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templeofoccultpractices · 8 months

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Apep

Other names: Apepi, Aapep, ꜥꜣpp(y) *ʻAʼpāp(ī); Ⲁⲫⲱⲫ Aphōph or Apophis, Ἄποφις Ápophis, Rereki

Parents:Neith (in some myths), Waters of Nun

Siblings:Ra, Serket

Symbols:Red, Black, Sometimes green, Serpent, Dragon, Lizard, Fire, Water

Domain:Underworld

Powers:Chaos, Destruction

Apep was the ancient Egyptian deity who embodied chaos (ı͗zft in Egyptian) and was thus the opponent of light and Ma'at (order/truth). He appears in art as a giant serpent. Apep was first mentioned in the Eighth Dynasty, and he was honored in the names of the Fourteenth Dynasty king 'Apepi and of the Greater Hyksos king Apophis.

Tales of Apep's battles against Ra were elaborated during the New Kingdom. Storytellers said that every day Apep must lie below the horizon and not persist in the mortal kingdom. This appropriately made him a part of the underworld. In some stories, Apep waited for Ra in a western mountain called Bakhu, where the sun set, and in others, Apep lurked just before dawn, in the Tenth region of the Night. The wide range of Apep's possible locations gained him the title World-Encircler. It was thought that his terrifying roar would cause the underworld to rumble. Myths sometimes say that Apep was trapped there, because he had been the previous chief god overthrown by Ra, and had been imprisoned.

The Coffin Texts imply that Apep used a magical gaze to overwhelm Ra and his entourage. Ra was assisted by a number of defenders who travelled with him, including Set and possibly the Eye of Ra.Apep's movements were thought to cause earthquakes, and his battles with Set may have been meant to explain the origin of thunderstorms. In one account, Ra himself defeats Apep in the form of a cat.

What few accounts there are of Apep's origin usually describe as being born from Ra's umbilical cord.

Rituals Ancient Egyptian priest of Ra performed

In an annual rite called the Banishing of Chaos, priests would build an effigy of Apep that was thought to contain all of the wickedness and darkness in Egypt, and burn it to protect everyone from Apep for another year.

The Egyptian priests had a detailed guide to fighting Apep, referred to as The Books of Overthrowing Apep (or the Book of Apophis, in Greek). The chapters described a gradual process of dismemberment and disposal, and include:

⬩Spitting Upon Apep

⬩Defiling Apep with the Left Foot

⬩Taking a Lance to Smite Apep

⬩Fettering Apep

⬩Taking a Knife to Smite Apep

⬩Putting Fire Upon Apep

──────⊰Types of practitioners⊱──────

Anticosmic

Anti-Cosmic Satanism, also known as Chaos-Gnostic Satanism and Anti-Cosmic Gnosticism, is a belief system that believes that the Demiurge (i.e. Yahweh, God, Jehova, Allah, etc.) imprisoned humans with Cosmic Chains, holding us back from our true freedom in Chaos and Limitlessness. It believes that through the liberation of our mortal chains, we will once more return to Tohu/Ain - nothingness

-Depends on the practitioners definition.

Some practioners may simply not identify with satanism and may just be anticosmic.

A practitioner may choose to work with Apep as a representation of chaos or work with their "anticosmic" aspects. Seeing Ra as a version of the Demiurge

Draconic

Draconic magic is the practice of working with dragons. One may choose to work with Apep as him representing a dragon of chaos. In some books these dragons are said to be the color black and represent chaos. Depending on the practitioner they may not see chaos dragons as bad or malicious beings but a being that existing balance to the universe.

Draconian

Draconian magic is, by definition, magic fuelled by the symbolism and energies of dragons. Although today dragons tend to be relegated to fantasy novels (usually trilogies, of course) or fantasy cinema, their mythological roots are deep and dark.

Some may work with Apep symbolically or not as a representation of chaos and transformation.

General Kemetics

When it comes to Kemeticism like any other religion or practice can be very individual to each practitioner. While a lot of Kemetics don't like Apep for the reason that most see him as a destructive force of Isfet that destroys Ma'at. Some practitioners revere and respect Apep for what ever reason it may be. People have different views on chaos. Chaos being a part of nature and some may be practitioners of chaos. Like any other deity people will have different views on them and wether they like or dislike them. In general I think it's important to not discriminate or harass/attack people who have different views than you. You may be able to get along with them you may not.

*For the general Kemetic practitioner who don't work with Apep you can check out the other posts on the Kemetic pantheon*

──────⊰In Workings⊱──────

Enn:Ayer serpente Apep

Offerings: Dragons Blood, Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh, Red or black candles, Cobra or dragon statue

*Please know basic protections and energy work before attempting any deity work.*

*It is important to note that everyone's experiences are different and will work with spirits for different reasons. Some people may like a spirit while others will not and that's okay. Ask these spirits what they will work with you on as well as ask them if they can help you with whatever it is you need.*

Ways of honoring or working with/worshiping Apep.

