The Gift of Ancient Africa By Roger L. Asterilla, Sr. 4/22/2009

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1 The Gift of Ancient Africa By Roger L. Asterilla, Sr. 4/22/2009 My experience in Egypt was eye-opening, to say the least. As a culture, Egypt is unique in that it is protected by desert on either side of the Nile Valley. In fact, the desert was so close that you could actually walk into it from the shore at various points. It was plain to me why they stated that the twin truths were Life (water) and Death (desert). 1 As a consequence, this geographical configuration not only afforded the inhabitants of the Nile Valley natural protection, but it gave the ancient Egyptians leisure time for study. Egyptian desert embracing the shores of the Nile The natural geographical boundaries produced by the Nile Valley help to facilitate the development of a complete and comprehensive knowledge of existence by the ancient 1 The Two Truths are associated with the annual seasonal changes occurring in ancient Egypt. According to Gerald Massey, the year in Egypt consisted of three months deluge and nine months dry. Hence the dry-time and inundation were the 'Two Truths' of the year. The end of a time was a deluge, just as it is reckoned in inner Africa by the coming of the rainy season; and its antithesis of the re-beginning is symbolized by kindling the new fire. The end of an astronomical period being typified as a deluge, the period itself was a drought. Thus we have the symbolism of drought and deluge, or death and life. 1

2 Egyptians. In addition, although it is becoming evident through continuing research that this knowledge permeated the continent of Africa, its completion is said to have occurred at the Temple of Luxor in Thebes, sometime between the 20th and 21 st Dynasties. What then was this knowledge? Research is continually proving that the ancient Egyptians had a thorough understanding of existence, the Laws of Nature, how matter is generated, human physiology, anatomy, psychology, as well as, the nature of numbers, the use and nature of forces, and the human experience following bodily death. All of this knowledge rested upon the Neter of Neters, or the Principle of Harmony. This principle was perceived as the Spirit of the Cosmic Man, which was unknowable through rational intellectual processes, and was the epitome of all the Neters. The Spirit of this Supreme Neter manifested through the functions of Amon, or the manifest Spirit of the Cosmic Man, whose head was Ra, the expression of all forms of the WORD ; and the body, Ptah, was the manifestation of creative fire, or all possibilities, functions, and organs. Consequently, the Principle Trinity in ancient Egypt, by which they symbolically conveyed the essence of their knowledge, was Amon, Ra, and Ptah. 2 Who were the individuals that realized this knowledge? Ancient Egypt has a history that extends further into the past than is commonly accepted by most modern scholars. 3 The Turin Papyrus addresses Egyptian Kingship and begins with the dynasty of the gods, i.e., Ptah, Ra, Shu, Geb, Osiris, Set, Horus the Elder, Thoth, Ma, and Horus the Younger. These Great Gods were followed by thirty-six gods and semi-divine beings who, in turn, were followed by the Shemsu-Hor. Recognized as human kings, the Shemsu-Hor preceded the dynastic era initiated by Menes, were known as the Mesniu, or blacksmiths, and eventually became known as the Followers of Horus. Thus, given this line of succession, it can be reasonably said that the Shemsu-Hor were recipients of the knowledge of Ptah, who was known as the Divine Blacksmith. According to legend, the Shemsu-Hor came into existence when gods ruled Egypt and, in the aftermath, came the contentions between Horus and Set. They were the first among men to be trained by Horus in the use of metallurgy. After successfully 2 As a deity, Ptah, who is synonymous with the Mesopotamian deity Enki, is said to have had dominion over Africa on two occasions, i.e., when he first arrived from Nibiru (the Duat) and after the Great Flood preceding Egypt being divided between Osiris and Set. 3 Utilizing R.A. Schwaller de Lubicz s interpretation (Sacred Science), ancient African prehistory extends back to 36,620 years before Menes, who ruled Egypt beginning 4240 BC. Thus, the origins of Egyptian prehistory began approximately 40,860 BC. Egyptian legend points out that the gods reigned for 23,200 years before the Shemsu-Hor, who reigned for a period of 13,420 years. Thus, it was approximately 17,660 BC when the Shemsu- Hor began their reign over the Nile Valley. 2

