The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) · 228 of 357 · tr. E.A. Wallis Budge

Chapter 38 (part 8)

I am he who riseth and shineth; the wall of walls; the only One, [son] of an only One.

Ra (24) never lacketh his form, he never passeth away, he never passeth away.

Verily, I say: I am the plant which cometh forth from Nu, and my mother is Nut.

Hail, (25) O my Creator, I am he who hath no power to walk, the great knot within yesterday.

My power is in my hand.

I am not known, [but] I am he who knoweth (26) thee.

I cannot be held with the hand, but I am he who can hold thee in his hand.

[Hail] O Egg!

[Hail] O Egg!

I am Horus who live for millions of years, whose flame lighteth upon your faces and (27) blazeth in your hearts.

I have the command of my throne, and I advance in mine hour.

I have opened the paths, I have turned myself away from all evil.

I am (28) the ape of gold, three palms and two fingers [high], which is without legs and without arms, and which dwelleth in the House of Ptah.

I go forth even as goeth forth the ape Of (29) gold three palms and two fingers [high], which hath neither legs nor arms, and which dwelleth in the house of Ptah." When [thou] hast said this chapter thou shalt open a way and enter thereon.

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Themes

Anthropomorphismtheology

Attributing human characteristics, emotions, or form to the divine; embodied divine imagery.

[auto] The text extensively attributes human physical characteristics (eyes, ears, nose, hands) to various deities, defining the divine in human form.

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Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

[auto] This passage is a spell from the Book of the Dead explicitly designed to protect the deceased and guide them through the afterlife realms.

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Kingdom Withinanthropology

The claim that the divine realm is present inside the individual, accessible without external mediation.

[auto] The declaration that no member of the body is not a god's member implies the divine realm is fully present and accessible within the individual.

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Living Godtheology

The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality.

[auto] Deities are portrayed as active, personal agents who shield the body and define the deceased's daily existence like Ra.

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Mystical Unionsoteriology

The merging of the individual soul or self with the divine, transcending personal identity.

[auto] The speaker asserts a complete identification with the divine by stating every body part belongs to a specific god, merging human and divine identity.

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Psychopomp Journeycosmology

Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms.

The text functions as a protective measure during the soul's passage through the afterlife, preventing seizure or harm.

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Sacred Namestheology

Divine names or formulas that carry ontological power, used in prayer, liturgy, or magical practice.

[auto] The invocation of specific deity names (Hathor, Osiris, Ra) functions as a magical formula to establish protection and ontological status.

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Related passages · 3 parallels

neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 489

“Section 11 11. Similarly any one, unable to see himself, but possessed by that God, has but to bring that divine- within before his consciousness and at once he sees an image of himself, himself lifted to a better beauty: now let him ignore…”

Shared concept: Kingdom Within — The claim that the divine realm is present inside the individual, accessible without external mediation. (derived)

christian_mysticism|The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme|Chapter 1 (part 6)

“The human selfhood will then follow in its perceptions the Spirit of God, tremblingly and in the joy of humility, and become able to see what is contained in time and in eternity. Everything is near to a soul in that state, for the soul is…”

Shared concept: Kingdom Within — The claim that the divine realm is present inside the individual, accessible without external mediation. (derived)

greek_mystery|Orphic Hymns|Hymn LVI. THE TERRESTRIAL HERMES

“LVI. TO THE TERRESTRIAL HERMES. The FUMIGATION from STORAX. HERMES I call, whom Fate decrees to dwell In the dire path which leads to deepest hell O Bacchic Hermes, progeny divine Of Dionysius, parent of the vine, p. 189 And of celestial Ve…”

Shared concept: Psychopomp Journey — Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms. (derived)