The Cult of Isis

Are you devoted to Isis?

Isis was, in Egyptian mythology, goddess of fertility and motherhood. She was the daughter of the god Keb (Earth) and his wife/sister the goddess Nut (Sky). She was the sister-wife of Osiris, judge of the dead, and mother of Horus, god of day. She is described in ancient writings as having great magical skill, and she was represented as human in form though she was frequently described as wearing the horns of a cow, or as a winged woman (see the image above). Her symbols are the Ankh (like a modified cross) which represented life and the Star Sept which showed the coming of a new year as well as the flooding of the Nile for fertility

The mysteries of Isis were religious initiation rites performed in the cult of the goddess Isis in the Greco-Roman world. Under the influence of Greco-Roman tradition, some of these cults, including that of Isis, developed their own mystery rites. By undergoing the mystery rites, initiates signaled their dedication to Isis, although they were not required to worship her exclusively.

The rites were seen as a symbolic death and rebirth, and they may have been thought to guarantee that the initiate’s soul, with the goddess’s help, would continue after death in a blissful afterlife.

According to Metamorphoses, the initiation “was performed in the manner of voluntary death and salvation obtained by favor.”  Only Isis herself could determine who should be initiated and when. It is documented that Isis informs potential initiates in their dreams only if they can perform the rite.

The Rite

Are you looking to do the Cult of Isis initiation rite?

Before the initiation proper, you must undergo a series of ritual purifications.

  • Bathing
  • ask the gods for forgiveness
  • sprinkle yourself  with water
  • annoite yourself with oil (your candle if your skin is sensitive to oils)

Next, wait ten days, while abstaining from meat and wine, before the initiation begins.

NOTE: Purifying baths were common in many rituals across the Greco-Roman world. The plea for forgiveness, however, may derive from the oaths that Egyptian priests were required to take, in which they declared themselves to be free of wrongdoing. The sprinkling with water and the refraining from certain foods probably come from the purification rituals that those priests had to undergo before entering a temple.

The Invocation of Isis

I beheld a great wonder in heaven, a woman clothed with the Sun, with the Moon at her feet.

And on her head was a diadem of the twelve stars.

Hear me, O Lady Isis, hear and save.

O thou queen of love and mercy, thou crowned with the throne, thou hauled as with the Moon.

Thou whose countenance is mild and glowing, even as grass refreshed by rain.

Hear me, our Lady Isis, hear and save.

O thou who art in matter manifest.

Thou bride and queen as thou art mother and daughter of the Slain One.

O thou who art the Lady of the Earth.

Hear me, O Lady Isis, hear and save.

O thou Lady of the amber skin.

Lady of love and of victory, bright gate of glory through the darkening skies.

O crowned with the Light and life and love.

Hear me, our Lady, hear and save by thy sacred flower, the Lotus of eternal life and beauty; by thy love and mercy; by thy wrath and vengeance; by my desire toward thee, by all the magical names of old hear me, O Lady, hear and save.

Open thy bosom to thy child, stretch forth thy arms and strain me to thy breasts.

Let my lips touch thy lips ineffable.

Hear me, O Lady Isis, hear and save. Lift up thy voice to aid me in this critical hour.

Lift up thy voice most musical. Cry aloud, O queen and mother, to save me from that I fear most.

I invoke thee to initiate my soul.

The whirling of my dance, may it be a spell and a link with thy great light, so that in the darkest hour, the Light may arise in me and bring me to thine own glory and incorruptibility.

Isis am I, and from my life are fed all showers and suns, all moons that wax and wane, all stars and streams, the living and the dead, the mystery of pleasure and of pain.

I am the Mother.

I the speaking sea. I am the Earth in its fertility.

Life, death, love, hatred, light, darkness, return to me, to me.

Isis am I, and to my beauty draw.

All glories of the Universe bow down, the blossom and the mountain and the dawn.

Fruits blush and women are creations crowned.

I am the priest, the sacrifice, the shrine.

I am the love and life of the Divine.

Life, death, love, hatred, light, darkness, are surely mine, are mine.

Isis am I, the love and light of Earth, the wealth of kisses, the delight of tears, the bowel and pleasure never come to birth, the endless infinite desire of years.

I am the shrine at which thy long desire devoured thee with intolerable fire.

I was sung music, passion, death upon thy lyre, thy lyre.

I am the grail and I the glory now. I am the flame and fueler of thy breath.

I am the star of God upon thy brow.

I am thy queen enraptured and possessed.

High do these sweet rivers welcome to the sea, ocean of love that shall encompass thee.

Life, death, love, hatred, light, darkness, return to me, to me.

Hear, Lady Isis, and receive my prayer.

Thee, thee I worship and invoke.

Hail to thee, sole mother of my life.

I am Isis, mistress of the whole land.

I was instructed by Hermes, and with Hermes I invented the writings of the nations in order that not all should write with the same letters.

I gave mankind their laws, and ordained what no one can alter.

I am the eldest daughter of Kronos.

I am the wife and sister of the king Osiris.

I am she who rises in the dog star.

I am she who is called the goddess if women.

I am she who separated the heaven from the earth.

I have pointed out their paths to the star.

I have invented seamanship.

I have brought together men and women.

I have ordained that the elders shall be beloved by the children.

With my brother Osiris I made an end of cannibalism.

I have instructed mankind in the mysteries.

I have taught reverence of the divine statues.

I have established the Temple precincts.

I have overthrown the dominion of the tyrants.

I have caused men to love women.

I have made justice more powerful than silver and gold.

I have caused truth to be considered beautiful.

Come unto me and pledge unto me your loyalties as I pledge mine unto you.

Oh mother Isis, great art thou in thy splendor, mighty is thy name and thy love has no bounds.

Thou art Isis, who art all that ever was, and all that there is to be, for no mortal man hath ever unveiled thee.

In all thy grace thou has brought forth the sun, the fruit that was born forth for the redemption of man.

Oh Isis, Isis, Isis, graciously hear our cry unto thee, we mourn for thy blessings on us this day, every day, to nourish, to aid and to fill the emptiness within, that only you our beloved mother can satiate.

Unto thee do we pledge our solemn oath of dedication, and for the power and glory of him the Unknowable One to witness our devotion to thee.

For as we now receive thee into our hearts, we ask that you never leave us, in times of trial and joy, and even unto death.”

Now, enter the deepest meditation – for as long as possible.

 

The next morning, celebrate, thus completing the initiation process.Invocation of Isis

Once completed, you can wear the pendant that signifies your completed ritual and membership to the Cult of Isis.

 

Days to Worship Isis

March 20th

– Vernal Equinox, to celebrate the return of life to the world.

October 31 to November 3.

During this four day period, was the death of Osiris and the magic of Isis returning him to life.

During the first day, we remember Isis and her son Horus as well as various other gods as they searched across the world for the 14 body parts of Osiris. The Second and Third days showed the reassembly and rebirth of Osiris and the fourth day- a wild rejoicing over the success of Isis and the coming of the newly immortal Osiris.

The belief is that through worship of Isis and strong devotion, she will return you to life as well should you die and you shall experience eternal happiness under her nurturing care, just as Osiris was rebuild and shall rule forever.

 

 

Source:

http://persweb.wabash.edu/facstaff/royaltyr/AncientCities/web/rel%20372%20project/invocation.htm

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