D.V. Whytes
Whyte on the Rock
For you, a message from Ramses ...
“Ah …” moaned our head waiter. “Do you not know that just to mention the Amduat is to awaken the spirit world and attract its attention?” He paused, looking at each of us, and an eerie silence pervaded our group. Reyna snuggled closer to me, until she was practically sitting in my lap, as he continued in a hushed tone, “Why do you wish to rouse the spirits?”
D.V. Whytes
Whyte on the Rock
“While in the tomb of Ramses a voice told me that the Amduat was certain.”“Who was this that told you of the Amduat? Did you see him?” And at this point he leaned in closer to the table as if he himself was as enthralled as the rest of us.
“No … I saw no one. You see, it was dark and …”
“Shu hatha,” he exclaimed as he put his hand to his mouth, “the walls … the Amduat … it has spoken to you! Lay is … ana laa afham … Alah alim …” and he kissed the fingertips of his cupped hand and then waved it upward. “Why, this is most serious of all. The spirit world calls, and when it does there is no escaping. What did it say?”
“What can you tell us about the Amduat?” Grant asked.
“The literal meaning is that which is in the afterworld,” he replied in hushed tones. “It’s a highly important and ancient epitaph for the new kingdom. It is usually found written inside the tombs for the deceased pharaohs and other dignitaries, but … but, for the Amduat to speak out from the wall itself … why … why I don’t know what to say!”
“You will tell us more, then?” Grey urged, as he noticed Reyna’s eyes growing with each account.
A few heads bobbed up and down until he submitted to our curiosity, and then continued, “The Amduat is divided into twelve hours, each hour representing a gate and spirit. The dead must know their names and call upon them for help, or they must defeat them, depending on if they were a good or a bad spirit. Each gate possesses a specific essence with its connotations.”
“It said that being in the tomb was our fourth hour. Do you know what the significance each hour holds?” I asked, totally immersed in his oration.
“Ah … so then you say, you are now on hour five of your journey … It is the hour of discovery, but you must be most careful for it also hides the lake of fire. The Hour six ... it is the most significant, for it is when the Ba unites with the body. This is the point of regeneration, but danger awaits in hour seven where Apep or your ah, what is the word ... your adversary lies in wait. If he is subdued by the magic of Isis then and only then will the sun god open his door in hour eight where you may leave by rowing back into the waters of hour nine. Hour ten continues your chance of regeneration until hour eleven, when the eyes of the gods bring health and well-being. In the final hour twelve you will have your new beginning in the new kingdom.
“Tell us about the Wedjat of Harmetry.”
“That’s rather simple,” Grant said, “The Wedjat is the left eye of Horus and Harmetry is one of Horus’ many names or references.”
“Ah yes, I see you are wise in our ways,” the waiter continued. “His left eye is the lunar eye, which stands for wisdom, and his right eye is the eye of the sun, or solar eye, which stands for enlightenment.” He looked at me gravely and asked, “I notice that you wear the eye of the Holy See. Do you now seek the eyes of wisdom and light so that you may be granted divinity? If so, your journey is truly dangerous. Beware of your Apep for he will be a powerful and jealous adversary. He will not be far from the snake of eternity.” He stood up and bowed to us gently, “Bissalama, have a safe journey. I must go for now. Assalamu alaikum …” he said taking a step backwards, “ah … peace be upon you ... Ma'assalama.”