The Passion of Isis and Osiris: A Gateway to Transcendent Love [Paperback]

Jean Houston (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 18, 1998

In The Passion of Isis and Osiris, Jean Houston, internationally renowned philosopher, psychologist, and explorer of world myth, takes us deep into the mysteries of Egypt, land of the ancient soul within us all. Houston brings this world to wonderful life, showing how the myth of Isis and Osiris gives modern readers a design for the marriage of body and soul, life and death, the tangible and the hidden. In detailed exercises and dramatic enactments that can be done in groups or alone, she demonstrates how we can identify the Isis and Osiris that are seeking reunion in each of us.

The Passion of Isis and Osiris re-creates nothing less than a moment of Egyptian magic that allows us to enter a consciousness that is the gateway to transcendent love. This story of two spiritual soulmates still has resonance for us today, whether we are seeking to join the disparate parts of self or searching for a mate to bond with, soul to soul.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Well-known psychologist and author Houston begins this highly adventurous book with a poetic retelling of the Egyptian myth of nature goddess Isis and her brother and husband, Osiris, the legendary ruler and god of the underworld. She then chronicles the cult of worship of Isis and Osiris, a chief religion of the Roman Empire until around A.D. 400. Mining archetypal spirituality in the manner of Joseph Campbell, Houston sifts ancient Egyptian myths for their contemporary relevance as keys to personal transformation. Finding love amid sorrow, accepting loss and death, reconciling body and soul are among the lessons she gleans from the Isis/Osiris legend, to be achieved by "entering an Egyptian state of mind, allowing for the simultaneous existence and experience of all things in motion." To that end, she sets forth self-help exercises, including journal-keeping, dreamwork, creating sentences in hieroglyphics, body movement, meditation and sailing with Osiris into the underworld.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Houston, a philosopher, psychologist, and author of Godseed: The Journey of Christ (LJ 4/1/92), invites reader participation in a sacred journey of the mind linking the trials of the modern world with the tribulations faced by gods and goddesses in Egyptian mythology. Houston retells the ancient story of Isis and Osiris, twins borne by the heavenly goddess, Nut. In interpreting hieroglyphic thought patterns, Houston draws numerous parallels between Egyptian myths and Old and New Testament stories. Participation in the myth journey is outlined in 14 steps that "coincide with 14 scattered parts of the broken body of Osiris and are symbolic of the process an individual goes through in reclaiming and reuniting the broken, scattered parts of a lifetime." The anticipated discovery is "that their stories are our stories" and as we understand how they dealt with their lives, we gain insight into ours. Recommended for religion collections.
Betty J. Schaefer, Appleton P.L., Wis.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 452 pages
• Publisher: Wellspring/Ballantine (August 18, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345424778
• ISBN-13: 978-0345424778
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #408,869 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars for the open-minded spiritual person, June 15, 2000

By 

Francesca Jourdan (Montreal, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Passion of Isis and Osiris: A Gateway to Transcendent Love (Paperback)

This exploration of the world's most transcendent story of love is rewritten in its entirety within the first chapters. The reader lives the Egyptian tale of the twins Isis and Osiris through a dramatic romanticization of the renowned myth. The author shows how, via detailed exercises, this myth relates to the modern design of marriage and provides the reader with the search for oneself throughout.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction to a timeless drama, March 10, 2002

By 

Oswald Muerner "New Age-Punk" (Bern, Schweiz) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Passion of Isis and Osiris: A Gateway to Transcendent Love (Paperback)

Jean Houston succeeds in bringing a very ancient mythological story all the way to the present time. She really lives what she teaches, and she guides us to do so as well. Our lives can benefit a lot from the richness of ancient wisdom!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars stunning, April 13, 2010

By 

Cheryl Theriot "warrior for truth" (detroit,MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Passion of Isis and Osiris: A Gateway to Transcendent Love (Paperback)

Hello,

I was absolutely astonished, floored when I read the myth of Isis and Osiris and saw my life and the life of everyone
I know in the pages of this book.

I am on a personal quest for the truth of my existence and I struck "GOLD" when I read this book.

Thank you Ms. Houston, thank you Amazon, and thank everyone who was involved in the process of bringing this
book to me.


Thank you,


Sincerely,



Cheryl L. Theriot