The Order of the White Moon Goddess Gallery Presents

© Silver WolfWinds 10.3.01
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This website created as a level one final project

Title created by Silver Wolfwinds

Graphic of winged Isis, created by

Saphire & Silver Wolfwinds

Isis

The apex of her influence, the Goddess of Rebirth was worshipped throughout the Greco-Roman world. Her temples were finally closed in the 4th century AD, but her role as Mother of God, as well as many other Christian borrowings from her mythos, was assumed by the Virgin Mary. Originally Isis was known as Au Set, a pre-dynastic Egyptian Goddess dating from 3000 BCE. She laid upon the dead body of her husband-brother, Osiris (whose annual death symbolized the fertilizing of fields by Nile floodwaters), and conceived Horus, the falcon-headed deity who is the original "son of God(ess)." The name Isis means "throne woman," and she was venerated as the inventor of agriculture, law and medicine, and as the Mother who placed the Sun God Ra in the sky. According to Egyptian scriptures, "in the beginning there was Isis, Oldest of the Old, the Goddess from whom all becoming arose.

Isis was the most important Goddess of all Egyptian mythology to embody the archetype of Great Mother. She was the sister and wife of Osiris, sister of Set, and twin sister of Nephthys. She was the mother of Horus the Child (Hoor-par-kraat). She was the female counterpart of Osiris. In human terms, she was his sister. Just as mankind is of two opposite yet equal genders, male and female; the nature of the divine cannot be expressed without reference to the same two aspects.

Isis was the female nature of the human aspect of God. She was equal and opposite to Osiris, yet her function was very different. Isis was not only the divine earth mother; she was the female aspect of creation. Without her magical powers nothing could have come into being. The supreme function of Isis was the same as that of every woman, she was the divine mother.

Isis was the triple Goddess of Birth, Life and Death. The cat goddess Bast is her lunar/fertility aspect, holding an ankh in her left hand and the sacred poppy in her right. The Mother goddess aspect is represented by her sun-disc/moon crescent crown. She is the prototype of the Mother of God, who was later adopted by the Christian tradition. Sekmet, the ravaging lioness, with her burning solar eye, is the goddess's destroyer/devourer aspect.
Wings spread on bended knee, the Great Goddess Isis was the original Divine Mother; praised in hieroglyphic hymns as "she who made light with her feathers and wind with her wings." Her form was painted on sarcophagi in order to catch the departing soul in her wings and shepherd it to a new life. As a winged goddess she may represent the wind; in the Osiris legend there are references to Isis wailing and moaning like the wind. She continually travels up and down the land in search of her lost husband. Upon finding Osiris' body, she takes the shape of one of the swiftest birds, a kite. Darting above his dead body she wails in mourning. She restores life to Osiris by flapping her wings and filling his mouth and nose with air.

Isis was a great enchantress, the goddess of magic, worshipped throughout the Greco-Roman world, venerated as inventor of agriculture, law and medicine, the Mother who placed the Sun God Ra in the sky.

Isis was also a goddess of healing and magic. She lived with her brother/husband Osiris until he was killed by his brother Set. Isis, with the help of her sister Nephthys, found a part of his body in Phoenicia in a tamarisk tree, and returned it along with the other parts to Egypt for a proper burial. After Set's second attempt to dispose of the body, Isis brought Osiris back to life and later conceived a child with him, Horus. In the Osiris legend she is seen as a dutiful wife, a grieving widow and as a protector of the dead. Together with Thoth, she taught mankind the secrets of medicine. She is often rendered on the foot of coffins with long wings spread to protect the deceased.

Isis created a snake that bit Ra, highest of the gods. He asked her to heal him but she claimed that she could not until he whispered his secret name to her; he did and, in curing him, she gained eternal power over him. She was the Goddess of motherhood, marital devotion, healing the sick, & the working of magical spells & charms. She was believed to be the most powerful magician in the universe, due to the fact that she had learned the Secret Name of Ra from the god himself.

Her festivals are celebrated January 9, February 5, March 5, March 20, May 14, June 24, July 3, July 19, August 12, August 27, and October 28 - November 3, November 13 - 14, and December 22.

