III: Anubis - The Guardian of Transitions

Anubis, known in Kemet as Inpu, is one of the most recognisable and mysterious of the Neteru. With the sleek black head of a jackal and the body of a man, he stands as the eternal guardian of the threshold between life and death. To the ancient Egyptians, jackals prowling the desert cemeteries symbolised the protection of the dead. So Anubis became the divine guide who ensured that every soul was cared for in its sacred passage.

Anubis is the Opener of the Ways, the one who oversees the embalming process, presides over funerary rites, and protects tombs from desecration. In the Hall of Two Truths, it is Anubis who gently takes the hand of the departed soul, leading them to the scales where the heart will be weighed against the feather of Ma’at. He does not judge - his role is to guide, to hold space, and to ensure fairness in the soul’s trial.

His black colour is not darkness but the fertile black soil of the Nile, symbolising rebirth and renewal. For Anubis, death is never an end - it is transformation, a doorway to a new chapter of being. He teaches that transitions in life, whether great or small, are sacred passages that deserve care, reverence, and courage.

For your journey, Anubis asks:

• Are you honouring the endings in your life with as much reverence as the beginnings?

• Do you carry old grief, fear, or attachments that weigh on your heart?

• How can you allow death - not just physical, but symbolic endings - to be a teacher of renewal?

  
  

Anubis invites you to trust the mysteries. Just as he tended to each soul with compassion, he reminds you to tend to your inner transitions. Whether you are leaving behind an old identity, stepping into a new path, or navigating uncertainty, his presence offers protection, clarity, and courage.

When you call upon Anubis, you are calling upon a guardian who stands watch at the gates of transformation. He does not erase your fear, but he walks with you through it, ensuring that you emerge lighter, freer, and renewed.

This week, meditate on Anubis as the Opener of the Ways. Imagine him walking beside you, holding a lantern in the darkness, showing that no passage is ever truly solitary. With his guidance, you can surrender fear and step boldly into new phases of life, trusting that every ending is the seed of a new beginning.

-Sirius Bright

In next week’s post, we will encounter Sekhmet, the lioness goddess of fierce power and healing flame.

She will us in embracing transformation with strength and intensity.