Independence Day and Seshat

I wanted to reflect on this holiday weekend before it is past. Today is Sunday July 6, 2014. On Friday evening most Americans went to a central location in their closest city to watch colored explosions in the sky, drawing our eyes and hearts to that above with a display of bursting moving lights we call fireworks. I met a young man from Canada on Friday and he said that their holiday is celebrated on July 1, 2014, 7/1. the date my birthday hit pick for but I digress.... I tried to reflect on what the ancient significance of this time period was for in Africa. I knew there was something, but couldn't put my finger on it. So I researched it Saturday and Sunday. This time I am going to write it down, I decided to blog about it, so next year it doesn't escape me. As the masons were so connected to the building and architecture of America, they are also holders and implementers of ancient scripts passed down from Africa. The July 4th we celebrate was a chosen date by those who signed the Declaration of Independence. It was not just a date it happened to be signed, in fact if I recall correctly there was another date involved. But the date we celebrate and that is etched in our psyche is 7/4. So as it is, every July 4th marks Sirius/Septis/Sopdet/Star of Bethlehem/Eastern Star rising.

So, what does this date chosen by the land surveyors and architects have to do with Seshat? Astronomy and the teachings of as above so below. More specifically, the Dog-Star Sirius. We mark this stellar phenomena with stellar phenomena called pyrotechnics dates back to 7th century China to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year and the Mid-Autumn or Harvest Moon Festival, within 15 days of the autumnal equinox. This started during the Shang Dynasty 16th century BCE among the Hakka people. I wont go into the early history of rockets or gunpowder, but its here, centuries after the festivals.

1749 Thames, Londen. Royal Fireworks

Ming Dynasty Jin Ping Mei fireworks



Back to Sirius and Egypt

Sirius 

This image illustrates how Sirius to the ancient astronomers may have connected the New Years (Perhelion) festivals with Independence Day (Aphelion). Embedding this scientific knowledge into ritual for the masses as we begin to endure the "Dog" days of the summer. The NW YR has been a time of festivals to honor Ssht at the midnight hour for thousands of years along the Nile Valley in Africa. The New Year was set by the heliacal rising of Sirius.

Here are some Egyptian depictions of Sirius, 13 degrees 57 min, that we can see obviously.

Sopdet/Sothis

Seshat

The SEPTUAGINT, 70, 7x10, Seshat

The SEPTUAGINT, derived from the Latin word for "seventy," Septuagint,

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Septuagint
Septuagint (n.)

"Greek version of the Old Testament," 1630s, earlier as the word for the translators collectively (1570s), from Late Latin septuaginta (interpretes) "seventy (interpreters)," from Latin septuaginta "seventy," from septem "seven" (see seven) + -ginta "tens, ten times," from PIE *dkm-ta-, from *dekm- "ten" (see ten).

So called in reference to the (incorrect) tradition that the translation was done 3c. B.C.E. by 70 or 72 Jewish scholars (in Middle English, the Seuenty turneres) from Palestine and completed in 70 or 72 days. The translation is believed now to have been carried out at different times by an undetermined number of Egyptian Jews. Often denoted by Roman numerals, LXX. Related: Septuagintal.

I came across the word for a scribes translation of the bible that included Septuagint. Which made me think of September, 9/11, and Seshat (I have written about this new year celebration in previous post). Turns out that the story behind the meaning of the word is ambiguous to modern scholars and considered to be made up. An analysis conclusion I see a lot in history regarding things that come from Seshat or are related to her symbolism. I am not claiming a great historical conspiracy theory, or maybe I am... But perhaps people have just been ignorant throughout the ages and make things up as they go along. Hey, whatever we see in writing we believe to be true, even if it has no basis, particularly when we don't know apples from oranges, so to speak. So for me to see that this version of the Old Testament was one, written by Egyptians, and two carries "seven" as its title speaks volumes to me as a researcher of all things Seshat (which is where the number 7 originated) and the scribal craft (her legacy)! Knowing the full meaning of the title of this book is significant because it is a part of the origins and early history of Christianity, prior to the council of NacAEa. I emphasize the AE because that, too, is a sign of the imprint of Ancient Egypt and more specifically those things whose etymology relates to Seshat.

