As I learned from an article in the KMT magazine, they may have had Bubonic plague just before the Amarna heresies. But to find evidence of this "Less Than Idyllic Time", the author Arielle Kozloff had to examine all sorts of evidence, for there was certainly none of it in the written records.

The Egyptians liked to ignore 'bad' news. It is well understood that the deceased person 'became as Osirus'. Remember Set's role, the one for which he is so unpopular, in the making of Osirus the king of the underworld? Set has a role to do, which only he can. Way to the east, the Indians understood the role of _Shiva_ as creator and destroyer. It is just part of the cycle that the One who plugs you into the electrical life force and into materiality is also the one who unplugs you when that cycle of incarnation is done. But ancient Egyptians didn't like 'scary stuff'. They HATED change.

So my picture shows quite another truth than its original. In the original, Anubis is gently leading the soul of the deceased pharoah into the realms of the afterlife. It may be because the black paint didn't last, but those all white otherworldly eyes of the pharoah further suggests the departed soul. In mine, Seti I is still in his body. Set looks rather firm, not cruelly so, but firm. He comes to tell Seti I, "It's time!" Seti I clutches his Ankh like a good luck amulet, as he's about to be severed from his body. And he's SCARED!

But the recycle of birth, death and rebirth will go on...

Sunday, June 3, 2007

"Cranky?"
8:26am

Images of map sections pile up in my brain, making a somewhat cohesive whole. I printed them up, along with buses to take to get to the various sites we hope to visit in our upcoming trip. My mind gets scattered easily, easily distracted. I get nervous the nearer I get to take off. It happens every time, though maybe I'm getting more at ease with the process than I used to be.

Anyway, to help focus my mind, I thought it good to sit with pen and paper and let the subconscious have a say:

Does this person look cranky? Like the stress has gotten to hir and the angry words are about to fly? The 'manic panic'? Ah, yes, I remember now the deep breathing, the 'return to the center'. I know it will all be so worth it...

And as I write this, "Just relax," the beautiful caramel skinned lady sings via the TV...

(Corinne Bailey Rae, singing "Put Your Records On", via CBS' _Breakfast with the Arts_)

Monday, June 4, 2007

"Strange Pet???"
7:41pm

Strange Pet???

You'll miss these strange drawings when I'm gone! But I'll be back with tons of photos, if all goes well...

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

"Think We're Ready"
8:42pm

All our bags are packed, the alarm is set, the cab has been called and scheduled. I think we're not forgetting anything. In the morning, begins Joan and Julia's Excellent Adventure. Although we'll not have access to a computer, I will have my blank moleskine that will serve for written journal entries and what sketches I might do along the way. So I'll fill in the days when we get back. 'See' you then, and take care!