Lotus Wand of Isis—Heka Variation

Like so many of us who work with Isis, I invent my own variations on the rituals I do with and for Her. Heck, I even do variations on my own stuff!

I’d like to share one of those with you today.

This particular rite is not in Isis Magic, but is based on the Lotus Wand of Isis (page 319 in the old version, page 323 in the new edition). The original Lotus Wand of Isis helps the priestess or priest open themselves to the Divine energy of Isis by opening the energy centers of the body—the shenu—then circulating the Divine Life and Light of Isis through those centers.

The variation is focused on opening the shenu of the priestess or priest in order to receive the heka or magic of Isis. I have found that it is a good method for “charging yourself up” for an important ritual; I also use it when I feel a lack of personal vitality.

Here’s what I do:

• Enter the temple or shrine and give the Sign of the Wings of Isis toward my sacred image of Isis and say, “I am a priestess of Isis, I am a handmaiden of the Goddess.”

• Purification and consecration of the temple and myself; I almost always use the general House of Isis method (“Isis is pure; I am pure,” etc.)

• Facing the image, I once more give the Sign of the Wings of Isis and say, “Isis is all things and all things are Isis.”

• Seat myself before the image of Isis, usually sitting cross-legged on a floor pillow (alternatively, I might stand facing Her).

• Visualize the figure of Isis the Magician, Iset Hekaet, towering above me, and ask Her to aid me in opening my shenu that I may receive any of Her heka that She would care to share with me. When I feel Her presence and consent, I begin.

• Instead of visualizing blossoming lotuses, I will trace the hieroglyphs for the word “heka” on myself to enliven my shenu. These are the twisted wick for the “h” sound and the upraised arms of “ka.”

• Raise my arms above my head with fingertips touching; this forms the top loop of the wick glyph. Breathe in and vibrate: ISET HEKAET (“Isis the Magician”); vizualize the Goddess sending Her heka to me, filling the loop I am making with my arms with the electric blue light of Magic. (No doubt influenced by sci-fi and fantasy flicks, yes, I usually see heka energy as electric blue.) Take a moment to see my crown shen (singular of shenu) illuminated.

• Separate my hands and bring them to the sides of my forehead, as if cradling the “third eye.” Breathe in and vibrate: HEKA ISET (“magic of Isis”); visualize the third eye shen filling with magic.

• Bring my hands down and cross them at the throat (this represents the first twist in the “h” glyph). Breathe in and vibrate: HEKA ISET; visualize the throat shen filling with magic.

• Still following the graceful curves of the “h” glyph, now I bring my hands down so that they are on both sides of my chest, cradling my heart. This represents the second loop of the glyph. Breathe in and vibrate: HEKA ISET; visualize the heart shen filling with magic.

• Following the curve of the glyph, I bring my hands down and cross them at my genitals; this is the second twist in the glyph. Breathe in and vibrate: HEKA ISET; visualize the genital shen filling with magic.

• This time I curve my hands out to both sides of my knees, cradling the sacred space between the knees. Breathe in and vibrate: HEKA ISET; visualize the knee shen filling with magic.

• Finally, I curve around to cross my hands at the shen beneath my feet (this is the third twist) and touch the fingertips of both hands to the earth, if seated, or point them toward the earth, if standing. This represents the two ends of the wick glyph. Breathe in and vibrate: HEKA ISET; visualize the shen beneath my feet filling with magic.

• Take a moment to visualize my illuminated shenu; then with a fluid motion, I retrace the “h” glyph down my body and raise my arms in the “ka” sign (see above). I repeat this as much as desired. On each retracing of the hieroglyphs, I vibrate; HEKA.

• To close, I thank Iset Hekaet for the magic She shared with me, and make the Sign of the Wings of Isis.

I’m also experimenting with using crossed hands at each shen, which would result in a longer “twisted wick” glyph, but would have the advantage of having the same gesture at each shen. Perhaps you’ll give it try and let me know how it works for you.