Isis The Merciful: Great Enchantress...

PEOPLE
ISIS THE MERCIFUL
The Glory of all Women; Shelter and Heaven to all Mankind. The Goddess with Ten Thousand Names. The original Virgin Mother (and Single Mother for that matter!)

"The sky is clear and Sothis (Sirius /Isis) flourishes because I am alive, the Son of Sothis (Horus) and the Gods have cleansed themselves for me in the (constellation of ) the Great Bear , the imperishable stars."

(Spell 302 of the Book of the Dead: Pyramid Text)

"Isis has a vast Arcane knowledge of Songs and the Symphony ..."

Revelations III: The Marches

Isis The Goddess of Mercy

ost Ethereal Gossips will reveal that Isis is really the daughter of Nut the Great Sky Goddess and Thoth the Ethereal God of Knowledge. With that sort of heritage She could easily be the SongMistress (Liber Canticorum p. 25) to the Egyptian Pantheon. However Bast has eminent domain over that role and Her knowledge goes far deeper than mere memorisation...
One of the earliest stories in the Egyptian Heliopolitan Myth Cycle has the 'Great Enchantress' use trickery to obtain the True Name of Ra. This knowledge making Her the most powerful of all the Paut. But Iusaas was happy to let Ra Rule in Heaven, preferring to be the power behind the Throne(s)!
If the suggestion put forward by the Aten Heresy is taken at face value; then 'Eset' would know the True Name of The God of the Hebrews! Yves being merely the first Archangel to give "I AM" a 'Christian' Name! As a primal Goddess of Agriculture She was revered as Demeter by the Greeks and worshipped in Roman times not only as Ceres but also by Her given name. By this time She had adsorbed the cults of most of the Middle Eastern Goddess Cults with the exception of Cybele and various small fry not worth concerning herself about. Thus with the passing of the Old Ways Uret Hekau was well positioned to weather the coming storm. Her cult centre a place of active worship despite the best efforts of Uriel and the Byzantine Empire!.

Historically the Magna Mater of Pagan Rome was such a powerful figure that the early Christian Church had (begrudgingly) to incorporate at least one feminine (semi) divine being in order to make converts. Only with a strong cult of the Holy Mother was the early church able to dislodge the Cult of Isis (and Serapis) from its pre-eminent position. Later the Holy See were again panicked into a special emphasis of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) in their desperate attempts to eradicate the other Heretical Feminist Christian beliefs and especially the Cult of Pistis Sophia Which is, even today, still preserved in the Coptic and to lesser extent: Russian and Greek Orthodox Churches. Despite being declared an anathema by the Holy See!

Her actual role in the Life of Christ is apocryphal at best and at the worst... heresy of the highest order!

In the Modern Era the Papacy still denies the Christian Church a Feminine Face to the Godhead and despite a globalisation of sexual equality the Papacy and its Patriarchal Orthodoxy is still firmly rooted in the Fourth Century. With some theologians arguing that the Patriarchal nature of the Judeo- Christian Faith reaches even further back than that!
The result of this denial is a return to the Divine Mother Goddess Cult of our Paleolithic ForeMothers and it's latest incarnation in the Gaia Hypothesis of James Lovelock. Paganism expands as the Established Churches contract and individuals now seek their own path to Salvation rather than be sheepishly rounded up for the Redemption

Amongst many other activities She is firmly behind the ordination of women in any priesthood and similarly advances the cause of Mother Earth.

ut Netjer as the Mother of the Gods could see which way the wind was blowing and after a light hearted interlude in Greek Myth and Legend including such Vessels as the Oceanide Persë, Her 'daughter' Circe by 'Helios' the primal Greek Solar Deity [SubContractor] and the mysterious primal role of Hecate the Triple Goddess with powers in Olympus, on Earth and in the Realm of Hades where She was the companion to Persephone. There followed a brief fling with the Roman Empire with a welcome return to worship under Her old name; at its height acquiring the trappings of a state religion. After this and the rise of the Celestials Isis then invested a great deal of time, effort and most of Her Celestial Forces; subsuming Her Cult into that of the BVM. After one or two false starts (Nephthys played the part of Maximilla and Isis was Priscilla!) promoting Her version of Christian teachings: The Gospel according to Mary Magdelene! Pistis/Prunikos/ Sophia finally gave up after the brutalities of the Albigensian Crusade and Simon de Montefort's destruction of the last refuge of the Cult of the (New Ma'at Kheru) "Pure" in 1244. Thereafter She devoted Her efforts in this area with the development of independent Female Orders and sightings of the Blessed Virgin Mary; being especially fond of France. One of Her strongest 'Celestial' Tethers in that Role at Lourdes is actually built on the site of a Roman Temple!

