Beschreibung

 In the first, general-mythological part the nine most important gods of the ancient Egyptian religion are presented in their origin and function. The author relates the consciousness development of the ancient Egyptians over the centuries to the transformation and meaning of the gods. They were first experienced as embodiments of the Creator God, later only as sons of the God and his stewards on earth. In the course of a profanation, the formerly sole prerogatives of the kings to live on after death also passed to the people. 

Clarus makes it clear that the myths of the gods are archetypes or archetypal constellations which corresponded to the degree of consciousness of the Egyptian culture. This creates an actual reference to the psychic development of man, in which the same archetypes are still effective today. Thus the occupation with these myths becomes meaningful and the book gains relevance for the psychotherapist for his practice and the contact with patients and their dreams, in which – in transferred form – the development of the myths and the becoming conscious is presented again and again. At the same time, however, this myth is a collective trace of psychological development beyond the individual, from early childhood through adulthood to death. The second part introduces the development of belief in the afterlife and provides an orienting insight into the literature of the texts of the dead. The third part is based in its statements on the first two parts, it cannot be understood without these prerequisites. In it, the royal text of the New Kingdom, the Amduat, is discussed on the basis of a series of pictures and interpreted in depth psychologically. One of the basic ideas of the Egyptian religion is that there would be a life after death, respectively that death is a step through to a new life. The path through death is represented in twelve hours, with each hour marking a special section of this path. The great danger of this way consists in not knowing the “adversaries” and “guardians” and therefore not reaching Osiris. This supreme Lord of the dead determines whether a man has lived in the sense of the Creator God or not. It then decides whether he lives on in a transformed form or is surrendered to the final death, to non-being. The way leads far down to the limits of the final passing away, it holds innumerable dangers which, similar to the process of individuation, must be passed. The soul thus gains strength in order to be able to pass the last decisive step through “dying and becoming”, the passage through the great underworld serpent to rebirth.

The individuation path of man can hardly be thought of and described more vividly. What is expressed here in myths is what C. G. Jung has researched and presented in his analytical psychology. The book is also accessible to readers who have not yet familiarized themselves with Jung’s train of thought, all the technical terms used are explained in the text.

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Coverfoto: H. Weyerstraß

Editor & Layout: H. Weyerstraß