The 42 Laws Of Ma'at

The 42 Laws of Ma'at are a set of divine laws transcribed by the Ancient Egyptians in (or around) 2925 B.C.E. Transcribed in hieroglyphics on a scroll called the Papyrus of Ani, the 42 laws were discovered in 1888 in Luxor, Egypt.

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• Who Was Ma'at?
• Cosmic Consciousness And Ancient Egypt
• The 42 Laws Of Ma'at
• The 42 Ideals Of Ma'at
• Frequently Asked Question
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The Ancient Egyptians wrote Books of the Dead for their deceased to help them successfully navigate their way through the underworld in order to unite with the God of the Dead, Osiris.

The Books of the Dead were not books as we know them today. Much of what we now refer to as The Egyptian Book of the Dead are hieroglyphics that were transcribed onto funerary items such as coffins, figurines, papyrus scrolls and mummy wrappings to give specific instructions to the deceased on how to traverse the afterlife.

The 42 Laws Of Ma'at comprised the 125th chapter of The Egyptian Book Of The Dead, written for the King's beloved scribe, Ani.

Who Was Ma'at?

Ma'at was the Egyptian goddess that stood for the values of truth, honor, justice, balance and order. She is always depicted wearing an ostrich feather in her headdress, which symbolized truth and justice.

In the Egyptian creation myth, Ma'at was often considered to be the child of the Sun God, Ra. It's said that she was created when he rose from the waters of chaos to create the world.

Because Ma'at brought order to chaos, she was much more than a goddess to the ancient Egyptians. She represented the very concept of harmony and balance, which was the the most deeply held conviction in Egyptian society. Even the pyramids are a testament to their reverence for balance, symmetry and order, which are said to be built on the laws of sacred geometry.

The role of the King was to uphold Ma'at, because without Ma'at one would slip into selfishness and greed, and civilization would be without order; a return to darkness and chaos.

Cosmic Consciousness And Ancient Egypt

The Egyptians had a deep belief in the connection between the mundane and the sacred. Every act one committed had metaphysical implications, not only for oneself, but for the collective.

The concept of Ma'at was central to their deeply held conviction that a life of virtue is what kept society running smoothly. This concept has been expressed throughout many cultures as "as above, so below."

Ancient Egyptians believed that when the body died, the soul journeyed onward to have one's heart measured against the feather of Ma'at in the Hall of Truth. If the heart was found lighter than the feather of Ma'at, the soul would continue its journey to eternal life. If the heart was heavier than the feather, it would be dropped to the floor and eaten by Ammut, 'The Devourer', and cast into darkness. Similar metaphysical constructs, such as a belief in karma, are present in many religions today.

The sum total of the heaviness of one's heart was determined by the upholding of Ma'at's laws in the deceased's earthly life. A virtuous life led with respect for the principles of Ma'at equaled a heart that was not heavy, and hence journeyed on towards eternal life. A heart that was heavy with chaos and disorder was considered bad for society, and hence it was banished.

The 42 Laws Of Ma'at

The 42 Laws Of Ma'at are sometimes referred to as "The Negative Confessions" or "The Declaration Of Innocence."

1. I have not committed sin.
2. I have not committed robbery with violence.
3. I have not stolen.
4. I have not slain men or women.
5. I have not stolen food.
6. I have not swindled offerings.
7. I have not stolen from God/Goddess.
8. I have not told lies.
9. I have not carried away food.
10. I have not cursed.
11. I have not closed my ears to truth.
12. I have not committed adultery.
13. I have not made anyone cry.
14. I have not felt sorrow without reason.
15. I have not assaulted anyone.
16. I am not deceitful.
17. I have not stolen anyone’s land.
18. I have not been an eavesdropper.
19. I have not falsely accused anyone.
20. I have not been angry without reason.
21. I have not seduced anyone’s wife.
22. I have not polluted myself.
23. I have not terrorized anyone.
24. I have not disobeyed the Law.
25. I have not been exclusively angry.
26. I have not cursed God/Goddess.
27. I have not behaved with violence.
28. I have not caused disruption of peace.
29. I have not acted hastily or without thought.
30. I have not overstepped my boundaries of concern.
31. I have not exaggerated my words when speaking.
32. I have not worked evil.
33. I have not used evil thoughts, words or deeds.
34. I have not polluted the water.
35. I have not spoken angrily or arrogantly.
36. I have not cursed anyone in thought, word or deeds.
37. I have not placed myself on a pedestal.
38. I have not stolen what belongs to God/Goddess.
39. I have not stolen from or disrespected the deceased.
40. I have not taken food from a child.
41. I have not acted with insolence.
42. I have not destroyed property belonging to God/Goddess.

The 42 Ideals Of Ma'at

In 1995 Lady Loreon Vigne, the Arch-Priestess of Isis ,was guided to rewrite the 42 Laws of Ma'at for modern times. These have become known as the Ideals of Ma'at.

The concept behind the Ideals of Ma'at is that we increase the light and banish darkness by living a life that embodies the positive emotions of peace, gratitude and joy. The Ideals of Ma'at still contain the original premise of "do no harm", but the focus is more on uplifting the vibration of the collective in a way that resonates today.

1. I honor virtue
2. I benefit with gratitude
3. I am peaceful
4. I respect the property of others
5. I affirm that all life is sacred
6. I give offerings that are genuine
7. I live in truth
8. I regard all altars with respect
9. I speak with sincerity
10. I consume only my fair share
11. I offer words of good intent
12. I relate in peace
13. I honor animals with reverence
14. I can be trusted
15. I care for the earth
16. I keep my own council
17. I speak positively of others
18. I remain in balance with my emotions
19. I am trustful in my relationships
20. I hold purity in high esteem
21. I spread joy
22. I do the best I can
23. I communicate with compassion
24. I listen to opposing opinions
25. I create harmony
26. I invoke laughter
27. I am open to love in various forms
28. I am forgiving
29. I am kind
30. I act respectfully
31. I am accepting
32. I follow my inner guidance
33. I converse with awareness
34. I do good
35. I give blessings
36. I keep the waters pure
37. I speak with good intent
38. I praise the Goddess and the God
39. I am humble
40. I achieve with integrity
41. I advance through my own abilities
42. I embrace the All

Frequently Asked Question

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