In Egyptian cosmology they believed the all of the lifestreams went through a process that ordains a return to the creative source and reappeared in the phenomenal world. This is known as a cycle of renewal; and in ancient Egyptian times this process was called “Neheh” which means, “forever”, “eternity”.
To the ancient Egyptians this process was a cyclic process and was associated with the four seasons.
The first phase, known as, “Manu” which means “horizon of waters” is what the ancient Egyptians believed where creation began. To the ancient Egyptians it was from a watery mass of undefined powers.
This phase is associated with:
The element: Water
The cardinal point: South
The city: Hermopolis
The second phase, known as, “Aakhut” which means, “luminous horizon”, and to the ancient Egyptians this was the phase where a strong force of light illuminated the primeval waters and created gestalts that would come into being.
This phase is associated with:
The element: Fire
The cardinal point: East
The city: Memphis
The third phase, known as, “Rostau” which means, “horizon of spirits”. This is the phase which expresses the sacred fire in matter, of microcosmic form in which forms now come into being.
This phase is associated with:
The element: Earth
The cardinal point: North
The city: Heliopolis
The fourth and final phase, known as, “Ament” which means, “horizon of the west”. This is the world in which we physically live; we have a physical form and we experience birth and death.
This phase is associated with:
The element: Air
The cardinal point: West
The city: Thebes