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AncientEgyptMagazine
IssueSevenJune/July2001

NineMeasuresofMagic
Part1:Heka,itstheologicalaspectsandimportancetothefabricoftheEgyptiancosmos
ThegeniusoftheancientEgyptianswasrenownedthroughouttheancientworld.Egyptian
magic,inparticular,wasfearedandenviedbyEgyptsneighbours.Ourownviewofthis,
arguesDrPanagiotisKousoulisoftheSchoolofArchaeology,ClassicsandOrientalStudies,
UniversityofLiverpool,iscolouredby19thand20thcenturyinterpretationsoftheEgyptian
Heka.HerevealsthatunderstandingHeka,magic,isfundamentaltoourappreciationofthe
Egyptiancosmos.Hekawasanaturalforce,butitcouldalsoberepresentedasagodinhuman
form.

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Vignetteillustratingpartofthespell23oftheBookoftheDead,referringtothe
openingofthemouthceremonyforthedeceased.Althoughtheopeningofthemouth
ceremonyismainlyafuneraryritual,itbearsstrongmagicalconnotations.The

rejuvenatingaspectofHekawasusedbythesempriest/magiciantorevivethedeceasedby
raisingritualimplementstothemouth.FunerarypapyrusofHunefer,probablyfrom
Memphis,19thDynasty(c.1310BC).BM9901/5(R.O.Faulkner,TheAncientEgyptian
BookoftheDead,London1985,54).
MagicpermeatesEgyptiansociety
In studying ancient societies, magical and ritual sources have tendedtobeunderexploited,
partly for their superficial inaccessibility, and partly because they have been disreputably
attractive to the esoteric fringe. These sources do, however,providea number ofdetailed
insights into the relationship between real and practical behaviour and the religious,
ideological explanation of that behaviour. That holds especially true for ancient Egypt,
which has long been recognised asthe land of myth and magic. This is best reflected in an
ancient text: Ten measures of magic have come into this world. Egypt received nineofthem,
the rest of the world only one measure. Magical beliefs and practices played a very
prominent role within the socioreligious morals and behaviour of the ancient Egyptians,
interfering in almost every aspect of Egyptian life at all levels of society. Egyptian magic
covers a timespan of almost 4000 years:theearliestprotectiveamuletsdateback tothe4th
millennium BC, while written magical spells make theirfirst appearance in 3000 BC, and
continueinuseuntilthe5thcenturyAD.
Anthropologicalmisunderstandings
In the last two centuries, various scholars, primarily from the fields of anthropology and
sociology (Taylor, Frazer, EvansPritchard, Durkheim, Mauss, Malinowski, Goode, Brown,
Smith andTambiah, to mention but a few), have produced works reflecting the interest of
scientific investigators in the magical beliefsandpractices oftheancientworld.Theirwork,
which was based mainly on observations of the social and magicoreligious behaviour of
primitivecultures,wasdirectedtowardstheassumptionofauniversal definitionofmagic.
Having been influenced to a great extent by generalised JudaeoChristian theological
assumptions and prejudices about the unorthodoxy and illegality of such practices, they
tended to clearly differentiate magic from religion. The formerwas regarded as a lower,
mechanistic system of words and actions, which demanded hybris and blasphemyfromits
devotees. Religious practice, on the other hand, consisted of noble and pious rituals
expressing a standard theology. Thus, magic was stigmatised as illegal and antisocial
behaviourandthatillegalityistheoneuniversalcharacteristicofmagic.
Allthe first historical studies on Egyptianmagic seem to be coloured by thisconjectural
difference between positive/beneficent and negative/hostile actions, consisting of either
pious, religious acts, or irreverent, blasphemous magical performances. For example, the
British Egyptologist Alan Gardiner recognised two categories of actions: ordinary and
magical actions. The first could be treated with knowledge acquired naturally, by
education or habit, while the latter could only be fulfilled with the aid of Heka, which he
translates as magical power. He also differentiates them from all the other kinds of
religious andcultic acts, such as the cult of thedead or the cult of the gods,whichare
implicitlyclassedtogetherasreligion.Thus,heredefinesmagicasprivatereligionand
divides magical practice, according to the aims the performers want to obtain, into
defensive, productive, prognosticandmalevolentmagic.Another prominentEgyptologist, J.
Borghouts, follows the same categorisation 58 years later andelaborates on thistheme by
dividing the category of destructive magic into evil sorcery and witchcraft. The latter
term was an obvious loan from contemporary European anthropological theories and its
applicationwithinthegeneralframeworkofEgyptianmagicalpracticeisproblematic.

TheHarimConspiracy:
acaseofblackmagic?
The case that is usually referred to as witchcraft or black magic is the Harim
Conspiracy against the Pharaoh RamessesIII(NineteenthDynasty,c.11861154BC).Here
the magical process took the form of written magical spells, inscribed wax figurines and
specially prepared potions, which, according to the partially preserved trial records, were
produced by a priest/magician with the aid of several other functionaries.Theconspirators
failed to kill thekingandtheyreceivedthedeathsentenceforthegreatcapitalcrimethey
had intended to commit: rebellionagainstthe legitimatestateauthorities. Itwasthehidden,
insidious and rebellious intentions that were actually condemned in the above conspiracy
and not the method that was used. The latter could equally have been a knife or sword,
instead of a magical technique. So, the only accusation for black magic known from
Ancient Egypt has failed to have parallels, or, further, to be equated with the wellknown
witchcraft trials from medieval times, or those reported among primitive tribes studied by
anthropologists. Thus, any fixed and standard definition thattries toexplainthetheoretical
and performative context behind the notion of Egyptian Heka by comparing it with
nonEgyptianpossessionanduseofmagic,shouldberegardedatleastaserroneous.

Heka,Godofmagic(farleft),standswiththegoddessMaatbehindthethroneofOsiris.
FunerarypapyrusofthepriestessNesitanebetisheru,c.950BC.EA10554/88,BritishMuseum
(Pinch1994,11,fig2)

ThecreativeaspectofEgyptianmagic
The Egyptian term for magic, Heka(HkA), wasusedthroughout thePharaonicperioduntil
Roman times. It wassucceeded by the Coptic word Hik (xik), which was equated with the
Greek word magia.Thebestdefinition ofHekainEgyptiantermscomesfromfuneraryspell
261 that was inscribed on a Middle Kingdomsarcophagus.ThespellisentitledTobecome
thegodHeka:
I am he whom the Lord of allmadebefore duality had yetcomeintobeingIamtheson
of him whogave birth to the universe I am the protection of that which the Lord of all
has ordained I am he who gave life to the Ennead of godsI have come to take my
position that I mayreceivemydignity.Becauseto mebelongedtheuniversebefore yougods
hadcomeintobeing.YouhavecomeafterwardsbecauseIamHeka.
So, the notion of Heka existed before the creation of divine andmundaneworld and itwas
the cause for the emanation of cosmos. It was the lifegiving energywhichwasconceived
in the mind of the creatorgod and expressed as divinelogos.Accordingto theMemphite
theology, as expressed in theinscriptionsonalate periodmonument theShabakoStone,the
creation of each human or divine being and, in general, of everything that exists in the
universe, by the creator god Ptah, was achieved through the verbal manifestation of the
divine thought and its correct pronunciation as logos, (Hw), or word,command(mdt).
The divine logos had as encrypted point of reference the abstract, symbolic notion of
name. By proclaiming the name of everything Ptah gave birth, initially, to Shu and
Tefnut and consequently to the whole Ennead) (group of nine gods). Without the notion of
Heka creation was not possible. All thegods and humanbeingscameafterwardsasaresult
ofthisdivinecreativitycausedbyHeka,mademanifestbythespokenwordsofPtah.
Another epithet for Heka was the one who consecrates imagery (HkAkA). It refers
exactly to the primeval generative attribute of Heka to empower the creators divine
thoughts and actions and translate them into their substantial equivalent in the visual and
material world. Heka was the animation force behind every ritual act, state or private,
beneficent orhostile.Sincethecreationofthefirsttimewasreenactedinthedailytemple
ritual, the ritual of the opening of the mouth, every morning, the power of Heka was
presentineveryritualactivity.

Hekavisualised
The creative act of HekaispersonifiedanddepictedonthesolarbarkofthecreatorgodRe.
In company with Su (creative logos) and Sia (perception), Heka reenacts the creation
of the first time and the separation of heaven and earth. The theological manifestation of
Heka is alsopresentintombandtemplerepresentations asearlyastheOldKingdom.Inthe
Fifth Dynasty funerary temple of the king Sahure, Heka heads a procession of nome
(regional) deities bearing offerings to the king. In lateperioddocumentsandonthewallsof
the Ptolemaic templesofDendera, Edfu,KomOmbosandPhilae,Hekaappearsasoneofthe
fourteen kas of the sungod Re, an idea that was already present in the Middle Kingdom
CoffinTexts.Forexample,inCoffinspell261HekastyleshimselfasLordofkas.
In thesocalled underworld books, the corpus of texts and scenes inscribed on the walls of
the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings,thegodHekaprotectsthesungodReduringhis
night journey in the Netherworld(Amduat).Heka appearsamongthe crewofthesolarbark
exorcising Apophis, the eternal serpentine demonic enemy of the sungod.Thefightusually
takes place inthe seventhhour ofthenightwhenthe evilserpenttriesto stopthemovement
of the solar bark byhypnotisingthecrew.Apophisisdefeatedbyvirtueofthemagic (Heka)

of the goddess Isis and the eldest magician (Heka Semeshw). ThequalificationofHekaas
eldershouldbeseenasareferencetohisprimordialstatusasfirstbornsonofRe.

MagicandTempleritual
A reenactment of Apophiss defeat takes place dailyin cultic ceremonies in all the major
temples. The ritualist, magician/priest, plays the role of the god Heka and executes the
serpent of chaos by smiting, breaking or burning his wax image. In the Late Period
document, the Papyrus BremnerRhind, there are magicalinstructionsof howto makewax
figurinesoftheserpentinedemonorotherdivineorhumanenemies:
This spell is to be recited over (an image of) Apophis drawn on a new sheet of papyrus in
green ink, and (over a figure of) Apophis in red wax. See his name is inscribed on itingreen
ink. To be spat upon, smitten with a knife. To be put on the fire. It is a burningin a fire of
bryony.
This magical procedure was performed daily in the temple of AmunRe, Lordofthethrones
of the Two Lands, who dwells in Karnak. So, in ancient Egypt magic was closely
interconnected with the religious activities and form of the state and it was not only the
concernofindividualsperformingritualsfortheirownbenefit.
Magical rituals were performed as part of religious festivals. That is best illustrated in the
Ptolemaic festival in favourofHorusof Edfu(theBehdetite),celebratedoverafourteenday
period at Edfu, where images of the serpent Apophis, together with those of hippopotami
and crocodiles, symbolic of the god Seth, are used in execration rituals against theenemies
of Horus. The rituals were completed withthestrikingoftheeye(ofApophis),theoffering
of the hippopotamuscake,thetramplingof fishesanddestruction ofalltheenemiesofthe
king.
At the temple of Esna, the ritual against Apophis was developed within the proper cultic
liturgy in favour of the goddess Sekhmet on the first day of the year. It was performed by
the same Sekhmetpriest, for there was not a caste of professional magicians in Ancient
Egypt. This magical workwasconsideredasjustoneofmanypriestlydutiesandtheliterate
lectorpriest (kharyhebet) was at the same time a public servant of the cult and a private
practitioner of magic. Also, the spells and techniques of Heka, about which we shall talkin
detail in a future article, are those of temple ceremony: invocation of gods as assistantsin
the magical operation (divine speech), erasure ofnamesandmutilationofimages(damnatio
memoriae), threats, enumeration of the human bodily parts that are ascribed to particular
deities(lists),justtomentionafew.
The Pharaoh wasresponsiblefordefeatingchaos(isefet)andmaintainingorder(maat).This
antithesis between order and chaos is not regarded as an exclusive subject of the magical
rituals, but it permeates almost every cultic activity. Orderversus chaos provides acrucial
theme ofreferencein Egyptianritual.Ritualiscentralto bothreligionandmagic.Itconsists
of the main point of reference, composed of a sequence of actions that express and fulfil
certain purposes throughthe mobilising of specific mythological ortheologicalevents.So
Heka, as a mobilised force within a certain performative environment, could beconsidered
as a personification of the power of ritual. In the Middle KingdomteachingofAmenemhat
I, there is a definition ofHeka that clearly shows its protective and apotropaic / ritualistic
nature: He ( the sun god) gave to them (mankind) magic (Heka) as weapon in order to
repel the strokes of bad events. These beliefs were not only held as intellectual ideas, but
actedoutinthedailyritualintemples.

