Because I had to type this up for the upcoming (!) facebook event, here's my quick-and-dirty on Execrations, with help from
https://thetwistedrope.wordpress.com/2012/09/18/devo-magix-execrations/.
"Back in antiquity, execrations were a daily practice in the temples. It’s considered that they might have occurred multiple times daily, even. Execrations were considered integral to keeping the kingdom and all of the Created world safe. Execrations were generally exacted against agents of A/pep [the serpent Ra battled in the underworld after sunset, and against whom he had to prevail for the sun to rise in the morning] and all enemies of the king and/or ma’at [the divine order of the universe; balance, justice]. These rituals weren’t optional - they were mandatory. Ma’at, and all of creation, was always at risk to being undone."
In modern times, we tend to take the sunrise as a given, and the battle against the forces of isfet [destruction, uncreation, injustice] is not something we actively engage in. We may try to fill ourselves with love and light, but sometimes there are things we need to be rid of, first, to make space. As thetwistedrope says, "Execrations are good for letting go, for moving on, for destroying bad habits, or for getting negative things out of your life. Anything and everything that could eat away at the happiness in your life could be counter acted with an execration. Don’t like that you’re broke? Execrate anything and everything that is in your way (you could use a ‘foes of Ra’ approach to this). Don’t like that you’re overweight? Execrate your bad eating habits, laziness, or other factors that could be holding you back. Heavy shadow work that you’re trying to work through? Blast that stuff away with a strong execration. Anything and everything can really be enhanced via execration. Execrations are there to demolish things that are blocking your path."
So this is what we're going to do! Write down that which we do not need, that which does not serve us, that which holds us back, and we're going to BURN AWAY those things, and add our power to Ra as he sinks into the underworld to do battle with A/pep, so that as he prevails over the forces of isfet, so we might prevail over the isfet in our own lives.
