~THE ENERGIES~

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SPHINX AND GREAT PYRAMID

Nothing could have prepared me for the energies of Egypt.  It has been difficult for me to even begin writing about Egypt, as I am filled with overwhelming emotions and memories as I begin to consider my three weeks in this great country. Words seem inadequate; these feelings were beyond anything I had ever experienced.  My mind whirls as I re-immerse myself in Egypt, as I still try to find my place in energies that could at once leave me drained and confused, then enlightened, and then just wanting to go home.  My moments of feeling safe there were far too infrequent.

My first glimpse of the Great Pyramids rising above the skyline of Cairo felt almost unbelievable, and completely exhilarating. I nearly had to pinch myself to believe that I was actually this close to one of the greatest wonders of the world.  The city itself directly borders the Giza plateau, home of the Great Pyramids, the Sphinx, and many lesser-known tombs and structures.  My mental image of the pyramids did not include a backdrop of city smog; I had somehow pictured them mysteriously remote and barely accessible.

I hadn’t imagined that I would ever see these sights with my own eyes. It was beyond a fantasy.  I had always been completely enthralled and intrigued by Egyptian art, particularly the well preserved temple carvings and the wealth of beautiful objects buried with the pharaohs.  I always made time to visit any Egyptian offerings at my local museums, and reveled in the opulent displays of ancient beauty and artistry. I never was drawn to visit Egypt, however, and I believe this was a portent of the difficulty I would face when confronted with the energy there.  

SEKHMET, TEMPLE OF KOM OMBO

To this day I don’t fully understand some of the aversion I felt at times in the temples, though I have come to know that certain powers were abused by the priesthood in Egypt, particularly those of the great protector Goddess Sekhmet.

Statues of her likeness were often placed beside the entrances of important buildings to absorb any negative energies. I could feel that these energies were at some point harnessed with negative intentions by male priests. When looking at her images I felt a great feeling of revulsion, I was repelled away from her by some extemely intense energy. It was almost like fear, and it took all my will to stay in her presence, to feel the feelings that came up in me. In my core I felt an irrational need to run away, but I chose to stay in my power and transmute any energies around her that I could assist with clearing. Whenever I encountered energies of discord during our journey, whether personal or within a physical location, I availed myself to assist in transforming them in alignment with the highest good for all.

During our travels, we had a wonderfully cooked dinner in a private home near Siwa, Egypt. The women of the household served us, but did not eat with us. I was the only woman at the table and might have preferred staying in the kitchen with the ladies, though it was clear that I was being treated as an honored guest and I was expected to eat with the men. It was awkward and difficult for me to witness this custom of separation.

WOMAN OF GIZA, BEHIND SOCIETY'S BARS

Even in the heat of the desert, married women usually wore black outfits, complete with head scarves. I photographed one such lady on the Giza Plateau, sitting behind an iron fence in the shadow of the Sphinx. The horizontal stripes of the fence mimicked the bars of a cell. It was a fitting testament to the position of females in Egyptian society. They seldom drove cars, and in the towns they seemed virtually invisible. Day or night, only men were on the streets. I found that men would stare at me pointedly, and if I dared to return the look directly in their eyes, I was met with intense anger and resentment. There were rules for women in this country, and I was learning them with difficulty. The contrast definitely left me appreciating the relative equality of my home country. I found myself longing for the freedoms of America.