For the Ancient Egyptians magic as Heka is a neutral, amoral creative force that is not
opposed to religion but which animates it. This approach to Egyptian magic helps us to
study the anthropology and sacred praxis (work) of Heka rather than to see it as a
compilationofsuperstitionsandpopularbeliefs

Heka:ThemagicofancientEgypt
.....tomebelongedtheuniversebeforeyougodshadcomeintobeing.Youhavecomeafterwards
becauseIamHeka.
Coffintexts,spell261[2]FirstIntermediatePeriodtoMiddleKingdom
Allreligionshaveamagicalaspect[1],ancientreligionsliketheEgyptian,accordingtowhichallof
creationwasanimatedtosomeextent,perhapsmoresothanmanyothers.Throughmagicthe
creationhadcomeintobeingandwassustainedbyit.Thus,magicwasmoreancient,and
consequentlymorepowerful,thanthegodsthemselves
IamonewithAtumwhenhestillfloatedaloneinNun,thewatersofchaos,beforeanyofhis
strengthhadgoneintocreatingthecosmos.IamAtumathismostinexhaustiblethepotenceand
potentialofallthatistobe.Thisismymagicprotectionandit'solderandgreaterthanallthegods
together!
BookoftheDead,NewKingdom
Itwasalsotheextraordinarymeansforacquiringknowledgeaboutone'ssurroundingsaboveall
thehiddenpartsofthemandgainingcontroloverthem.Gods,demonsandthedeadcouldbe
implored,cajoledorthreatened.Theirhelpcouldbeenlistedtoavertevilorachieveone'sdesires.
Magicwasacceptedbyallancientpeoplesasarealforce.TheHebrewtraditionwhichwas
stronglyopposedtoit,didnotdenyitsefficacy,butratherextolledtheevengreatermagicalpower
ofitsowngod:
8AndtheLordspakeuntoMosesanduntoAaronsaying,
9WhenPharaohshallspeakuntoyou,saying,Shewamiracleforyou:thenthoushaltsayunto
Aaron,Takethyrod,andcastitbeforePharaoh,anditshallbecomeaserpent.
10AndMosesandAaronwentinuntoPharaoh,andtheydidsoastheLordhadcommanded:And
AaroncastdownhisrodbeforePharaoh,andbeforehisservants,anditbecameaserpent.
11ThePharaohalsocalledthewisemenandthesorcerers:nowthemagiciansofEgypt,theyalso
didinlikemannerwiththeirenchantments.
12Fortheycastdowneverymanhisrod,andtheybecameserpentsbutAaron'srodswallowedup
theirrods.
Exodus7[29]about6thor5thcenturyBCE

EgyptianmagicalthinkingcontinuedtoinfluenceEurope.Thoth,godof
wisdomandlearning,wasidentifiedwiththeGreekHermesTrismegistus.Hewasthoughtbythe
HermetiststohaveoriginatedtheHermetica,42booksofmagic[12].
Isislactans
26thdynasty
TheworshipofIsis,ofwhomtheMetternichStela(4thcenturyBCE)says"IamIsisthegoddess,
thepossessorofmagic,whoperformsmagic,effectiveofspeech,excellentofwords,"became
widespreadthroughouttheRomanempire.Shewastheoriginalmotherofgod,Isislactansfeeding
hersonHorus,whichChristianityadoptedastheMadonna.Herroleasprotectressisreflectedinthe
Mariancult.

Acquiringmagicalpowers

Whileitsefficiencyinthehandsofmortal
practitionerswasperhapsoftenlessthanhadbeenhopedfor,magicattractedpeoplebecauseit
waspracticalandmadesense.Everythinghadareason,oftenhiddentotheordinaryperson,but
revealedtotheknowledgeable.
MagicalspellwritteninCoptic
Picturesource:DukePapyrusArchive
Magicexplainedtherelationshipsbetweencausesandeffectsusingideaspeoplecouldrelateto.
Analogiesandsymbolismswerewidelyused,thesympatheticprincipleoflikeaffectinglikewas
invoked,associations,betheypurecoincidence,wereimbuedwithmeaning,andhistoric
occurrencesbecamepredictorsforthefuture.Therewereevenprescribedwaysforexplainingwhy
expectedresultshadnotmaterialized.
Itappearsthat,originally,theEgyptians,likesomeotherpeopleswhopracticedritual
cannibalism,thoughtthatspiritualpowersresidedinthebodyandcouldbeacquiredbyingestion.
Thereisnoevidence,though,thatsuchaviewwasmorethanspeculativeandeveractedupon.
Thekingorderssacrifices,healonecontrolsthem,
thekingeatshumans,feedsongods,
hehasthempresentedonanaltartohimself,
hehasagentstodohiswill.Hefiresofftheorders!
............

Thekingeatstheirmagic,hegulpsdowntheirsouls,
theadultshehasforbreakfast,
theyoungarelunch,
thebabieshehasforsupper,
theoldonesaretootoughtoeat,hejustburnsthemonthealtarasanofferingtohimself.
PyramidTexts2734,OldKingdom
translatedbyJacobRabinowitz[5]
Magicwastightlyboundupwithwriting,althoughtheremusthavebeenanextensivepurelyoral
traditionwhichwasneverrecordedandisthereforelosttous.Mostpractitionersgainedmagical
knowledgebystudyingancientscriptures[20].Chiefamongthemwerethelectorpriests,theonly
clericswhowerefullyprofessionalsincethebeginningofrecordedhistory.Theywerethekeepers
ofthesacredbooks.
Thepractitionersofmagic
Magicalknowledgeandpoweremanatedfromthegodsandwasbestowedupontheirservants,
thekings...
Utteranceofallthegods,[to]AmonRe:"Thisthydaughter[Hatshepsut],wholiveth,weare
satisfiedwithherinlifeandpeace.Sheisnowthydaughterofthyform,whomthouhastbegotten,
prepared.Thouhastgiventoherthysoul,thy[...],thy[bounty],themagicpowersofthediadem......
ThecoronationofHatshepsut
18thdynasty
BreastedAncientRecordsofEgyptPart2,220
ComegloriousoneIhaveplaced(thee)beforemethatthoumayestseethyadministrationinthe
palace,andtheexcellentdeedsofthyka'sthatthoumayestassumethyroyaldignity,gloriousinthy
magic,mightyinthystrength.
ThutmoseI,summoninghisdaughtertobecrowned
18thdynasty
BreastedAncientRecordsofEgyptPart2,235

...andtheirsubstitutesintheserviceofthegods,the
priesthood.Buttherewerealsolessexaltedmagicianswhodidnotdealwithlifeanddeath,butwith
moremundaneissueslikegoodluckcharms,pestcontrolorlovepotions.
AydressedasHighPriestperformingtheOpeningoftheMouthceremony
TombKV62,18thdynasty
Picturesource:LionelCassonAncientEgypt
Sometimesspellsfellintothewronghands.Anybodycapableofreadingcouldusethem[17],and,
attimes,somedidsowithevilintentions.
Now,whenPenhuibin,formerlyoverseerofherds,saidtohim:"Givetomearollforenduingme
withstrengthandmight,"hegavetohimamagicrollofUsermareMeriamon(RamsesIII),L.P.H.,the
GreatGod,hislord,L.P.H.,andhebegantoemploythemagicpowersofagoduponpeople.
RecordsoftheHaremConspiracyagainstRamsesIII20thdynasty
Totheordinarymortalmagiccouldbedangerous,andcomingintophysicalcontactwiththe
divinedeadly.Theaccidentaltouchingoftheroyalsceptreevenbyasempriesthadtobe
counteractedbytheking'sspell,andtheincidentwasseriousenoughtoberecorded:
ThekingofUpperandLowerEgyptNeferikareappearedasKingofLowerEgyptonthedayofthe
seizingoftheanteriorropeoftheGod'sbarque.TherewasthesempriestRewerbeforehismajesty
inhisofficeofsempriest,responsiblefortheclothing.Theamessceptrewhichwasinthehandof
hismajesty,touchedthefootofthesempriestRewer.Hismajestysaidtohim:"Mayyoubewell!"
thusspokehismajesty.

Behold,hismajestysaid:"Itisdesirabletomymajestythathemaybewell,withoutablowfor
him."Behold,heismoreesteemedbyhismajestythananyotherman.Hismajestyorderedtohave
(it)putinwritingonhistombwhichisinthenecropolis.Hismajestycausedarecordtobemade
aboutit,writteninthepresenceofthekinghimselfinthedistrictofthepalace,inordertowrite
downaccordingtowhathadbeensaidinhistombwhichisinthenecropolis.
FromthetombofRewer(5thdynasty)[24]
Practicalpurposes
Magichadimportantpragmaticaspects,whichwereexploitedtoachievetheaimsofhumans,
deadoralive,spirits,andgods:
CreationoftheworldbyPtah,theselffertilizationofAmenorKhnum'sshapingofmanfromclay
werealldeedsunachievablebyordinarymeans.
He(Ptah)gavebirthtothegods,Hemadethetowns,Heestablishedthenomes,Heplacedthe
godsintheirshrines,Hesettledtheirofferings,Heestablishedtheirshrines,Hemadetheirbodies
accordingtotheirwishes.
FromtheShabakaStone,25thdynasty

Thegivingofbirthwasnotjustmiraculous,
butalsodangerous,andthenewlybornwasespeciallyvulnerable.
Birthbrick
Picturesource:UniversityofPennsylvaniaMuseumwebsite[2]

Birthbricks[2]onwhichthewomaninlabourcrouched,weredecoratedwithdepictionsofHathor
andothergoddessesandwerebelievedtobestowprotectiononthemotherandaboveallherbaby,
andcharmswereusedtoguardchildrenfromevildemons[18].Boysappeartohavebeenfavoured
bytheirparentsandgivenbetterprotection,e.g.onlyboy'snamesarementionedonapotropaic
wandscarvedofivoryanddecoratedwithpicturesofprotectivedeities.[25]

Thedeadandtheirrestingplaceneededprotectingtooand,ashistoryhasproven,ancientcurses
turnedouttobemostineffective
TheelderofthehouseofMeni,hesays:ACrocodileagainsthiminthewater.Asnakeagainsthim
onland.Hewilldosomethingagainstthatsameone.AtnotimedidIdoanythingagainsthim.Itis
Godwhowilljudge.
InscriptioninthetombofMeni,6thDynasty,atGiza
Amuletswerewornbythelivingandgiventothedeadtoempowerandwardoffevil[21].Some
mummieshaddozensofscarabspackedintotheirbandages.
He(thesungod)createdforthemmagicasaweapon,
tofendofftheblowsofthehappenings.

TheteachingsofMerikare,MiddleKingdom
AfterJanAssmanngyptenTheologieundFrmmigkeiteinerfrhenHochkultur,p.72
Asdiseaseswerethoughttobecausedbyspirits,healingwasamagicalscience:thegivingof
medicinesandthenursingcarewereaccompaniedbyspellsdesignedtoexpelthesepathogenic
agents.
Gettheeback,thouenemy,thoudeadmanorwoman...Thoudostnotenterintohisphallus,sothat
itgrowslimp.Thoudostnotcastseedintohisanus(?)...
Gardiner,ThebanOstraca,C1,p.1315
AccordingtotheBentreshStela,describinganapparentlyfictitiousmedicalcaseinthestrange
faroffcountryofBekhten,whenthedaughterofthechieffellill,thestatueof
KhonsuthePlanMaker,GreatGod,SmiterofevilSpiritswassentfromEgypt:
ThenthisgodwenttotheplacewhereBentreshwas.Thenhewroughttheprotectionofthe
daughterofthechiefofBekhten.Shebecamewellimmediately.
ThensaidthespiritwhichwasinherbeforeKhonsuthePlanMakerinThebes:"Thoucomestin
peace,thougreatgod,smitingthebarbarians.........
Iamthyservant.IwillgototheplacewhenceIcame,tosatisfythyheartconcerningthat,on
accountofwhichthoucomest.........."
BentreshStela
possibly27thdynastyorlater
JamesHenryBreastedAncientRecordsofEgyptPartThree,443f.
Physicians,priestsandmagiciansnocleardemarcationlineappearstohaveseparatedthese,to
oureyesverydifferent,callingsseeminglyworkedaccordingtoquitestrictguidelinesastohow
thebodywastobeexamined,howtheresultsweretobeinterpretedandwhichtreatmentswereto
beperformedandwhichwerenot.
Therearevesselsineverylimbofthebody.Whensomephysician,somesakhmetpriest,some
magicianlayshisfingeronthehead,onthebackofthehead,onthehands,ontheplaceofthe
heart,onbotharmsandbothlegs,thenhewillfeeltheheart,astherearevesselsineverylimbof
thebodyandit(i.e.theheart)'speaks'atthebeginningofthevesselsofallbodyparts.
EbersPapyrus,col.99,MiddleKingdom
Themoreradicalcures,likeIsisrestoringOsiristolifeorKhufu'smagicianDjedireattaching
cutoffheadsbelongedstrictlytotherealmsofmythologyorfancy.
Theacquisitionofknowledgeconcerningspiritualbeingsorthefutureenhancedaperson's
controloverhisdestiny.Onepathtosuchknowledgewastheinterpretationofdreams,whichwas
alsousedforjustifyingone'sactionsorlegitimizingone'spower:
Inyear1,ofhiscoronationasking......hismajestysawadreambynight:twoserpents,oneupon
hisright,theotheruponhisleft.Thenhismajestyawoke,andhefoundthemnot.Hismajestysaid:
"Wherefore[has]this[come]tome?"Thentheyansweredhim,saying:"ThineistheSouthlandtake
forthyself(also)theNorthland.Thetwogoddessesshineuponthybrow,thelandisgiventothee,in
itslengthanditsbreadth.[No]otherdividesitwiththee."
StelaofTanutamen
25thdynasty
JamesHenryBreastedAncientRecordsofEgyptPartFour922

