Welcome To The Threshold
Per Ankh En Sesen Ba
Peristyle Court: The Sacred Outer Temple
Per Ankh En Sesen Ba - House of Life for the Breathing Soul
The Peristyle Court represents the outermost sacred enclosure of the Ba Mesnu Temple initiation path. Architecturally and spiritually, it mirrors the traditional outer court of ancient Kemetic temples: the open, colonnaded courtyard where the public first approached the sacred complex.
In ancient Kemet, the Peristyle Court was not merely a structural feature. It was the first gate of transformation, the place where the initiate was prepared to encounter higher mysteries. Here, through offerings, purification, and ritual orientation, the soul began the journey of sacred return.
Kemetic Background
In traditional temple architecture such as that of Luxor and Edfu, the temple was divided into:
- The Peristyle (Outer) Court - for the people and outer rituals
- The Hypostyle (Inner) Hall - for priestly functions and deeper mysteries
- The Sanctuary or Naos - the innermost shrine where the image of the Neter resided
These spaces were where they symbolized ascending degrees of spiritual awareness and energetic purity. Entry into each required inner transformation.
The outer court marked the beginning of spiritual discipline: bodily purification, breath regulation, and alignment with Ma'at. Here, one does not yet “see the god”, but one prepares to.
Christian Parallels: The Outer, Inner, and Holiest Place
This tripartite sacred structure was later reflected in Biblical temple design and early Christian mystical teaching:
- Outer Court - accessible to the people (2 Chronicles 4:9)
- Inner Court / Holy Place - reserved for priests (Exodus 26:33)
- Holy of Holies - entered only by the High Priest (Hebrews 9:7)
In the New Testament, Paul's writings also echo this layered cosmology of the human being as temple:
“Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?”
— 1 Corinthians 3:16
Prt m Heru (Book of Coming Forth by Day)
The Peristyle Court parallels key passages in the Prt m Heru, where the initiate must declare their purity and align with Ma'at before entering the deeper realms of the Duat:
“I have come forth by day. I have washed in pure water. I have not spoken lies. I am clean of heart and pure of hands.” — Utterance from Chapter 125
This declaration of alignment with Ma'at is a ritual echo of the outer temple gate: where the soul is examined, prepared, and declared worthy to proceed.
The Object of Initiation
The purpose of the Peristyle Court initiation in Ba Mesnu Temple is soul remembrance through breath, ritual, and purification. It serves to:
- Reawaken ancestral memory and intuitive knowing
- Clear inherited emotional and spiritual stagnation
- Prepare the initiate's body-mind for higher frequency embodiment
- Establish daily rhythm through hesi (chant), heka (sacred utterance), and sesen (breath)
The breath becomes both the offering and the oracle. Through it, the initiate begins to track the soul's fragmentation and receive the blueprint for its restoration.
How the Process Works
The process of initiation follows a sacred rhythm:
- Entrance - The initiate enters through commitment, not curiosity.
- Breath - Each week, a new breath practice aligns with a spiritual principle.
- Utterance - Heka from the Prt m Heru are given to purify and reorient.
- Reflection - Journaling and inner observation track soul response.
- Ritual Practice - Lunar cycles, altars, and ancestral offerings activate integration.
- Study - Core texts ground the initiate in sacred African metaphysics.
- Naming and Divine Function - At completion, the initiate is spiritually charged and receives a sacred name and divine function.
The Peristyle Court is the threshold of soul reconstitution.
In ancient Kemet, to pass the first gate was to declare, “I am one who remembers.”
In Ba Mesnu Temple, to enter the Per Ankh en Sesen Ba is to breathe the soul back into the body and begin the sacred return.
Peristyle Court Costs at a Glance
| Category | Item | Price Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required to Begin | Per Ankh en Sesen Ba Textbook (eBook) | $29.99 | Core lessons and practices for the Peristyle Court |
| Initiation Journal (eBook) | $14.99–$19.99 | ||
| Required Later | Peristyle Court Robe (Hbs Uaa) | $225–$250 | Linen-cotton robe used for daily practice and graduation |
| Optional | St Uaa – Meditation Seat | $225–$250 | Sacred Kemetic cushion, recommended for extended breath and stillness practices |