3 defeating the Sethian rebels in a series of battles 4, they were awarded lands on the right and left banks of the Nile in Middle Egypt by Ra. 5 For slaying the enemies of Horus, it was stated by Ra that they shall dwell in sanctuaries, served with libations and offerings as rewards. They would settle in the capitals of Horus, i.e., in Upper Egypt at Edfu and in Lower Egypt at Tanis. After a passage of time, they relinquished their purely military role and attained the title Shemsu-Hor, or the Followers (priests) of Horus. A map of Tanis in the Delta of Lower Egypt and Edfu in Upper Egypt. The Shemsu-Hor were connected to Ptah through his emissaries Horus and Thoth, who were known as his heart and tongue respectively. While Horus symbolized the Principle of Harmony, Thoth symbolized its expression (tongue). Thoth is further credited with being the author of the Emerald Tablet, which presents in symbolic form the totality of knowledge, and is highly prized by alchemists the world over. Therefore, it can safely be assumed that the Shemsu-Hor were trained as recipients of this knowledge, that this knowledge was the requirement for Kingship, and that the Shemsu-Hor eventually became the Guardians of the Knowledge Harmony. 6 Of equal importance, the Shemsu-Hor were the foundation of the Blacksmith Tradition of Africa, and perpetuated an unbroken like of Sem priests that extended from Ptah. 4 The cause of this conflict between Horus and Seth essentially involved the issue of succession, which was caused by Osiris being given rulership over Egypt even though Set was the legitimate heir, and ascension to the throne was further inhibited by Osiris marriage to Isis (see The War Between Gods and Men, pg ). 5 The Wisdom of the Egyptians, Chapter One The Story of Egypt 6 Valery Uvarov The Wands of Horus. 3

4 The Shemsu-Hor and the Sem Priests As a group, the Shemsu-Hor composed a body of learned individuals that generated the Pharaoh, who served as the High Priest of the sacerdotal caste. Although ancient Egypt had four groups of priests, the most important of these groups was the Sem priests, who were distinguished by their leopard skin cloak. 7 First image: Dwarf/Pygmy deity Bes in Sem priest leopard skin garb. Second image: a Sem priest officiating ritual in leopard skin. Third image: the Creator deity Khnum creating 1 st man as Sem priest with sidelock of hair, another identifying characteristic of the Sem priest. The term Sem refers to an individual who was knowledgeable of form, i.e., its essence, how it is generated, how it is acquired, and how it is retained. Fundamentally, the Sem priests were knowledgeable of existence. As such, they had dominion over the Divine and Mortuary Temples of ancient Egypt, which symbolized the twin truths of life and death. In the Temple of Life or the Divine Temple, the Sem priests carried out and dealt with the activities of daily living, and this was the place where much happened concerning the king, i.e., the economy, the social structure of the culture, and the afterlife. On the other hand, in the Mortuary Temple they were responsible for transforming Pharaoh into a divine being. Here was where they performed the elaborate rituals of mummification and burials. An indication of the importance of the Sem priests and the expanse of their knowledge is given in an account of Khaemwese, the 4th Son of Ramesses II, who became the high priest of Ptah. The High Priest of Ptah had grave responsibilities. From a religious aspect, Khaemwese would have not only been responsible for the religious ceremonies of Ptah, but also Sokar, Osiris, Re, Apis and others. He would have also arranged the king's Sed Festivals. Khaemwese would have overseen all royal architectural projects, as well as all sculptors, jewelers and artists working on royal commission. In fact, he supervised the building of the Ramesseum at Thebes, his father's mortuary temple, oversaw construction activities in the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak, and otherwise supervised building projects at Pi-Ramesses, the capital in the eastern Nile Delta, and elsewhere. 7 Four groups of priest have been identified in ancient Egypt. These are the Oracle priests, the 4

5 He also supervised the building of the Great Temple of Ptah at Memphis. These were all important projects and we can still gaze upon some of this splendor today. 8 In the Egyptian culture, the Sem priests were also responsible for many of the annual festivals and social rituals that occurred in Egypt. One such event was the Sokar festival, the origin of which predated the unification of Egypt as a country, and ancient Egyptian history itself. In this example, the antiquity of the Sem priests can be seen. As blacksmiths, the Sem priests were known as the First Sons of the Earth, who viewed existence as the result of a creative process, and as a manifestation of Consciousness. Ancient Egyptian Blacksmiths/metallurgists The beginning of this creative process was perceived as being initiated on a foundation of total darkness, recognized initially as the Great Mother with the Father being Hidden. Thus, the Great Mother, conceived of as a composition of darkness and light, gave birth to the concepts of death and life, night and day, or the twin truths of existence. Further, since night and day gradually merged into one another, upon closer scrutiny, further distinctions were recognized in the blending of the initial duality. Symbolically speaking, these distinctions can be characterized today by the times of morning, noon, evening, and midnight. African Blacksmith engaged in ritual with the Mother Elements of creation. 8 Jimmy Dunn, Khaemwese, the 4th Son of Ramesses II, Sept. 14 th, 2007 < 5

