The Opening of the Way: A Practical Guide to the Wisdom of Ancient Egypt

by Isha Schwaller de Lubicz

The Opening of the way, which is solidly based on the spiritual realities that were the functional pillars of the wisdom of ancient Egypt, as well as the basis of the Western spiritual tradition, is mean to help the reader gain access to the dynamic unity that produced the greatest of all known civilizations, at the same time explicating the many mysteries approached in Her-Bak: Egyptian Initiate. In the Her-Bak books, Isha Schwaller de Lubicz transmitted in a fictional context the atmosphere and teachings of ancient Egypt based on her extensive research and collaboration with her husband, R. A. Schwaller de Lubicz.
For the author, modern man is the product of several centuries of cerebral culture. This state of mind professes to explain man and the universe by reason only, without supposing there to be any creative cause. Man cannot admit the existence of any natural laws or forces other than those which his reasoning faculty can analyze. Research into human nature has therefore taken a biological, chemical, and mechanical direction and has come up with no constructive answers to the question of how life ought to be lived. The nervous imbalance brought about by this analytical mentality cannot tolerate silence or inactivity, without which one cannot have true initiation or spiritual experience. Isha Schwaller de Lubicz postulates that the understanding of the harmonious relationship of all parts of our universe is to be reached not by intellectual search, but only by the path of silence and true meditation. With The Opening of the Way as a guide, the reader can learn how to awaken what the ancient Egyptians called "the intelligence of the heart," the master of harmony in our body as well as our connection to the heart of the world.
The author defines such terms as "soul," "consciousness," and "self-knowledge" and helps us recognize in ourselves the states of subtle energy which are immortal elements and therefore enable us to rise above the "animal man." She also presents a study of the human body, showing the relation of the various organs to the bloodstream and to the sources of vital energy. The object here is to present a simple but comprehensive view of the unity of the human constitution and the interplay of its vital functions. With this knowledge, we become aware of the harmony that governs them and relates them to the corresponding functions of the universe. Man is an individual manifestation of all the functions, powers, and affinities in the universe, and his consciousness is the measure of his individualization, his power to make actual that which is still only virtual in cosmic harmony. The Opening of the Way develops for the reader the knowledge of these various elements of genesis and the spiritual bond uniting them.

Genres: Egypt, Spirituality, History, Philosophy, Psychology, Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Isha Schwaller de Lubicz spent her youth studying Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, and Hebrew theology and mysticism. As pupil of R.A. Schwaller de Lubicz and later as his wife, she went on to investigate other religions and philosophical systems, including Taoism, Islam. Her most significant work was done in Egypt, where she lived for fifteen years among the temples and the tombs. There, patient labor and exceptional circumstances enabled her to penetrate the secret symbolism of the hieroglyphs. Her discovery aroused the enthusiasm of the eminent Egyptologist Alexandre Varille, who devoted the last ten years of his life to verifying and developing its practical application. Thus was unveiled a wisdom that for thousands of years had taught men the science of life. . . and of its triumph over death.

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isha Schwaller de Lubicz and her husband wrote several works on Egyptology in which they deviate from mainstream thought and propose a view that is more similar to Taoist, Buddhist, or Gnostic thought. They hold the view that the ancient Egyptians possessed an all-around advanced way of thinking of a more intuitive character, rather than supporting the traditional view mainstream Egyptology holds of them as a collection of primitives who performed monumental architectural feats simply to appease the massive egos of Pharaohs who believed themselves to be gods. The author however, is far from being any blind devotee to Classicism and she instead presents a logical yet wonderfully fluid description of how the ancients (or at least those of the priesthood) may have thought as well as how we can internalize and benefit from those same ideas today.

In addition to having spent years on-site at Luxor with her husband, studying the Egyptian temples and hieroglpyhs, the author has incredible familiarity with Taoist, Christian, Gnostic, and Kabbalistic studies. All of these subjects mix together in her description of concepts that could otherwise be very obscure. This work is not however, full of detailed descriptions of Egyptian culture, ritual or daily life (for that, reading through her fiction work Her-Bak or her husband's books would more than suffice). Though it is implied that ancient Egyptian religious devotees held to the ways of thinking she discusses, she doesn't slip into wild speculation and unproveable statements about the minds of the ancient Egyptians. Instead she puts forth a blended work of concepts, recommendations for meditative reflection, and profoundly simple and powerful words of wisdom gained as result of over a decade of on-site study of Luxor (in addition to all those other occidental and oriental studies). You could view this as a non-scientific work of mysticism, but really the author's writing style and means of presenting ideas is almost identical to a piece of Taoist literature and is probably best read with a similar attitude.

