Ascending the great staircase: The ancient rite of the seven gates
(Global Heart) Experience a powerful transformation with this step-by-step guide to the ancient Egyptian initiation of the ‘seven gates’. Learn the rituals, visualizations, and incantations to achieve higher consciousness.
Ancient Egyptian initiation: The seven gates
The ancient Egyptians didn’t see the “Book of the Dead” (properly known as the Book of coming forth by light or by day) as a manual for the deceased, but rather as a guide for the living to achieve “illumination.” By navigating its symbolic gates, we can align our energy centres—or chakras—to reach a state of higher consciousness.
If you are looking for a powerful way to deepen your meditation, you can treat these seven gates as a personal ceremony. To get the most out of this, create a quiet space with candles or incense. As you speak the words, don’t just read them; visualize the energy moving through your body from the base of your spine to the top of your head.
Setting the sacred space
Before you dive into the gates, focus on the atmosphere. Ancient rituals relied heavily on the senses to bridge the gap between the physical and spiritual worlds.
- Atmosphere: Light a bit of frankincense or myrrh.
- Focus: Use a single candle to represent the “inner light.”
- Sound: Soft bells or rhythmic 432 Hz “temple” music can help anchor your mind.
- Presence: Wear comfortable, clean clothing. As you speak the words of the initiation, replace “[Your Name]” with your own, speaking with the confidence of one who is already “reunited.”
Ritual preparation: The physical anchors
To help you bring this ritual to life, you can use physical “anchors.” Arrange these items in a straight line or a semi-circle around your meditation cushion. Move your focus from one item to the next as you progress.
- Gate 1: The root (survival)
- Item: A small stone or a bowl of salt/earth.
- Purpose: Represents the “hidden place” (the Earth) and grounds your energy.
- Gate 2: The navel (soul ascent)
- Item: A silver coin or a white flower.
- Purpose: Reflects lunar, intuitive energy as your soul begins its rise.
- Gate 3: The solar plexus (power)
- Item: A gold candle or a yellow fruit.
- Purpose: Symbolizes the “horizon” and your inner fire to cross the “watery abyss.”
- Gate 4: The heart (love & timelessness)
- Item: A mirror or a bowl of water.
- Purpose: The “well of life.” A mirror reflects the “unseen one” within you.
- Gate 5: The throat (expression)
- Item: A feather or a blue ribbon.
- Purpose: Represents the feather of Ma’at (truth) and your power to speak clearly.
- Gate 6: The third eye (perception)
- Item: Two identical items (like two candles or two leaves).
- Purpose: Represents the “hall of double truth” and your leveled perception.
- Gate 7: The crown (spirituality)
- Item: Incense smoke or a clear crystal.
- Purpose: Represents the “bringer” and the “runner”—ethereal energy uniting with the body.
Tips for the ceremony
- The movement: If you have the space, you can physically move your cushion a few inches forward for each gate to simulate the “great staircase.”
- The sound: If you have a bell, ring it once after you finish speaking the words for each gate to “seal” that vibration.
- The amen: After the final gate, blow out your candles and sit in the darkness for a moment to feel the “reunion” you have created.
The path of the seven gates
Read these slowly, allowing the sound of your voice to vibrate in your chest.
The opening call: Awakening the temple (Light your primary candle and incense. Stand or sit tall.) “I step out of the shadows and into the light. The temple is open; the stars are in sight. I leave the world of the many behind, to seek the One within my mind. By my name and by my breath, I walk the path that conquers death. The seven gates now stand before me—let the ancient ones restore me.”
Gate 1: Grounding at the root
- Focus: Base of spine.
- Incantation: “I am grounded in the holy place. I claim my victory in the temple of reunion. Let the paths be laid open for [Your Name].”
- Visualization: A heavy bronze door at the base of a red mountain glows with warm light.
- The seal: Ring bell once. “The way is open.”
Gate 2: Rising from the navel
- Focus: Lower abdomen.
- Incantation: “I rise like the moon above the crowds. I am a citizen of heaven. Let the hidden places be revealed to [Your Name].”
- Visualization: A gate of liquid silver opens into a cool, starry mist.
- The seal: Ring bell once. “The soul ascends.”
Gate 3: Balance in the solar plexus
- Focus: Upper abdomen.
- Incantation: “I walk the road between the shadows and the sun. I cross the abyss of self to find the lord of life. I am attuned.”
- Visualization: A golden bridge spanning a dark, rushing river.
- The seal: Ring bell once. “The power is balanced.”
Gate 4: The heart of the matter
- Focus: Centre of the chest.
- Incantation: “I am yesterday and I know today. I purify the earthly body of [Your Name]. I drink from the well of life and know the father.”
- Visualization: A gate of emerald vines leading to a crystal-clear pool.
- The seal: Ring bell once. “The heart is pure.”
Gate 5: Truth at the throat
- Focus: The throat.
- Incantation: “I have the power to be born again. I am the soul who speaks in the inner world. My roads are glad; my light is sent forth.”
- Visualization: A deep blue lapis lazuli gate carved with golden stars.
- The seal: Ring bell once. “The truth is spoken.”
Gate 6: Perception and the third eye
- Focus: Between the eyebrows.
- Incantation: “I enter the hall of double truth. My name is the tongue of the balance. The horizons are open to me. My vision is clear.”
- Visualization: A hall of mirrors where your physical and spiritual selves merge.
- The seal: Ring bell once. “The vision is clear.”
Gate 7: Union at the crown
- Focus: Top of the head.
- Incantation: “Hail to the bringer! Let my soul return to me from wheresoever it may be—NOW. I walk the great staircase and I am whole.”
- Visualization: A gate of pure diamond dissolves into a pillar of starlight descending into your head.
- The seal: Ring bell once. “The spirit is united.”
Closing the ceremony: The amen (After the final gate, blow out your candle and sit in profound stillness.) “The attuned one lives. The earth-bound one is quiet. I, [Your Name], am reunited and triumphant. The gates are behind me, the light is within me. It is finished. Amen.”
Integration
Stay in your meditative state for at least five minutes after the ceremony. This allows the vibrations you have raised to settle into your physical body. You are now the “reunited one,” carrying the perspective of the great staircase into your daily life.
To keep your high vibration steady throughout the week, try using this short affirmation: “I am yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I walk the great staircase with a balanced heart and a clear vision. I am reunited, I am whole, and I am triumphant.”
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- What is the “Book of coming forth by light”? Commonly known as the Egyptian Book of the Dead, this ancient collection of papyrus scrolls served as a spiritual map to help the soul achieve eternal illumination.
- How do the seven gates relate to the chakras? Ancient Egyptian initiation rites move from the base of the spine (root) to the top of the head (crown), mirroring the upward flow of energy used in modern chakra balancing.
- Do I need special tools? No. The ritual uses simple “physical anchors” like a stone, a mirror, or a candle to help focus your mind. Your intent is the most important tool.
“The horizons are open. The staircase is climbed. You are the light that comes forth by day.”
Source: Global Heart
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