The nine spiritual bodies of Man in ancient Egypt
The Egyptian Religion was a true science of spiritual transformation and described in detail all the spiritual bodies that, according to its beliefs, belong to Man.
Unlike Christianity, which generalizes these concepts under the term "soul," the Egyptians identified distinct elements, each with unique characteristics and functions. This ancient belief system reveals surprising parallels with modern psychological theories, highlighting the sophistication of Egyptian thought.
The Egyptians' comprehensive view of human spirituality encompassed aspects like the divine spark (Ba), the astral body (Ka), and the shadow (Khabit), among others. This detailed exploration into their spiritual beliefs underscores the depth of their wisdom and their enduring legacy in the study of human consciousness.
In reality, analyzing them in detail, we realize that the Egyptians were quite close to modern psychological conceptions.
They are:
- Ba: This is the divine spark, the Soul that belongs to all living beings and without which the body dies. The Ba is immortal, represents the god within us, and is associated with the concept of Reincarnation, which is present in Egyptian religion despite the considerations of Egyptology scholars. In fact, the hieroglyphic symbol of the Ba was a bird with outstretched wings, identified with a goose or a stork, migratory animals and symbols of the transmigration of the soul.
- Ka: Translated as the "double" and depicted with the hieroglyph of two arms raised to the sky, it is the Astral Body, the sensitive soul that perceives the world: in Psychology, it is the Personality. Divided into three parts (animal Ka, intermediate, and divine), it is the power that makes the Ba individual, "personal". The Ka does not disappear with physical death but can split into its three parts. It is important to note that for Man to achieve perfection, he had to unite his Ka with his Ba, that is, his individual essence with the divine spark.
- Khat: This term, meaning "corruptible", represents the physical body. The Egyptians highly honored it as an integral (albeit temporary) part of the human divine.
- Khabit: This is the Shadow, the dark part, the hidden side of oneself. Psychologically, it represents the Unconscious. For the Egyptians, it was the Khabit that remained tied to specific places after the individual's death and is therefore comparable to the concept of a ghost.
- Akhu: One of the most beautiful concepts of the Egyptian religion is that of the Akhu, or Bodies of Light. Comparable to Guardian Angels, each of us possesses an individual Akhu that represents a cosmic intelligence, a sensitivity that guides the heart throughout life. Psychology associates it with instinct. Materially, it was depicted as a luminous halo encompassing the Ka and the Ba.
- Ib: This is the heart, the seat of the Ba: practically, it represents the Conscience.
- Sekhem: This is personal power, the ability to achieve inner growth. As the personification of the spirit's power, it was logical for an Egyptian to develop positive and constructive aspects of his personality rather than destructive ones, in accordance with the laws of Maat.
- Ren: This is the sacred name, the mystical, unique, and secret one for each of us. Knowing a person's secret name meant having the power to control them. Psychologically, it represents Individuality. It is worth noting that the Ren was a concept present in other cultures as well: among European witches and pagan priestesses, there was the custom of using a mystical name during rites, which also protected against possible denunciations to the Inquisition.
- Sah: This is the spiritual envelope that encompasses all the bodies. In common terms, it can be conceived as the Aura which, according to many doctrines, such as Reiki, surrounds the human body.
