veneration ties into the broader concept of heka (magic), which involves the use of spiritual power and knowledge to invoke the presence of the gods or ancestors for assistance.

Heka (Magic or Divine Speech):

Heka is the ancient Egyptian concept of magic or divine speech, through which the spoken word is believed to have the power to influence the world and align the practitioner with Ma’at.

This practice includes the recitation of hymns, prayers, and sacred texts, which are considered powerful tools to maintain order and harmony in the world.

Netjer (Divine Force):

The word Netjer represents the concept of divinity in Kemetic Orthodoxy. It can refer to both the universal divine force and individual deities within the pantheon.

Netjer is seen as manifesting in various gods and goddesses, who represent different aspects of creation, life, and death, and are integral to maintaining the balance of Ma’at.

Personal Piety and Community Worship:

Kemetic Orthodoxy emphasizes personal piety as well as participation in communal religious activities. Personal piety includes maintaining shrines, offering daily prayers, and engaging in meditation to connect with the gods and ancestors.

The community aspect is reflected in festivals and rituals that celebrate significant dates in the Egyptian calendar, such as the Opet Festival, honoring deities like Amun, and the Wep Ronpet (Egyptian New Year), marking the rebirth of the world.

The Concept of the Ka and Ba (Soul Components):

The ancient Egyptians believed in a multi-faceted soul, including the Ka (spiritual essence or vital energy) and Ba (personality or spirit). The Ka represents a person's life force, while the Ba is the unique spiritual essence that survives after death.

Practitioners of Kemetic Orthodoxy work to maintain the health and balance of these aspects of the soul in life and the afterlife.

Ethical and Spiritual Development:

Living according to the values of Ma’at means cultivating virtues such as justice, truthfulness, respect, humility, and generosity. Spiritual development is seen as a journey toward greater harmony with the cosmic order and deeper connection with the gods and ancestors.

Daily life is imbued with spiritual meaning, and each action is a reflection of one's commitment to maintaining Ma’at in the world.

Kemetic Orthodoxy offers a contemporary practice rooted in the ancient Egyptian worldview, where the divine, the natural world, and human life are interconnected through the principle of Ma’at. By honoring the gods, ancestors, and cosmic order, followers of Kemetic Orthodoxy strive to live balanced, just, and spiritually meaningful lives, with a strong sense of responsibility to maintain harmony and resist chaos.