Ellis - The union of Isis and Thoth: magic and initiatory practices of ancient Egypt

For our beloved Thoth and Isis, and the pantheon who have enfolded us in their magic, who continue to uplift us, and whose love for all humankind is the inspiration behind this book.

THE UNION OF ISIS AND THOTH

These bountiful and timely teachings bring the ancient mysteries into modern day relevance. When we see divinity as a way of life, all of the natural world becomes a part of divine consciousness. The rites of passage and initiations provide direct access to new dimensions that are just now being articulated in physics and cell biology.

JOAN BORYSENKO, PH.D., AUTHOR OF
7 PATHS TO GOD AND THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
MINDING THE BODY, MENDING THE MIND

The Union of Isis and Thoth is a fine distillation of Nicki Scully and Normandi Elliss work defining the essential characteristics of the neteru, and they share their guidance for building temples and the invocation of these divine beings. This excellent book with beautiful photos and illustrations offers their shared path for housing the divine in the world, amazingly in a pure and simple text that comes from very high places.

BARBARA HAND CLOW, AUTHOR OF
THE MIND CHRONICLES: A VISIONARY GUIDE INTO PAST LIVES
AND REVELATIONS OF THE RUBY CRYSTAL

This is a fabulous booka treasure. It begins with cautionary information about metaphysical practice and proceeds through a sweeping overview of the gods of ancient Egypt, revealing that the origin of the ancient word for a divine beingneterand the root of the Coptic word netjer, meaning god, etymologically become the English word nature. This book is a rich resource destined to become a classic.

HANK WESSELMAN, PH.D., ANTHROPOLOGIST AND
COAUTHOR OF AWAKENING TO THE SPIRIT WORLD

Postmodern Priestesses Nicki and Normandi have crafted a book for temple builders of the future, to teach us the ancient mysteries and open the gates of wisdom embedded in the living gods and goddesses of Egypt. Thoth and Isis have offered this vision to these authors, who share with our desecrated world a vision of planetary renewal.

ALEX GREY AND ALLYSON GREY,
ARTISTS AND COAUTHORS OF NET OF BEING

The esoteric tradition has long held that the initiate is a temple, and thus the purpose of initiation is to prepare that human temple for a greater influx of the Divine. The Union of Isis and Thoth teaches us how to make that initiatory temple real within ourselves. The inner journeys through which they lead us are beautiful and visceral. The magic is potent. The Mysteries are revealed by experienced teachers. Let this book help you realize the union of Heaven and Earth in the place where they have always met: the sacred temple of the self.

M. ISIDORA FORREST, AUTHOR OF
ISIS MAGIC AND OFFERING TO ISIS

The authors have written a rich shamanic tapestry that eloquently weaves the sacred threads of Thoths wisdom into the high magic and love of Queen Isis. Enter and explore the initiations presented in this book through the union of these two amazing energies.

LINDA STAR WOLF, PH.D., FOUNDER OF
VENUS RISING ASSOCIATION FOR TRANSFORMATION AND
COAUTHOR OF SHAMANIC MYSTERIES OF EGYPT

... an invitation to forge a deep, meaningful, and direct relationship with the pantheon and your inner sanctuary from a place of equanimity: eye-to-eye, peer-to-peer, divine-to-divine. Perhaps your best friend, divine partner, and staunch ally resides within these pages. Once you are reunited your life is forever changed.

DANIELLE RAMA HOFFMAN, AUTHOR OF
THE TEMPLES OF LIGHT AND THE COUNCIL OF LIGHT

Normandi and Nickis combined and deep wisdom of ancient Egypt and its pantheon weave a portal of initiation through magic and ritual. This book is a must have!

KATHRYN RAVENWOOD, AUTHOR OF
HOW TO CREATE SACRED WATER

The Union of Isis and Thoth is a unique gift to all those questing for the essence of mystical Egypt. It is the essential guide of practical wisdom delivered from the mind of Thoth to a waiting world.

NAOMI OZANIEC, AUTHOR OF THE BREATH OF ISIS

The Union of Isis and Thoth is yet another gem which causes me to stop every few pages and think with delighted envy: I didnt know that!

ALAN RICHARDSON, AUTHOR OF THE INNER GUIDE TO EGYPT

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book is the culmination of nearly two decades of working together teaching the Egyptian mysteries and leading tours to Egypt. We never could have accomplished this work alone, and we would like to offer our deepest gratitude to the following people (including a few whom we may have forgotten in our more frequent geriatric moments) who helped and supported us throughout the writing of this book:

Indigo Rnlov for her consistent support throughout the process, from back-cheerleader status to helping Nicki type, and for her attention to details and thoughtful suggestions throughout the process; Deb Clarkin for being there and contributing her clear and reliable vision to our work; Gloria Taylor Brown for her support of us, for holding space, and especially for her help with the covenant of Maat; Alexa MacDonald for her transcriptions and for her help with the Visioning the New World journey; and Nickis husband, Mark Hallert, for his constant care and attention, his editing suggestions, and his help with the Visioning the New World journey.

We would like to thank our Egyptian friends: Mohamed Nazmy for his generosity and for giving us two beautiful places to work inthe gracious dahabeya Afandina and the comfortable flat in Giza; and Emil Shaker, our beloved Egyptologist, for his support, his protection, and his vast knowledge of Egypt and her mysteries.

On the administrative end, we thank Rooster Shannon for having our back and dealing with the administrative details throughout; Sandra Corcoran for administrative help while we were in Egypt; Stasha Lynn for her organization of our notes and materials; and Saandra Steinfelt for helping us fill in the gaps with her video and archive work during our retreats.

No book such as this could stand without photos and illustrations to help clarify our meaning and concepts and to introduce the reader to the pantheon. So we send special gratitude to Kat Lunoe for her exquisite cover painting, which she rendered in oils and which so beautifully captures the essence and meaning of this book; to Normandis daughter Erin Alaina Schroth, Karen Klein, and Kris Waldherr for their finely crafted illustrations; to Lauren Raine for her artful adaptations; and to Patricia A. Haynes, Indigo Rnlov, Marjorie A. Parker, Cathleen Shattuck, Carlos Bustamante, and Tarek Lotfy for making this book better with their photographs.

We say a heartfelt thank-you to all the folks at Inner Traditions/Bear & Co. who helped us along the way, especially Jon Graham, for believing in us and encouraging us to write this book; the Inner Traditions editorial staff, particularly Meghan MacLean, who patiently shepherded the various drafts of the manuscript as we honed it both stateside and while we traveled in Egypt and for helping with the many details that clarify and complete the larger picture of the work; and Virginia Scott Bowman and Priscilla Baker for their work on the book design. We send special blessings and gratitude to the late Peri Swan, who not only designed this cover but also those of our previous books with Inner Traditions. She will be greatly missed.