In Egypt, the main constituents of a person were the body, its ka, and its name which remained always in close proximity to each other even in the tomb. Then there were the shadow, the ba, sahu and akh, which were more mobile and independent.
| the body; ( X.t , saH ) | The Khat; the physical body, consisting of the 5 elements; earth, water, air, fire and ether. After death the body was made into a Mummy (saH) in order to preserve the soul that was thought to be dependant on it. |
| the Ka; ( kA ) | Ether; (universal) Soul. The life force; the vitalizing energy that keeps the body alive and makes up the human soul, forming a spiritual Twin of the body and thus a spiritual Twin of its personality; the inner person (1Petr 3;4). (Hebrew; Nephesh and ruach.) The ka came into being when a person was born, often depicted as a twin or double, but, unlike the body it belonged to, it was immortal provided it received nourishment. By eating food one nourishes on its stored energy, or life force; Ka. The plural of ka, kaw, in fact meant food offerings. Food and especially blood offerings would literally nourish the "gods", which explains the massive ritual killings performed by Mayan priests (and may very well the hidden cause of all the bloodshed in the world). (see also the Chi.) |
| the Heart; (jb) | The largest collection of Ka; soul in the body (the soul houses in the blood. Le 17:11) and as such the Seat of its emotions. This collection of Ka is the true heart of man; it would be weighed by Anubis against a feather to determine its attachment to earth. Following one's heart meant living a full life. |
| the Ba; ( bA ) | The form a soul takes on, being shaped by the body, or by its own will while out of the body; a ghost. (Hebrew; Nephesh) |
| a shadow; ( xAjb.t , Sw.t ) | The Ba in its dark unenlightened state, as if a shadow is covering the Ba, is comparable to the Shades residing in Hades; attached to the earth, unable to rise to higher levels as a result of earthly desires, displayed during their lifetimes. When completely Spiritless, the darkened Ba, the Shadow would meet the Devourer of Shadows and merge with the basin of animal soul; Ka, known to the Greek as Gaia within the Earth. "O Devourer of Shadows who comes forth from the cave, I have not stolen". pKairo CG 25095. |
| the Akh; ( Ax ) | The akh in Psychoanalysis is referred to as the Id, the unconscious aspect of the psyche which is associated with instinctive impulses. The id contains "primitive desires" (hunger, rage, and sex) and is also known as the Lower Self. According to the Pyramid Texts, the akh belongs to the heaven, the corpse to the earth; The body is buried while the akh, the Shining One, ascends to the sky, becoming a star. |
| the Sahu; | The super-ego contains internalized norms, morality and taboos; the Higher self; the human spirit. |
| a name; (r n ) | The Ego, the part of a person which distinguishes itself from others, the "I" part of the psyche; who you are, what you have done, what you have accomplished. The ego mediates between the two and may include or give rise to the sense of self. In case of several gods or angels a single name is not sufficient to give a good picture and sometimes the list grew to over a hundred names. Osiris (same as Marduk and Metatron) had long lists of names.. |
An Akh; the spiritualized soul portrayed with eagle wings as a sign of being able to escape the earthly realms, goes its way and joins the stars in heaven. A Shadow remains fettered to the earth in a cave, the halls of Amenti.
Let not yours be the outward adorning with braiding of hair, decoration of gold, and wearing of fine clothing, but let it be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable jewel of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. 1Pe 3;4