30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The primer for Wiccans interested in Ancient Egypt, January 4, 2003
This review is from: Circle of Isis: Ancient Egyptian Magic for Modern Witches (Paperback)
The New Page Books revised edition of "Invocation of the Gods" has been long awaited by several people who loved the original. Ellen herself was interested to get a revised edition printed so it is wonderful that it finally is available.
If you're Wiccan and are interested in the Ancient Egyptian Pantheon, get this book first, before you get any other (especially any Llewellyn publication). While not another "Introduction to Wicca" book, this is an excellent resource for information regarding the Ancient Egyptian Pantheon from a Wicca perspective.
The section on Bast is definitive, the best information on this Goddess that I have read. Ellen shows a Goddess who is focused on protection and silence rather than a "fluffy kitty Goddess" like most people seem to think She is. She has even written, published only in this New Page version, a "Charge of Bast" that will knock your socks off if you're a Bast-focused person.
Ellen offers insights on other deities that are fresh and exciting, as much now as they were when this was first published.
She offers poetry, crafts, guided meditations and "contact rituals", indexes and information about festivals. There are the recopies from the original as well as new ones. Updates include an Ancient Egyptian glossary of names and words and an Internet Links section, as well as updated addresses and contact information for catalogs.
The rituals are refreshingly simple and written for this book. There is no pseudo-archaic language and the rituals and poetry are also simple and lovely.
The only things I miss about this edition are Ember's incenses and the beautiful black and white -interior- artwork that appeared in the Llewellyn "Invocation of the Gods". I wish she'd kept that in this one but it's still a very solid and intelligent book without them.
One more important point: This is a WICCA book, not a "Reconstructionist" or an "Egyptian Magick" book.
Ellen says on the first page that she is -not- attempting to recreate the religion of the Ancient Egyptians. "We are a Wiccan coven working with the Ancient Egyptian Pantheon" (paraphrasing mine).
She further mentions in other parts of the book that the Ancient Egyptians did not "Cast Circles", use traditional Wiccan tools or "Draw Down the Moon".
A couple of reviewers gave this book negative reviews because they "didn't want Wicca/New Age [stuff]". The book should be shelved in the Wicca/Witchcraft/Magic/New Age section of any bookstore, and it is labeled as Wicca on the back, so if they were not expecting Wicca, that's their problem. I would recommend they -read- the back of the material they are buying before buying it in the future.
In summation, if you're a Wiccan, get this book.
If you're looking for a whole book on Isis, get "Mysteries of Isis" or "Isis Magic" (both Llewellyn; "Mysteries" is better, but they both leave a lot to be desired).
If you're looking for a book on Ancient Egyptian Religion, Egyptian Magick or Egyptian Mythology, go to the Archaeology, Ceremonial Magic or Mythology section, not the WICCA one.
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24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
This is diffrent from Khem!, December 27, 2002
This review is from: Circle of Isis: Ancient Egyptian Magic for Modern Witches (Paperback)
CIRCLE OF ISIS
By Ellen Cannon Reed
The title is decieving becasue the book is not all about Isis and thats the big reason I ordered this book. But I understand why she called it the Circle of Isis for her love of Isis is so strong. I think Egyptian Wicca would have been more appropiate. Now Mrs Reed doe not claim that she is recreating the magick that the ancient Egyptians used, she states that she is adopting the Egyptian pantheon into her Wiccan beliefs. She gives the experience that she had with the Egyptian deities and the experience that her coven had with them as well. You will find magick in this book but not spells like "to get a lover" or to "to heal a burn" the magick you will learn is with the deities. She gives some wonderful information on quite of few of the gods and goddesses major and minor deities. She gives you recipes for oil and incense for diffrent deities. Also she gives out guided meditations on meeting the deities and ritual on how to contact them. She gives out rituals that are suitable for solitary practice and rituals suitable for a group of people. there are wonderful hymns to the gods and goddesses, instructions on making an Egyptian wand, sistrum, kilt, scarab, wax and ushbati figures and more. She also includes Hierogyphics and their translations and other stuff as well. I honestly could not put this book down I was so fascinated with it. This book is indeed interesting. The book is pure devotion you can feel the authers love for the gods and goddesses of ancient Egypt.
Im giving it 4 stars
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent starter book on knowing Egyptian deities, December 4, 2002
This review is from: Circle of Isis: Ancient Egyptian Magic for Modern Witches (Paperback)
I just bought this book and liked the fact that's easy to read and understand. The god profiles are based on personal experience rather than encyclopedia entries. There are even gods mentioned in this book that I didn't know existed. And the practical knowledge isn't bogged down in complex terms. This book is good for experienced witches or Wiccans that wish to explore the Egyptian pantheon without necessarily recreating the Ancient Egyptian worship style. It is also easy enough for beginners who want to learn magic through an Ancient Egyptian lens.
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