I watched a video on youtube about St Paul and where he spread the gospel. At the site was a great temple, The Temple of Artemis. Its construction reminded me of ancient Egyptian architecture from Karnak. Very much like the Parthenon holding Athena, which Nashville holds an exact replica. I visit this location on my Egypt in Nashville Tours. There were two scholars mentioned, Dr Eireann Marshall and Dr Julian Bennet, an archaeologist. Legend held that a meteor landed at the site of the temple. The building stood 6 stories tall and was made of stone. Nearby was a huge theater that seated over 25,000 people. The Septuagint was the bible of the early Christians including those Christians at this site. Paul

The Septuagint is written in the Hellenistic (Alexandrine) dialect, and is linguistically of great importance from its effect upon the diction of the New Testament, and as the source of a large part of the religious and theological vocabulary of the Greek fathers, and (through the Old Latin version of the Bible (see Italic) and the influence of this on the Vulgate) of that of the Latin fathers also and of all western nations to the present day. In the Greek Church the Septuagint has been in continuous use from the earliest times, although other Greek versions (see Hexapla) were anciently also in circulation, and it is the Old Testament still used in that church. The Septuagint contains the books called Apocrypha intermingled among the other books. It is the version out of which most of the citations in the New Testament from the Old are taken. Abbreviated Sept.

It was considered to be a divine translation. it was the bible of jesus and early christians.

Seven Pillars of Wisdom

I read this passage in the bible and it reminded me of Seshat, Lady Wisdom, was also her title in ancient Egypt.

Book of Proverbs 9:1: "Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars" (KJV).

Seshat has been written about for over 7,000 years in regards to building and also the number seven denotes her mark. Here is an example from an ancient kemetic text: in chapter 57 of the Book of the Dead:

My mouth and nostrils are opened in the Djedu,
and I have my place of peace in Annu, wherein is my House;
it was built for me by the goddess Seshat,
and the god Khnum set it up for me upon its walls."

Temple at Abydos, 1300BC, Djed Pillar

Etymology of the Eye Daughter of the Eye & 3rd Eye Knowledge

It is my belief that the daughter of the eye is indeed Seshat. There are many instances in ancient script where knowledge and understanding is associated with the eye or sight. The eye as a portal like the opening of the mouth and the symbolism held within the peacock.

Here are some instances in which the eye is used figuratively with the concept of the learned.

 “his eyes were like a fiery flame” in the midst of the lampstands (Rev. 1:14). 

1. When our attention is attracted to something remarkable, we call it “eye-catching,” or an “eye-opener.”
2.  When we watch something carefully, we are said to “keep our eye on the ball,” or are asked to “keep our eyes peeled” for the object we seek. 
3. When a person is skilled at a task, he is said to “have an eye for” it, as when an interior decorator “has an eye for color.” 
4. In the Bible the eye is the organ of perception, and perception involves more than physical sight.
5. When we understand a point that a teacher makes, we say, “Oh, I see now.” 
6. When we do not plan ahead, we are said to be “short-sighted,” or conversely when we do plan strategically, we are “far-sighted.” 
7. When we ignore an action, we “turn a blind eye” toward it, and when we disapprove of an action, we “take a dim view of” it. 
8. When we supervise a project, we take “oversight” of it.
9. The blind poet John Milton asked God to “shine [his light] inward and the mind through all her powers / Irradiate” so that he might have the wisdom to write his great poem, Paradise Lost(3. 52-53).
10. When the prophet Isaiah speaks of the time when the Lord will reveal Messiah to them, he writes, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light” (Isa. 9:2). 
11. When C. S. Lewis talked about reading literature, he said reading allows us to see with others’ eyes.
A very brief time could be called “the twinkling of an eye.” G. R. Driver and John C. Miles, The Babylonian Laws, vol. 2 (Oxford: Clarendon, 1960), 100, 101. 

In all these instances, knowledge and wisdom are associated with sight, ignorance and sin with darkness.

Decided To Draw Tonight

Song of Songs or Song of Solomon

The Oscars aired last night and although I did not watch it I saw many post on Facebook about Lupita Nyong'o.

She had struggled as a child with accepting her dark skin as a form of beauty. She had daily prayed for light skin. While reading her story I thought about the saying "I am black and beautiful." I knew this phrase was very ancient and seen in ancient script so I searched online to find it to post in response to her story. It led me back to the Song of Solomon.

The miraculous icon of 

Our Lady of Czestochowa,

Queen of Poland 

The Blessed Virgin

 Mary Lady of Czestochowa, Poland 

1 Kings 3:1 says, "And Solomon became allied to Pharaoh king of Egypt by marriage, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the Lord, and the wall of Jerusalem round about."

