Isis and Changing Frames Tree Teaching

The changing frames tree teaching was about how what we focus on is everchanging as are the frames of reference we view through. Now we have a tale to tell of Isis the Egyptian goddess and see what lessons might await.

Isis

She is known today by her Greek name Isis; however, the ancient Egyptians called her Aset. Her name translates to “Queen of the Throne”

Her names include Ese, Wosa or Wusa, Lady of Heaven, the Beautiful Essence of All the Gods, Ruler of the Sky, the Book of the Dead describes her as “She who gives birth to heaven and earth, knows the orphan, knows the widow, seeks justice for the poor, and shelter for the weak”

She is time and timelessness both. The view and the frame surrounding it. Ever present ever changing.

 About these wild wisdom soul stories.
You take this as you wish, as a mythic exploration, spiritual gift, positive psychological programming whatever … but I offer it to you in the hope that it will serve you some good purpose.
The tree teachings, #forestbathing #meditations and #wildwisdom #soulstories  are not pre-planned, I don’t have the year ahead mapped out with neat little diagrams and to do lists and pre-prepared old last years’ materials. No ... these are the fresh green shoots of inspirations sent forth from the trees.  I don’t care what your belief system is … in times of mass extinction, and #climatechange, my conviction is that if we connect personally with trees and nature this can only serve both us and the #earth well … I hope you agree. 
These stories are ancient but they are as relevant now as they ever were. They come alive when we interact with them. They are the history and archaeology of nature, culture, of our souls and so much more. But they are not dead relics they are living right now. 
We are a world communiTree. When we connect with wisdom from across the world we create new opportunities for learning.
Each being and story featured each week is of course a brief glimpse. If you feel drawn to a particular one you could study it in greater depth and pay homage to the culture within which it arose.

I really shouldn’t be surprised at the synchronicity of who has turned up over the year. Of course, in the changing frames tree teaching I mentioned my changing role as a mother with my only child moving out soon and making their way in the wider world. Thus, who should turn up but Isis a mother goddess and protector of mothers.

In the youth initiation rites of the Gautamalan Maya they undergo a series of tasks before spending time underground before re-emerging. Many cultures across the world have ‘Coming of Age’ ceremonies.

The story of Osiris’ death and dismemberment and Isis flying overhead as a bird is very congruent with shamanic initiation in a number of ways.

The shaman will often engage in a marriage with a spirit as their husband or wife. Old tales often depict marriages between mortals and some kind of magical being such as a fairy or a human with some kind of animal skin.

In many cultures the shaman goes through an initiation where they experience a death and dismemberment before being reassembled and healed by the spirits who then work with them in their role as shaman

Spirits are often depicted as birds. In the Native American Yiwipi ceremony for example, participants report spirits present in the room sounding like birds flying past them in the dark. This was the case for a dear friend of mine who underwent a series of healing ceremonies with a shaman in this tradition.

Although Isis is represented as a very human goddess she is, nevertheless, of the otherworld. When her husband is dismembered she reassembles him. She has the power of life over death. She is life and she is also a guardian of the underworld overseeing the safe transition and care of souls.

She is all encompassing, goddess of life and death, of earth and sky. She is many things yet one theme runs consistent all the way through and that is her nurturing side, her love. The love for her sister who is ever present, her love for her husband and her love for her son.

She is depicted in many ways but in one description she emerges from a tree, leading to her being named 'Lady of the Sycamore'. The sycamore fig is depicted in ancient Egypt and is considered a sacred tree. This is not to be confused with the Sycamore we know in the British Isles and Europe. Here again we are reminded of a shamanic journey, the shaman climbing up and down the tree of life.

Just as trees change with the seasons yet remain ever present and rooted in the earth so we too can change with the seasons, with circumstances yet remain of this earth. There is a lot more that could be said about this goddess and the story associated with her.

No matter that our circumstances, our lives, are ever changing. The trees, this story reminds us through Isis, can connect us to the many lessons and healing to be found in the natural world of which we are a part.

Blessings

Amanda Claire

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