At Nubian Royals Sanctuary, we honour the living cultural heritage of Nubia alongside spiritual teachings inspired by ancient Kemet. These are two different things, and we hold them with care.
Heissa Island: a living Nubian community
Heissa (also spelled Heisa) is a car-free Nubian island in the Nile at Aswan, in the First Cataract region, close to the island of Agilkia where the temples of Philae now stand. It is home to Nubian families whose language, music, architecture and hospitality are a living culture, not a historical display.
Traditional Nubian music, hospitality and connection with the local community form part of the sanctuary experience. We are honoured to welcome guests into the living Nubian community of Heissa Island, where respect for the people, culture and traditions is at the heart of our sanctuary.
The sanctuary's Kemetic-inspired practice
Our spiritual work draws upon the principles of Ma'at — truth, balance, harmony and right relationship — and the sacred symbolism of Auset, Anuket, Hathor and other Neteru.
Depending on the retreat, experiences may include ancestral remembrance, meditation, Qi Gong, energy healing, sacred movement, Blue Lotus meditation, ceremonial water offerings and Nile Rebirth practices.
Holding the difference
These are contemporary spiritual experiences rooted in respect for the land, its people and its history, rather than claims to reproduce ancient rituals exactly. Nor are they presented as the religious or cultural practices of the Heissa community itself.
Nubian worshippers, priests and officials once played important roles at the nearby temple of Auset at Philae — a reminder of the long relationship between Nubian and ancient Egyptian spiritual history. You can read more about that history on The Seven Gates of the Nile.
The intention is remembrance: to reconnect with the wisdom within and walk through life with greater awareness.
Journeys held here
- Return of Isis/Auset — four days honouring the sacred feminine
- The Seven Gates of the Nile — a women's journey of awakening and remembrance
- The Seven Scales of Ma'at — a men's journey of truth, balance and sovereignty
- The Nile Rest — four days of rest beside the Nile
- Private Retreats — personalised journeys for individuals and small groups