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Eye of the Sun: The Sacred Legacy of Ancient Egypt by Kerry Wisner. Hwt-Hrw Publications, New Hampshire, 2000. ISBN: 0970283601

Reviewed by Cristina Rizen for Cup of Wonder Issue 6

Eye came fresh to my door (it is available online & via mail order from the publisher and a few other online book retailers) with a low-tech velo binding. This book is made in every sense by the writer's own hand. While it is not the usual sort of book binding, it is not in any way poor in quality so check any hardcover-induced prejudices at the door. Seeing a book like this makes my DIY punk sensibilities topple phone booths and smash store windows in riotous joy. This is the work of someone who did what anyone with a sense of respect for what they'd spent valuable time and energy researching and writing would do. Self-publishing isn't a dirty word. As Eye of the Sun proves, there are some true gems out there that we wouldn't have access to if not for this less-than-glamorous publication method.

Books related to ancient Egypt are not hard to come by, which on the one hand is good for Kemetic Reconstructionists, as one can often find a book on whatever aspect of ancient life or religion one desires. Unfortunately, not all books are written by people who have spent any amount of time in researching their topics or have any idea how to take information from theory into practice without affecting the authenticity of the practices of the ancients. Eye of the Sun is the product of an academic-based study of the religion of ancient Egypt with the goal of bringing this religion forward into our age, maintaining the integrity of the original practices and philosophy and illustrating its compatibility with modern life. It is this reviewer's opinion that the author has most certainly achieved this goal.

Many academic works on ancient Egyptian religion are dry and can be hard for a newcomer to the field to understand. The ones that are not written from this hardcore academic view are usually written from a newage/ceremonial magic/wiccan perspective, which is useless to one who wants to understand the religion itself. The quality of the writing is excellent, as any regular reader of Cup of Wonder should know (Kerry Wisner is a regular contributor). The language, while not being overly simplistic is easy to read and understand. The eight-page bibliography and the extensive endnotes make up for the only thing I can think of that this book lacks: illustrations. I like pictures, but even without them I find Eye of the Sun to be invaluable.

The book starts off with an examination of the basics: who (historically and culturally speaking) were the ancient Egyptians and how their environment shaped their beliefs. Here we are also provided with a daily rite, which is intended to be practiced while one is learning throughout the book. This is, after all, not just a treatise on what the ancients thought and did, but a guide on how one who wishes to experience the religion can do so. From there we continue to the ancient Egyptian conception of deity, then on to the gods themselves, temples, aspects of ritual, tools and living the religion. Each chapter builds on and expands the information previously offered, and, similarly, the basic rite presented at the beginning of the book is expanded gradually as new aspects of the rite and theology are explored. By the end of the book, the reader should have a basic understanding of the hows and whys of ancient Egyptian religion and, thanks to the extensive documentation, many places to look for further information on the subjects covered.

This book is very accessible and practical. Eye of the Sun provides a sound basis for further study while instructing one sufficiently in how to live in harmony with the ancient philosophy and worship as the ancients did. This book is on my must read list for any Kemetic or for anyone interested in Kemeticism in general.