A Gift From The Gods

A Gift From The Gods
Photo By Nicole N, Belgium

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Isis -Goddess of Magic and Life

Isis, the Egyptian goddess of the moon, rebirth, and magic remains one of the most familiar images of empowered and utter femininity. The goddess Isis was the first daughter of Geb, god of the Earth, and Nut, the goddess of the Overarching Sky. Isis was born on the first day between the first years of creation, and was adored by her human followers. Unlike the other Egyptian goddesses, the goddess Isis spent time among her people, teaching women how to grind corn and make bread, spin flax and weave cloth, and how to tame men enough to live with them (an art form on which many of us would welcome a refresher course!) Isis taught her people the skills of reading and agriculture and was also worshipped as the goddess of medicine and wisdom. More than any other of the ancient Egyptian goddesses, Isis embodied the characteristics of all the lesser goddesses that preceded her. Isis became the model on which future generations of female deities in other cultures were to be based. As the personification of the "complete female", Isis was called "The One Who Is All", Isis Panthea ("Isis the All Goddess"), and the "Lady of Ten Thousand Names".The goddess Isis, a moon goddess, gave birth to Horus, the god of the sun. Together, Isis and Horus created and sustained all life and were the saviors of their people.
The search took Isis to Phoenicia where she met Queen Astarte. Astarte didn't recognize the goddess and hired her as a nursemaid to the infant prince.Fond of the young boy, Isis decided to bestow immortality on him. As she was holding the royal infant over the fire as part of the ritual, the Queen entered the room. Seeing her son smoldering in the middle of the fire, Astarte instinctively (but naively) grabbed the child out of the flames, undoing the magic of Isis that would have made her son a god.When the Queen demanded an explanation, Isis revealed her identity and told Astarte of her quest to recover her husband's body. As she listened to the story, Astarte realized that the body was hidden in the fragrant tree in the center of the palace and told Isis where to find it.Sheltering his broken body in her arms, the goddess Isis carried the body of Osiris back to Egypt for proper burial. There she hid it in the swamps on the delta of the Nile river.
There are many other variations of this myth . . . in some Isis found the body of Osiris in Byblos, fashioned his penis out of clay. In others the goddess consumed the dismembered parts she found and brought Osiris back to life, reincarnating him as her son Horus. In one of the most beautiful renditions, Isis turns into a sparrowhawk and hovers over the body of Osiris, fanning life back into him with her long wings.Regardless of the differences, each version speaks of the power over life and death that the goddess Isis symbolizes. . . the deep mysteries of the feminine ability to create and to bring life from that which is lifeless.To this day the celebration of the flooding of the Nile each year is called "The Night of the Drop" by Muslims. . . for it used to be named "The Night of the Tear-Drop" a remembrance of the extent of the Isis' lamentation of the death of Osiris, her tears so plentiful they caused the Nile to overflow.

The Egyptian goddess Isis played an important role in the development of modern religions, although her influence has been largely forgotten. She was worshipped throughout the Greco-Roman world. During the fourth century when Christianity was making its foothold in the Roman Empire, her worshippers founded the first Madonna cults in order to keep her influence alive. Some early Christians even called themselves Pastophori, meaning the shepherds or servants of Isis. . . which may be where the word "pastors" originated. The influence of Isis is still seen in the Christian ikons of the faithful wife and loving mother.Indeed, the ancient images of Isis nursing the infant Horus inspired the style of portraits of mother and child for centuries, including those of the "Madonna and Child" found in religious art.The power of the goddess Isis in the "public arena" was also profound. Her role as a guide to the Underworld, was often portrayed with winged arms outstretched in a protective position. The image of the wings of Isis was incorporated into the Egyptian throne on which the pharaohs would sit, the wings of Isis protecting them.

The ancient Egyptian goddess Isis has many gifts to share with modern women. Isis embodies the strengths of the feminine, the capacity to feel deeply about relationships, the act of creation, and the source of sustenance and protection. At times Isis could be a clever trickster empowered by her feminine wiles rather than her logic or brute strength, but it is also the goddess Isis who shows us how we can use our personal gifts to create the life we desire rather than simply opposing that which we do not like.The myths of Isis and Osiris caution us about the need for occasional renewal and reconnection in our relationships. Isis also reminds us to acknowledge and accept the depths of our emotions.


Anonymous said...

I am a psychic and have had true, absolutely true, contact with the Goddess Isis. Her spirit does exist and she also has my personality characteristics. I connected with her by praying to the ultimate powers of goodness above. She told me, "That no one ever dies as we think death to be. If a person has truly good spirit energy within their self, that that energy either is reborn or becomes an angel for energy cannot be destroyed but can change form." We've had many contacts. I am a realist.
Once, belonged to everything in the church until I became an adult. When I was 10 I was far out in the water and suddenly became very tired. I sank under the water 2 times and on the 3rd time asked Jesus to help me and by some miracle I found myself in by the shore. I have also had more contact with Jesus over the years. He told me the reason he was nailed to the cross. The Romans feared too many people were listening to him because he wanted the world to be a better place. The Romans knew that they would lose power over the people if he lived, so he had to be killed so they believed. This is why Mary his mother upon her death wanted not to be buried in Rome near anything religious but instead lies in the field of the goddesses. That is factual truth. Jesus did not believe in churches, but he did believe that people should simple gather in small groups in peace and love.
Believe it not, it doesn't matter to me, but truth is better for all on this planet that lies.

Anonymous said...

Ancient days seem so fantastic even though it may have been hard to manage...our gods and goddesses help put things into perspective...with all that we know know - what has happened to us??

good read - thanks - Isis is one of my favorites!!

Anonymous said...

well i believe in Jesus Christ..i don't believe in all the gods and goddesses junk.. there is only one god and thats's God himself...and i hate to tell you there is no such things as psychics your just full of crap..:)

Anonymous said...

a psychics, are simply one who see what other cannot see. That power is given by God.. Just remember the scripture that states,, that these things are hidden from the prudent man. (because he believes that he knows everything) you should read your Bible and learn the truth.. I believe the person who stated they are a psychics.