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OBELISQUE Transforming

S ocie t y Through S ocial

A lchemy The N ew H ermopolis Photographs:CourtesyofDr.Mervat Nasser Text: NileElWardani trav el

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OBELISQUE nothing short ofmiraculous.Asavisitor,nothing short Iwas knowledge produced inancientHermopolis is extraordinary.landscape truly The sumofthe region that makes the experience and the It andphilosophy, isthehistory borninthis ing activitiesintheculturalspaceattachedtoit. nizations interested and train- in holding artistic explorers,artists, individuals,groups andorga- and long-termresidencyoffers short forwriters, Open yearly from October toMay, thisretreat hospitality withasereneheartfelt ambiance. warm smilesandofferingkarkade. Here onefeels Saidi staff adornedincrispwhitelocalgalabeyas, arrival we were greeted by Dr. Nasser andher panorama.Uponpeace dominatethisdesert our where silenceand mountainscenery desert is against a backdrop of breathtaking high and stunningdomedarchitectural structures. It plantedolivenewly groves; young vineyards , builtby Nasser, issituatedamongst hours tothisuniqueancientlandscape. The New super highwaydelivered usinlessthanfour Approximately 320km from Cairo, thenew of ancientwisdomwasbornandinspires her. and the ancient city of Hermopolis where much returned toAlMinia, where herfatherisburied, and worked inLondonforthree decades,Nasser A psychiatrist, authorandprofessor wholived lawi, El Minia. Hermopolis, locatednear Tuna El Gebel, Mal- this spirituallocation,oncetheancientcityof rope viaSpain in711AD.Nasser wasdrawnto from theAlexandriansandthencespread toEu- “the transmutation” wasadoptedby theArabs bic word “Al Kimiya” (300BC)literallymeans Alchemy, whichoriginallycomesfrom theAra- erished fragilefragmentofEgypt. cultural revival ofalargelyneglectedandimpov- cient citytowards theeconomic,spiritualand unique spiritualandculturalheritageofthisan- The New Hermopolis aimstocapitalize onthe ing humanitytoevolve intogreater perfection. principle thatleadsonetothedesire ofhelp- through theUnity of Being asa fundamental social alchemyrefers totransmutationofsociety T Mervat Nasser. Coinedby Nasser, ation ofthesocialalchemistDr. village, whichisthevisionandcre- he New Hermopolis isacultural

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OBELISQUE rulers ofEgypt. been decorated likethistocurry favourwiththenew byAlexander the Great, and seemstohave was constructed around the timeoftheconquest decorated in aGreekstyle. TheTombofPetosiris the outer Late Periodstyle,whilstcourtis in typical rather decorated like DenderaTemple).Theoutsideis This tombisconstructed to looklikeatemple(itlooks Above: Interior of theTombPetosiris,TunaEl-Gebel. of manthrough knowledge. This foundexpression in tions with its emphasis on the higher/spiritual growth Hermeticism hadanimpactontheGnostic tradi- universe containingbalanceand order. people belongtothesinglefamilyofmankindina mation andhealingtheuniversal beliefthatall phasize theconnectionbetween wisdom,transfor- velopment, theprinciplesofspiritual alchemyem- challenged. Callingforashiftinattitudeandlifede- Much liketoday, identitieswere beingchangedand systems. the meltingpotofpeople,racesanddifferent belief emerging theologies.Egypt wasseenatthattimeas together and reconcile old religious thought with tobringbothEastand first attemptinhistory West to ourcurrent conceptofglobalization.It wasthe cal growth. Hellenization wasinmanywayssimilar This wasatimethatcoincidedwithgreat philosophi- ing, oftenassociatedwithHellenized orGreek Egypt. Hermopolis wasknown asaseatofwisdomandlearn - harmony ofmanandtheuniverse. whichrevolves around theunityand intellectual, philosophical andreflective traditionof ten inGreek, LatinandCopticthatrepresent the earlier times. There are seventeen texts in total, writ- ADbutdatetomuch Alexandria inthefirstcentury tion ofmanuscriptsthatwere recovered inthecityof contained intheCorpusHermeticum. It isacollec- transfixed. Thesumofthisancientknowledge is 15th of , founded by Amenhotep IV that theancientHermopolis wasthecapitalcityof She mind,soulandhand.Ilearned fedusfrom herheart, and kindness.She isagiver inever senseof theworld. of the retreat, Dr. Nasser never wisdom ceased to impart mopolis. As we sat within thesophisticated simplicity she returned toEgypt expressly tofoundtheNew Her- Taking anearlyretirement from KingsCollegeLondon, tween Mind andCulture. cal psychiatrist, herresearch be- focusedontheinterface University. She alsoaself-taughtEgyptologist. Aclini- Philosophy andaDoctorate inPsychiatry from of Psychiatrists, London,sheholdsaMaster degree in Cairo Medical Schoolandafellow oftheRoyal College for the founding The New Hermopolis. A graduate of and multiple interests have created the optimal nexus own Egyptian backyard. Her professional background this historical,spiritualandculturalheritageinour Dr. Mervat Abdel Nasser MD,MPhil, FRCP unearthed contained thebasictenetsofhumanism. Hermeticum of a spiritual classic that is nothing short sions. It ispossible therefore toconcludethattheCorpus a fundamental principle despite the multitude of expres- and Indian philosophies.Allhave theUnity ofBeing as with muchofthethoughtsintrinsicinZoroastrianism tianity, Islamic Sufism and Judaic Kabala,and resonated the spiritualformsofreligions includingGnostic Chris- the godwhohadhiscultcentreatHermopolis. for animals. The ibis andbaboon were sacred to , struck bythegreatreverence theancientEgyptiansheld to hold in his hands the mummy of a baboon and was buried inthe catacombs. My15y.o. son was astounded were of sacredmummiesfalcons,baboonsandibises for manykilometers.Dugunderthenecropolis,thousands entrance to the catacombs which stretch underground Above: The Tomb of Petosiris stands near the modern 127 OBELISQUE 128