Thepowerattainedthroughmagiccouldserve
manypurposes,goodorevil.Itcouldbeusedtomanipulatepeople'sbehaviourorfeelingsasthe
manylovespellsprove[23].AccordingtothewritingsofPseudoCallisthenesNectaneboIIused
magictodefendhiscountryfromoutsideenemies.
Magicalstela,middleof4thcenturyBCE=>
Picturesource:MetropolitanMuseum[7]
Wheneverhewasthreatenedwithinvasionbyseaorbylandhesucceededindestroyingthe
powerofhisenemies,andindrivingthemfromhiscoastsorfrontiersandthishedidbythe
followingmeans.Iftheenemycameagainsthimbysea,insteadofsendingouthissailorstofight
them,heretiredintoacertainchamber,andhavingbroughtforthabowlwhichhekeptforthe
purpose,hefilleditwithwater,andthen,havingmadewaxfiguresoftheshipsandmenofthe
enemy,andalsoofhisownmenandships,hesetthemuponthewaterinthebowl,hismenonone
side,andthoseoftheenemyontheother.

Hethencameout,andhavingputonthecloakofanEgyptianprophetandtakenanebonyrodin
hishand,hereturnedintothechamber,andutteringwordsofpowerheinvokedthegodswhohelp
mentoworkmagic,andthewinds,andthesubterraneandemons,whichstraightwaycametohis
aid.Bytheirmeansthefiguresofthemeninwaxsprangintolifeandbegantofight,andtheshipsof
waxbegantomoveaboutlikewisebutthefigureswhichrepresentedhisownmenvanquished
thosewhichrepresentedtheenemy,andasthefiguresoftheshipsandmenofthehostilefleetsank
throughthewatertothebottomofthebowl,evensodidtherealshipsandmensinkthroughthe
waterstothebottomofthesea.
Inthiswayhesucceededinmaintaininghispower,andhecontinuedtooccupyhiskingdomin
peaceforaconsiderableperiod.
E.A.WallisBudgeEgyptianMagic[4]
Throughdeathapersonlosthispoweroverhisbody.Inorderforhimtopasssafelythroughthe
underworldhismummy'ssensualfunctionshadtoberestored.Thiswasdoneintheceremonyof
theopeningofthemouth.Statuesweresimilarlyempowered.
Therewasnotraditionofmagicthatwasevilinitself,whatwewouldrefertoasBlackMagic,but
magiccouldbeabusedandwasintheseinstancestreatedascriminalbehaviour,thoughpossibly
especiallyabhorrent.BothintheRollinandtheLeePapyrusthedeedsofmagicianswhohad
supportedaconspiracyagainstRamsesIIIwerecalled"greatcrimesofdeath","theabominationsof
theland"orthelike,probablybecausethevictimhadbeenthekinghimself.
Thepracticeofmagic
The[magicianHorussonof]Paneshereturned[quickly]hebroughthisbooksandhisamuletsto
[wherePharaoh]was.Herecitedaspelltohimandboundanamuletonhim,topreventthesorceries
oftheNubiansfromgainingpoweroverhim.He[went]outfromPharaoh'spresence,tookhis
offeringsandlibations,wentonboardaboat,andhastenedtoKhmun.Hewenttothetempleof
Khmun,[madehis]offeringsandhislibationsbeforeThoth,theeighttimesgreat,thelordofKhmun,
thegreatgod.Hemadeaprayerbeforehimsaying:"Turnyourfacetome,mylordThoth!Letnotthe
NubianstaketheshameofEgypttothelandofNubia!Itisyouwho[created]magic[spells].Itisyou
whosuspendedthesky,whofoundedtheearthandthenetherworld,whoplacedthegodswith.......
LetmeknowhowtosavePharaoh[fromthesorceriesofthe]Nubians!"
FromthestoryPrinceKhamwasandSiOsire[3]
Preparations
Inorderformagicspellstosucceedelaboratepreparationshadtobemadeattimes:Itwas
generallywisenottochooseanunluckyday,thetime(duskanddawnwereespeciallyauspicious)
andplace(oftenadarkchamber,adarkrecess,acleandarkcellorasecretdarkplace)hadtobe
appropriate,and,asisonlyproperforsuchspiritualendeavours,theingredients,themediumand
themagicianhadtobesuitable,whichgenerallymeantthattheyhadtoberituallypure:Ifitbethat
youdonotapply(?)puritytoit,itdoesnotsucceeditschiefmatterispurity[9].
Thusinonedivinationspellaboywhohasnotbeenwithawomanasmediumwasrequired,in
anotheronecouldaddressthemoonafterbeingpureforthreedays.
Implementsandingredientstooneededtobeacceptable,eitherneworcarefullycleansed:
Yougotoadarkchamberwithits[face]opentotheSouthorEastinacleanplace:yousprinkleit
withcleansandbroughtfromthegreatriveryoutakeacleanbronzecuporanewvesselofpottery
andputalokmeasureofwaterthathassettled(?)orofpurewaterintothe[cup]andalokmeasure
ofrealoilpure....
TheDemoticMagicalPapyrusofLondonandLeiden

RomanPeriod
One'sownsemen,anewbrickorevenmilkofablackcowwererelativelyeasytocomeby,a
twotailedlizardontheotherhandneededsomesearching,andAlexandrianweaselsorhawkswere
becomingquiterareinthelatefirstmillenniumBCE:inatemplewhichspecializedinmummifying
hawkstherewasamajorscandalwhenitwasdiscoveredthatthemummiescontainedanythingbut
hawks.
Spells
Theword,spokenor,perhapsevenmorepotent,writtendownandreadoutaloud,wasthemeans
toinfluenceotherbeingsandbendthemtoone'swill.Speechwasoftenaccompaniedbyactions,
preciselyprescribedritualsforwhichtherewerenoobviousreasonsandwhichwerefrequently
repeated:
......youtakeavineshootbeforeithasripenedgrapes,youtakeitwithyourlefthand,youputit
intoyourrighthandwhenithasgrownsevendigits(inlength)youcarryit[intoyour]house,and
youtakethe[fish]outoftheoil,youtieitbyitstailwithastrip(?)offlax,youhangitupto...of(?)
thevinewood......
TheDemoticMagicalPapyrusofLondonandLeiden
Execrationritualsincludedpiercingofafigurinewithneedlesorknives,spitting,orburning.
Somepharaohsassertedtheirdominanceovertheirenemiesbysymbolicallytramplingonthem:
theyhadtheirfoes'picturespaintedonthesolesoftheirsandals.

Talismanfacilitatingtheprocessofchildbirth
PtolemaicPeriod
Source:GeorgesPoncet/MuseduLouvre[16]
Manyspellsrequiredtheuseofspecialfoodstuffs[18],magicalimplements,figurines,talismans
andthelike.DuringtheMiddleKingdommagicknives[15],sometimesalsocalledapotropaic[14]
wands,weremadeofcarvedhippotusksandoftendecoratedwithanimaldepictions.Oneofthem
carriedthewordsCutofftheheadoftheenemywhenheentersthechamberofthechildrenandthe

spellswerehopedtoaffordprotectionfromsnakes,scorpions[28]andotherdangers.Animal
figurineswereamongtheequipmentoftombs.Verypopularwerehippotalismans.Hipposare
fiercelyprotectiveoftheiryounganddangeroustoman,thedeadwerethereforefrequently
endowedwithfigurineswhichhadalegpurposelybrokenofftopreventthemfromhurtingthetomb
owners.
Vessels,lamps,knivesandotherutensilswereused.Blood(ofsmungeese,hoopoes,nightjars,
worms,puppies,humansetc),semen,oilandwaterweremixedwithotheranimalorplantmatter
(shavingsfromtheheadofadeadman,hawk,ibisorcrocodileeggs,gallofagazelle,ankhamu
plant,[senepeplant],'GreatofAmen'plant,qesankhstone,genuinelapislazuli,'footprintofIsis'
plant).MyrrhandfrankincensewereburnedaswastheAnubisplant.Turpentineandstyrax(storax),
afragrantgum,wereaddedtotheincense[9].

Inexecrationritualsfigurinesweremadeofwax
whichcouldtheneasilybedestroyedbyforceorbyfire

Magicfigurine
AncientEgyptMagazine,IssueNineNovember/December2001[10]
Thisspellistoberecitedover(animageof)Apophisdrawnonanewsheetofpapyrusingreen
ink,and(overafigureof)Apophisinredwax.See,hisnameisinscribedonitingreenink...Ihave
overthrownalltheenemiesofPharaohfromalltheirseatsineveryplacewheretheyare.See,their
nameswrittenontheirbreasts,havingbeenmadeofwax,andalsoboundwithbondsofblackrope.
Spituponthem!Tobetrampledwiththeleftfoot,tobefallenwiththespear(and)knifetobeplaced

onthefireinthemeltingfurnaceofthecoppersmiths...Itisaburninginafireofbryony.Itsashes
areplacedinapotofurine,whichispressedfirmlyintoauniquefire.
NineMeasuresofMagicPart3:'OverthrowingApophis':Egyptianritualinpractice
AncientEgyptMagazineIssueNineNovember/December2001[10]
Thingswereoftenchosenfortheircolour.Black,mentionedtwentytimesintheDemoticMagical
Papyrus,andwhite,twelveinstances,dominated:milkfromablackcow,bloodofablackdog,anew
whitelampetc.
Greatimportancewasattachedtothenamesoftheinvokedgodsorspirits,nameswhichwere
hiddenfromtheuninitiated.Theveryknowledgeoftheirtruenamesasopposedtothosemore
widelyknown(SarpotMuiSroismyname,Lightscarabnoble(?)ismytruename)[9],gaveone
considerablepoweroverthem.Theseappellationshadtobepronouncedproperly,intheright
sequenceandintheirentirety:
'........Io,Tabao,Soukhamamon,Akhakhanbou,Sanauani,Ethie,Komto,Kethos,Basaethori,
Thmila,Akhkhou,givemeanswerastoeverythingaboutwhichIaskheretoday.'Seventimes.
TheDemoticMagicalPapyrusofLondonandLeiden
Thisinvocationwastoberepeatedseventimes.Oftenasimpletwofoldrepetitionseemedto
suffice,butthree,fourandevenninefoldreiterationswerealsofrequent.InAni'sBookofthe
Dead,thedeceasedreaffirmshisinnocencefourtimes:
Iampure.Iampure.Iampure.Iampure.
BudgeTheBookoftheDead,Chapter125[8]
Thesemagicalnumberswerealsoimportantinothercontexts.Acertainlovespellrequirednine
applepipstogetherwithyoururine,anotheraKesh...fishofninedigitsandblack.Foravessel
divinationthreenewbrickswereneededandonewassupposedtopouranunsavoryconcoctionof
semen,bloodandotheringredientsintoacupofwineandaddthreeutehtoitofthefirstfruitsof
thevintage.Othernumberslikefive,sixoreightwererarelyused[9].
Whenthelifeofapatientwasindangerbecauseofasnakebite,asekhmetpriestmightthreaten
tocausethesolarbarquetorunagroundonasandbank,describingthedireconsequencesthat
wouldensuetotheveryfabricoftheworld:
Thesunbarqueisatrestanddoesnotproceed,
Thesunisstillinthesamespotasyesterday.
Thenourishmentiswithoutship,thetempleisbarred,
Therethediseasewillturnbackthedisturbance
Toyesterday'slocation.
Thedaemonofdarknessisabout,thetimesarenotseparated.
Theshadow'sshapescannotbeobservedanymore.
Thespringsareblocked,theplantswither,
Lifeistakenfromtheliving
UntilHorusrecoversforhismotherIsis,
Anduntilthepatient'shealthisrestoredaswell.
AfterJanAssmanngyptenTheologieundFrmmigkeiteinerfrhenHochkultur,p.85
Theneedofthedeceasedformagicwasperhapsevengreaterthanthatoftheliving.Afterdying
theywerecompletelyhelplessuntiltheirfacultieshadbeenrestoredbytheritualoftheOpeningof
theMouthandtheyhadbeenequippedwiththeknowledgeneededtoaddressgodsanddaemons
bytheirhidden,truenamesandthespellsnecessarytowardoffthedangerstheywouldencounter.
Homagetothee,OgreatGod,LordofMaati!Ihavecomeuntothee,OmyLord,andIhavebrought
myselfhitherthatImaybeholdthybeauties.Iknowthee,Iknowthyname,Iknowthenamesofthe
FortytwoGodswholivewiththeeinthisHallofMaati,wholivebykeepingwardoversinners,and