6 In the perception of the cyclic and continuous process of death and life, Consciousness, which was initiated with the recognition of the Great Mother gave birth to the duality of night and day, and in turn gave birth to the quaternary... the four elements of Consciousness. Thus, the four elements were perceived as the four Mother Elements of Creation. The relationship of the Four Elements to the four Qualities, Seasons, and Humors. The four elements were symbolized by the phenomenon of fire, water, air, and earth. Before a blacksmith could engage in work, these elements of creation had to be invoked through ritual, which focused attention, guided one s actions, and enhanced knowledge. For example, for the blacksmith, the smithy itself was symbolically the universe where creation and transformation took place... and can be likened to a church, mosque, or temple. The blacksmith, who worked in the smithy emulated the creator deity engaged in the process of creation. The Blacksmith s primary tool was his conscious knowledge of generation and dissolution, and the elements of consciousness that were continually acknowledged. For example, the element earth was symbolized by a pile of dirt placed near the forge; air was symbolized by the bellows; water was maintained in a receptacle close to the forge; and fire was created in the forge. Further, the blacksmith s bellows, which generated air (the substance of life) and forced through its tube (phallus) into the forge (womb) in order to generate fire (creative energy). The blacksmith s hammer was also a symbol of the phallus, while the anvil symbolized feminine receptivity, and the forge, as stated, symbolized the womb of creation. Thus, it fundamentally can be said of blacksmiths that they were consciously orientated to the universe, to the creative processes of existence, to the generation and dissolution of matter, and to the afterlife. As a result, they composed an elite of knowers who served as the sacerdotal class and guided the ancient Egyptian and African tribal cultures. 6

7 The Blacksmith Tradition in the Modern Era Fundamentally, African blacksmiths knew how to know and can be considered the first scientists, or knowers of existence, to whom we owe all of our current scientific knowledge. Even to the present day, the Blacksmith Tradition of the Shemsu-Hor permeates all of Africa south of the Sahara, and was existent throughout the whole of the continent before the arrival of Christianity or Islam. Ancient Egyptian and modern-day Zimbabwe Sem priests in their leopard skin cloak. Notice the feathered head dress in each of the images. Compare with the image of the dwarf deity Bes above on page 4. By force, these belief systems superceded African traditional beliefs, which from their perspective, was based upon animism. What is termed animism is founded in the perception that all of existence is inhabited by vital energy or soul, which the Priests of Ptah perceived as permeating existence, and symbolized by Ptah. Although having various names, most which are linguistically connected, in West Africa this energy is known as nyama. Knowing and controlling this energy was the task of African blacksmiths. 7

8 The contrast of the religions existing in Africa; the indigenous religion of Africa is coded as IR and permeates all countries south of the Sahara. It takes little effort to see that what was termed animism was a modern designation of ancient African belief. Consequently, when West Africans were captured and forced into slavery, even with Christian and Islamic influence, the traditions of Shemsu-Hor/Blacksmiths still composed the indigenous religion of Africa, which was never truly relinquished. In many instances, African traditional thought co-existed with Christian and Islamic belief. In fact, not only is African traditional thought the basis of these religions, it is the basis of secret societies in African tribal societies. This fact is clearly seen among the Dogon people of Mali, who lived in isolation and was able essentially to avoid Christian and Islamic influence until the 19 th century. Therefore, in the creation of the African slave in the Western world, any remnant of the African indigenous religion had to be mentally erased. What, then, was the importance of the African indigenous religion to the African individual? First and foremost, the African indigenous religion oriented the individual to existence or life itself. Although having its foundation in the Shamanic and Blacksmith traditions, these societies were ordered to enable its members to develop gradually and naturally into the knowledge of existence. Thus, prior to becoming a slave, the African was orientated either openly or secretly to understanding life and death, the twin truths. However, with the process of orientating the African mindset to the acceptance of the inferiority of slavery, the truth of existence and towards Self 8