OBELISQUE land. the timelessness and history of this ancient accentuating found intheregionandinstalled Below: implementation ofdomesineverystructure. maximized through the use of stone and the demonstrate how insulationandventilationare Above: Archeddoorwaysandvaultedwindow Recycled doorsandwindowswere written atthesite. inspired Hussain’s Doaa thatwas writingsparticularly El Karwan Egypt’s modern enlightenment.It ofIsadora issaidthatthestory El Minia, heisknown asthedeanoflettersandarchitect of Next to Tuna El Gebel, is Taha Hussain’s rest house.Anative of of thesesacred creatures. meters tallinhiscrispwhitegalabeya.He letusholdthemummies Khaled, ahandsomeyoung manwith turquoise eyes, stood two chambers fortheirmummificationandburial. Thelocalguide Egyptians sorevered animals thattheywoulddedicatehugeburial the Ibis bird. My 15-year-old sonwasastonishedthattheancient were forthesacred reserved symbolsof Thoth, theBaboon and ries. extensive undergroundThe sitecontainsvery catacombsthat Isadora, bothofwhichhave inspired writersthroughout centu- Nearby, in Tuna El-Gebel onecan visit thetombsofPetosiris and Alexandria library, transmittingandsharingknowledge. the Academy atHermopolis, whichhadcloselinks withthefamed and considered a great scholar in her own right, both frequented and thefamousCleopatra VII, reputed forherlove ofknowledge tecturally similartotheParthenon inGreece. AlexandertheGreat to Thoth, known asthetempleofElevated Spirits, whichisarchi- Archeologically, thecitycontainsremnants ofatemplededicated Akhet/aten ortheHorizon oftheSun. creation ofaplacesuitedforlight and enlightenment.He called it () during the 18thdynasty. The pharaoh’s visionwas the Hermetic itsemphasisontheideaof humanism particularly historians arguethat Thomas Moor’s Utopia wasinspired by reached itspeakwithGoethe whowasgreatly affected.In England, the legitimateheirof Egyptian . influence The true German philosopherandphysicianParacelsus whowasdeclared Hermeticism to spread toGermany inthesixteenthcentury signaling theendofdark ages. printing, Ficino’s Hermetica founditsway intotherest ofEurope, of humanlifewere openfor investigation. With thearrival of naissance. AsinAlexandriaonethousandyears earlier, allaspects profound influenceonmajorintellectualfigures ofthe Italian re- Translated by the Greek ScholarMarsillio Ficino, thetexthada than Plato andMoses andordered theirimmediatetranslation. de Medici. He instantlyrealized thatthesetextswere mucholder ofFlorencelished by theruler atthattime,thescholarCosimo pus Hermeticum) totheNew Platonic Academy thatwasestab- Hermeticbrought fourteen treatises from theCor- (purportedly made itswaytoFlorence, Italy by 1460,whenanEgyptian monk Islamic learningandscientificachievement. Hermetic philosophy as Baghdad, withits famous House of Wisdom thatepitomized the ancient world. It was the intellectual force behind centers such affect, inspiring some of the greatest minds and achievements of Historically, theancientcityofHermopolis hashadaworldwide natural light. Below: Interior of limestone structure lit by using ancienthandbuilding techniques house up to 52 visitors. They were hand built Above: Sixteen domed limestone lodges