whofeedupontheirbloodonthedaywhentheconsciencesofmenarereckonedupinthepresence
ofthegodUnNefer.Intruththynameis"RehtiMertiNebtiMaati."
ThePapyrusofAni,translatedbyE.A.W.Budge
ButnotallwasgloomintheNetherworld.Thedutiesapersonhadtoperformbyhimselfinthis
world,couldbeattendedtobyastandin,anushabti(alsocalledshawabtiattimes)inthenext,ifyou
knewhowtomakehimdoit[19]:
Spellforcausingashawabtitoworkforitsownerintheunderworld.Toberecitedoverthe
shawabti,whichwillbemadeeitheroftamariskorthornwood.Thisshallbecarvedtoresembleits
ownerasheappearedinlife,andplacedinthetomb.
Lookuponthisman,yegods,transfiguredsoulsandspiritsofthedead,
forhehasacquiredforce,seizedhismoment,takenonroyalauthority,
he'sapharaoh,rulingmankind,controllingthemlikecattle.
Theywerecreatedtoservehim.Thegodsthemselvesordainedit.
Now,shawabti:
If,intheworldofthedead,XisorderedtoperformtheyearlystintofpublicworkallEgyptiansowe
theirpharaoh,
beittomovebricks,leveloffaplotofground,resurveylandwhentheNilefloodrecedesortill
newplantedfields,
youwillsay"HereIam!"toanyfunctionarywhocomeslookingforXwhileheistryingtoenjoyhis
mealoffuneraryofferings.
Takeupyourhoe,shawabti,yourpick,yourdemarcationpegs,yourbasket,justasanyslavewould
forhismaster.
OshawabtimadeforX,ifXiscalledforhisobligationstothestateyouwillpipeup:"HereIam!"
whetherXissummonedtooverseeworkersinthenewplantedfields,tendtoirrigation,movesand
fromEasttoWestorviceversa
"HereIam!"youwillsayandtakehisplace.
CoffinText472,translatedbyJacobRabinowitz[6]
Addressingsupernaturalpowers
Prayersandofferings

Indealingwiththegodscarewasrequired.Theywere
powerfuland,consequently,highlyrespected:MutcarriedtheepithetGreatinMagic,the
vultureheadedHeknet[26],thePraiser,wasMistressofSpirits,[27]thehippogoddessTaweretwas
calledGreatofSorceryandSekhmetwasthePowerfulOne.Theirnaturewasoftendual:Taweretwas
aprotectressagainstTyphonicpowers,carryinganankhoraburningtorch,butshehadtheformof
anextremelydangerousanimal[13]Sekhmet,aferociousliongoddess,broughtdeathand

destructionwhensheaccompaniedthepharaohonhiscampaignsofwar,butwasthemainsupport
ofthehealersintheirfightagainstdisease.Itwasbesttotreatthemwithreverence.
Manypeopletodaymayseepracticessuchasprayersandofferingstogodsasdistinctfrom
magic,itwasnottotheEgyptians.Boththelivingandthedeadwenttogreatlengthstoreceivethe
blessingofthegods.Hymnsofpraisewerecomposedandrecited,writtendownonpapyrusandput
inthetombs.Offeringsoffood,realorcarvedonwalls,weresupposedtosatiatethegod'shunger
andthirst.
JustasthestatueofthegodAmenforinstancewasthegodhimself,amagician,byidentifying
himselfwithagod,wastransformedintohim
'Iwillsay:"CometomeMontu,lordoftheday!Come,thatyoumayputNbornofNintomyhandlike
aninsectinthemouthofabird".IamMontuwhomthegodsadore.Iwillseveryourbonesandeat
yourflesh.'
OstraconfoundatDeirelMedine
19thdynasty
AncientEgyptMagazine:Ninemeasuresofmagic[11]
Invokinganddismissing
Lessermagicalbeingslikedemons,spiritsorthedeceaseddidnotquitewarrantthesame
amountofrespect.Buttheywerethemainagentsofmagicandcouldbeinvokedbysimplemeans:
Prescriptiontomakethemspeak:youputafrog'sheadonthebrazier,thentheyspeak.

or

Prescriptionforbringingthegodsinbyforce:youputthebileofacrocodilewithpounded
frankincenseonthebrazier.Ifyouwishtomakethemcomeinquicklyagain,youputstalks(?)of
anise(?)onthebraziertogetherwiththeeggshellasabove,thenthecharmworksatonce.
TheDemoticMagicalPapyrusofLondonandLeiden
Iftheydidnotobeythey(evenlamps)couldbethreatened:
Iwillnotgivetheeoil,Iwillnotgivetheefat.OlampverilyIwillgivetheethebodyofthefemale
cowandputbloodofthemalebullinto(?)theeandputthybandtothetesticles(?)oftheenemyof
Horus.
TheDemoticMagicalPapyrusofLondonandLeiden
Onceonehadreceivedtheirservicesitwasbesttosendthemawayastheycouldbe
unpredictable
Hisdismissalformula:'Farewell(bis)Anubis,thegoodoxherd,Anubis(bis),thesonofa(?)
jackal(and?)adog...anothervolumesaith:thechildof...Isis(?)(and)adog,Nabrishoth,the
Cherub(?)ofAmenti,kingofthoseof.....'Sayseventimes.

or

Thecharmwhichyoupronouncewhenyoudismissthemtotheirplace:'Gooddispatch,joyful
dispatch!'

PracticalApplicationsofHeka
May13,2013


Theglyphswhichmakeuptheword'Heka'arethetwistedropeandthearmsandhandglyph(which
byitselfmeanstheKa).
TheEgyptianword'Heka'whichweunderstandtomean'magic',isliterallytranslated
"toemploytheKa".
TousethewellknownCrowleydefinitionofmagic,itis"theScienceandArtofcausing
ChangetooccurinconformitywithWill"(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magick).The
EgyptologistRobertRitnerisalittlemorespecific:"Atthestrokeofaword,Magic
penetratesthekaor'vitalessence'ofanyelementincreationandinvestsitwithpower,
eithergenerativeordestructive."(RobertK.Ritner,TheMechanicsofAncientEgyptian
MagicalPractice,page23).Ofcourse,itisuptothemagiciantobescrupulouslyethicalin
allhis'generativeordestructive'attempts.
Sooneusesone'sownKa(vitallifeforce)toeffectthekaofothers.Ritnerisallowingthat
elementsbesideslivingcreationsalsohavethis'vitalessence'.Thus,amaterialitemmay
beinvestedwithpower,andanyonewhocomesintocontactwiththatitemwillexperience
thatpower.AcaseinpointisasmallWasscepter,whichIwasprivilegedtoseewhile
seeingthetreasuresofKingTutin2005attheLacmamuseum:


Photosource:_TutankhamunandtheGoldenAgeofthePharoah_,photosbyKennett
GarrettandtextbyZahiHawass.
Itisabout16incheshigh(40cm),madeoffaienceandcomesfromthe18thdynasty,reign
ofAmenhotepII.ItwasfoundinThebes,intheValleyoftheKings,inAmenhotepII's
tomb.Thissmallscepteremanatedgreatpower.Perhapsbecauseithadlaidrelatively
undisturbedallthosecenturies,thepowerwhichtheancientpriestmagicianshad
investedwithinitstillremainsforthesensitivetoreceive.
Sohowdomagiciansdothis?TheycalluptheirKaanddirectitbyforceoftheirwillto
theintendedtarget.WhiletheentirebodyisenergizedbytheKa,there'saparticular
regionofthebodyinwhichitisparticularilypotent:


Ifwelookattheglyphfor'Ka',notethepartofitwhichcoorespondstotheelbowandhow
thisrelatestotheheightpositionoftheelbow.Fortheheightoftheelbowisataboutthelevel
ofwhatothertraditionsknowasthe'firechakra'(Manipura).OnePyramidtextdeclares
Unisspowersareonhistorso.(_TheAncientEgyptianPyramidTexts_,translatedby
JamesP.Allen,page51)Afrequentphraseconcerningpossessingmagicalpowersis,I
havefilledmybellywithmagic(CoffinTextspell239),Ihavecalledtomindallthemagic
whichisinmybelly.(CoffinTextspell657),bothviaAncientEgyptianMagicbyBobBrier,
pages124,126)
Soforanymagicalattempt,itisnecessaryto'calltomind'thisstoredenergy.Sowhatmight
weattempt?
"YouundertakeaGBMworkingbecauseyouwanttounderstandsomethingorbecauseyou
wanttochangesomething.Theformertypemaybereferredtoasanillustrativeworking,
whilethelatterisoftencalledanoperativeworking.(MichaelAquino,"BlackMagic",page
128https://xeper.org//maquino/nm/BlackMagicRL.pdfTheGBMstandsfor'GreaterBlack
Magic'.Somemayhaveaproblemwiththedescriptivecolor'black',assooftenthiscolorhas

beengivenanefariousmeaning,asinmagicthatismeanttocauseunethicalharm.Sowhatdo
thosewhodescribetheirmagicaleffortsas'black'meanbythis?ItreferstotheLeftHand
Path,whichisdefinedas'Mywillbedone',asopposedtotheRightHandPath's'Thywillbe
done'.Yetanymagicalattemptbytheverynatureofmagicitselfmustbedirectedbyone's
ownwill!
TheEgyptologistJamesAllenisinaccordwiththis'understanding'and/or'changing'.Of
magic,hesays,"Inthisrespectithastwocomponents,whattheEgyptianscalledsia
"perception"andhw"annunciation."Perceptionistheabilitytoseewhatneedstobedone,
andannunciationisthepowertomakeithappenthroughspeech.Theking'scourtierssayto
him,forexample,"Annunciationisinyourmouth,perceptionisinyourheart,yourspeechis
theshrineofMaat.(KRIII,356,911)."(JamesP.Allen,MiddleEgyptian:AnIntroduction
totheLanguageandCultureofHieroglyphs,Essay13:"TheCreativeWord")
Perceptionisthegatewaytounderstanding,and'annunciation'isonewaybywhichchange
mightoccur.Howmightsomeonegoaboutincreasingtheirabilitytoperceivesomethingvia
magicalefforts?Therearemanyways.Oneusefulmethodisvia'automaticwriting',as
accessingone'sintuitivesidemaydrawforthmuchhiddeninformation.Youmightgain
insightregardingyourcurrentsituationorfuturegoalsforyourlife.Forinstance,aperson
whoisseekingtomovehasagreatdealofnonmagicaltoolsathisdisposal,formuchcanbe
doneviawebsearches,realtorwebsites,Googlesatelliteviewsandthelike,beforeoneever
decidestophysicallylookatalocation.Butisitworththeeffortofaphysicalvisit?The
magicianmaysendhisKaoutonanastralwalkabouttodeterminethe'psychicvibes'ofa
particularlocation.Ofcourse,morecanbedeterminedaboutthevibeswithaphysicalvisit,
butthishelpstonarrowthefieldofpotentiallyworthyareas.
Simplytheactofdirectingone'sspiritual'ear'tolisteningmayincreasethelikelihoodof
receivinginformativemessages.Onewaythisoftenhappensformeisviamusic.Inmy
experience,aparticularphrasewillseemmuchlouderandspecificallydirectedtome.
Returningtotheexampleofthepersoninprocessofmoving,(thatwouldbeme!)theday
beforewevisitedonehouse,thesongClosingTimebySemisoniccameontheradio,"timeto
goouttotheplacesyouwillbefrom"jumpedout.Wouldthisplacebethat?Aswespenta
goodwhileexaminingthehouse,andhavingamoredirectsoakofitsvibes,Ihadhopesthatin
thefutureIwouldbeablesay,yes,I'mfromthere.
Hopefullythesefewexamplesofseekingto'understand'somethingwillinspireyoutofurther
ideas.
Now,turningtothehekaofchangingsomething,thishasequallywidepossibilities.Avery
potentinstanceofthistypeofhekaoccurredwhenIneededtochangemydietforhealth
reasons.Ineededtocutwaybackonthecarbsinordernottofeedaninfection,asitsyeast
whichwerebeingfedbythesugarscausedmetocravethemincreasinglymore.Cuttingcarbs
wasnoteasyasIhadbecomequitetheaddict.Forexample,eatingfivedoughnutsinone
sittingwasnotuncommon.Sothishekawasveryemotionalforme.
Inordertohaveeffectivemagic,wemustfeedourka.AcuriouschurchsignI'vebeenseeing
frequentlyinmytripsaroundtowndeclares,"Foodforthesoulhasnocalories!".(Perhaps
muchovereatingcouldbeavertedbyfeedingoursoulinstead.)Todothisheka,Istrengthened
myKa'by'feeding'onthegods.InthePyramidTextsspells27374,theking'livesonthe
gods...TheKingeatstheirmagic,swallowstheirspirits."(viaRitner"Mechanicsof...",page
103)Thisisnotjustaonewaything,forcommunicationwiththegodsisacircularexchange
ofenergy.Wetakeintheiressence,whichfeedsourKa,andalsoallowsthegodstowork

