Dictionary of all Scriptures & Myths

CHILDREN OF HORUS, FOUR

Symbols of the four planes of manifestation below atma, i.e. the buddhic, mental, astral, and physical planes.

"The four children of Horus, or the gods of the four cardinal points, were called Mestha, Hapi, Tuamutef, and Qebhsennuf, and with them were associated the goddesses Isis, Nephthys, Neith, and Serquet respectively. Mestha was man-headed, and represented the south, and protected the stomach and large intestines; Hapi was dog-headed, and represented the north, and protected the small intestines; Tuamutef was jackal-headed, and represented the east, and protected the lungs and heart; and Qebhsennuf was hawk-headed, and represented the west, and protected the liver and gall-bladder. . . . They originally represented the four supports of heaven, but very soon each was regarded as the god of one of the four quarters of the earth, and also of that which was above it." - BUDGE, Egyptian Magic, pp. 89, 91.

The four cardinal points are symbols in all scriptures of the four planes of the quaternary. The significations of the children are indicated by their Buddhi. heads. Qebhsennuf, Hawk Mestha, Man Mind. Hāpi, Ape Astral. Tuamutef, Jackal Physical. Associated with the buddhic are the lower emotions (Serquet); with the mental, the buddhic emotions (Isis); with the astral, the physical activities (Nephthys); and with the physical, the pattern forms on the buddhic plane (Neith). The planes are said to “protect" the functionings of the soul upon them. Buddhi conserves the transmutations of the lower qualities (liver and gall-bladder); Mind, the appetites and desires (stomach and large intestines); Astral, the mechanism of the senses (small intestines); and Physical, the life of action and experience (lungs and heart). The last sentence of the text expresses that the buddhic plane (Qebhsennuf) may be taken as either below the plane of heaven or above it. In the present cycle buddhi is above the lower nature (earth).

Says Qebhsennuf, I am thy son, O, Osiris ! I have come that I may be in thy protection. I gather together thy bones, I collect thy limbs, I bring thy heart for thee, I place it for thee upon its seat in thy body. I make thy house flourish." - Budge, The Mummy, to pp. 198-9.

This text identifies the symbol "Qebhsennuf" with "Isis," who collects the " limbs of Osiris after his death and dismemberment; signifying that the buddhic functioning (Isis) harmonises and disciplines the qualities (limbs) now evolving in the soul. The placing of the “heart” is the establishing of the causal-body, and so making the soul flourish.

In the published facsimile of the Papyrus of Ani (plate 8) is to be seen a most striking emblem of the resurrection of the Self in the human soul. The head of Osiris (the incarnate Self) is seen rising from the chest (lower nature) in which he has been immured. On the chest are pictured the four children of Horus (the four planes) to designate the lower nature in which the Divine Life is involved as the Sacrifice for the redemption of humanity. Osiris is represented as putting forth two forearms, signifying the Divine activity (right arm) and receptivity (left) now manifest in the human being. Each hand holds an ankh cross, not held by the handle, as is usual, but by the haft, which signifies the Divine Life subduing the lower qualities (the haft) of man's nature. At each side of the chest stand large figures of the children of Horus, indicating that Osiris comes forth to draw all things to himself. His face is turned to Mestha (mind), signifying that it is through mind the Divine power works for the salvation of the soul.

The children of Horus are often depicted standing upon an open lotus flower whose stem grows from water (Truth-reality) at the base of the throne of Osiris. The lotus indicates the manifestation of nature through buddhi.

Regarded in relation to humanity, the "children of Horus" symbolize the four soul bodies, buddhic (potential), mental, astral, and physical. In the present cycle the causal-body is in place of the buddhic.

"The Maya Indians of Yucatan supposed the firmament to be upheld by four beings whom they designated Bacabs, each of whom stood at one corner of the earth. The names of these were Kan, Muluc, Ix, and Cauac, representing the east, north, west, and south. Their symbolic colours were yellow, white, black and red. They corresponded in some degree to the four variants of the Mexican rain-god Tlaloc, for the races of Central America supposed that rain, the fertilizer of the soil, emanated from the four points of the compass, and may find a parallel in the Egyptian canopic deities." – Non-classical Mythology, p. 23.

By the "firmament" is meant the highest plane — atma above the quaternary. Of the "four beings,"

"Jars containing their effigies held the entrails of the dead in vessels similar to those of the funerary genii of Egypt.” - Ibid., p. 84.

Tlaloc was supposed to inhabit the four cardinal points and every mountain-top." - Ibid., p. 174.

"Tlaloc" is a symbol of the Higher Self, as is "Horus." The Bacabs " signify the four soul-bodies on the four planes, which bring experience and truth (rain) to the soul.

"From Ymer's skull, the sons of Bor formed the heavens, which they placed over the earth, and set a dwarf at the corner of each of the four quarters. These dwarfs are called East, West, North and South." - Prose Edda, Mallet, North Antiq., p. 404.

From the higher nature (skull) of the Archetypal Man (Ymir), the Divine Will and Wisdom (sons of Bor) by evolution made manifest the higher planes (heavens) above the lower planes (earth) in the human soul. The four soul-vehicles (dwarfs) are the means of expression and perception. by the ego on the four planes (cardinal points).

See Also

AFU-RĀ
ARCHETYPAL MAN
BUR
CASTES
CEILING
CHEST
CLASSES
CROSS (aukh)
DEATH OF OSIRIS
DISMEMBERMENT
FIRMAMENT
FOUR BEINGS
HEART
IRON PLATE
ISIS
JOB
LADDER
LIMBS
LOTUS
MEMBERS
NEPHTHYS
OSIRIS
PILLARS (four)
QEBHSENNUF
QUARTERS
QUETZALCOATL
TCHATCHA
TLALOC
VESTURES
VISCERA