An Egyptian Ghost Story - Text Reading and Analysis of the Akh (ꜣḫ), the Magically Activated Soul

Egyptian rituals around death and resurrection were meant to provide an eternal life for the righteous that merited it. But what happened if that eternal rest was disturbed by tomb-robbers or the natural deterioration of one's tomb? This week we keep up our Christmas ghost story tradition by exploring and reading an ancient Egyptian tale (19th/20th dynasty) in which the disrepair of his tomb causes the Akh (𓅜| - ꜣḫ - "effective spirit") of Neibusemekh to visit the chief priest of Amun-Re, Khonsemhab.
This episode is also in memory of Antoine Faivre (1934-2021), a pioneer in the field of Western Esotericism. DMS, ꜥnḫ wḏꜢ snb!
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#Egyptian #bookofthedead #ghost
Recommended Readings:
Teeter - Religion and Ritual in Ancient Egypt - 978-0521613002
Simpson - The Literature of Ancient Egypt - 978-0300099201
Miriam Lichtheim - Ancient Egyptian Literature (3 vols)
Beckerath - Zur Geschichte von Chonsemhab und dem Geist - doi.org/10.152...
Another ghost story can be found at G. Posener, “Une nouvelle histoire de revenant (Recherches littéraires VII)”, RdÉ 12 (1960), p. 75-82.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Make Sure to Subscribe & Consider supporting Esoterica by becoming a monthly Patron - www.patreon.com/esotericachannel or a one time donation - www.paypal.me/esotericachannel

[@crancourt1789]

Ahhh yes, nothing says "Christmas Cheer" quite like an Egyptian ghost story told by a Jewish scholar of the occult. Esoterica is a wonderful channel, friends. 😂

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Welcome to the weird part of youtube :)

[@jeanettewaverly2590]

Syncretism R Us.

[@mr.obvious1051]

The algorithm gods are analoging

[@EveritteBarbee]

Nothing better than a Christmas ghost story! Growing up I thought only our family did that cuz we were dark and weird, glad to know its actually a normal thing!

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Nice!

[@jeremysmith4620]

You completely got me Dr. Sledge. I had just sat down with my iced coffee to watch this video and I hear, "Welcome to Esoterica where we explore the arcane in history, philosophy, religion, and Christmas." I just couldn't help myself. I giggled so hard I dribbled iced coffee down my beard, then sucked the rest down my wind pipe making me tear up while partly choking, partly coughing, and partly laughing at the situation and your delivery of the joke. Well done, as always.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Yeah that kinda came outta nowhere

[@jacobbrint9949]

I'm grateful for the existence of this channel 🙏

[@warped_rider]

I know how to banish an Egyptian ghost. All you gotta do is "retuuurrrnn the slaaaaaab"! Since you like black metal I heartily recommend The Horn, they use spells from the Egyptian book of the dead for lyrics. See you next year Dr Sledge!

[@robertallen4774]

Happy holidays to you too!

[@darkmoonmana3189]

Great story! And the book recommendations look interesting. Thank you for reviving the Christmas ghost story tradition. Light and joy to you, too. ✨

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Great volumes!

[@DonovanWert]

Awesome as always brother Dr Sledge!! Thanks 🙏

[@tpxchallenger]

Loved it! What a pleasant surprise to find your channel. I was watching something on pre-dynastic Egypt and this popped up next. I did not know the Egyptians had so many aspects to the "soul". Too bad about the ending. I hope the Ach .... lived happily ever after. Subscribed.

[@makingfunofdemons]

I have recommended Esoterica on my channel, because I admire the quality of your content and your scholarly and unbiased approach. Thanks for all the great information!

[@swoleinvictus213]

Honestly this Channel has been a Gateway for me into topics I Always found interesting, but never Had the focus and dedication to deep Dive into. Fascinating and entertaining.

[@yep999]

Thanks for this gift of knowledge during this holiday season. Blessings to you and yours as well. May his spirit remain satisfied and at peace and connected.

[@jonniemaemiddletonlotte6747]

Thank you, very much. I always enjoy your channel.

[@jessemiller7540]

This has gotta be one of the funniest channels on youtube. I love it.

[@larrybuzbee7344]

This holiday custom is why the best Christmas movie ever is ..... Eraser Head.

