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Hieroglyphic Words of Power, by Normandi Ellis

Hieroglyphic Words of Power: Symbols for Magic, Divination, and Dreamwork, by Normandi Ellis
Bear & Company, 1591433762, 336 pp., 2020

Egypt calls to mind all sorts of mysterious magic. Not only did the Egyptian empire last for over 3,000 years, the esoteric rites and occult magic have continued to be a cornerstone of Western magic to this day. Hieroglyphic Words of Power: Symbols for Magic, Divination, and Dreamwork by Normandi Ellis takes the reader into the mindset of those esteemed priests and priestesses of Egypt by teaching how to read the ancient hieroglyphs for magical and divinatory purposes.

I was drawn to this book because I have been very into exploring asteroids in my astrology chart, specifically Egyptian deities after finding out the asteroid Isis (42) is exactly conjunct Venus in my natal chart at 22 degrees Capricorn. For anyone with a bit of astrological knowledge, this degree of Capricorn has been a focus point of some major conjunctions this year! Since this transit began, I’ve been called to explore the mysteries of Egypt more deeply as I endeavor to decipher the archetype of Isis in my natal chart. Hieroglyphic Words of Power was a very useful book in strengthening my connection to the enchanting energy of Egypt.

What I like most about this book is the way Ellis describes the hieroglyphics as a sort of depth psychological poetry. She writes, “The consciousness of the creative intelligence that envisioned hieroglyphic communication operates in thought waves that defy logic.” 1 When viewed from this perspective, the hieroglyphs become living symbols that can be accessed intuitively in the liminal spaces of divination and dreams, allowing their meaning to be imbued in the context of their original conception, cutting through the separation of time and space.

Ellis divided the book into four sections: Introduction to the Hieroglyphs, The Unique Magic of their Hieroglyphs, The Hieroglyphs, and The Layouts. After delving into the history of hieroglyphs and explaining her own method of practice, study, and research, Ellis moves into how to use the magic of the hieroglyphs for the purpose of ritual magic, divination, and performing dream work.

I particularly enjoyed her writing on numerology with Egyptian meaning of the resonant energy for each digit. For those who may not be familiar with numerology, Ellis includes directions on how to calculate one’s birth path, personal year, and decipher the numerology of words using number-letter correspondences. One question I had while reading was if Ellis used the Pythagorean system of numerology or the Chaldean system because she highlights the influence of Egyptian practices on both Pythagoras and the Qabalah. I figured out by looking at her examples that she uses Pythagorean numerology. If you’re interested in learning more about the difference between these two systems, I have written about it here.

Back on topic now though, with the variety of ways offered to connect with the hieroglyphs, I decided to begin with dreamwork. Amazingly, the night I read that section and decided to try it out, I had my first ever dream of being in Egypt. Immersed in the dunes of sand, I gained the ability to soar into the clouds and overlook the whole region. I can tell you honestly that I never have had a dream like this before, and I fully attribute it to my working the practices in the book to open up to studying hieroglyphs in dreamtime, assisted by specific deities who protect and teach in this realm.

Another useful idea Ellis offers for learning the 60 hieroglyphs in this book is to create your own divination deck using the symbols. I appreciate how this method blends creativity with the process of learning the hieroglyphs and can also be used practically for divination. The entire next two sections are designed to assist the reader with building their own relationship to the hieroglyphs by working with them in the deck, meditation, and dreams.

The third section, which comprises the majority of the book, details 60 hieroglyphs that Ellis felt were best for the beginner to learn. For every hieroglyph Ellis offers an explanation of meaning, information about the context of meaning in Egyptian belief systems, and definitions that can be applied for understanding and divination using one’s numerology. Each hieroglyph also has a picture of it from Egypt and a drawing of it done by a graphic designer.

I’ve had a lot of success tracing the symbols in my journal and candles to connect with the hieroglyph. I decided to take the approach Ellis suggests of spending 2-3 days on a hieroglyph to get to know it’s meaning, energy, and wisdom. I am enjoying this slow and steady approach because it gives me the space to open to the hieroglyphs in an intuitive, experimental way. Each hieroglyph seems willing to speak when I am receptive to listening. Plus, I am nurturing my relationship with certain deities to assist with this process. No need to rush this practice. 🙂

Finally, the last section offers readings that can be done using the hieroglyphic images for divination. There is information on calculating one’s numerology, a variety of spreads that can be used, and most helpful, sample oracle readings that give the reader an idea of how to integrate the hieroglyphs to discern a clear message. I haven’t finished creating my oracle deck yet so I haven’t practiced the readings, but I am looking forward to trying them out when the time is right. They all look very useful and soulfully designed to help the reader gain insight into their questions and concerns.

Overall, I believe Hieroglyphic Words of Power is a wonderful guide to establishing the use of hieroglyphs in one’s personal practice. There’s something about Egypt magic that is so intriguing, yet elusive when we have no guide. Ellis has put together a method of study that is comprehensive, accessible, and transformative when undertaken. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking to begin strengthening their connection to the magic of Egypt, whether to develop relationships with deities or learn another method of divination based on the combination of dreamwork, numerology, and hieroglyphs. There’s a lot interwoven in this book and I’m sure it will remain one I refer back to often over time.

