Heka: The Practices of Ancient Egyptian Ritual and Magic

Ancient Egypt is often described as the mother of magicians. Magic in that culture was not strange or eccentric; it was part of daily life, woven together with religion and medicine into one holistic view of the world. David Rankine explores these magical and religious practices from both a historical and a practical point of view.

The book approaches the subject from an Egyptian worldview, taking into account a culture that lasted more than 3,000 years. It describes the Egyptian view of the universe as made up of four worlds: the everyday world, the underworld, the sky and the heavens.

Chapters range over the gods of magic, colour and number symbolism, the tools used, spoken formulas and gestures, statues and masks, offerings, the magical calendar, and purification with sacred space. Avalonia published the book in 2006. It runs to 196 pages. ISBN-13: 9781905297078.