Altar

Create an altar/sacred space for rituals/workings or offerings to Apep.

⬩Altar cloth

⬩Black, red, or gold candles (you can use any color)

⬩Incense and an incense burner

⬩Statues of a serpent or dragon

For more information on basic deity work and altar setups check out the deity work post.

Anticosmic rituals

⬩For the Anticosmic practitioner. Ways of honoring Apep may include. Understanding the place of chaos within the practitioners Anticosmic faith. A practitioner may take the *Banishing of Apep/Smiting of Apep* mentioned above and replace Apep with Ra while adding their own portion of the ritual.

Some may view Ra as the Demiurge

Draconian rituals

Dragons Rouge-Beasts of Watery Abyss

*A word of caution please be careful performing any ceremony from any piece of literature or one made by another person. Invocations mean invoking a spirit within you*

The Ceremony of Apep

Envision the sun disappearing behind the horizon, in the jaws of the Serpent- Dragon of the Underworld. While focusing on this vision, start vibrating the mantra: "Lepaca Apep'. When you feel the atmosphere around you is changing and becomes tense, face the direction of west and begin the

ceremony

Melez!

I, (magical name), invoke Apep, demonic Serpent of the Underworld!

Every day you devour the sun on its journey through the sea of night and fight the gods of light.

Ruler of the seventh hour of the soul's descent into Amenti!

You transform the sunlight into the void of the Black Sun,

Your blood paints the sky red.

I invoke you! Come forth at my calling!

I seek to unite with your force.

To rest in your coils

To pass the land of the dead that is your kingdom.

Come to me. demon of waters and fire!

Lord of life behind the veil of death!

Rise out of the infernal abyss and embrace me with your coils!

Apep! Apepi! Aapep! Apofis! Set! Tyfon!

I summon you in the name of Darkness and Light, Fire and Water, which are

your essence! Hear my calling and rise from the abyss of the Underworld, from the underground land of Amentil

Lepaca Apep!

Lepaca Apofis!

Lepaca Drakon!

May this calling shakes the deepest pits of hell!

Ho Drakon Ho Megas!

Invision that you are on a voyage on a solar barque through an underground river. It gets darker and darker around you. Suddenly Apep appears in front of you. He drinks all water up and swallows the barque. You are now inside of him. Feel how you become one with the Serpent. Inflame yourself in the power of magic that rises in you. You are the unity of shadow and light, life and death. You shine with the light that illuminates the void and the darkness of the abyss. Gradually you are filled up with divinity. Meditate upon this feeling.

When you feel that it is time to end the meditation, close the ceremony with a careful banishment.

Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn is an occult group formed in England in the late 19th century. It was a magical order influenced by the Freemasons and occult Hermetic mysticism. The Freemasons are a famous secret society, and all three of the Golden Dawn's founders were Freemasons. Hermeticism is based on the supposed writings of the Greek god Hermes and Toth, the Egyptian equivalent of Hermes.

The formula IAO

This formula is the principal and most characteristic formula of Osiris, of the Redemption of Mankind. "I" is Isis, Nature, ruined by "A", Apophis the Destroyer, and restored to life by the Redeemer Osiris.

But before entering into the details of "I.A.O." as a magick formula it should be remarked that it is essentially the formula of Yoga or meditation; in fact, of elementary mysticism in all its branches.

In beginning a meditation practice, there is always

If not, one is not working properly.

a quiet pleasure, a gentle natural growth; one takes a lively interest in the work; it seems easy; one is quite pleased to have started. This stage represents Isis. Sooner or later it is succeeded by depression --- the Dark Night of the Soul, an infinite weariness and detestation of the work. The simplest and easiest acts become almost impossible to perform. Such impotence fills the mind with apprehension and despair. The intensity of this loathing can hardly be understood by any person who has not experienced it. This is the period of Apophis.

It is followed by the arising not of Isis, but of Osiris. The ancient condition is not restored, but a new and superior condition is created, a condition only rendered possible by the process of death.

The Alchemists themselves taught this same truth. The first matter of the work was base and primitive, though "natural". After passing through various stages the "black dragon" appeared; but from this arose the pure and perfect gold.

Even in the legend of Prometheus we find an identical formula concealed; and a similar remark applies to those of Jesus Christ, and of many other mythical god-men worshipped in different countries.

𓆙𓆙𓆙𓆙𓆙𓆙𓆙𓆙𓆙𓆙𓆙𓆙𓆙𓆙𓆙𓆙

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