Resources

Below you’ll find the books, authors, documentaries and podcasts which have  inspired John and Mags and some highly recommended still to be consumed!  Following this list, is a briefing of the finer points of money/cash/cards to get briefed  well ahead of your travels…  

Magus Journeys Egypt Reading List  

This list brings together a range of perspectives, from scholastic revision of  mainstream Egyptology, temple wisdom, biography and memoir. Enjoy the journey  through the multi-faceted lens of archaeology, history, consciousness, mythology  and lives of remarkable individuals.  

* Alternative History & Lost Civilisation Theories  

Robert Bauval:  

* *The Orion Mystery  

* *Quest for the Lost Knowledge of Ancient Egypt  

(any of Bauval’s works exploring the stellar alignments and sacred geography of  ancient Egypt)  

Graham Hancock:  

* *Fingerprints of the Gods  

* *Magicians of the Gods  

* *Quest for the Lost Civilization  

Graham Hancock & Robert Bauval 

* *The Message of the Sphinx: A Quest for the Hidden Legacy of Mankind  

John Anthony West:  

* *Serpent in the Sky: The High Wisdom of Ancient Egypt  

Jeremy Naydler  

* *Temple Wisdom, Consciousness & Sacred Science  

* *Temple of the Cosmos*  

* *Shamanic Wisdom in the Pyramid Texts*  

Rosemary Clark  

* *The Sacred Magic of Ancient Egypt  

* *The Sacred Tradition in Ancient Egypt  

Lucie Lamy  

* *Egyptian Mysteries  

Freddy Silva 

* *The Lost Art of Resurrection: Initiation, Secret Chambers and the Quest for the  Otherworld  

Elisabeth Haich  

* *Initiation*  

Drunvalo Melchizedek  

* *The Ancient Secret of the Flower of Life* (Volumes 1 & 2)  

Memoir, Personal Experience & Living Egypt  

Jonathan Cott  

* *The Search for Omm Sety  

One of the most fascinating books ever written about modern Egypt. It tells the  extraordinary story of Dorothy Eady (Omm Sety), whose profound connection with  Abydos and ancient Egypt continues to intrigue scholars, archaeologists and  spiritual seekers alike.  

Women of Ancient Egypt  

Kara Cooney  

* *Hatshepsut: The Woman Who Would Be King  

* *When Women Ruled the World*  

Stacy Schiff  

* *Cleopatra: A Life  

Joyce Tyldesley  

* *Nefertiti’s Face*  

* * Chronicle of the Queens of Egypt  

Sacred Oils, Fragrance & Temple Ritual These books explore the role of fragrance,  oils, incense and ritual preparation in ancient Egyptian spiritual life, themes we will  touch upon during our journey together.  

Felicity Warner  

* *Sacred Oils*  

Lise Manniche  

* *Perfume and Preparation in Ancient Egypt  

Moustafa Gadalla  

* *Kyphi: The Sacred Scent* 

If You Only Read Five (make it 6)  

** Mags fave: Initiation: Elizabeth Haich  

1. *Temple of the Cosmos* — Jeremy Naydler
2. *Serpent in the Sky* — John Anthony West
3. *The Search for Omm Sety* — Jonathan Cott
4. *Hatshepsut: The Woman Who Would Be King* — Kara Cooney 5. *Fingerprints of the Gods* — Graham Hancock

Together, these five books offer a balanced introduction to ancient Egypt through  the lenses of history, symbolism, biography, archaeology and alternative inquiry.  

This is close, but it’s repetitive and slightly contradictory in places. I’d tighten it so it reads  as calm, experienced traveller advice rather than a financial warning sheet.  

The excellent Magical Egypt newsletter and film series by John Anthony West offers  a symbolic and initiatory view of the temples, while interviews with Jeremy Naydler,  Robert Bauval and Freddy Silva explore Egypt’s sacred landscapes, astronomy and  mystery traditions.  

For those seeking a more conventional historical grounding, the excellent The  History of Egypt Podcast provides a comprehensive introduction to dynastic Egypt.  

Gaia TV acts as a hub for alternative history, featuring numerous documentaries on  ancient Egypt that focus heavily on “fringe” archaeology, extraterrestrial theories,  and sacred geometry. Their flagship series, Ancient Civilisations is devourable and  fittingly mind-stretching.  

Traveller Money Advice for Egypt 

Cash or Cards?  

Card payments are much more widely accepted in Egypt than they were a decade  ago. Most travellers could complete a Luxor–Aswan–Cairo journey using cards for  the majority of their spending, and ATMs are readily available in all major  destinations.  

That said, we recommend not relying on a single payment method. Cards can  occasionally be declined, security systems can block transactions, and individual  terminals do sometimes fail.  

For this reason, we suggest carrying:  

* Two separate bank cards  

* Some reserve cash  

* Access to emergency funds  

The Egyptian pound is the currency you will use most often during your travels. 

Are US Dollars Useful?  

Yes.  

While US dollars are no longer the dominant currency they once were during  periods of economic instability, they remain one of the most useful reserve  currencies to carry in Egypt. US dollars are:  

* Widely recognised  

* Easy to exchange  

* Useful in emergencies if card access is lost  

* Familiar to many hotels, guides and tourism businesses  

If bringing dollars, we recommend:  

* Clean, undamaged notes  

* Newer issue notes where possible  

* A mixture of $20, $50 and $100 bills  

Avoid torn, heavily marked or very old notes, as these may be refused.  Should I Bring Egyptian Pounds?  

Not necessarily.  

Many travellers arrive without Egyptian currency and withdraw Egyptian pounds  from an ATM upon arrival.  

Egyptian pounds are useful for:  

* Small purchases  

* Cafés and refreshments  

* Market shopping  

* Local taxis  

* Small tips  

Using ATMs  

ATMs are widely available in: Cairo, Giza, Luxor and Aswan.  

Occasionally machines may be out of cash or reject foreign cards. If this happens,  simply try another bank before assuming there is a problem with your account. 

We recommend carrying at least two separate bank cards from different providers.  Sterling or Dollars?  

Both sterling and US dollars can be exchanged in Egypt.  

If carrying a reserve foreign currency, many experienced travellers choose US  dollars because they are more universally recognised and often easier to exchange  throughout the country.  

Sterling remains perfectly usable but may offer slightly less flexibility.  How Much Spending Money Will I Need?  

Most daily expenses on a Magus Journeys itinerary are already included.  Additional spending is usually limited to:  

* Personal shopping  

* Drinks and snacks  

* Laundry  

* Personal tips  

* Optional purchases  

Many travellers find that £200–£500 equivalent is sufficient for personal spending,  although those planning to purchase books, jewellery, textiles or other crafts may  wish to bring more.  

Our Recommendation. For a Magus Journeys traveller, we suggest:  * Two bank cards from different providers  

* Wise or Revolut cards for favourable exchange rates and low fees (both John and  Mags use these when travelling internationally)  

* A reserve of approximately £200–£500 equivalent in US dollars  * Withdrawing Egyptian pounds locally as needed