According to Crowley's Liber 777, she is associated with the Tarot (Twos, Threes, Fours, Tens, Empower, Hermit, Hanged Man). Her gems are ruby, star ruby, turquoise, sapphire, star sapphire, pearl, amethyst, rock crystal, peridot, beryl and aquamarine. Her plants are amaranth, cypress, opium poppy, olive, shamrock, willow, lily, ivy, tiger lily, geranium, snowdrop, narcissus, lotus, and all water plants. Her animals are Man, woman, unicorn, sphinx, ram, owl, lion, virgin, anchorite, any solitary person or animal, eagle, snake and scorpion. Her minerals are phosphorus, silver and sulphate. Her perfumes are musk, myrrh, civet, cedar, dittany of Crete, dragon's blood, narcissus and onycha. Her Magical weapons are the lingam, Inner Robe of Concealment, Wand, Sceptre, Crook, Magic Circle, Triangle, Horns, Energy, Burin, Lamp, Wand, Bread, Cup and Cross of Suffering, Wine. Crowley gives more correspondence for Isis than for any other goddess, he attributes her to seven of his thirty-two paths.

A Tribute Poem

Because of Isis, there is a heaven.

Because of Isis, there is an earth

Because of Isis, winds blow on the desert.

Because of Isis, the sweet sun shines.

Because of Isis, the river floods in spring.

Because of Isis, plants bear fruits.

Because of Isis, we live and grow strong.

Because of Isis, we have breath to give thanks.

Author unknown.

Outspread wings falling from her arms so that it looks as though she could simply flap her wings. Often she kneels, opening her wings protectively. These wings, which make her appear angelic, indicate her celestial nature. For unlike many other Goddesses Isis was not connected with the earth so much as with the sky. Isis was associated with water birds, which migrate over water as well as to rest on it, Her sacred bird was the goose, whose craning was used as the design of the boats that were dedicated to Isis Queen of the sea.In her hands, the winged Isis carries an oval shape that ends in a cross…the symbol of the ankh.

It is the hieroglyph meaning “life” and is thought also to represent a mirror such are as used in some of Isis`s rituals. Isis, as mother of life`s mysteries, is appropriately symbolized by this letter.

Feast of Isis

The greatest festival of ancient Egypt was the mysteries of Isis and Osiris, celebrated for the month each fall. In preparation for the mysteries, the festival of Lamentations was held October 3, when a priestess with the Goddess's hieroglyph tattooed on her arm enacted of the mourning Isis, Then, from November 12-14, the Mysteries began with three days devoted to Isis's loss and quest. Each day marked a specific part of the Goddess's quest for her lover: on November 12, she sought for him; on November13, she grieved his loss; and on November 14, she found his body, Specific rituals reinforced the association of each day.

Two mid summer festivals also celebrated Isis, Her birthday on July 17, was called the Night of the Cradle; her mother Nut, the sky Goddess, was also acknowledged on this day because "the mother gave birth to the daughter, asnd the daughter gave birth to the mother" The next day was an Isian feast, because Osiris was connected with the annual rising of the Nile River, celebrated as New Years Day, Isis was worshiped as well. The Egyptians version of New Years Eve was the Night of the Drop, when the grieving Isis was imagined to swell the Nile with her tears. As Osiris festival was July 19, the evening of July 18, was the Godess Festival. March 3rd was celebrated as Isidis Navigatum, the Blessing of the Fleets-the fear when Isis as ruler of the seas, opened the Mediterranean to navigation. A statue of the Goddess was carried to the water, where flowers-wreathed women offered her mirrors so that she may see her beauty,

Priest poured milk on the sands from a pitcher shaped like Isis's breast, than sprinkled the statue with precious perfumes. As the final part of the ritual, a crewless boat, whose prow was shaped like a water bird, was filled with spices and sent out to sea as an offering to the Goddess.

Invoking Isis

Grief the search, and restoration; the Pattern of Isis myth is the same one that any healing must take. Whether what lost is health, wealth, or love, first we must grieve the loss; then we must search for wholeness; and then we may finally, after what seems to be insurmountable obstacles, we find ourselves made whole once more.

Light shining Out of Darkness

Revised updated from myself, as original author is unknown from 16th.or earlier century.

Our Goddess moves in a mysterious way, Her wonders to perform;

She plants her footsteps, in the sea, And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mountains, with never failing skill, she treasures up her bright designs, and work her sovereign will.

Ye fearful spirits, fresh courage takes; The clouds ye so much dread are big with mercy, and shall break with loving blessings upon your heads.

Judge not the Goddess by feeble sense, But trust her in her grace;

But behind the frowning providence she hides a smiling face.

Her purpose will ripen fast, unfolding every hour; The bud may have a bitter taste, yet sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err, and scan her work in vain; The Goddess is her own interpreter, and she shall make it plain.

Many bright blessings come your way, to you and your loved ones

Resources:

Patrica Telesco
D. J. Conway Diane Stein
Kala Trobe Elinor Gadon
De Traci Regula Scott Cunningham
Patrica Monaghan
My dearest Teacher and the Wonderful inspiring sisters who study with me.

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