As with her husband's works and those of other esoteric French philosophers like Baudrillard, this author's works requires reading at a slower pace, but nowhere near as frustratingly complicated to read as those other authors. Though this is an esoteric work full of profound ideas, she never tries to lose you in the depths of complicated thoughts. She seems to be quite mindful of how her thoughts sound to her readers, anticipating the potential complications and gracefully bringing the reader to the necessary complimenting thoughts that help cement the concept.

While it's not essential to do so before reading this book, you might appreciate it more so if you read Rene Descartes short work Discourse on Method. Isha Schwaller de Lubicz's discussion of the "automaton" and also of various bodily functional systems (circulation, respiration, lymphatic, digestion, etc.) are very much in the style of Descartes's discussion of the automaton and way the human heart operates.

[Michael Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Only the second book I have abandoned reading in the last five years, I usually finish a book at any cost, but dear Gods, I can't abide another sentence of this tedious drivel.

I had actually looked forward to this. I read 'Her-Bak' and 'Serpent in the Sky' years ago and although they were a bit dry, I gained a lot from them.

Despite the title, there are only passing references to Egypt. I had expected a book which would refer to actual Egyptian myths and beliefs. This, however, includes chapters on Karma and Reincarnation. Ancient Egypt was a highly stratified society, but I find no references to Karma per se in their myths. As for reincarnation, this would appear to most definitely *not* have been any part of Egyptian belief judging by their funerary texts. Fantasy. Pure fucking fantasy.

Add to the fact that you can't read a paragraph without starting to snore. I don't know whether the author or the translator is to blame, but this is the most boring, repetitive, colourless drivel it has ever been my misfortune to inflict upon my brain.

Enough, already!

I returned to this in 2021 because I hate to leave a book unfinished.

It was even worse than I remembered.

On the plus side, not all of the ideas are hogwash, some I actually agree with, though the perspective is different and the premise upon which the author bases her argument is usually false. But there are three major problems with this book, and since it contains nothing which cannot be found in better words and with a better philosophical underpinning elsewhere, I cannot recommend it at all. The problems are:

Firstly, none of the contents relate to Ancient Egypt and its beliefs or philosophies. This is all regurgitated Theosophical twaddle, not authentic Egyptian mystery traditions as exhaustively recorded and published elsewhere. In other words, the entire claim of the book is a lie. This is not, in any of its aspects, representative of "the Wisdom Teachings of Ancient Egypt". This claim is absolutely and demonstratively false.

Secondly, the tone is one of holier than thou piety and is nauseating and aggravating in the extreme.

Thirdly, the prose is so turgid and convoluted as to be impenetrable, completely opaque and determined to crush out the last faint spark of interest or care in the tedious harangue. All the obstinate reader - and believe me, you have to bull-headed to insist upon finishing reading this tripe - is trudge dully on, weeping at how slowly the bone dry text is passing beneath the eyes. By the time the end of a page is reached and it is mercifully turned, its contents are forgotten, since the brain has long since rebelled against registering what is read.

You might enjoy it if you like that sort of thing.

[Ryan Mcmahon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most honest and profound reads I've ever come across. Isha is a gifted human for certain. I highly recommend this book if oyur willing to go into the shadow and face whatever part of yourself you find there. Excellent!


Ryan A. McMahon

[Shila Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it for yourself. If it makes sense, then transform.

[Alexander Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good spiritual guide book that explains the different aspects of the Self and how to establish harmony in yourself. The book is excellent at relating the material to various different religious traditions. I feel like my meditation practices have improved as a result of reading this book.

[Michael Hazard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esoteric knowledge of the body, mind and spirit.

[Iam99930301 · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book for the spiritually minded seeker.