Becoming Osiris: The Ancient Egyptian Death Experience 9781620550137, 9780892816521, 089281652X, 162055013X
In their well-known Book of the Dead, the ancient Egyptians left humanity a comprehensive understanding of the death exp
362 99 5MB
English Year 1998
Table of contents :
Intro
Title Page
Contents
Translator's Preface
Hymn to Osiris
1. Ancient Egypt in Context
The Effect of Geography on Egyptian Thought
The Concept of the Eternal Return
The Ritual Integration of the Deceased and the Tomb in the Cycle of Everyday Life
The Constituent Elements of the Individual
The Texts and Rituals of Immortality
First Stage: The Embalming
2. The Transformation of the Deceased into a Latent Osiris
The Preparation of the Body to Be Embalmed
The Intervention of the Deities
Second Stage: The Opening of the Mouth Ritual
3. The Restoration of the Deceased's Faculties The Place and the Protagonists for the Opening of the Mouth RitualThe Enactment of the Opening of the Mouth Ritual
The Funeral Banquet
Third Stage: The Book of the Dead, Methods of Obtaining Immortality
4. The Return to the Universal Matrix
The First Contact of the Deceased with the Beyond
The Magic Funerary Statuettes
The First Obstacles to Entering the Dwat
Guardian Deities, Hope, and Adoration of Ra
5. Teachings for Coming Forth by Day
Summary of Essential Knowledge
Accompanying Prayers for the Deceased and the Litany to Thoth Mystical Restoration and Reactivation of the Individual6. Magical Self-Defense
Invocation to the Heart
Places and Forces Hostile to the Deceased
Magical Protection for the Deceased
The Mystical Food for the Departed
Mastery of the Elements
7. Transformations and Solarization of the Deceased
General Program for the Coming Forth by Day and Practical Recommendations
Alleged History of Chapter 64
The Transmuted One Takes Cosmic Flight to Meet the Divine Powers
Return to the Tomb and Provisions for the Solarized One
The Twelve Avatars of the Glorified Individual 8. Magical Integration of the Transfigured One within the Cosmic FrameworkThe Dead Individual Assures Himself of the Presence of His Soul, His Shadow, and His Ka
Thoth Hands over the Magic Palette to the Deceased
Formula for Bringing the Ferry in the Sky to Oneself and Voyaging with Ra
Invocation to the Ka and to the Souls of the Holy Cities
9. The Vindicated Explores the Cycle of the Beyond
Travels and Works in the Land of Abundance
Stellar Take-Off and the Return to the Tomb
The Tribunal of Osiris
The Vindicated, Osiris-Ra, Travels through the Hereafter 10. Accompaniment of the Deceased and Geography of the BeyondPrayers and Magic Practices Based on Lunar Rhythms
The Deceased in the Service of Ra: Solar Destiny
Ritual Furnishings for the Tomb and Its Safeguards
The Four Secret Books
11. The Mystical Labyrinth and the Glorious Arrival
The Geography of the Beyond
Dangers of the Beyond and Protective Amulets for the Dead
The Opening of the Sky to the Four Cosmic Winds
The Radiant Glorification of the Deceased, Osiris-Ra
12. The Additional Chapters
Preservation of the Body and Soul of the Deceased
