balance, harmony and order

Thomas Merton, trappist monk, poet and one of the great spiritual writers of our times, said “happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony.” 

Nowhere was this concept more pronounced than in ancient Egypt with the creator/goddess Maat, who brought order from chaos at the moment of creation. She represented the concepts of truth, justice, harmony, balance and order, which was essential for the stability of life and permeated every aspect of it, including architecture.

The universe had a pattern and the role of the Pharaoh, King or in this case Queen Hatchetsup, was to represent Maat. 

Hatchetsup’s temple, built during the 15th century BCE near the banks of the Nile and beneath the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari with its main axis aligned to the winter solstice sunrise, gave the impression of cosmic grandeur. Imagine the walkway surrounded by lush gardens, reflecting pools, a variety of trees from the expeditions to Punt (whose remains are now as fossilized tree stumps) and two obelisks guarding the entrance.  

Maat is what you would have seen and experienced. 

Wishing you balance, harmony and order.