The magical power of Egypt was the sole prerogative of royalty and royal priests; however, some mean elements did use the magical powers for ill-gotten gains and wealth. The world of magic had a pragmatic approach, and the principles applied to achieve the main goals of humans, spirits, dead, and gods.
Just consider the magnificent feats of the following gods:
Ptah: Creation of the world
Amon: Self Fertilization
Khnum: Shaping of men and women by using clay
All these great deeds were impossible without the help of great magical powers! The dead and their abode are too important for the deceased. These places needed security and protection from evil forces, and heka did provide them with its stupendous powers. Amulets of various sorts were the essential part of the Egyptian heka, and everyone ensured that they had at least one of them on their bodies. Healing was also a magical art, and heka ensured that everyone got their cure from a variety of afflictions and diseases. The power of heka could be anything in its nature; it could be too good, or it could also be bad and evil. Some people used it for their personal gains, while others used the magical powers of heka to help many people.
Preparing for a Ritual and Spell
The practice of heka needed many days of preparation and readiness; the person who conducted the rituals collected all the materials needed for the function beforehand. In most cases, an auspicious day and time was the need of the hour, as Egyptians believed in the importance of good and bad days. The place where the magical rituals conducted came in consultation with the elders, and this place used to be a secretly hidden chamber or a cave. In fact, every aspect was to be ritually pure, so that the results were effective and authentic. Implements and tools used for the rituals too needed to be genuine and fresh.
Spells and Rituals
The magical words, spoken either silently or in a loud manner, were the real means to influence other spiritual beings and make them listen to the orders. Speech always initiated many actions, which were either symbolic or gesture-like. Action like execration meant piercing of a figurine with needles or knives, spitting, or burning. Priests gave immense importance to the diverse names of the invoked gods or spirits, names hidden in the labyrinth of the underworld. Every name recited must be precise in intonation and spelling; the wrong intonation never yielded any results. The sequence needed to be right and in its entirety.
Most of these intonations and utterances lasted seven times with a loud voice. More often, the situation also demanded repetitions and frequent reiterations. The numbers too had their own importance; in many cases, priests made sure that these numbers were in the right context. The need for heka was even greater among the dead than that of the living beings. When a person died, he became helpless in a world full of evil spirits, organ snatchers, and demonic influences. To protect dead souls, Sekhmet priests made sure that they provide protection to the dead souls, by conducting a series of funerary rituals and procedures. These rituals and spells are some of the well-known Egyptian treasure houses of knowledge and wisdom. For example, the Opening of the Mouth ceremony was a classic example of what Egyptians could achieve with their magical powers; this unique ritual consisted of spells necessary for warding off dangers and evil acts unleashed by invisible spirits of the underworld.
Addressing Powerful Gods
Dealing with great gods and goddesses was a difficult act, as the gods were so powerful to be mistreated! Every magical act performed intended to please a series of gods and to get the real benefit of their wishes and blessings. Hymns of praise and worship were the essential things required to please gods, and even today, many tombs provide invaluable examples of these prayers. Selected food items and drinks also formed the essential things needed to please the gods.
Invoking and dismissing powers
Many inferior spirits and demonic influences did not require the same level of courtesy and worship as compared to gods. Such things needed summary dismissals so that they never bothered or troubled again! In a series of steps, these evil influences needed invocation, so that they could be either exorcized or pacified before they were cast off to the netherworld. Several chants and verses form the base of invocation and dismissal. Priests used to offer many sacrificial things and items to these forces to make them satiated and satisfied.
Invoking Spiritual and Cosmic Forces
Egypt is the most revered stargate for very high-energy resources and cosmic powers. The Ancient Egyptians considered Egypt as a staircase to the great heaven, by reproducing and redesigning a comprehensive map of the stars onto the great Temples on Earth. Egypt also holds critical keys and buttons to cosmic wisdom that makes us so energetic and vital! The ancient Egyptians understood the principles of star energy and starlight in their daily lives. They also knew the wonderful and rejuvenating energy of stars and their impact on the well-being of people and animals on the earth. Egyptians considered the great star Sirius, as the harbinger of good and excellence both on the land and people. Sirius also offered a great source of spiritual enlightenment and a holy way to reach the cherished destiny of the afterworld and personal immortality and salvation. A harmonious cosmology was the creation of ancient Egyptian rituals, and the complete spiritual mechanism was to provide people direct access to cosmic liberation. Egyptians always constructed great structures that provided an equation to establish a harmonious relationship with the universe. Egyptians used their intellect and engineering skills to align great buildings like pyramids and temples with the great stars and established them within the axis of great spiritual space.
There are many instances of Sep Tepi, where the great gods traversed a wide expanse of the path on the land and across to the great heaven. Egypt is the great center of spiritual awakening and cosmic liberation, where the past experts and sages speak their mind out to teach people invaluable lessons in cosmic sciences and the management of cosmic energy.
The Egyptian god of Thoth was a great scholar as well! He was also an accomplished alchemist, magician, and a seasoned spokesperson of wisdom. In fact, Thoth wrote a magnificent book called the Emerald Tablet that provides sophisticated spiritual technology combined with superior cosmic sciences. This wonderful text also gives us a series of steps to achieve personal transformation on different levels of spiritual maturity.