Okay, here's the text of that monologue:

4
It's apparently from the William S. Burroughs novel The Western Lands (subtitled "A Book of the Dead for The Nuclear Age"). Won't be able to check this text until the west coast airing since I haven't taped yet:

<blockquote>Quote:<hr>The ancient Egyptians postulated seven souls.
Top soul, and the first to leave at the moment of death, is Ren, the Secret Name. This corresponds to my Director. He directs the film of your life from conception to death. The Secret Name is the title of your film. When you die, that's where Ren came in.
Second soul, and second one off the sinking ship, is Sekem: Energy, Power, Light. The Director gives the orders, Sekem presses the right buttons.
Number three is Khu, the Guardian Angel. He, she, or it is third man out ... depicted as flying away across a full moon, a bird with luminous wings and head of light. Sort of thing you might see on a screen in an Indian restaurant in Panama. The Khu is responsible for the subject and can be injured in his defense-but not permanently, since the first three souls are eternal. They go back to Heaven for another vessel. The four remaining souls must take their chances with the subject in the Land of the Dead.
Number four is Ba, the Heart, often treacherous. This is a hawk's body with your face on it, shrunk down to the size of a fist. Many a hero has been brought down, like Samson, by a perfidious Ba.
Number five is Ka, the Double, most closely associated with the subject. The Ka, which usually reaches adolescence at the time of bodily death, is the only reliable guide through the Land of the Dead to the Western Lands.
Number six is Khaibit, the Shadow, Memory, your whole past conditioning from this and other lives.
Number seven is Sekhu, the Remains.<hr></blockquote>

</p>

Re: Opening montage and voice over (7 Souls)

5
This is the opening text of William Burroughs spoken recording, "Seven Souls". I've included a link to the complete recording.

<div style="text-align:center">
<blockquote>Quote:<hr>The ancient Egyptians postulated seven souls.
Top soul, and the first to leave at the moment of death, is Ren, the Secret Name. This corresponds to my Director. He directs the film of your life from conception to death. The Secret Name is the title of your film. When you die, that's where Ren came in.

Second soul, and second one off the sinking ship, is Sekem: Energy, Power, Light. The Director gives the orders, Sekem presses the right buttons.

Number three is Khu, the Guardian Angel. He, she, or it is third man out ... depicted as flying away across a full moon, a bird with luminous wings and head of light. Sort of thing you might see on a screen in an Indian restaurant in Panama. The Khu is responsible for the subject and can be injured in his defense-but not permanently, since the first three souls are eternal. They go back to Heaven for another vessel. The four remaining souls must take their chances with the subject in the Land of the Dead.

Number four is Ba, the Heart, often treacherous. This is a hawk's body with your face on it, shrunk down to the size of a fist. Many a hero has been brought down, like Samson, by a perfidious Ba.

Number five is Ka, the Double, most closely associated with the subject. The Ka, which usually reaches adolescence at the time of bodily death, is the only reliable guide through the Land of the Dead to the Western Lands.

Number six is Khaibit, the Shadow, Memory, your whole past conditioning from this and other lives.
Number seven is Sekhu, the Remains.<hr></blockquote></div>

Antiquities of the Illuminati

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Re: Opening montage and voice over (7 Souls)

8
Sounds a bit too beat to me, but it makes sense for Chase. There is also the seven days of creation, something this certainly was based on in some way. Don't know if that means anything, but it hit me directly as I heard it.

I admit, at first it just sounded like a neat tune for the premiere - talk of Director and such.

But an in depth look might suggest a few more things. But not tonight. Watching the episode again in about fifteen minutes.

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Re: Opening montage and voice over (7 Souls)

9
What a stunningly provocative debut for season 6! Was that Norman Mailer's voice? By introducing the Egyptian 7 Souls theme I am thing that Chase is preparing us for the ushering in of death: characters' deaths, morbidity within the two parallel families, the termination/finality of the saga, etc. Also I was feeling a little Alan Ball/Six Feet Under afterglow ... anyone else experiencing the same?

It will be fascinating to examine how each Land of the Dead soul plays out and manifests itself wihin the tale.

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