throughus,whichinturnfeedstheirKa.Ourka,whichissostrengthened,allowsusto'work'
asthegod.Immyexampleworking,Iproceededby'becoming'asvariousNetjeru:
IambecomeasSet,whoslaystheApep.
ApepYeast,whowoulddevourmyflesh,mustdie.
IambecomeasOsiris.
OsirisJoanCarbEatermustdie.
IambecomeasIsiswhorevivesOsiris.
OsirisJoanisrebornasOsirisJoanHealthyEater.
Ittookquiteareworkingofmyoperationalcircuitrytochangemywayofeating.Only
throughemployingthisheka,didIgainthestrengthtomakethenecessarychanges.
It'sadailyprocess.AsSetslaystheApepdaily,Ihavetokeepmymindfulnessdaily.Butthe
rewardsaresoworthit!Havingbanishedtheyeast,bycontinuingtoavoidtheyeasttempting
sugars,itislesslikelytheinfectionwillreturn.Also,althoughitwasnottheintendedgoal,a
sideeffecthasbeenlosingaboutsixtypounds.Surprise!Myjointsfeelbetter,too!
DrAquinofurtherexplainshowmagicallyaidedchangemightoccur,"Eachtakeseffectby
expandingand/oralteringyourSU[subjectiveuniverse],whichthenexertsacorresponding
andproportionateinfluenceupontheOU[objectiveuniverse]andotherSUsviatheML
(MagicalLink)phenomenon."("BM",page128)Hedefines"theMagicalLink(ML)
betweentheOUandSUs.Henceachangeoccuringinonewillhaveatleastapartiallysimilar
effectintheother."("BM",page99)
AsGandhisaid,"Youmustbethechangeyouwishtoseeintheworld."Ifwewantamore
peaceful,morejustworld,wemustfirstendeavorindividuallytobecomemorepeacefuland
just.Returningto'feedingtheKa',IcontemplatethenatureofMa'at.AstheBookofthe
Dead125declaries,"Iliveinmaat,Ifeedmyheartuponmaat."(StevenSchweitzer,A
TeacherforAllGenerations:EssaysinHonorofJamesC.VanderKam,Volume1,editedby
EricFarrelMason,page132)
Itispartoftheprocessofthewilledconsciousevolution(aka'Xeper'or'Kheper'),thatwe
seektobringaboutorderandbalancewithinourselves.Lefttoourunawakenedselves,
disorderanddeceptionmightgaincontrol.Butitisinthepowerofourfreewilltochoose
better.
Itisinthefullestexerciseofourwillthattransformativehekacanbeenabled.
AlsoseeNewDiscoveries,(AkaIMPRACTICALApplicationsofHeka!)
OtherperspectivesonHEKAcanbefoundatthe"Roundtable"

Great of Magic. The Enchantress. Lady of Sacred Magic. What does it mean that Isis
bears these (and so many more) titles having to do with magic? What is magic?
If youve been reading this blog, you already know that magic isnt what the
ancient Egyptians would have said. They would have said heka. But the same
question applies: what the heck is heka? (Pronunciation note: I usually say
HAY-kah, because I think it sounds better than heck-kah. Coptic shows the word
as hik. If Coptic retained the vowel correctly, then the Egyptians might have said

hik-kah, which is worse, since it soundsin my head anywaylike hiccup. So for me,
hay-kah it is.)

Heka, the God Magic

Unfortunately, we cant ask any ancient priestesses or priests of the Goddess of
Magic what they meant by magic. So we have to to look to some of the scholars who
have studied it. One of the first things that theyand wesee is that in Egypt, heka
was not at allsupernatural, that is above nature. Indeed, Heka (the God) and heka
(the concept) were the very foundation of the natural world. In at least one myth,
the God Heka, Magic personified, is the Being first made by the Creator and Hekas
power in every Deity and every thing that comes after Him. The Deities are the most
potent wielders of heka, though humanity has its portion, given to us to ward off
the blow of events, according to one of the Wisdom Texts.
The reason we translate heka as magic is because thats how the ancient Greeks,
who were actually in contact with the ancient Egyptians, translated it: mageia. A
person who does heka was translated by the Greeks as a magos (masc.) or maga
(fem.). On the Egyptian priestly side of things, there were Servants of the God
Heka, who were, no doubt, considered powerful magicians. Interestingly, an
Egyptian stele listing the names and titles of physicians has both sunu, doctors
and hem-netjer Heka, Servants of the God Heka.

So here magic meets science, as it usually does around thoughtful magicians. It

seems that the magicians of every age are anxious to explain magic with the science
of their time. Everybody knows that it works (somehow); yet we have a need to
explain to ourselves precisely how. In ancient Egypt, heka and Heka are so
intertwined that often no distinction seems to be made between them. This is sacred
science, priestly science, and magic is a Divine, living, conscious energy. Egyptian
magic has rather precise ritual forms. Surely these were the advanced scientific
forms of their day, having been refined through many generations of
experimentation.

A beautiful Isis working energy magic, by artist Bill Brouard. You can purchase it
here.
In the Middle Ages, magic might be explained in demonic or satanic terms; the
magician invoked devils to do his bidding; it was sort of an anti-priestly science of
ritual names and actions. Alchemists blended spirituality with chemistry and
explained both effects as revealing the Ways of Nature. And isnt revealing the
workings of nature what scientists do to this very day?
18th-century occultists preferred to use scientific-sounding explanations for magical
effects: magnetism explained attractions between things as well as defined
pathways for moving life energy or the etheric medium. In the late 19th and
early 20th century, Aleister Crowley famously defined magic as the Science and Art

of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will and the Science of

understanding oneself and ones conditions. It is the Art of applying that
understanding in action. Psychology was a relatively new science at the time, you
see.

An image from one of the shrines of Tutankhamon; clearly an energy transfer

from star to these Otherworld Beings
Many modern magicworkers speak of magic as energy. There are many types of
energy we are just beginning to understand or do not yet understand, so why
shouldnt magical energy be one of these? Some postmodern magicians speak of
magic in terms of informationas ones and zeros evensince that is the scientific
paradigm of our day.
The truth is, I find value in just about all of these ideas about magic. Information
magic gets along famously with Egyptian magic and its Words of Power (which is a
translation of hekau; plural of heka). The as-yet-unexplained-energy theory of magic
also works well with ancient Egyptian magic as there often seems to have been a
physical component in Egyptian magic. Both the demon and Deity theories attribute

consciousness to magic as was done in ancient Egypt with Heka. And how can our
own psychology not play a part in magic?
As usual, my personal answer to a definition of magic is all of the above.
As devotees of Isis, the Goddess of Sacred Magic, we have a certain obligation to
address magic in some way in our personal practice. This may be the magic of
spiritual growth, the Great Work of Hermeticism. Healers might explore the
connection between magic and medicine. We may find we have a talent for practical
magic, the spellcasting magic that can help us get a job or find a parking spot.
Come to think of it, I havent been doing enough magic lately. Think Ill try to
remedy that this weekend

HiddenS3cr3ts,33Degrees,YourSpinalColumn,And
TheSealOfSolomon
(+1rating,1votes,rated)
Youneedtobearegisteredmembertoratethispost.

June 14, 2012 in Uncategorized

by Max

Hello dearest s33ker, would you like to s33 some s3cr3ts hidden within 33?
1) Firsty, it would help to know that although a lie-brary is certainly fascinating, its books are
filled with his-story, and this is why you have probably never heard of the s3cr3ts relating to
the number 33.

Fascination = Fasci(st)nation
2) Everyone has heard of the 7 chakras by now, but not many know that these same chakras
are symbolized in many parts of the Old and New Testaments, such as The 7 Churches from
the Apocalypse of St.John.
Chakras/Churches

Sure,Imaylookstrange,

butImtryingtotellyousomething!

3) The 7 chakras or churches really do exist along the 33 vertebrae of the human spinal
column, as do many sacred and hidden traditions which are used to activate them.

TheTreeofLife

(33vertebrae:24articulating,9fused)

4)Thechakrasarelocatedatthemangeticcenteroftheglandslocatedwithinyourendocrinesystem.

Chakrasarelocatedatthe

magneticcenteroftheendocrineglands

5) In world wide Freemasonry the highest honor is the 33rd degr33- Sovereign Grand
Inspector General, and this number is related to the mystery of the manipulation and
transmutation of vital energy, although many Freemasons today have lost this s3cr3t, due to
the corruption that exists within the modern lodges.

Clickimagesoyoucanlovetheirnamingabilities.

6) The 33rd degree used to signify one who received an initiation by transmuting their vital
energy up through the 33 vertebrae of the spine


Men occasionally stumble over the truth
but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off
as if nothing ever happened
~Winston Chuchill 33rd Mason

7) Like the 2 serpents that entwine the Wingd Staff of Hermes, this vital energy ascends its
way up through the 33 vertebrae of the spinal column, opening the 7 chakras along the way.

In India the vital energy is best known as Kundalini the Fiery Serpent, and can be awoken
with arts like pranayama or Maithuna.

Mr.SymbolicMan

9) In Egypt this energy was ISIS, in the Bible it is The Fire of the Pentacost, the Holy Spirit,
awoken with the Art of Alchemy.
10) in China it is Chi or Qi energy, and awoken when practising sacred arts like Qigong.

QigongandChiEnergy

11) Da Vinci = Divine Chi. This great master awoke himself with the mysteries of 33, as have
many others before and after his time.

HiddeninPlainSight,

TheatomofTheFather

LocatedinthePinealGland

12) Even today thousands upon thousands of people know of these ancient arts theyre
simply just not taught in any public education institutions. =(

Thiseyeisopenedafterthepractitioner

raisesthewatersfrombelow(thesexualwaters)

upthroughtheir33vertebrae

tothewatersabove(thebrain).

The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the
ranks of the insane.
~Marcus Aurelius

13) 33 is a curious number, because adding the two 3s together form the 6; which
geometrically speaking would be two triangles; The Seal of Solomon.

14) The Seal of Solomon is the hexagram (Greek) or sexagram (Latin) the six pointed star,
the union of two 3s, also known as the Star of David, which is the flag of Israel.
15) Israel = ISIS RA EL A symbol for the Holy Trinity which is found in all the religions of
the world under one name or another.16) Solomon = Sol (Latin) Om (India) On (Egyptian)
Another trinity based on the three names of the sun from the ancient world.17) Etymology
is cool! 0_0


Does one scent appeal more than another? Do you prefer this flavor, or that feeling? Is your
practice sacred and your work profane? Then your mind is separated: from itself, from
oneness, from the Tao. Keep your mind free of divisions and distinctions. When your mind is
detached, simple, quiet, then all things can exist in harmony, and you can begin to perceive
the subtle truth.
~Hua Hu Jing by Lao Tzi

18) And yes in ancient Latin six was called sex, which is where we get six from in english.
Uniting 3+3 is sexy because its six. =3
19) The hexagram and the cross () are a few of the tools used in order to perform the
mystery of 33.
20) and in the New Testament this is symbolized as Jesus dying on the , and resurrecting at
the age of 33.
21) That famous medical symbol we see everywhere, the two serpents which entwine around
the Wingd Staff of Hermes, is infact a very ancient symbol that depicts how the kundalini fire
ascends up the 33 vertebrae of the spinal column.
22) Uniting 33 also makes the Holy 8, the symbol of infinity.
23) 3+3=6 which the initiate converts into a 9, the completion.

If you only knew the magnificence of the 3, 6 and 9, then you would have a key to the
universe.
~Nikola Tesla

24) The cross is the perfect symbol to represent creation.

