Awakening Osiris: The Egyptian Book of the Dead

by Normandi Ellis

Book Overview

A modern foundational text for those interested in Egyptian Spirituality

"Anyone reading this work cannot help but be moved by it. It comes as close to an appreciation of the themes of the soul's journey portrayed in the Egyptian Book of the Dead as any modern interpretation has, and with a poetry unmatched anywhere in the literature thus far". --KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt

The Egyptian Book of the Dead is one of the oldest and greatest classics of Western spirituality. Until now, the available translations have treated these writings as historical curiosities with little relevance to our contemporary situation. This new version, made from the hieroglyphs, approaches the Book of the Dead as a profound spiritual text capable of speaking to us today. Awakening Osiris is a beautiful and engaging rendering of the Egyptian Book of the Dead as a series of meditations that reveals the soul of Egypt like no book before.

These writings suggest that the divine realm and the human realm are not altogether separate--they remind us that the natural world, and the substance of our lives, is fashioned from the stuff of the gods. Devoted like an Egyptian scribe to the principle of "effective utterance", Normandi Ellis has produced a prose translation that reads like pure, diaphanous verse.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0933999747
• ISBN13: 9780933999749
• Release Date: June 2009
• Publisher: Phanes Press
• Length: 232 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Incredible book!

This is one of the most incredible books I've ever read. In this "translation" of the Book of Going Forth By Day (the original Egyptian name for the Book of the Dead) Ellis sings the world into existence and exposes the very depths of my soul like no other writer ever has. It is not a literal translation, but more of a contemporary reflection of what the various chapters mean, a very poetic, smoothly flowing meditation on "Becoming Osiris" and living life like the gods we are. If you've ever been interested in Egyptian thought or mythology, you will love this book! I am Osiris. I walk between the two worlds. I am the maker of myths. I remember all that was and what will be. I am eternal, existing for the millions of years. When you see the sun, remember me, remember your Self.

I was moved.

I didn't get this book for inspiration. I wanted it for research. I'm not into poetry. I don't like fluff. I'm not sentimental. And as a catholic girl, it is certainly not my religion. Consequently, I was surprised to find that this book was less of a research book and more of a spiritual text than I could have imagined. I was shocked to find myself near tears at the painful beauty of the text.This is a very spiritual book. I feel as if I must now also buy a supplemental exact translation for my research, but I cannot deny being moved.

Wow

I have several translations already of the Book of the Dead, but this work is far more than that. If feel as if the author is speaking right to my soul, and built a bridge with words to a people that lived 3000 years ago, and a religious tradition that was rich and vibrant and filled with great mystery, power, and truth. Hers is a translation of spirit that is accessible to all who wish to accept it, and I believe the Book of the Dead, and in particular this addition, should be held up alongside the Bible and other sacred works as one of humanity's most revealing and inspiring works.

Inspirational

This is definitely the most beautiful book I have ever read. Although written in prose, the text reads like poetry... the book truly does read like a spiritual text. This may sound a little fanatical, but I keep it with me most of the time, and read bits of it whenever I have a spare moment... It gives me a sense of communion with the ancient gods, and a feeling of wonder at the world and at the ancient egyptian civilisation. I highly recommend this book for anyone who needs to be inspired.

Read this book - if you love words and want inspiration

There is much talk about channeling these days, and many people who claim to be receiving words from otherworldly sources. Normandi does not claim this privilege, but I suspect nevetheless that she was in receipt of divine inspiration when whe worked on this book. The usual translations of the Book of the Dead are hard to relate to and seem alien. This one is full of the most beautiful and poetic imagery you can imagine, with descriptions of Osiris's experience of life and love and death which touch the heart. The concepts and inspirations in this book are thoroughly modern and speak to our lives and times. And so it should be, for the story of Isis and Osiris and Horus and Set and Nephthys is as old as time immemorial and is still being acted out today in our world. If you love words and want to understand more about why we are here, read this book.