Principles of MAAT:
- MAÁT: The symbolic representation of Maát as a human figure with outreached hands and wings, is the Netcher of the weighing of the soul in ancient Kemet. The heart of the deceased was believed to be the seat of the soul and it was weighed on the scale of the Netcher Maát, against a feather, which represented the principles of truth and righteousness (the seven cardinal virtues). This symbolic weighing of the heart against the feather of truth (Maát) was performed to established the righteousness of the deceased. The scale of Maát was balanced after the recitation of the "42" Declarations of Innocence or Admonitions of Maát. pg. 91, NVCTC.
- The Neophyte or students ultimate aim in Kemet was for a person to become "One with God" or to "become like God." The path to the development of godlike qualities was through the development of virtue, but virtue could only be achieved through special study and effort. According to George G. M. James in his timeless work Stolen Legacy writes: The following of the 10 virtues were sought by the Neophyte in ancient Kemet. In the final analysis, the ancient Kemites sought Maát or to be more correct they sought to become one with Maát, the cosmic order.
- (1). Control of thoughts
- (2). Control of actions
- (3). Devotion of purpose
- (4). Have faith in the ability of [your] [teacher] to teach [you] the truth.
- (5). Have faith in [yourself] to assimilate the truth
- (6). Have faith in [themselves] to wield the truth
- (7). Be free from resentment under the experience of persecution.
- (8). Be free from resentment under the experience of wrong.
- (9). Cultivate the ability to distinguish between right and wrong and
- (10). Cultivate the ability to distinguish between the real and the unreal
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