Egyptian Magick, by Mogg Morgan

Egyptian Magick: A Spirited Guide, by Mogg Morgan
Mandrake of Oxford, 1906958992, 432 pages, November 2020

The influence of ancient Egypt has remained strong in the imagination of Western magic through the Hebrew and Greek traditions and was popularized again in its revival during the Enlightenment. While this energy is still potent centuries later, it is often molded into the one-size-fits-all, easy-to-digest books that make this type of magickal practice easily accessible to the reader. This is wonderful for those who do not intend to delve into a full practice, but it often leaves those who seek to deepen their magick wanting. Cue Egyptian Magick: A Spirited Guide by Mogg Morgan, which is just the book for those who truly wish to expand their practice into a working system.

Morgan is both a practitioner and scholar of the occult. The level of detail described in Egyptian Magick duly reflects this combination, which clearly showcases the relationship between scholarship to inform practice and practice contextualizing scholarship. He has authored quite a few other titles, the most notable being Isis: Goddess of Egypt & India, Supernatural Assault in Ancient Egypt: Seth, Renpet & Moon Magick, The Ritual Year in Ancient Egypt: Lunar and Solar Calendars and Liturgy, and Seth & The Two Ways: Ways of Seeing the Demon God of Egypt. His area of focus is “the connections between the popular magick of ancient Egypt and its continuation/crossover with the living magical traditions of the middle East, and the Kaula/witchcraft of south Asia and beyond.”1

Egyptian Magick is Morgan’s compilation of the core ideas from his previous books all brought together to create one authoritative guide. And let me tell you, it is PACKED with information. I will admit, I was a bit intimidated when I began reading this book. With only a novice level of knowledge about Egyptian Magick, I instantly felt like I was in over my head. At first I did my best to find my footing in the book by dutifully going through it page by page, but quickly I realized I could jump around a bit within each chapter and slowly weave together the tapestry of information. This method helped me to not feel overwhelmed and discover my own method of working with the book rather than becoming inundated (and stuck!).

There are eight chapters in the book that are all filled with sub-sections and even more small headers with information. At times this can feel a bit choppy, but I also believe this style offers as much information as possible within the framework of the book. The book begins with an invocation and then delves into Heka & Hekau. This section really stands out because it describes all types of Egyptian magick: sleep magick, image magick, human sacrifice, funeral rites, and more! So often, scholarship wants to overlook these gruesome details within occult practices, but Morgan does not shy away from topics such as decapitation and reversals or cannibalism. It’s a bit gruesome, but at the same time enlightening, and almost liberating, to be able to delve into such taboo topics.

Reading on, Morgan expands on his reasoning for the basis for this work with contextual references to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and Aliester Crowley. He writes, “I have come to believe that the real ‘Golden Dawn’ is an experience rather than an organization.”2. He then encourages the reader to “try to put aside what you know and approach the surviving records of ancient Egyptian magick with a fresh mind.”3 This sentiment really stuck with me, as many of the techniques and practices I’ve learned thus far have stemmed from the Golden Dawn. Some of the fascinating topics that resonated with me most were the correspondences of Greek vowels with elements, secret languages of magicians, the relationship between sigils and hieroglyphs, Egyptian numerology, and an impressive array of seals.

Chapter four, “The Temple of Imaginarium,” was probably my favorite in the entire book. Ever since I learned about this mind-mapping technique in Masonic Magician by Philipa Faulks and Robert L.D. Cooper, I’ve been fascinated but haven’t been able to learn more. Morgan explains it well in writing:

“What else is a temple but a representation, in material, of the cosmology of the people who built it? The temple represents the archeology of gnosis, the sequences of a journal through the temple represent the initiatory journey to the ‘holy mountain’.4 It can be an imaginarium or House of all Possibilities, a theatre in which to locate one’s magick.”5

Morgan offers a guided visualization to move through this temple to discover your own magical potency. You gain the ability to move through and access the energy of Egyptian deities, performing the role of a priest. I’ve only tried this once, but found it quite impactful. I plan on familiarizing myself with this exercise when I have time to truly dedicate to experimenting with the technique.

The following chapters detail the rites of initiation, lead the reader through the underworld, and then go into the longest chapter about the ritual year of the Egyptians. These chapters are the real key to opening oneself into this working system of Egyptian Magick. The rituals can be performed at the start of each month and help to orient the practitioner to the time of year and energy available. Since I prefer attuning to the spirit of the place where I physically am, I haven’t tried any of the rituals. However, for a reader who wishes to fully work this system, everything that is needed is within this chapter.

What strikes me the most about Egyptian Magick is the level of insight that Morgan has accumulated. I would guess this isn’t his last book, but in many ways it feels like a magnum opus. Without hesitancy, Morgan clearly elucidated occult practices with objectivity, reverence, and awe. The book is clearly shaped by Morgan’s unique perception, but in no way does it feel contrived to push a practice. Rather, it clearly lays it all out for the reader, from the taboo to the mundane aspects of this work, and offers an all-encompassing guide to Egyptian magick.

Overall, Egyptian Magick is a trustworthy source for expanding one’s knowledge of the Egyptian occult and how this magick can be practiced today. It beautifully blends scholarship with experience to offer a compendium of information. I hesitate to recommend it to a novice practitioner, but I do believe that is a must-have for anyone working with Egyptian deities or is interested in learning more about Egyptian practices. Within these pages is a year-round system of Egyptian magick that utilizes techniques that have amply survived the test of time.

As Morgan writes, “Ideally this becomes part of a practical theology by which the practitioner becomes, through ‘dynamic resonance’ the image of the gods or divine forces he or she emulates.”6 I feel putting this book into effect could absolutely achieve these results. It certainly is not for everyone, but Egyptian Magick is a reliable resource for those who are ready to take their practices to the next level.