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OBELISQUE philosophy wasechoedinJungian thought with itsdifferent mosaic parts. The same unless self managed to live in harmony and humansatisfactioncannot beachieved sity is the default state of human experience mind-cure movement. He statedthatdiver- whose philosophybecameknown asthe ican philosopher/physician William James Similar influence wasexerted ontheAmer- resonance laterinNietzsche’s Freigeist. wisdom. Emerson’s conceptwastofind ture thoughtwere tobefoundinancient can idealism,realized thatthe seedsoffu- monly referred toastheprophet ofAmeri- spread totheNew World. Emerson com- of enlightenedhumanism,Hermeticism Via theElizabethan whichwasone court, mathematician philosopherJohn Dee. as Shakespeare, Francis Bacon and the its impactonmajorEnglish figures such Hermetic textinElizabethan England had religious freedom. The availability ofthe engage with visitorsfrom around the world. their ancienthistoryandphilosophy encouraging them to learn more about to perform at theNewHermopolis local artists Below: Dr.Nasserinvites to jointhem. Egyptian stickdancingwhileinvitingguests Above: Localartistsperform ancient made oflimestoneusingoldtechniquesbuilding. The retreat follows The resort consistsof16lodgesthathave acapacityfor52visitors, needs willalsobereplenished. and and mindwillbefedinthisuniquesitewhileyour physicalcomfort expressions, thisisadestinationyou willwanttovisit.Surely your spirit If you are one who seeks to understand and discuss such thoughts and sible expression ofwhatwe regard asfamiliar.” with oneanotherthusmakingwhatwe considerforeign acomprehen- thirdreconciliatory wayidentifying thevarious godsofdifferent cultures through diversity. It cantherefore beconsidered asUmberto Eco said,“a ism threaten allhumanity. Hermeticism offersthepossibilityofunion human movement andanunparalleledwave towards religious extrem- in Hermetic philosophy. Worldwide disillusionment,unprecedented self–therapy literature findtheir roots Today’s spiritualmovements and some Potterfor children, theHarry series. also inspired oneofthegreatest works and Rebecca Horn. The philosophy ers suchasMax Ernst, Rene Magritte Borges andFernando Pessoa, andpaint- work of Umbertoliterary Eco, Louis andhasbeenmanifestedinthe history many intellectual figures throughout Hermetic philosophy has influenced oftheself.conscious chaoticparts the unionofconsciousandun- soul cannot be achieved except through It statesthatthebalanced/harmonized ferred toasthe“alchemy ofthesoul.” whose schoolofpsychoanalysis isre - www.newhermopolis.org. Registration Number [7659]. For information:http:// further and Wales (Registration Number/ 1111770)andinEgypt 2009/ mission, undersection3(7)oftheCharitiesAct 1993,England The New Hermopolis Project is registered by theCharityCom - foster self-expression, criticalthoughtandcreativity. Egyptian societyandcreate aspace tonurture individualpotential, provide tounderprivilegedpocketsof economicopportunities cal youth. Dr. Mervat hasfoundedanNGO. The missionis to ing, with the projectlo- collaborationand training opportunities region forcross-cultural sharing,learn- offeruniqueopportunities suitable forsunbathingandalfresco dining.Heritage sitesinthe 120-seated guests. The courtyard andswimmingpoolareas are conference facilityandabanquetroom accommodatingupto There isalargewelcoming lounge,reading corners,alibrary/ the intellectualheritageofHermopolis. ceilings andisnamedafteroneofthephilosophersconnectedwith utilizing solarenergy. Eachlodgeconsistsoftworooms withvaulted water,ecological buildingprinciples,preserving recycling and Ω

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