Becoming a Phoenix

A spell of transformation

The Egyptian Book of the Dead (The Book of Coming Forth by Day) is a gold mine for practical magic, if you know what you are looking at. In this article, I will look at Spell 83, Becoming a Phoenix and its practical uses for a modern magician.

Spell 83, which was translated literally by E. A. Wallis Budge as the “Chapter of Changing into a Bennu” from the Papyrus of Ani, is a short, unassuming spell which does not appear to have much to offer. It is buried among the “shapeshifting” or “transformation” spells, which I might write about later.

This spell enabled the deceased to transform into the Benu-bird, a creature often depicted as a heron in later periods and sometimes equated with the phoenix due to its fiery nature and constant cycle of birth and rebirth.

To academics, the Chapter is about one of the forms that the dead person must transform into as they pass through the underworld; however, the spell has a footnote [rubric] indicating that it can be used while a person is still alive.

It states that anyone who knows this chapter can go out into the day after day, be transformed at will, and be in the “suite of Wennefer,” being content with the food of Osiris, making invocation offerings, and seeing the sun. It means being strong on earth with Ra, vindicated with Osiris and nothing evil having power over him.

Some of these events could be post-mortem, but others are not.

“Come forth by day” means the person has become an akh (an effective, luminous spirit) who can leave the tomb at sunrise, move among the living world, then return at night. You are no longer a passive mummy in linen. You are mobile, visible, and potent.

“Transformed at will” means you can take the form of the Bennu and its characteristics of self-renewal and rebirth, like Khepri pushing the sun into the morning. When the magician says, “I am Bennu, I am Khepri”, they adopt this magical state.

“The suite of Wennefer” means you join the retinue of Osiris. Wennefer is a title and word of Power for Osiris, “the Perfect One,” used when referring to him as the lord of the blessed dead. Being in his entourage secures status, protection, and a place in the ordered community of the Gods.

“Food of Osiris” and “invocation offerings” signal permanent access to offerings. It guarantees that the dead will receive bread, beer, meat, incense, and the ritual energy that those offerings carry, even if family piety fades. The spell makes the provisioning part of cosmic law. However, it could also mean that the magician is assured of having enough in life.

“Seeing the sun” and “being strong on earth with Ra” mean you ride with the solar bark in the diurnal cycle. You participate in the daily victory over darkness, gain light and strength from Ra, and keep the cosmos turning. The text is marrying the Osirian and solar tracks, so you are reborn and radiant.

“Vindicated with Osiris” translates the courtroom result maa-kheru, “true of voice.” Your heart has balanced with Ma’at, your testimony stands, and you are cleared to exist eternally. “No evil has power over him” means you hold the correct names, forms, and authorisations that neutralise demons, gates, knives, and everything that feeds on the unprepared. This prevents psychic attacks.

Doing this invocation before death means you are rehearsing the afterlife, so the pattern sticks. “Coming forth by day” turns into present-life mobility of the soul. However, saying the spell while you are still alive identifies your soul with the Bennu and with Khepri. Identification becomes participation, so you invoke renewal, dawn, and the creative spark.

It connects you to the solar and Osirian path. Thus, the magician derives daily vitality from Ra and long-term stability from Osiris. This is a good way to obtain health.

Transforming into the Phoenix feeds the spirit. “Food of Osiris” refers to a reliable offering of power in life, which feels like sustained life force and charisma.

You practice shapeshifting to provide yourself with the flexibility to handle everything the universe can throw at you. “Transform at will” becomes permission to adopt protective forms and useful mental states when needed.

The spell gives you a balance with your heart in Maat in Order. “Vindicated” is legal standing, so reciting in life becomes ethical alignment.

Importantly, it provides the magician with the power to ward off magical or daemonic attacks. The phrase “No evil has power over him” serves as a literal shield for the living, mitigating the impact of malefic influences and stray nightmares.

Spell 83 becomes an initiation into solar force, giving more power in the heart centre and balance. It strengthens connections to your Higher Genuis and causes astral parasites sticking to you to drop off.

So let’s look at the spell. There are several translations available. The first is E. A. Wallis Budge, which is outdated and unappealing. The best, if too literal, is Raymond Faulkner. What follows is my adaptation of Faulkner’s:

The formula for taking the form of the Phoenix

I have flown up as the primaeval one and become Khepri, I have grown as a plant,

I am protected as a tortoise. I am the essence of all the gods. I am one of the seven Uræi who came into being in the West.

I am bright Horus when he fought against Set.

I am Thoth, who sits in judgement over Horus, who presides at Letopolis, together with the Souls of Heliopolis.

I am the flood between them.

By Ma’at, my words stand, be recorded, and accepted on both banks.

I have appeared by day, arisen from the gods. I am Khonsu, who binds and subdues hostile powers.