The BVM is Isis's Celestial Eye and in that Role She has a major but very understated presence in Celestial Politics. Indeed it was probably Her subtle machinations behind the scenes that prompted them to halt Uriel's Crusade before it went too Far into the Far Marches and a quiet 'True Name' in the right place to get Uriel out of the Trouble She had got him into in the first place!

Most modern Angels and Archangels, including Dominic and Laurence, are unaware of the true nature or origins of the BVM despite Isis' obvious expertise in such matters. Naturally Gabriel knows the true story and probably Michael, being a presence from the Old Days.

Needless to say Isis has an Eye in both camps! When drawn on the subject She smiles sweetly and notes that it was the fault of the theologians of Medieval Church and nothing to do with Her!

In Her aspect of Divine Mother She has the immediate and undivided attention of a whole Host of Angels but chooses to remain quietly in the background allowing the Militant Tendency to run it's course. In Hell, Isis' Eye treads a wary path as She does not possess the same hold over The Pit as She does in the Higher Heavens. Despite this She is a recognised Princess and an equal to most of the second ranking Barons and Dukes.

It is rumoured that the last time Isis was categorically identified on the Corporeal was a the New York Premiere of "The Last Temptation of Jesus Christ"!

Essence

According to Ethereal Authorities on the subject, Uret Hekau has had many Millennia to establish Essence flows and taps from times before the Symphony had been Scored. This being in addition to the multitude of Celestial Tethers in the name of the BVM. Thus Hekate (derived from Her Egyptian title) has multifarious sources of Essence sufficient to Her needs. Here are just some examples:

Any Ritual or Rite where She is invoked by any one of the Her Ten Thousand Names will garner the one point of Essence from each of the Celebrants. This is directed via a global network of geomantic channels to Her nearest Essence Reservoir. Usually located in the self same site as the Ritual, if Her Celebrants know what they are doing!
During the 1960's She used to gain one Essence for every publicly burnt bra! A rare occurrence in recent times but Isis still promotes the Feminist cause usually through small Feminist bookshops and Publishers In association with Seshet/Athena/Artemis/Diana and similarly aspected Ethereals.
Whenever a Baptised Christian swears a Heartfelt "Bloody" without any other expletives, the twisted nature of the Invocation: "By Our Lady" ends up draining the Mundane of Essence and gains Isis one point! If the source is an ordained Priest She gets all his Essence!
Under a very old arrangement She gets Essence from every natural childbirth in Her native land. Naturally all the Essence is expended during this process but Isis is able to tap one point of this. Naturally this She shares with the other Fairy Godmothers; who naturally spend it on the immediate well being of the Child so everybody goes away happy!
Isis has discovered that She gets all the Essence if the Child has been conceived by artificial means but a natural means of childbirth is chosen! Her Corporeal High Priestesses IN: Dream Soldiers have been directed to vigourously promote the cause of Infertility Treatment...

Current Operations

Isis at the Cairo Museum (10KB JPEG)

Isis (Hathor) keeping an 'Eye' on things at the Cairo Museum

Unlike most Ethereal Powers, Isis is a firm believer in "small is beautiful" and thus will only normally have between ten and thirty one Forces (IN twelve to thirty [12 + D666]). Once She has accumulated Forces to excess, rather than find a cause to challenge the authority of Heaven or Hell directly, She prefers the subtle approach. A Virtuoso at the Ethereal Song of Creation She has been busy along with other Ethereal Powers in restoring what was destroyed. Including the Elder Goddesses whose Forces and Cults She absorbed during the Dark Ages. This time well out of reach of the Militant Tendency. She also uses Her spare Forces whenever She finds a suitable Corporeal Servitor. By binding one of Her Forces She has the opportunity to create yet another High Priestess and one less reason to risk a materialisation on the Corporeal Realm. Along with the Force, Isis provides the Servitor Attunements that are uniquely hers; Songs; Soul Links but not Distinctions (See Servitors Below)