25) This is because in order to create, the crossing of opposites must occur, on all levels of
nature; atoms, minerals, plants, animals, humans, angels, planets, solar systems, ect all
perform a cross to create.
26) The horizontal line crosses the vertical line, the positive with the negative, ying with yang,
male with female
27) Because the cross has four points, it also symbolizes the 4 elements of nature. Fire, Earth,
Air, Water.
28) The swastika, the spinning cross, is an ancient tibetan symbol that shows very beautifully
how the 4 elements mix together in order for creation to occur.

The practical science used in order to awaken the pentecostal flame is in the following book,
written in 1954:
There is also this:the Bible is an encyclopedia on Physiology, Anatomy, Astrology
and Chemistry:
>
Thread: Books Rejected by the Council of NICEA - The BIBLE } Allegories, Parables
and Stories representing Physiology, Anatomy, Astrology, Chemistry !!
Excerpt:
Chapter NAMES
NAMES
Names will be explained without alphabetical order , the object being to show
that the 66 books of the whole book (Holy Book) ,were actually 66 statements
by 66 writers about the SAME identical subject- the HUMAN BODY, its CHEMICAL
OPERATION, and the planetary positions, impinging to create and bring into
physical manifestation the visible Universe.
ABEL: Breath/transitoriness/moisture
SETH: Seed/seedling/germ
WIFE: Marraige of Earth and Water

MOSES: Drawn from the water

related:
> Thread: Metaphysical-World -( Part 2 ): The Gateway to God
AARON: Enlightened/Buddha Third Eye
EDOM: Red, EDOM or ODUMEA - Pirtuitary body
JACOB: Solar Plexus
RACHEL : represents the product
BENJAMIN: seed that redeems
ADAH/ADDI: Pituitary gland
GILGAL: a circle rolling away:the place where the 12 stones were set up:the
place of the 'passover'. Refers to anatomy to the 12th dorsal vertebra,at which
place the semi-lunar ganglion connects. At this point the seed or ark enters
Jordan or the Spinal Cord.
JORDON: the Spinal cord.the great nerve which is supplied with fluid from the
Claustrum in the Cerebrum
Sea Of Galilee: semi-lunar ganglion thru which the seed or Jesus passes , to
reach the spinal cord.
GALILEE: A circle or conduit
NAZARETH: Shoot, sprout or twig
CANA: Place of reeds: Lungs
JERICHO: Place of fragrance: Cerebellum

PostsTaggedPlanetarySeals
Esoteric History of Man
PostedbyKimGraaeMunchinEsoterics,Kabbalah,RosicrucianismonMarch17,2010

ThePlanetaryCycles

OurEarthhavegonethroughanumberofincarnations,eachincarnationalternatesbetweenpralaya,
acosmicnightandmanvantara,acosmicday,justaswealternatelypassthroughdayandnight,life
anddead.Pralayaisthenonphysical,preparatorystageandmanvantarathephysicalorlower
spiritualdevelopmentstage.

ManhavegonethroughthreeplanetaryEarthincarnations(AEons)beforeEarth,andaregoing
throughthreeafterEarthbeforewehavefinishedthecompletedevelopmentcycle.Theseseven

EarthincarnationsarecalledSaturn,Sun,Moon,Earth,Jupiter,Venus,andendingwithVulcan.The
emanationofSephirasintheKabbalahtreeoflifecorrespondstotheseplanetarycycles.

TheEarthdevelopmentphaseissplitintwoparts:Mars,beforetheSonincarnates,andMercury
afterthisincarnation.Inasevenpointedstaritlooks:

The sequence of the planetary development,

Mars is first part of Earth and Mercury last part of Earth development.

JuststartwithSaturn,andfollowthearrows.Itfollowtheweekdays:

Saturn Samedi,Samstag,Lrdag

Saturday

Sun

Sonntag,Sndag

Sunday

Moon

Lundi,Montag,Mandag

Monday

Mars

Mardi,Dienstag,TyrTirsdag,orTiu

Tuesday

Mercury

Mercredi,Mittwoch,OdinOnsdag

Wednesda
y

Jupiter

Jeudi,DonarDonnerstag,Tor,
Torsdag

Thursday

Venus Vendredi,FreyaFreitag,Fredag

Friday

UntilthemiddleofEarthround,alldevelopmenthavebeenmadeunderstrictguidancefromhigher
hierarchies,firstwiththedevelopmentofsentienceontheEarth,throughthelowerIisitpossible
formantoenterthedevelopmentconsciously.

YouwillnotfindahumanbeingasheistodayonEarthonanyotherplanet.Beings,yesbutnot
humanbeings.TheEarthexistsinorderthatIconscioushumanbeingscouldbecreated.Through
thefirstfourRoundsthekingdomsofnatureevolvedinorderthatinthefourthmancouldbemadea
selfconsciousbeing,whocouldreflecthimselfinhisbody.Hewillrisetohigherlevelsofevolution,
somethingthatfewcanunderstandcorrectly.Inthenext,thefifthRound,themineralkingdomwill
disappear.Allmineralmatterwillbetransformedtovegetablematter.Thenthevegetablekingdom
willreachitsculminationandinthenextRoundtheanimalkingdomwillformthelowestkingdom.
DuringtheseventhRoundthehumanbeingwillachievehishighestlevelofevolution.Hewillhave
becomewhatplanetaryevolutionintends.RS

Thedevelopmentofmaninthesefirstfourphasesgoesthroughthefourstatesasdescribedby
F.W.J.Schelling:

Mindsleepsinstone,dreamsintheplant,awakesintheanimalandbecomesconsciousinman.

OldSaturn

ThefirstseedofmanwascreatedontheEarthincarnationcalledoldSaturn,anditsremnantsisthe
Saturnoftoday.

PlanetarysealofOldSaturn

OldSaturnwasaplanetwhichwasmadeofwarms.ThecreatorisknownasSaturnorCronosorin
Christianterminology,TheThrones[Binah].

SaturnCronus

Thefirstseedofmineralswerecreatedhere.Atthistimemancreatedunconsciouslytheseedof
whatwouldbecomeitsSpiritBody(Atma).Manhadatthattimemineralconsciousness.

Manisthefirstbornofourcreativeprocess.ButSaturnmanwasverydifferentfromthemanof
today.Hewasforthemostpartaspiritualbeinghewouldnothavebeenvisibletophysicaleyes.It
wasakindofprimalmineral,withnoethericbodyroundithencewecansaythatmanpassed
throughthemineralkingdombuttothinkofitasanythinglikeourpresentdaymineralkingdom
wouldbequitewrong.OnSaturntherewasnokingdomotherthanthehumankingdom.From
EvolutionoftheEarth

OldSun

TheoldSunwasaplanetofLight,whereagreatpartofthemineralsofmanwasconnectedwiththe
etheric,creatingahigherlifeformwithplantconsciousness.

IfonelooksathowafterapralayaoldSaturnchangedintooldSunwiththespiritualgazethat
movesovertheplanetsonenoticesthatSaturnswarmthatmospherecondensesintoair.Mangets
anethericbodyontheSun.Heisashiningbeing.SpiritualbeingsworkthroughtheSunsastral
atmosphereupontheethericbody,igniteitandtherebymakeitshine.Onecallsthisthesulfuric
process.

PlanetarySealofOldSun

SomeofourdevelopmentwaveofSaturndidntconnecttotheEtheric,sotheystayedonthe
minerallevel.Mancreateshere,underguidance,theseedfortheBuddhilayerofthelater
development.ZeusisconnectedtotheOldSun.

OldMoon

TheOldMoonisawateryplanet,withearthlikelivingplants.HereismanconnectedwithAstral
stuff,acquiringanimalconsciousness.

WhentheSunpassesovertotheMoon,aircondensestowater.TheMoonsbodyisawaterbody.
Wenoticesomethingverystrangeaboutthiswaterbody.Singlewaterdropschangetheirpositionin
anextremelylivelymannerandracearoundwithinnermobility.Isomerespectsonecancompare
thispropertyofthewaterdropswithmercury.Thatswhyonecallsthisprinciplethatsaddedonthe
Moonthemercurialprinciple.Thepartsareputtogetherintoformsbysounds,somewhatlike
Chladnissoundfigures.Firsttwocametogether,thentwopairsmadefour,etc.,justasonestill
findsinnewplant,animalandhumanforms.Thatsthefemaleprinciple.Themaleprincipleonly
aroselaterfrompureearthforces.FromEsotericLessons.

PlanetarySealofOldMoon

SomeofourbrethrenfromtheSaturndevelopmentwavedidntconnecttotheAstralsotheystayed
attheplantlevel.HerecreatesmanunderguidanceManas.TheOldMoonareconnectedtoThe
Mother,Sophia,orCthlon.

Earth

OnthisEarthwehave,besidesman,themineralswhostayedbackontheOldSaturn,theplants
whostayedbackontheOldSun,andtheanimalswhostayedbackontheOldMoon.

Whenthemoonpassedovertotheearth,watercondensedtoearth.Theprecipitatingsaltprocess
tookplaceontheearthforthefirsttimethroughtheinteractionoffireandwater.Manarosefrom

femaleandmaleandbegantodissolvethingsagainthroughthinkingsothatevolutioncould
continue.ManreceivedtheerringIonearth.FromEsotericLessons.

TheEarthdevelopmentphaseissplitintwoparts:Mars,beforetheSonincarnates,andMercury
afterthisincarnation,whichtakesplaceinthemiddlemanvantara..

FirsthalfofEarthcalledMars

Inthefirstpart,calledMars,mankinddescendintothePhysical,intothedominionoftheCthlonic
powers,throughakindofrepetitionofthefirstthreeplanetaryrounds.

PlanetarySealofMars,

firstpartofEarth

HereManacquirestheseedoftheEgo,whichisneededtobecomeasentientbeing.Seethetablein
DreamInterpretationinEsotericWork

SecondhalfofEarthcalledMercury

PlanetarySealofMercury,

secondpartofEarth

InthesecondpartofEarth,calledMercury,weascendsagaintothespiritualworld,andwehave
beenworkingonitfortwothousandyearsnow.

InthesecondpartwedevelopwhatwepreviouslyhavecreatedtheseedfortogetherwiththeGods,
thatisSentientsoul(Orektikon),theIntellectualsoul(Kinetikon),andtheConsciousnesssoul
(Dianoetikon),ThethreeaspectsofIsis/Sophia.Thosewhodontunitewiththespirit,staysback.

NewJupiter

PlanetarySealofNewJupiter

TheNewJupiterisknownastheNewIsrael,orNewJerusalem,ParadiseorShambhala,which
alreadyexistinembryonicform.HerewewilldevelopAngelicConsciousness.AllcreationofOld
SaturnareoneWave,anditsourresponsibilitytogeteverycreationofSaturn,frommineraltoman,
withusinthedevelopment.Andthisispartofourtasknowandinthefuture,anditisaresultofthe

worktowardthisgoal,transformingourastralbodytoSpiritSelf,Manas.ThemineralsofEarthis
transformedtovegetablematter.

NewVenus

PlanetarySealofNewVenus

OnVenuswearetransformingtheethericbodytoLifeSpiritorBuddhi,andonVulcanweare
transformingthephysicaltoSpiritBody,Atma.OnVenusthelowestkingdomistheanimalkingdom
andonVulcanthelowestkingdomisthehumankingdom.

ThiscycleofsevenplanetsareboundtotheChakras,whereEarthcorrespondstotheHeart,to
Christ,whotransformedEarth,gaveitlife,forthenewfuture,calledNewJerusalem,theNew
Jupiter.

TheCreationaredescribedbySteinerinFromtheAkashaChroniclesandMaxHeindelinThe
RosicrucianCosmoConceptionorMysticChristianity.

IneachoftheseEarthincarnationmandevelopsahigherlevelofconsciousnessasdescribed:

Therearesevengradesofhumanconsciousness:tranceconsciousness,deepsleep,dream
consciousness,wakingconsciousness,psychic,superpsychicandspiritualconsciousness.
Actuallytheseareinalltwelvestagesofconsciousnessthefiveothersarecreativestages.They
arethoseoftheCreators,ofthecreativeGods.Thesetwelvestagesarerelatedtothetwelvesigns
ofthezodiac.Thehumanbeingmustpassthroughtheexperiencesofthesetwelvestages.He
ascendedthroughthetrance,deepsleepanddreamconsciousnessuptothepresentclearday
consciousness.Inthesucceedingstagesofplanetaryevolutionhewillreachstillhigherstages.All
thosewhichhehasalreadypassedthroughhewillalsoretainwithinhim.Thephysicalbodyhasthe

dulltranceconsciousnessasthiswasgainedbymanonOldSaturn.Thehumanethericbodyhas
theconsciousnessofdreamlesssleep,asthisdevelopedonOldSun.Theastralbodydreamsinthe
samewayasonedreamsduringsleep.DreamconsciousnessderivesfromtheOldMoonperiod.On
ourpresentEarth,manachieveswakingconsciousness.Theegohascleardayconsciousness.
RS

11.February,2012Articles,Esotericism,Mysticism21comments

ActivationofChakrasOpeningthe7Seals:
Chakrasarewheellikevorticesofenergy,rotatingaroundthespinalcolumn.Our
physicaleyescannotseethemandwetendtobepoorlypreparedandeducatedin
theirobservation.
Howcanwe,peoplelivingonthisplanet,comprehendthesubtleworkofchakras
operatingbeyondthelimitsofourhabitualsensoryperception?Eveninthoserare
moments,whenwearetrulyawakeandreceptive,andcanfeeltheirsubtleeffects,we
mayeasilyconfusethemwithotherpsychologicalsensations.
Chakrasarerealitispossibletoexperiencethem.Thisarticlewillattempttoclarify
anddemystifytheconceptofchakrasandelucidatebenefitsoftheiractivationwithin
thecontextoftransformativespiritualawakening.