[@bloglivethehighve]

A feast and this is the cherry🍒 on top 🍧 Yummy! Enjoined to the max! Thk u Dr. Sledge 💞

[@magpieMOB]

Life, Peace, and Health to us, every one!

[@wanderingsoulenterprises5564]

Happy holidays! Love your channel!

[@josephflock6404]

Good to see you again

[@sharprockets]

Thank you Dr.Sledge. Bless you sir.

[@genghisgalahad8465]

Happy Esoteric Holidays! I just love the deep dives of Esoterica and your wit, intelligence and story-time! 🌅🏞📚

[@genghisgalahad8465]

Endlessly fascinating!!

[@h.a.fromireland3961]

Akh! I do love me a good ghost story...anytime! A fellow Poe lover, as well, who also had conversing mummies! Thanks for the holiday cheer 😆

[@SciPunk215]

What an awesome story !! Thanks for bringing this to us!

[@amandachapman4708]

Thanks for the tale. Very interesting as always on your channel.

[@laurenlove999]

Wow divine timing. I wanted to know about this thank u so much. 🙏🏻

[@anapineiro2907]

Dr Sledge, you remind me somehow of Dr Strange. So much old wisdom

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

wow, that's a compliment! Thanks!

[@josie_posie809]

An Egyptian ghost story for Christmas? The most thoughtful gift ever 💝 Happy Holidays Esotericans ☃️✨

[@LQhristian]

A great story! Always excited to get a glimpse into the afterlife (our window into greater reality)!

[@hauntedharbortours7058]

I love your videos!

[@LonaPua_Pouliuli-Popoki]

🤙 Aloha Dr Sledge My new holiday greeting "Happy Whatever Doesn't Offend" ( Poem⤵️) "Scratched on Pottery or . ." Chiseled in quarried stones Absorbed by papyrus Quilled on skin parchment Stated by Oracle bones Read in numerous tomes Printed pressed pine dust Uploaded the net Here all have found homes 🤙Mahalo Dr. Sledge !!!

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Wonderful!

[@LonaPua_Pouliuli-Popoki]

@@TheEsotericaChannel tks I'm a bit rusty tho all good

[@BigWater59]

It would be nice if you shared a list of channels you enjoy. I enjoy your channel and thanks for all the effort you put into it. Happy Holidays

[@pentegarn1]

That's some real Anne Rice kinda stuff right there....I love it! Us of the "Strigoi-Viu" persuasion actually still kind of do this. When we have a coven member die, we promise them to leave little drops of our own blood on their graves periodically (please don't tell OSHA) so they never become the "hungry dead" or die the "Second death".

[@thoth_amon]

the original "sixth sense", twist at the end, the priest was also dead, (insert spooky noises here), rock on dr sledge

[@EduNauta95]

I love your humor

[@drphosferrous]

You're my favorite Christmas special❤

[@coleb6543]

Love it!

[@derelbenkoenig]

6:12 "Akh-tivated"? 😏😁

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

yes.....yes.

[@Bildgesmythe]

Doesn't get better!

[@evans808274mc9la]

Nice

[@Alcanox]

Thanks for a very interesting tale. Hopefully you are having a wonderful holiday season and best of luck in the coming year!

[@mskinetik]

@ around 15:30 when they said wind seizes the tongue, I wonder if they meant the wind whistles. To whistle, you have to move your tongue to make a whistling sound. So maybe that was their way of saying the whistle of the wind disturbed his eternal peace when the tomb collapsed.

[@nmconsulting]

Would it make sense that the reference to holding the tongue would approximate a whistling sound in the grave due to wind?

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Could be, all the editors I've read can't make heads or tails of it

[@flashkent138]

Book of Coming Forth By Day sounds so much kooler than book of the dead.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Especially considering it's supposed to make you alive - eternally alive.

[@emilioalvarez8107]

Thank You

[@plumbo624]

Everybody: its xmss time, weee!!! Dr S: hold my babilonian ghosts

[@vblake530530]

“And Christmas “ , “Triangle Guy”, “Wrestler Forms Guy” I can’t with you. If you ever do stand up, I’m there Brother!

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Hermetic standup - well if Joe Pera has has an audience...

[@Babylon2060]

Don't forget Saturnella!!!

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

All the holidays!

