Was it an hour, or a week before the light of the moon rose in the interior of my body? A bird with luminous wings flew in front of that full moon, and its head was as radiant as a point of light. That bird must be the Khu--this sweet bird of the night--a creature of divine intelligence loaned to us just so much as the Ren or the Sekhem. Yes, the Khu was a light in your mind while you lived, but in death, it must return to heaven. For the Khu was also eternal.
In this passage from "Ancient Evenings" by Norman Mailer, the author contemplates the passage of time and the experience of enlightenment as one is touched by the divine. The imagery of the moon and a bird with luminous wings evokes feelings of transcendence and spiritual awakening. The 'Khu' symbolizes a divine intelligence that enlightens us during our lives, suggesting a connection between earthly existence and higher realms.
The Khu is portrayed as a temporary but significant presence that guides us while we are alive, yet it must eventually return to the heavens upon death. This highlights the notion of immortality and the eternal nature of the Khu, emphasizing that while we experience enlightenment in life, there is a deeper, everlasting existence that transcends our mortal time.