Song of Songs

American King James Version

The Bride Confesses Her Love
(Ephesians 5:22-33; 1 Peter 3:1-7)

1 The song of songs, which is Solomon's.
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for your love is better than wine.

3 Because of the smell of your good ointments your name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love you.

The Friends
4 Draw me, we will run after you: the king has brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in you, we will remember your love more than wine: the upright love you.

The Bride
5 I am black, but comely, O you daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.

Lupita Nyong'o
12 Years a Slave

6 Look not on me, because I am black, because the sun has looked on me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but my own vineyard have I not kept.

7 Tell me, O you whom my soul loves, where you feed, where you make your flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turns aside by the flocks of your companions?

Solomon Speaks
8 If you know not, O you fairest among women, go your way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed your kids beside the shepherds' tents.

9 I have compared you, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots.

10 Your cheeks are comely, with rows of jewels your neck with chains of gold.

The Friends
11 We will make you borders of gold with studs of silver.

The Bride
12 While the king sits at his table, my spikenard sends forth the smell thereof.
13 A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved to me; he shall lie all night between my breasts.
14 My beloved is to me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.


Solomon
15 Behold, you are fair, my love; behold, you are fair; you have doves' eyes.

Ka of Osiris
When the grain sprouts forth from the earth
this then is the 'vital spark',
the rebirth taking place.

The Bride
16 Behold, you are fair, my beloved, yes, pleasant: also our bed is green.

Solomon
17 The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.

Hammer made of cedar from Solomons Temple
Constructed in Egypt and given to the Masonic lodge
By Mark Twain

I imagine The Friends as a group of women like in the play Medea with her chorus of Corinthian women. In ancient theatrical productions the main characters were accompanied by chanters or a chorus that would interject commentary through song. At the beginning of the blog are women in Egypt who are often shown playing music or dancing, in the above photo they are smelling perfume.
I imagine The Bride as a dark skinned women with an African heritage adored much like the this modern Ashanti woman in the photo. Some African tribes were well known in ancient times for their gold and gold jewelry.
Perhaps in this play Solomon was much like Jason, an explorer and someone educated in the schools of Egypt who took his knowledge back to his land to profit himself. There is also another Egyptian theatrical reenactments in the book of Solomon, the Stretching of the Cord ceremony which relates to the science of the Egyptian goddess Seshat and building.

Below are pictures of a modern production of Medea whom I conceive of as also from Africa placed on a foreign land having to deal with her differences among the European culture. In her instance it was mainly the misunderstanding of her medicinal pharmacopoeia knowledge as being magic to the ignorant.

Medea & Chorus

Medea & Jason
Production shots from Northern Broadsides Medea

In the instance of the Song of Solomon we can find a rich tradition of music and theater among people of the African diaspora. Having been contained within both the Tanakh [Ketuvim (or "Writings")] and Holy Bible shows the importance of this work throughout the ages. In the catholic church this song is used during the Passover. This astrologically being a time associated with Seshat and the ancient Egyptian celebrations. This story of love and passion and the proclamation of a black woman coming into finding her beauty is timeless. And apparently the stuff stars are made of. 

Pledge of Allegiance an Ancient Egyptian Ritual?

Song of Khuwyt

This sounds and looks like the pledge of allegiance to me so I did some digging into the creater of the American ritual to see if that person was in some way knowledgable or connected to Egyptian writings. Turns out he was a member of he Masonic Lodge.





From http://www.osirisnet.net/tombes/nobles/antefoqer/e_antefoqer_04.htm

"To the right, the area is divided into two sub-registers.

In the top one, two men (identified as "treasurer") offer long pieces of cloth and two items wrapped in cloth, whilst saying "For your Ka!". Behind them, two kneeling lector priests make the gesture of jubilation, the henu: left arm on the chest and right arm raised, whilst the text above them states: "Reciting the formulae of transfiguration by the lector priest".

A line of text separates the two sub-registers, the later half of which is destroyed. This is repeated, more in tact, between a similar pair of registers on the south wall, where the translation will be given.

In the sub-register below, two other officiants recite the classic formula of offering, the hotep di nesu, to Ra and to Geb. In front of them, another pours a libation of water, dedicating the offerings of the list. "

As I looked at this deeper it became clear to me that this is the Pledge of Allegiance. Just as the Masons have used Egyptian concepts, rituals, and science in building, architecture, and dress. The Mason who was commissioned to develop the Pledge of Allegiance was drawing on the power of Egyptian prayer rituals for the American flag and its principles.

ROYAL JUBILEE