[@georgewbushcenterforintell147]

I was listening to Joe satrani he said the most scary ghost to him would be a ghost that can really shred on the gutair .then he wrote a song called ghost

[@bagsogee]

Dr lrvin Finkel from the British Museum has just published a book called The First Ghosts. It's about ghosts in ancient Mesopotamia based on his work with cuneiform tablets from the era. It would be brilliant if you could review it or even more brilliantly excellent if you could interview him about the book. I think l've just made a new years wish.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Maybe next Christmas!

[@bagsogee]

@@TheEsotericaChannel Fingers and toes crossed. I saw a youtube video of him being interviewed about the book, it sounded fascinating and he himself wasn't too sceptical on the subject of ghosts at all. Happy holidays to you and your family and all the best for the new year.

[@veronicasponchia5838]

Interesting that Egyptian ghost stories are not spooky, just more to teach responsibilities to the dead.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Yep yep yep!

[@transvazare]

Hi Justin! I would really love to hear something about the ritual of opening the mouth! Do you know about it? Thanks!

[@arielpaulson9509]

Just think of all the righteous Akh-holes pulling the boat of Ra around...

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Ha!

[@blessingchanne1866]

Do you have legends about owl and monkey?

[@blessingchanne1866]

Guys what do you believe among different animals?

[@MIHMediaInc]

Just saw the spiderman: no way home trailer before this video started 🙂. Spidey Ghost 😅

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

odd....odd

[@miketacos9034]

Imagine your name is literally just hhhhhh.

[@longcastle4863]

✓ : )

[@SleazyRider86]

Paranormal Akhtivitie lol

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Nice ;)

[@Bildgesmythe]

It's always a great time for ghost stories!

[@Babylon2060]

Ghost stories for Christmas? I've always thought that was more of a Halloween tradition. Lol

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Nope it's legit!

[@Bildgesmythe]

Watch some of the wonderful versions of A Christmas Carol, here on KZbin. George C Scott or Alistair Sims. GHOSTS!

[@chelseamadisetty350]

“So that the wind blows there and seizes a tongue” kind of sounds like wind whistling or shreiking through the openings to the tomb. I’d imagine that would be really annoying. I have nothing past a high school education though, so what do i know?

[@flashkent138]

Love this channel. Check out Bedtime Stories too if you enjoy art also.

[@thhseeking]

Life, Peace, and Health to you and yours as well, Dr Sledge :)

[@jesseglass5674]

Many thanks and happy holidays to you and yours! Jesse

[@shanesmith9289]

Genuinely Intrigued by the story's you give during the holidays and yes I concur that the ghost story's be re-traditioned a new... Thank you Dr sledge

[@michaelkelly1267]

Happy Holidays!

[@tedhand6237]

Believe it or not I am cribbing off this for a paid freelance writing gig, my first!

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Ha, crib at will!

[@d3stRuctv3]

It isn't Xmas without a ghost story 👻

[@joshy0369]

Always intriguing

[@michaelnesbit6447]

A book of ancient ghost stories would be pretty darn awesome. Hopefully someone gets the idea to put one together someday!

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

I'd love to do that!

[@Ricca_Day]

Life, peace and health… Such a lovely benediction. Thanks for sharing.

[@Asmenedas]

I got lost in translation (even ur accent is beautiful) but you and your channel are exciting💙

[@mediocrates3416]

Hey, a sneeze goes "achoo"; then we say "bless you". Cool.

[@harryhoofcloppen]

What a lovely story.

[@violanteplacido2827]

Letters to the deadddd

[@mommachupacabra]

Are the Egyptian "Ma'at" and the Hebrew "Emet" linguistically related?

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Probably not, it's mꜣꜥt /ˈmuʀʕat (at least in middle Egyptian) in Egyptian so pretty far from אמת

[@I_am_Irisarc]

It drives me nuts that people try to make Christmas inclusive by adding "Happy Hannakkah". The two don't always coincide. I'm not Jewish but it's annoying to me that people add this on without understanding what they're really talking about. Not so inclusive now, is it?

[@drphosferrous]

I know Voodoo isn't really your thing, but I'd love to see you do something on Legba at the crossroads, and maybe all the related solar archetypal stuff between Legba,Baldur,Shamash,Horus,Apollo,and Christ. That might make a good Christmas/solstice special too.