Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley: The End? + Uri Geller: Not First Time at the Rx OD -o (You're Welcome...Again, Tabs!) @mrjyn

Before he passed away, Elvis’ friend and karate instructor Ed Parker, told of Elvis’ face being shoved under a basin of ice and astringent until he struggled for air, and began inhaling and choking on the substance. This was done to get the swelling down from his face caused by the bloating of his failing liver and cortisone medication. They wanted him to ‘look good’ for the next show.

As a result, his lungs and eyes were damaged from the toxic astringent. (This incident was told by Ed to Fran Dale. It was also written by Uri Geller a spiritual confidant of Elvis’, in his book, ‘If I Can Dream.’ Uri’s version states that the bowl contained ice and water, but Ed told Fran that he too, had thought it was water until he later went over to the bowl and inspected it more closely, at which time he realized that the fluid it contained was astringent.)

			Linen Ancient Egyptian mummies were wrapped in hundreds of yards of linen strips. This papyrus is a receipt for natron and linen. It states that the mummy will be delivered to the family at the end of seventy-two days.

'Opening of the mouth' tool

The ancient Egyptians believed that in order for a person's soul to survive in the afterlife it would need to have food and water. A special ritual called the 'Opening of the Mouth' was performed so that the person who died could eat and drink again in the afterlife.

This tool was probably used in an 'Opening of the Mouth' ceremony like the one shown below.

The earliest ancient Egyptians buried their dead in small pits in the desert. The heat and dryness of the sand dehydrated the bodies quickly, creating lifelike and natural 'mummies'. Later, the ancient Egyptians began burying their dead in coffins to protect them from wild animals in the desert. However, they realised that bodies placed in coffins decayed when they were not exposed to the hot, dry sand of the desert. Over many centuries, the ancient Egyptians developed a method of preserving bodies so they would remain lifelike. The process included embalming the bodies and wrapping them in strips of linen. Today we call this process mummification.

Embalming the body

First, his body is taken to the tent known as 'ibu' or the 'place of purification'. There the embalmers wash his body with good-smelling palm wine and rinse it with water from the Nile.

One of the embalmer's men makes a cut in the left side of the body and removes many of the internal organs. It is important to remove these because they are the first part of the body to decompose.

The liver, lungs, stomach and intestines are washed and packed in natron which will dry them out. The heart is not taken out of the body because it is the centre of intelligence and feeling and the man will need it in the afterlife.

A long hook is used to smash the brain and pull it out through the nose.

The body is now covered and stuffed with natron which will dry it out. All of the fluids, and rags from the embalming process will be saved and buried along with the body.
The dehydrated internal organs are wrapped in linen and returned to the body. The body is stuffed with dry materials such as sawdust, leaves and linen so that it looks lifelike.

Finally the body is covered again with good-smelling oils. It is now ready to be wrapped in linen.
In the past, when the internal organs were removed from a body they were placed in hollow canopic jars.

Over many years the embalming practices changed and embalmers began returning internal organs to bodies after the organs had been dried in natron. However, solid wood or stone canopic jars were still buried with the mummy to symbolically protect the internal organs.

	Imsety the human-headed god looks after the liver.
Hapy the baboon-headed god looks after the lungs
	Duamutef the jackal-headed god looks after the stomach
Qebehsenuef the falcon-headed god looks after the intestines.

Wrapping the mummy First the head and neck are wrapped with strips of fine linen. Then the fingers and the toes are individually wrapped.

The arms and legs are wrapped separately. Between the layers of wrapping, the embalmers place amulets to protect the body in its journey through the underworld.
	This is the 'Isis knot' amulet which will protect the body.
This is the 'Plummet' amulet which will keep the person balanced in the next life.

A priest reads spells out loud while the mummy is being wrapped. These spells will help ward off evil spirits and help the deceased make the journey to the afterlife.
The arms and legs are tied together. A papyrus scroll with spells from the Book of the Dead is placed between the wrapped hands.
More linen strips are wrapped around the body. At every layer, the bandages are painted with liquid resin that helps to glue the bandages together.
A cloth is wrapped around the body and a picture of the god Osiris is painted on its surface.
The funeral is held for the deceased and his family mourns his death.

A ritual called the 'Opening of the Mouth' is performed, allowing the deceased to eat and drink again.

Finally, the body and its coffins are placed inside a large stone sarcophagus in the tomb. Furniture, clothing, valuable objects, food and drink are arranged in the tomb for the deceased.

Now his body is ready for its journey through the underworld. There his heart will be judged by his good deeds on earth. If his heart is found to be pure he will be sent to live for all eternity in the beautiful 'Field of Reeds'.

The End?