Symbolism, Terminology and Practices
Egyptian Symbolism
The Ankh (Crux Ansata)
The cross of life. Hieroglyph: ‘Life, Hand Mirror’. Symbol of life, the Universe and immortality. Eternal life. Regeneration. As a talisman, good fortune. Resurrection. ‘The Key of the Nile’ – the sacred marriage between God and Goddess took place at the source of the Nile each year before the flood. Union between male and female principles; the top loop as spirit and also the feminine, the staff as the male, combined by the lifeforce (son, Horus) as the breath that unites the two (crucifixion of the tree of life, the axis of time and space, separation or duality becomes unity). The loop becomes the golden light body, a human form achieving ‘Divinity’ (or connection to ‘Christ or Crystal Consciousness’ thus becoming a radiant being of light) with their arms outstretched. Symbol of Venus, green, copper, the heart chakra. Alchemy: The merger of duality. Combines the Hebrew letter Tau as ‘matter crucified, the world of form – risen from death, and resting triumphantly in the arms of the slayer’, thus, mastery over the ego and the physical world. The Ankh is held under the nostrils by a ray of the Aten (Sun) to symbolise ‘The Breath of Life’. A sceptre is also carried and applied to the dead to bring them back to life.
The Eyes of Horus
Horus The Younger, The Sky God, The Falcon, He Who is Above, The Child, Son of Isis and Osiris, God of the North. Hieroglyph: ‘To Make, To Create’. To illuminate Earth. The soul (Ba) removed from the physical body. The complete and perfect eye, the ‘total vision of reality’. Soul guidance can be obtained when the mind seeks wisdom (eye also restored by magic of Thoth, wisdom). The ‘wedjat’ or whole one. A powerful symbol of protection that confers wisdom, health and prosperity. Right eye: Ra, the Sun. Left eye: The Moon. Swallowed by Seth, restored through magic by Hathor who pours milk to restore sight – spiritual wisdom and water, representing earthly knowledge (reconnecting with the feminine and our intuitive or Higher Self, our soul and spiritual body, balanced with our masculine aspects, our will, to form ‘the whole’ or unity). Still symbolises healing in Egypt.
The Sistrum
The Goddess Bast, connected also to Isis and Hathor. The external nature of things – nothing ceases to exist, it just changes form (as it is shaken, physical bodies moving to other dimensions, the integration of our spiritual bodies). Cycles and evolving souls, death and rebirth. The brass rings on four levels are the four elements we must master. Combines the Ankh and Tau, the blending of the active (masculine +) and passive (feminine -). Universal harmony through ‘Music of The Spheres’ (or the heavenly bodies, the seven key planets – balancing our chakras, which each connect to a planet).
The Aten/Aton
The Universal God, Creator of all things, Father and Mother of us all, infinitely merciful and loving to all his creatures. Each ray extending from the sun disc, or clutching an Ankh showed that the Aten was imminent in all human affairs. It depicted a natural manifestation of Divine energy, radiating and touching all, no matter what religion or race. A benevolent God, devoid of complicated or cruel theologies, shining on all.
The Winged Solar Disc
The wings of Horus (through union with the heart), the power of the spirit as a flying serpent of wisdom – awakened Kundalini, having overcome the desires of the lower self (represents the third eye, or Ajna chakra with two lotus petals). The wings of the soul.
The Djed Pillar
Stability. The Tree of Life, The Backbone of Osiris, Tet. Erected to celebrate the Egyptian New Year. The ‘Axis Mundi’ or cosmic churn symbolising the axis of the Earth and the rotation between day and night, Horus and Set, the light of the cosmos and the Underworld (like the infinity symbol). Earths Poles connect to the Celestial Poles. The four cross bars symbolise the four elements of which all matter is composed. Fire (creation in action), Earth (positive manifestation on the material plane), Air (positive thoughts), Water (positive emotions, unconditional love, belief). Man must ‘master these elements’ to allow connection with the upper realms as we are connected by energy through our spine (the pillar).
Khepher
Kephri, Kephera, Kepherer, The Scarab. To grow, to become, to change oneself, to come into existence – ‘arise’. Associated with life and rebirth, and the dawn. Each morning Khephri rolled the Sun like a huge ball through the sky then through the Underworld to the Eastern horizon. Transcendence, victory over death. Worn as engraved amulets, good luck and protection. The Jewel of The Seven Stars, by Bram Stoker: A Scarab engraved with the seven stars (also seven pointed) of the Plough carries the Hekau (magic words) to command the upper and lower worlds – ‘love’ (in its most abstract and fullest sense, unconditional love) and ‘abiding of heart’ (acting in accordance with our heart).
The Lotus Flower
Sacred flower of Nephthys, Goddess of mysticism and repose. Continuity, meditation, placidity, embodies peace of mind. ‘As above so below’: Encompasses the kingdoms of all four elements, roots rising from the mud, through the water where it embraces the air and reaches towards the sun’s rays. Inner peace is gained when one has coordinated all four elemental qualities within their nature. Spiritual growth and enlightenment. Symbol of Upper Egypt/Upper Nile.
Osiris and Isis
Osiris was torn into 14 pieces scattered by Set (our lower self or ego). Two (masculine and feminine, mind and intuition) x seven (‘heavenly knots’ or centres of energy within the body, the chakras) and restored by Isis (connection with our feminine aspects, our emotional guidance system and intuition).
Isis
I am Nature
Mother of All
Mistress of the elements
Sovereign of the spirit
Queen of the dead
Queen of the immortals
The single embodiment of Goddesses and Gods
My will governs the movement of the stars
The winds of the seas
And the dread silence of the Underworld
I am worshiped under many aspects
Known by countless names
I am Isis.
‘Lifting the veil as the Goddess returns’ (Alchemy, clearing the seven chakras). ‘The veils (seven) of illusion are lifting now (Salome, seven gates to the Underworld). Mary the Mother follows on from Isis. ‘The Virgin Mother in Pisces’, Isis obtains the secret name of Ra (turned his spittle into a serpent, the rise of Kundalini). Venus.
Osiris
The hero of the sacred drama of humanity. Guides through the three stages of life, death and rebirth. Ra Osiris, resurrection, eternity and everlastingness, ‘born again’ (separation or duality, back to Oneness or Unity). Heb Sed Festival: Representation of the ritual death of the King (identified with Osiris) followed by rebirth (as in initiation, death of the ego and rebirth of the spiritual body, hence Osiris rising from the dead).