InternalenergeticalcenterssuchaschakrasinHinduism,dantiansinTaoismand
lata`ifsinSufism,wereknowninmysticaltraditionsfromancienttimes.
ThewordchakracanbetracedbacktoUpanishads,PuranasandTantras,sacred
HinduandBuddhisttexts.TheliteraltranslationfromSanscritisturning,circle
wheel,disk.TheearliestmentionfromancientHindutexts,whichisverylikely
relatedtochakras,canbefoundinRigVeda`sdescriptionoflightnings(powers)with
goldenwheels.

Within the waters runs the Moon, he with the beauteous wings in
heaven. Ye lightinings with your golden wheels, men find not your
abiding place. -Rig Veda.I. 105.1

Whilechakrascan`tbeperceivedphysically,theyareconnectedtothesurfaceofthe
physicalbodyinspecificlocations.ThesepointsaremostlylocatedalongtheRenand
DuMeridians,asdepictedinTraditionalChineseMedicine.

Thereare7mainChakras,allalignedwiththecenterlineofthebody.
1. Sahasrara,CrownChakra,locatedonthetopofthehead
2. Ajna,ThirdEyeChakra,betweentheeyebrows
3. Vishuddha,ThroatChakra,throatandneckarea
4. Anahata,HeartChakra,heartarea
5. Manipura,SolarPlexusChakra,navelarea
6. Swadhistana,SacralChakra,prostate(uterus)area
7. Muladhara,BaseChakra,thecoccyxbone

Spiritualknowledgeofchakrasisapartofuniversalesoterictraditionrevealingdeep
secretsofmultidimensionalhumananatomytomysticsseekingspiritual
enlightenment.Itisunderstoodfullybypreparedinitiatescommitedtotherigorous
demandsandrequirementsofesotericwork,walkingalongthepathtowardstrue
wisdom,salvationandliberation.
Referencestochakrasmaybenotevidentinmysticalteachings.Forexample,
KabalisticsefirotsoftheTreeofLifedescribesymbolicallyemanationsofGod
spiritualprinciplesandmaincomponentsofCreation.
Butthereisanotheraspectoftheirsymbology:asabovesobelow,onanindividual
psychologicallevelofinterpretation,theymayrefertochakras.Esotericworkstartsin

Malkuth,therootchakraandgetsgroundedintheprocreativeforceofYesod,the
sexualchakra.ThenenergyascendsbetweentheconnectedoppositepillarsMercy
andSeveritythroughallthehigherchakras.ThetopoftheTreeofLifeisKetherthe
crownchakraontopofthehead.Thisprocessrepeatsitselfmanytimesondifferent
levelsandstagesofinternaltransformation.
AnotherexamplecanbefoundinthemysticalBookofRevelationwhichhadmanaged
tobecomeapartoftheBible.Thesevenstars,angels,candlesticksandchurchesall
relatetotheinternalopeningof7sealsactivationof7chakrasandspiritual
progress.ThechurchEphesuscorrespondstothefirstchakra,that`swhereenergy
startstorisewithalchemicaltransmutation,eatingfromthetreeoflife(asopposed
tothefallofAdamandEve.)

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is
in the Paradise of God. Rev 2:7

Esotericworkhasapotentialtoprogressthroughall7churches.Thelastoneisthe
ChurchoftheLaodiceansrelatedtothe7thchakraandestablishingcloseconnection
withthedivine.

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even

as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Rev 3:21 and 3:22

Symbolsexpressthecomplexityandunityofesotericmattersandpasssuperior
feelings,aswellasprotectsacredknowledge.Ancientmysticswerecommonly
persecutedandmistreatedinsocietiesdrivenbymaterialisticselfishvalues,so
esotericknowledgehadtobepassedsecretlyinpublic.
Eveninthelastfewcenturies,knowledgeofchakraswasnotalwaysrevealedopenly.
Forexampleonecanfindahiddenallegoryof7chakrasinGeorgeGurdjieffsstory

aboutsevendivisionsoftheSocietyofAkhaldaninhisbookBeelzebub`sTalestohis
Grandson.
Interestingly,somemessagesofcropcirclesalsoillustrate7chakras

ThefuturenotonlyofourhumanracebutentireorganiclifeonEarthdependson
humansclarityofunderstanding,affectedgreatlybytheclarityanddepthofhuman
perception.
Whatcanbeperceivedbyour5sensesisonlyatinyfractionofreality.Ifwetakeitas
thewhole,thisfragmentofexistenceismereillusion,maya.
Anexamplecanbeoursenseofvisioncapableofseeingonlywithinasmallfrequency
rangeoftheElectromagneticSpectrum,somewherebetween405to790Thz.Therest
oflightemissiondoesn`texistforthephysicaleye,yetitisrealandweuseitina
varietyofapplications:televisionandradiobroadcasts,microwaves,nightvision
devices,xrayscanners,etc.
Theperceptionofchakrasgreatlysuperceedsthefivephysicalsensesandthe
capacitiesofmoderntechnology.AllpsychicfacultiessuchasESP,clairvoyance,
clairaudience,polyvision,intuition,telepathy,acapacitytoastralproject,etc.depend

ontheactivationofchakras.Thissuperiorperceptionopensupawholenewsetof
intriguingpossibilities.
Nomatterhowmuchone`sphysicaleyesaretrainedtoseedistantobjects,anaked
eyecannotseeeventsacrosstheglobe,butthepsychicfacultyofclairvoyancecan.
Chakrasoperatebeyondthephysicaltheyaresensesofsubtleenergeticalbodies,
superiorthanphysicalmatter.

Thus,withasenseofdevelopedintuitionitmaybepossibletofeelthetruthabout
importantmatters.Afacultyofpolyvisionallowsmysticstoseethingsinsuperior
worldsbeforetheymanifestinthephysicalrealm.Duringoutofbodyexperiences,
mysticsmaytravelinablinkofaneyetoremotelocationsandsearchfor
selfknowledgeandesotericwisdom.
Allthismaysoundabitstrange,tosaytheleast,forthosewhohavenotexperienced
it.Itismucheasiertobeascepticthantoexperienceandknowthesupernatural.
Whatmanydon`trealize,isthatmostofusalreadyknowsomeoftheeffectsof
chakras.Forexamplewhenwespeakaboutwarmheartedness,obviouslywedon`t
meantheelevatedtemperatureofourphysicalheart.Whatwemeanistheactivated
heartchakraspreadingwarmthofcompassion,kindnessandlove.

Chakrasplayavitalroleinourfunctioningashumanbeings,correspondingtoglands
oftheendocrinesystemandinternalorgans.Whenthechakrasareactiveand
balanced,theyhelptomaintainhealthandvitality.
Developmentofchakrasestablishesaclarityofperception,asenseofwellbeing,a
capacitytoeffectivelycommunicateandconnecttotheworld.Itrequiresdiligent
preparationtodevelopthesesuperiorcapacitiesandusethemintelligentlyand
responsibly,withloveandwisdom.

Wealltendtoseethingsasweare,andasthemajorityofthepopulationisnot
seriouslyinterestedinspirituality,ornotinterestedinitatall,consequentlythereis
notmuchinterestinproperresearchonthesubjectofchakras.
Itiseasytofeelsuperiorityoverwhatwerefertoaspastgenerationsandthinkof
themasblindworshippersofestablishedreligions,believingthattheEarthwasflat
andthestarshadbeenplacedinskyjusttoprovidesomeilluminationatnight,etc.
Sciencetookoverfromreligioninmoderntimesmanyofusgotusedtorelyingon

scienceforitsanswers.Butdespiteitsremarkableacheivements,modernsciencein
generalispoorlypreparedtostudyandunderstandthesupernatural.
Evenifmucheffortandmoneyweretobeinvestedinchakrasresearchfortheneeds
ofthegeneralpopulation,itwouldinevitablystumbleuponobstaclestryingtofind
adequatemethodsofcollectingandexaminingdata.
Theeffectsofchakrasareaninternalexperienceandanonphyisicalphenomena.Itis
impossibletovalidatetheirexistenceiftheyarestudiedonlyassomethingexternal
fromus,andonlywithphysicalmeans.
Commonlypeoplegetraised,educatedandconditionedtobecomescepticswhenit
comestothesupernatural.Ifapersonistrulyopenmindedandkeepsquestioning,
thatmayhelpthemtolearnanddiscoversomethingnew.Butscepticsmightbe
questioningforthesakeofquestioning,intheirattempttoovercometheirdeepfears
andfeelsafeandsuperiorwithinthelimitsoftheirprovenscepticalbeliefs.

Thespiritualisnotwidelyknown.Ifonelacksdirectexperienceofthespiritual,itmay
beconvenientforpeopletogetlockedwithintheirownscepticalbeliefs,hypnotizedby
widelybelieveddogmasandselfrighteousness.

Mysticscangobeyondone`sconditionedmind.Theycanreachthedepthof
multidimensionalrealityandknowthetruthfromdirectexperience.
Mysticscangowherematerialisticsciencecannot.
Itispossibletodiscoveradepthofrealitybothamazingandmagicalbeyondourfive
physicalsenses.Theinternalscienceofesotericsisasystematicobjectivestudy
providingonewithsufficientevidence,ifoneprogressesfarenoughwiththeesoteric
work.
Toknowthatchakrasexist,onehastoknowtheireffectsfromdirectexperience.

Thereareanumberoffactorsinfluencingthefunctioningofchakras,suchasdaily
activities,speedanddepthofbreathing,amountandqualityofrest,diet,etc.,butthe
crucialfactorinfluencingtheirconditionisourpsychologicalstateofbeing.
Usuallyatypicalpersonswingspsychologicallybetweencompulsivefeelingsof
seekinggratificationandescapingthebitternessoflife,whichisrelatedtoan
imbalancedandunderdevelopedworkofthe3lowestchakras.
Thisisthelifewhichmostpeoplelive:fightingforsurvival,makingmoney,drunkby
sexuallust,obsessedbyattachmenttofood,strivingforselfesteembycontrolling
others,creatingafakerealitywithone`sI,Me,MinebeingthecenterButnothing
physicalreallylasts.Allmaterialvictoriesandfailuresaregoneintime,soonerorlater.

Superiorsensesdon`tworkproperlybecauseofhuman`sinvoluntaryidentification
withtheinputofthe5physicalsenses,combinedwithsubconsciousinfluencesofour
mind,desires,drives,emotions,etc.
Aslongaswearenotawareofwhatisseen,heard,touched,smelledandtasted,
realizingourselvesinthemoment,chakrasremainpredominantlydormant.
Beingawareisnoteasy.Thesubconsciousrapidlykicksoneoutofenjoyingthe
wonderfulflavorsofbeinginthemoment.Onetendstolivetheirlivesbombardedby
currentsofsubconsciousthoughts,worries,emotions,whetheritislikedornot.
Inesotericterminologysubconsciouselementsarecalledegosbecausetheyare
selfishelementsandtheirhugemultitudecomprisesonesperson`sego.Theindividual
wayofperceptionandthinkingtendstobegovernedbytheseselfcentered
subconsciouslowenergies,knownashatred,laziness,envy,pride,fear,greed,anger,
etc.

Inesotericismthehumanperceptionoftheworldandeverydaywayofbeingisoften
referredtoassleep.Oneofthefirststepsofanyauthenticspiritualtraditionisto
wakeupinordertosee.Howmuchcanbeunderstoodoflifeinpsychological
sleep?Howmuchcanbeseendaydreaming?Hereisaninsightfulinstructionalstory
fromSufitradition:

Onceamancaughtalittlebird.
Iwon`tbeusefulforyouinacage,shetoldhimletmego,andIwillgiveyouthree
valuablepiecesofadvice.
Thelittlebirdpromisedtogivethefirstadviceinsidethehand,thesecondonewhen
shewillflyuponthebranchofthetree,andthethirdone,onthetopofthehill.
Themanagreedandaskedherwhatisherfirstadvice.
Ifyouhavelostsomething,evenifyouvalueditnotlessthanyourlife,don`tregret
it.
Themanletthelittlebirdgo,andaftersheflewuptothetopofthebranch,shetold
himhersecondadvice.