Even though Her worship is a global operation. Her main concern has always been Her Mother country and She always maintains an Eye in a suitable position within the ranks of the OSS. Currently a Marid IN: Primal Spirit of Water) posing as "Jeanette Vertedente"

Her other Principle Corporeal Eye is a High Priestess rumoured to be an enormously successful female American Singer/Songwriter. She also keeps tabs on Darius Bleiderbek and his rather dodgy associate via Dr Möller and his current 'host' Diana Quick.

In exchange for helping Nephthys, Isis has taught Lilith how to imbue Eyes. But only in Female Corporeals!

In addition to the Ethereal Connection Attunements, common to most Ethereal Deities, for those Dream Soldiers wishing to use those Esoteric Aspects of the Ethereal (Songs). See Appendix VII: Ethereal Magic... Isis can bestow the Servitor Attunements of any of the Goddesses of the Paut including Bast, Neith and Meretseger et al. Indeed a good case could be put for certain (Non-Choir) Attunements of certain (nominally) Female Archangels and Demon Princesses!

Isis does not bestow Distinctions; preferring to avoid the hierarchical power games of the Male Dominated Religions of the Modern Era. Especially those of 'The God of The Hebrews"!

Isis rarely bestows a Soul Link and then only to the most trusted of Her High Priestesses and Her few High Priests!

She has, however, worked an interesting twist on the Standard Soul Link that dates back to Her very origins. The Reverse Soul Link will only work if the recipient's True Name is known. A trivial problem if Renenutet was present at the Birth! The True Name is needed for Isis to bind one of Her spare Ethereal Forces to Her Servitor. She uses this as an Initiatory Test , the first stage on the path to becoming one of Her Corporeal Eyes or a High Priestess of one of Her many Cults and allows the latter to Geomantically channel Her Reservoirs of Earth Essence for use in their Magical Rituals.

Thus as an Ethereal antithesis of Hatiphas Baroness of Sorcery (Corporeal Player's Guide p.72-3), Isis expands Her Corporeal Powerbase by giving more of herself! Generally in a ritual unique to each branch of Her broad Pagan Church She bestows one of Her Ethereal Forces containing the desired abilities. Nominally "Ma'at Kheru" (Egyptian Invocational Magic) or the Thaumaturgy Attunement (non Sorcerous Sorcery) a.k.a. "The Craft"! There are not many Songs that Isis does not know but She is careful about teaching them to Corporeals as they are easily misused. She is more generous with Corporeally Bound Elemental Spirits (Primal Spirits of Earth, Air, Fire and Water that are native to the Corporeal Realm) and tries to recruit them whenever possible.
(It is rumoured that She has even recruited some enlightened Celestials and even more Infernals who act as additional and unattributable sources of information in the appropriate Realm!)
Only in exceptional circumstances She will implant the unique connection Udjat or Eye that is peculiar to the Egyptian pantheon.

Basic Rites

Spend an evening baby-sitting someone else's child.
Spend one hour of silent prayer in front of the Madonna. (Either one is just as effective;-)
Exhibit Mercy to a defeated enemy.
In 1791 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote The Magic Flute as a Masonic celebration of Isis and Osiris Attending a performance is not only an Essence giving Rite but also a + 3 Invocation Modifier!

Chance of Invocation: 1

Invocation Modifiers

+1 Perform invocation with a new born baby.
(Not as a Sacrifice. That's where all the stories started!)
+2 Read a book expounding James Lovelock's "The Gaia Theory".
+3 Personally complete a 1000+ piece jigsaw.
+4 Bring about an Act of Reconciliation
+5 Help Save the World
+6 Perform invocation at any Pagan Site dedicated to the Feminine principle.
+7 Perform invocation at Philae