Sacred Scrolls

TEHUTI/online

Sacred Scrolls

Kemetic Pyramid Texts - Ascension Ritual

The Pyramid Texts are not strictly funerary spells said by a deceased person. The rituals compiled in the Pyramid Texts were used to become one with the NTRW and travel through the Duat while living. Some individual lines or whole rituals are said by the person undergoing transformation and others are said by the group of people (priestesses and priests) who attend the ceremony. This is evident by the words. I will use a few rituals as examples.

Ritual 564: The word someone begins the first line. This indicates a person other than the participant is speaking - Ex: a facilitator or priest. In typical call and response fashion the first, second, and fourth lines should be said by the group, lines three and five thru eight use I and me so should be said by the individual undergoing transformation.

Rituals 565-567 should be said by the individual with 568 said by the group.

As you read the text pay attention to the words in this fashion to decide if an individual, a facilitator, or the group recites the lines.

Make up some gestures, poses, and maybe add some responses from the group to appropriate parts in the ritual. I can visualize the singing of certain lines and phrases. Be creative and hook it up to increase the energy. The NTRW are alive!

Ritual 564

Someone bathes in the Lake of Rushes

Ra bathes in the Lake of Rushes

And I myself bathe in the Lake of Rushes

Shu bathes in the Lake of Rushes

And I myself bathe in the Lake of Rushes

Shu! Shu, lift me up to the sky

Nut! put your hands on me

Ritual 565

I am pure, I am conveyed to the sky, I remain more than human, and I appear in glory for the NTRW. I have appeared with Ra at his appearing. I have become the third of those two who are with me, one behind me and one before me – one gives water and the other gives sand. I have leaned on your arm Shu just as Ra has leaned on your arm. These two have found me, having sat down opposite me, even the two spirits, the Ladies of this land. Nut, be joyful at meeting me for there has received me the hem of her petticoat which is under her dress. He whom they have fashioned for themselves is me and evil has rejected me. Selket has set her hands on me. She has extended her breast to my mouth. Dw3-wr has shaved me and Sepdet has washed my hands. It is my rebirth today NTRW. Now, I do not know my first mother whom I once knew. Nut and Ausar have born me.

Ritual 566

Take me with you Heru. Ferry me over, Tehuti, on the tip of your wing as Sokar who presides over the Barque of Righteousness. Heru is not asleep behind the canal; Tehuti is not boat less nor am I boat less for I possess the eye of Heru.

Ritual 567

Ra has bathed in the Field of Rushes, Heru has bathed in the Field of Rushes and I have bathed in the Field of Rushes. Shu, lift me up! Nut, give me your hand!

Ritual 568

Someone goes to his double, Mhnt-irty goes to his double and this Nisw-Bity goes to his double to the sky. A ladder is set up for him that he may ascend on it in its name of “Ascent to the Sky.” Its ferryboat is ferried across for him by the staffs of the Imperishable Stars. The Bull of the sky has bent down his horn that he may pass over thereby to the Lakes of the Netherworld. Nisw-Bity, you shall not fall to the ground. This Nisw-Bity has grasped for himself the two sycamores which are in that side of the sky: “Ferry me over!” And they set him on the eastern side of the sky.

Ritual 569

I know your name. I am not ignorant of your name. Your name is limitless. Your father’s name is ‘You are Great.’ Your mother’s name is Hetep, she who bears you on the path of the dawn, the path of the dawn.

The birth of limitless in the horizon will be prevented