Customer Reviews

Dreams of Isis: A Woman's Spiritual Sojourn

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This delightfully named book is an autobiography of the writer's journey through the Ancient Egyptian myths and symbols. In essence it is a spiritual voyage of discovery which entwines in it discussions of scholarly texts. The end result of the author's experiences is a collection of insights into the human experience and psyche. The book is divided into three parts (The light of heaven; The bodies of light; The light within), has no illustrations, and offers a good 13-page bibliography and excellent footnotes. She discusses the Pyramid Text of Unas, the Legend of Ra and Sekhmet, the opposition of Osiris and Seth, and the Myth of Isis and Orisis, as well as the Ka, Ba and Akh of the Ancient Egyptian, among several subjects. It is recommended for the spiritually open-minded.

I love this book,but than again I love all the author's books.I didn't know what to expect from this book though.Since it was a journal type of book,I thought I might not like it.I was wrong...I LOVE IT! She is a very Soul-Full person (Iknow that's not how it's spelled,but the author is a very spiritual person and that shines through in this book) I had to re-read chapter 9 ,Ab: the intelligence of the heart,this chapter really made me think,it's so full of wonderful insights.Ex:"...Desire is life manifestly unfolding.If we fail to acknowledge our deep desires,we remain empty inside and vulnerable to the manipulations of those who would seduce us and feed upon our desire nature.We buy goods we don't need,thinking things will supply what we lack in the world.We wind up having affairs thinking that will satisfy our love nature.We rush blindly from this business deal to that,thinking that money and prestige will give us back the power we know we lack.All our addictions-eating disorders,alcoholism,smoking,overt sexuality,violence- are evidence of the desire nature out of control because the heart has tried to tell us what it wants,and we have not paid attention." Further in the chapter it says..."Simplicity of the heart keeps our aims and purpose in life clear.What matters is what is at hand at the moment...In hotep(peace) we contemplate our lives and concentrate our energies on the true desires of the heart aligned with God,rather than chasing after this or that fleeting thought..." The author also says the hieroglyph for peace(hotep) is a loaf of bread,implying nuturing, simplicity,contentment and rest...The ancient egyptians were very wise indeed,they knew how to live life to the fullest and Normandi Ellis conveys this over & over in this book.I got some deep insights into the egyptian myths (which can be confusing) but she explains their meaning very simply and you have an "Aha" moment and know what they meant by that myth. I highly recommend this book,if you are a deep thinker like Ellis.

I can only add to the previous review by saying that I am not a woman, yet I shared the great joy of reading it in my own way. I am not sure what the standards of the reviewer are, but I think she is mistaken in her stinginess if only 4 stars where her comments seem so glowing. I agree with the glowing and would suggest top rating of this excellent work of art!

I bought and read this book and re-tread this book many years ago. Passages that I underlined, I later hightlighted, checked and astericked ...it was (and still is) just that great of an experience. being a man and male devotee of the Goddess in this her Name of Isis is journey to say the least. And, most of the modern insights and leading voices for the 21st Century Isiakoi have been that of our sister-priestesses. But!...this particular volumn has Knowledge and Wisdom and above else the Love of the Great One flowing throughout it for both men and women of White Linen. In Sister Ellis's writings is a deepening of the inital tastes we are blessed with in the works of deRegula, Reedd and Forrest (The Mysteries of Isis, Invocation of the Gods and Isis Magic, respectively); and there is more 'meat' to the bones than that which we find in the esoterics of Dion Fortune novels and in the scholarchip of R.E Witt (Isis in the Ancient World. For me, and especially so of striving to cultivate the hard alchemy of Black Isis in my heart, I have been often moved to tears with the reading.

Anyway, I can not recommend this book enough. It is well worth the reading and the studying whether or not you are modern Isiakoi.

En Rennu em Uret Auset,Anekh-Udjah-Seneb em Hetep, Amma!

This book is unique in that it focuses not only on Egyptian Mythology / Religion, but contains the writer's reflection on those principles within the context of her life. This blend of personal reflection and scholarly research make it a uniquely personal and unconventional look at this topic.

Her writing style does tend to be prosaic (i.e. stream of consiousness). But, the insights she brings to the able are worth the effort and time it takes to read this book.

This book is a wonderful blend. She not only lets you peek inside her personal spiritual journey and sojourns to Egypt, but also helps you relate and comprehend the sometimes confusing Egyptian pantheon. She helps you identify with not only Egyptian religion, but gives clues to how Christianity and Wicca are connected as well. It is a great tale that encourages the reader to explore for themself and find their own spiritual path.

I did not enjoy this book, but I confess that perhaps I simply misunderstood what this book would be about when I purchased it. I was looking for a book about Isis, and instead got a book about a woman who seemed to be suffering an identity crisis - a subject that from my point of view, has been done to death. That I am sure is not the authors fault, but if you are looking for a book about Isis, you will be frustrated by just how little this book really refers to her.