9 had to first be distorted. 9 This was accomplished with violence, pain, rejection, death, and the presentation of the constant possibility of immanent death for the living. This made it possible to foster upon the descendents of Africans slaves a distorted perceptual orientation that sustained distorted beliefs... central to which was the fear of knowing. Ironically, the inculcation of the fear of knowing caused subsequent generations of African Americans to repress their original orientation towards harmony, which is at least understandable, since they continually faced a social environment hostile to their existence for generations. As a result, what was fundamentally affected within the African American self-perception was their sense of worth. This gave rise to a distorted self-image based upon the imposed values of the new society, and the development of a habitual pattern of mental, emotional and physical activity motivated towards a pathological desire to survive. Therefore, existing in a stress inducing hostile environment, this developed tendency to live quickly not only added to the experience of stress, but the consequences of such a lifestyle, has exacerbated the effects of stress as well. 10 Such a situation prevents clearly seeing the cause of existing problems, which usually manifest as pathological or reactive attempts to resolve them. The funny thing is... although life is recognized by its reactive quality, or as the resistance between two forces, one has to slow down mentally and emotionally to understand why one is reacting. Most often, these reactions are more a response to a lack of self-understanding, than not... since they occur as an automatic response to the perception of threatening ideas or beliefs. 11 Instead of self-inquiry as to why we respond in such a manner, we fail to begin the process of understanding the social forces that have conditioned out behavior. Thus, we have understandably forgotten our heritage, and we are usually insistent that the other should change his or her behavior. The reason for this is usually a fear to examine the subconscious motivations behind our behavior. Strange enough this is what shamans and blacksmiths had to accomplish to become so. Not only did they encode methods in order to preserve the process to achieve this, many of these methods have been repackaged today and presented in different languages. However, the difference between then and now is that ancient 9 In 1956, Edward Hunter s book, Brainwashing was published in New York. The book is an illuminating explanation of the process of brainwashing, which is technically called in the book corticovisceral psychiatry, and how it has been used to shape an individual s individuality by controlling his environment. However, essentially, brainwashing is a political strategy for expansion and control made of two processes. One is the conditioning, or softening-up, process primarily for control purposes. The other is an indoctrination or persuasion process for conversion purposes, i.e., [education]. As such, the primary goal of brainwashing is to generate doubt in one s reasoning process. The end result produces the condition or mindset of an addict, i.e., the willingness to tolerate or engage in activities that are devoid of conscience. 10 The word survive means to live quickly. 11 Although it is acknowledged that physical threats exit and do occur between people, I am referring to the perception of words conveying ideas and beliefs, which impact subconscious emotional complexes, and we interpret as threats to our sense of worth... the basis of our self-image. 9

10 shamans and blacksmiths had as their aim knowing, where today education is more a matter of intellectualizing concepts that are usually devoid of identifying with what is known in order to truly know it! In effect, ancient shamans and blacksmiths learned to mentally and emotionally slow down to observe that their consciousness was synonymous with the energy manifesting as life, which they learned to understand, and could regulate to a suprahuman degree! A modern day Priest of Ptah working with creative energy! Thus, understanding Consciousness and its manifestation as the energy of life and existence is the foundation of African thought and belief. This knowledge is the basis for understanding the Universe, Nature, and Man. The application of this knowledge, which was governed by Wisdom in antiquity, and composes the existing principles of modern science, is also the heritage of people of color. 12 However, the difference is that, as opposed to studying Nature in order to control it, or to approach existence from an extroverted vantage point... as has been the tendency in the West, the shaman and blacksmith traditions approached existence by looking within. In this manner, they were able to identify internal processes with the forces of Nature. As a result of this process of identification of the internal environment with the outer, they were able to realize and experience... that regardless of the degree of disturbance... all of existence arises from, and ultimately returns to Harmony the Supreme and Hidden principle of existence. Knowledge of this principle and the methodology to experience it in mind and body 12 Modern science is gradually validating the ancient perception of reality as seen with the Superstring Theory, psychoneuroimmunology (mind/body science), and shift away from the dogma that has characterized Western thought and beliefs. The current tendency is towards synthesizing Easter and Western thought... the result is the mindset of ancient Egypt. 10

11 has been preserved within the Shaman and Blacksmith Traditions as the gift of ancient Africa to the world, and the birthright of African descendants... everyone! HISTORY RULES! 11