Neverbelievethatwhatcontradictscommonsenseandhasnoevidence.
Thensheflewuponthetopofthehillandyelledfromthere:
OPOORYOU!I`VEJUSTSWALLOWEDTWOHUGEDIAMONDS!IFYOUWOULD
HAVEKILLEDME,THEYWOULDBEYOURS.
Amangrabbedhisheadindesperation.
Afterhecamebacktohissensesheaskedher:
Givemeatleastyourthirdadvice.
Youaresofoolish!,saidthelittlebird.Youaskmethethirdadvice,noteven
thinkingaboutthefirstoneandthesecondone.I`vejusttoldyounottoregretabout
whatislostandnottobelievenonsense,andyou`vesimplydonetheopposite.You
believedinthenonsense,andregrettedwhatyou`velost!Thinkaboutit,howcantwo
hugediamondsbeplacedinsideofme,solittle.
Youarefoolish,that`swhyyouneedtoremainwithinlimitspredestinedforordinary
people.
Humanintelligenceishugelyaffectedbyone`sinnerdevelopmentandcurrentstateof
being.Evenifapersonstartstotryactingspiritually(symbolizedinthatstoryby
preferringtolearnfromawisebirdratherthantolockitinacage),thesubconscious
easilykicksinandoneisblindedbyitsownselfishagenda.
Fortunately,therearespiritualtechniqueswhichsupportawarenessofthepresent
momentandexpandittoahigherlevelofperception.Oneoftheveryeffective
practicesischantingmantras.

Mantrasarerepetitionsofvowels,wordsorphrases.Theymaytemporarilyactivate
chakras.Mantrasallowconsciouscreationwiththemagicalpowersofsound

Soundsgetsubstanceinlungsandtakeshapebythepositionofthelips,toungand
teeth,causingsubtlevibrationsinone`sphysicalbodyandaffectingenergies.Usually
thosesensationsandvibrationsarenotnoticedandrapidlyreplacedbyothers.
However,ifthosevibrationsareamplifiedbyprolongedpronounciationoveraperiod
oftime,chakrasrelatedtothoseareasbecomechargedbyenergyandbecomeactive.
Forexample,thevowelOresonatesthemostwiththeheartchakra.ThemantraOm
ManiPadmeHumhasapowerfuleffectoverdifferentchakras,connectingmysticswith
theirinnerspiritualcore.

Everything has its particular aura, its auric radiation, and this
principle is also accomplished in the action of Words. -Dr. Arnoldo
Krum-Heller, (Huiracocha) Logos, Mantram, Magic.

Howlongshouldonepronouncemantras?Evenafewminutesofmantrapracticemay
haveaneffect,butmoreeffectiveresultsareacquiredwithlongerpractices,aslongas
theyaredoneproperly,bymaintainingsteadyfocusandrelaxation.
Spiritualpractitionersaffecttheirhumanbodieswithmantrasonadeeplevel.Our
physicalbodiesareabout65percentwater,changingitsqualityaccordingtothetype
ofenergycharge.
AninterestingrecentillustrationofthatprocesshavebeendiscoveredbyMasaro
Emotu.Hedemonstratedwithhisphotosthatwordspronouncedwithapositive
vibration,classicalmusic,mantras,etc.,affectthemolecularstructureofwaterand
createintricatebeautifulcrystals.Alsoincontrast,hehasshowndisharmonious
chaoticformationscausedbynegativewords,aggressivemusic,etc.
Whenmysticspronouncemantraswiththerightattitudeharmonyandbeauty
crystallizeswithinthem.

The word produces objective geometric figures. These geometric

figures crystallize materially when they are endowed with cosmic
matter. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God All things were made by him..! [John
1:1] Samael Aun Weor, Geometry of the Word.

Allinnerpsychicvibrationsrelatetocorrespondingvibrationsfromtheexternalworld
duetotheaffinityofvibrationsandeachoftheminitscompleteformmaybedivided
into7components.Asourpredominantsensesareoftenvisionandhearing,7notesof
musicaloctaveandthe7primarycolorsoftherainbowtendtobeusedbymysticsto
amplifythecorrespondingvibrationsofthe7chakras.
Forexample,thevowelI(pronouncedasEinthewordeagle)relatestothenoteTI.If
onechantsthemantraofEternalFemininePrincipleISISactivatingthefacultyof
clairvoyance,itmayhaveagreaterpower,ifpronouncedwithahigherpitchednoteTI
correspondingtotheAjnachakra.

Anotheraspectofthisexternalinternalrelationshipisthatspiritualharmony
crystallizedbymantrasisnotlimitedbytheconstraintsofthephysicalbodyofa
mantrapractitioner.Itspreadstoothers,sharinglightwiththeworld,accordingtothe
mystic`spowersandaperson`slevelofreceptivity.
Sharpconcentrationandprofoundrelaxationmagnifytheeffectsofmantras,
neutralizingegos.
Awarenessofthehereandnowisasteptowardsawarenessofeverywhereand
always.
Howeverastheeffectofmantrasonchakrasistemporary,advancedspiritualprogress
isneededtoactivatethempermanently.

Chakrasareconnectedwithcosmicenergies.Habituallymostofusaredriven
psychologicallybycosmicvibrationsofalowkindemittedbytheMoon.Unless
esotericworkhavebeendoneinthepast,oursubtleenergeticalbodiesarelunarand
consistprimarilyofegos,allhavingasenseofI,allfightingfordominance.
Egosblockthespiritualexperiencesofchakras,preventingonefromexperiencing
divinepowersofgoldenwheels,inhibitingonefromlivingaspirituallife.
Egosneedtobedisintegratedforone`sparticlesofconsciousnesstrappedwithin
themtogetliberatedforawarenesstodominateoverlowselfcenteredstates.Ona
bitlargerscale,freedomfromselfishnessisawaytopeace,loveandwisdomonour
planet.
Besideseliminationofegos,thecreativeforceofAlchemyisrequiredtoreplacelunar
bodieswithsolaronesandtoactivatethechakraspermanently.

WithAlchemy,theserpentinesexualforceKundalinimayawakenintheMuladhara
ChakraandgraduallyascendthroughSushumna,theenergychannelinsidethespinal
cord.AsoneprogressesonthePathtoEnlightenment,internalfireignitesthe7
candles.The7chakrasgetactivatedpermanently,enrichedbytheexcessof
transmutedenergy.
Alchemy,knownasWhiteTantraandtheBridalChamber,wasoneofthegreatest
esotericsecretsever
Ithasbeenhiddenforcenturiesincodes,parables,legendsandsymbolsduetoits
vitalimportanceforspiritualdevelopmentanditssexualnature.Forexampleawell
knownsymbolofCaduceussymbolizesenergyriseninthespinalcolumn,thesnakes
coiledarounditaretheenergychannelsIdaandPingala.

Finallyinthemiddleofthe20thcentury,theAvataroftheAgeofAquariusspiritual
teacherSamaelAunWeorremovedthesealsofsymbolism.HeexplainedAlchemy

openlyinhisnumerouswritingsandpublictalksasasacredsexualpracticebetweena
marriedcoupleinlovedevotedtoinnerpurificationandhelpingothersspiritually.
SamaelAunWeorwrotemanybookswithprofoundexplanationsofAlchemy,suchas
hislateworkMysteryoftheGoldenBlossom.
Hewasagreatheraldofpurespirituallove,enlighteningtheheartsofspiritual
practitionerswithhisinspiringpoeticandprofoundlanguage.

GodasFatherisWisdom.
GodasMotherisLove.
GodasFatherresidesintheEyeofWisdom.
TheEyeofWisdomissituatedbetweentheeyebrows.
GodasLoveisfoundintheHeartTemple.
WisdomandLovearethetwoMainColumnsoftheGreatWhiteLodge.
Tolove,whatabeautifulthingitistolove.
OnlythegreatSoulscan,andknowhowtolove.LoveisinfinitetendernessLoveis
thelifethatpalpitatesineveryatom,asineverySun.
(excerptedfromSamaelAunWeor`sPerfectMatrimony)

Alchemytransmutestheenergyfrommutuallycomplementingmalefemaleunited
currents.
Thesecretwisdomofesotericismisthatgraduallytheleadofrawenergiesmay
transformintothegoldoftheSpiritinall7dimensions.Oncethephysicalbodyis
filledwithtransmutedenergy,itsexcessofgoeshigherrestoringandcreatingSolar
Vital,Astral,Mental,andCausalbodiesandthenevenfurther,creatingadvanced
vehiclesforpartsofone`sindividualDivineBeingtobeincarnatedinternally.(Lunar
bodiescanbereplacedwithSolarbodies,thenwithsuperiorGoldenbodiesonthe
stageofspiritualworkknownasTheSecondMountain,andultimatelywithbodiesof
LightontheThirdMountaintomergeconsciouslywiththeAbsolute.)
Theuniverseisgovernedbycosmiclawsandconsciousbeings.Everythingiscreated
bythecombinedenergyof2oppositeforces:positiveandnegative,assertiveand
receptive.
Humanbeingshavethepotentialfor3differenttypesofbirths.Thefirstoneiseternal
birth.TheMonad,atinysparkoflightisbornbythefatherwhoisinheaven.The
secondbirthisatemporaryonefromaphysicalmother.Thethirdbirthisaspiritual
birthwheretheunityofharmonizedmasculineandfemininetransmutedenergies

createbodiesinhigherdimensions.ItsultimatepurposeistoreturnbacktoGod,
completelyawakened,beingaconsciouspartoftheAbsolute.

ThisspiritualbirthwasmentionedbyJesuswhenhetoldNicodemustobebornagain.
1TherewasamanofthePharisees,namedNicodemus,aruleroftheJews:
2ThesamecametoJesusbynight,andsaiduntohim,Rabbi,weknowthatthouarta
teachercomefromGod:fornomancandothesemiraclesthatthoudoest,exceptGod
bewithhim.
3Jesusansweredandsaiduntohim,Verily,verily,Isayuntothee,Exceptamanbe
bornagain,hecannotseethekingdomofGod.
4Nicodemussaithuntohim,Howcanamanbebornwhenheisold?canheenterthe
secondtimeintohismotherswomb,andbeborn?
5Jesusanswered,Verily,verily,Isayuntothee,Exceptamanbebornofwaterandof
theSpirit,hecannotenterintothekingdomofGod.

6ThatwhichisbornofthefleshisfleshandthatwhichisbornoftheSpiritisspirit.
7MarvelnotthatIsaiduntothee,Yemustbebornagain.
excerptedfromTheGospelofJohn

Rotatingchakrasbythemselvesdonotmakeoneprogressspiritually.Theiractivation
isnotthemaingoalinEsotericism.Psychicfacultiesofconsciousnessmaybe
comparedwithbeautifulflowersonthesideoftheroad:theymayhelptoadvance
forward,buttheymayalsodistract.Activationofchakrashasthemostbenefisifitisa
partoftheprocessofawakening,helpingpeopleandtheworld.
Spiritualdevelopmentismuchmoresuperiorwayofbeingoverexcitement,worries,
confusionandimpermanenceofasocallednormallife.
Therearemanylevelsofsuperiorityofthespiritualoverthematerial.Ifoneadvances
totheheightsofspirituality,theirsuperiorperceptionintegratesnaturallyintheirway
oflife.Similarly,qualitiesofdivineloveandcosmicwisdomarenaturalconsequences
ofspiritualawakening.
Thereisalottopassforatinysparkofone`sconsciousnesstoascendfromlow
pointsofCreationtothemostpurestLightwithnoshadowtheAncientofDays,the
Absolute,
God.

"ATibetanmonksitsoutintheopeninthebitingcoldandmakeshisbodyperspire.Thisisalla
matterofwill.Throughhisdeterminationhedeniestherealityofthebittercoldandcreatesanother
realitythatthesunisshininganditishot.Merelybyhisresolve,hesubordinateshiscircumstances
tohisstateofmind.Theactualsituationaroundhimisthatofthefallingsnow,butclosinghiseyes
hedeniesthatsituation.Hesuggeststohimselfthatitisnotsnowing,thatthesunisburninghot.He
causesthissuggestiontogosodeepwithinthatamomentcomeswhenhiseverybreath,everycell
ofhisbody,everypartofhisbeingbeginstofeeltheheat.Thenhowcanhenotperspire?Hisvery

perspirationshowsthathemadehisstateofmindprevailoverthecircumstances.Inasense,all
yogaisnothingbutallowingthestateofmindtoovercomethe

circumstances.Andallworldlinessinasenseisnothingbutsubjectingthestateofmindtothe
circumstances."Oso