Jb — the heart as source of intent
Where the spell is conceived
Jb — the heart. In the Egyptian conception the heart is the seat of consciousness, will, and intent: 'every effective form of speech proceeds from the thought of the heart,' as the Memphite Theology has it (Shabaka Stone). Thus the operational use of heka begins in the heart as conceived intent before it is uttered through the mouth or executed through the hands. This is the same jb of the egyptian_nine_part_soul system, viewed here in its operational role within magical practice rather than its post-mortem role at the weighing of the heart.
Point 3 of 5 in Egyptian Heka — Words of Power
Cross-tradition overlaps
- Jb — the heart as source of intent ↔ Ñawi at the heart (distance 0.005)
Sources
Memphite Theology / Shabaka Stone (BM EA 498) (primary_canonical)
The Shabaka Stone (BM EA 498), in its heart-and-tongue creation section, attributes conception to Ptah's heart and realization to the tongue; this is the textual basis for treating heart-intent as preceding authoritative speech. Faulkner's Coffin Texts also provide parallel heart formulae, especially CT 383 ('Not letting the heart be weary') and CT 460 ('Giving a man's heart to him').
Coffin Texts (primary_canonical)
Faulkner, The Ancient Egyptian Coffin Texts, CT 383 ('Not letting the heart be weary in the realm of the dead') and CT 460 ('Giving a man's heart to him') document the heart as an active, restorable faculty of the deceased; they support the operational heart point without implying a modern anatomical centre.