1. Introduction

Image of the cover of Ankh the computer game
'Ankh' - the Computer Game

The Ankh in Modern Popular Culture

Although it is a very ancient symbol the Ankh has an enduring appeal. Since its rediscovery as a cultural icon during the Hippy movement of the 1960s it has continued to be widely used in a wide range of differing environments.
Its mass appeal has been fueled by its inclusion in such films as 'Logan's Run' and 'The Hunger' - indeed there are few elements of popular culture and media where it has not been used. This includes rock music, comic books, television and is extremely prevalent in such video games as 'Ankh', 'Tomb Raider', 'Ultima', 'World of Warcraft' and 'Guild Wars'.
However it is within New Age circles that the Ankh has really entered mainstream consciousness during the past few decades. Once again spiritually motivated individuals of all alternative faiths have rediscovered the hidden secret mysteries of this enduring symbol.
The world-leading publishing company of esoteria - Weiser Books, have adopted the Ankh as their corporate logo - which may go some way to prove the theory that all those who come into contact with the Ankh have blessings cast upon them!
Egyptian God Anubis carrying an Ankh
Anubis Carrying an Ankh

Mysteries of the Ankh

Despite being such a prominent cultural icon very few people outside of occult circles really understand the reasons why the Ankh has such a powerful effect. There is no doubt that simply wearing an Ankh as a piece of jewelry can have a major impact on the health, well-being and general good fortune of its wearer. But why should this be? What properties does this mysterious symbol have and how is it such a potent tool in all strands of personal or self development.
I first encountered the Ankh over twenty years ago when it used to emerge deep from within my inner consciousness during meditation. At the time I was unaware of its importance but a few years later I discovered that in fact we all carry with us a personal symbol - a glyph or icon that open up the doorways to the soul. It just so happened that mine was the Ankh and since then I have used it in a variety of ways throughout both my mundane and spiritual endeavors.
Throughout this period I struggled to learn more about this fascinating symbol. However my searches were, in the main, pretty fruitless. It has taken me many years of painstaking research to finally arrive at an understanding of some sort of the set principles that underpin the symbol.
What fascinated me most of all was the discovery that the Ancient Egyptians used the Ankh in a wide variety of ceremonial ways. However, the Ankh was not used in a general way by the Egyptians but wall paintings and carvings throughout the area have shown that the Ankh was used in a Magickal way. The appear to have been used to channel some sort of power or energy when utilized by the Gods and Goddesses of the time. (See footnote 1)
It took some years for me to eventually unravel some of those mysteries through both research and practical application of the Ankh at a spiritual level. It is the result of those researches that I would like to present to you here in the following series of articles.
 
 
 
 
Picture of the Ankh and other Hieroglyphs
Ankh and Other Hieroglyphs

The Power of the Ankh

In ' The Power of the Ankh' I want to take you on a journey through a history of the Ankh, its evolvement as a symbol and to reveal some of the practical use it has been put to in the past. Later on I shall introduce you to a little know area of Ankh understanding - namely, how the glyph works as a powerful tool to open up your inner world to wealth and abundance.
So then, to start off, what common conceptions, or misconceptions, have surfaced regarding the Ankh over the past millennia?
There have been many different interpretations of the Ankh. Most of these have surfaced through a shallow understanding by 19th century Egyptologists of the essentially Magickal basis to Egyptian culture. Their observances have served to further cloud an already murky set of conceptions about what the glyph was actually for.
These include a belief that the Ankh represented the following;
    * A sandal strap
    * A musical instrument
    * A mirror
    * A robe tie
    * Water tool
These associations highlight the very mundane levels of interpretation placed upon the Egyptian Ankh. In the main they fail to really get to the heart of the issue or explain why the symbol was so highly revered or why it was used as a primary hieroglyph.
Picture of an early Rosicrucian Corss
Rosicrucian Adaptation of the Rose Cross

The Occult Mysteries

However there have been seriously-minded students of the arcane who have sought to unravel the mysteries of the Ankh at a metaphysical level. As a result another set of occult associations have been placed upon the symbol. These include;
    * The Ankh is a transmitter of energies
    * It represents the Key to the Kingdom of Heaven
    * It is the Giver of Life
    * It represents the Essence of Feminine Power
    * It is the foremost Key to the Occult Mysteries
Thus the symbol appears in connection with a number of esoteric disciplines. These include;
    * The Rosicrucian Mysteries
    * The Celtic Mysteries
    * Egyptian Initiation
    * Early Christian Mysteries
    * Tantric Tradition
    * The Mystical Tarot
In fact it appears with extra-ordinary regularity in nearly all aspects of spirituality and occultism all around the world. It may vary slightly in appearance but as I reveal later on, its underpinning meaning remains constant throughout all disciplines.
So with no further ado lets get on and explore this fascinating symbol.

The Power of the Ankh - Copyright: Ankhanata 2008