MAÁT: The symbolic representation of Maát as a *human figure with outreached hands and wings, is the Netcher of the weighing of the soul in ancient Kemet. The heart of the deceased was believed to be the seat of the soul and it was weighed on the scale of the Netcher Maát, against a feather, which represented the principles of truth and righteousness (the seven cardinal virtues). This symbolic weighing of the heart against the feather of truth (Maát) was performed to established the righteousness of the deceased.

 

 

The scale of Maát was balanced after the recitation of the "42" Declarations of Maát. The Neophyte or students ultimate aim in Kemet was for a person to become "One with God" or to "become like God."Neophyte in ancient Kemet. In the final analysis, the ancient Kemites sought Maát or to be more correct they sought to become one with Maát, the cosmic order. The path to the development of godlike qualities was through the development of virtue, but virtue could only be achieved through special study and effort. According to George G. M. James in his timeless work Stolen Legacy writes: The following of the 10 virtues were sought by the  Neophyte in ancient Kemet. In the final analysis, the ancient Kemites sought Maát or to be more correct they sought to become one with Maát, the cosmic order.

 

(1). Control of thoughts

(2). Control of actions

(3). Devotion of purpose

(4). Have faith in the ability of [your] [teacher] to teach [you] the truth.

(5). Have faith in [yourself] to assimilate the truth

(6). Have faith in [themselves] to wield the truth

(7). Be free from resentment under the experience ofpersecution.

(8). Be free from resentment under the experience of wrong.

(9). Cultivate the ability to distinguish between right andwrong and

(10). Cultivate the ability to distinguish between the realand the unreal

 

 

 

 

 

1.        I have notcommitted sin.                                                

2.        I have not committed robbery with violence.

3.        I have notstolen.

4.        I have notslain men or women

5.        I have notstolen food.

6.        I have not swindled offerings.

7.        I have not stolen from God/Goddess.

8.        I have not toldlies.

9.        I have notcarried away food.

10.     I have not cursed.

11.     I have not closed my ears totruth

12.     I have not committed adultery.

13.     I have not made anyone cry.

14.     I have not felt sorrow withoutreason

15.     I have not assaulted anyone

16.     I am not deceitful.

17.     I have not stolen anyone’s land

18.     I have not been an eavesdropper

19.     I have not falsely accusedanyone.

20.     I have not been angry withoutreason.

21.     I have not seduced anyone’s wife.               

22.     I have not polluted myself.

23.     I have not terrorized anyone.

24.     I have not disobeyed the Law.

25.     I have not been exclusivelyangry.

26.     I have not cursed God/Goddess.

27.     I have not behaved withviolence.

28.     I have not caused disruption ofpeace.

29.     I have not acted hastily orwithout thought.

30.     I have not overstepped my boundaries of concern.

31.     I have not exaggerated my wordswhen speaking.

32.     I have not worked evil.

33.     I have not used evil thoughts,words or deeds.

34.     I have not polluted the water

35.     I have not spoken angrily orarrogantly.

36.     I have not cursed anyone in thought, word or deeds.

37.     I have not placed myself on aPedestal.

38.     I have not stolen what belongsto God/Goddess.

39.     I have not stolen from or disrespected the deceased.

40.     I have not taken food from achild.

41.     I have not acted with insolence.

42.     I have not destroyed property belonging to God/Goddess.

 

**These 42 declarations were pronounced by the deceased after Anubis took him/her to the presence of the Goddess Maat and the Divine Judge Tehuti. If the Principles of Maat were respected the heart of the deceased would have nothing weighing down, so it would be lighter than the feather and everlasting life would be given due to respect of these laws that balance the Universe.

 

**It is from these Principles, erroneously called the 42 Negative Confessions by European Egyptologists that the Christian religion got it’s 10 Commandments. Unlike the Spook principle of Idols and exterior divinity the kemites  manifested the indwelling divinity and said “I have not” instead of being ordered “Thou Shalt not”.