This is the third great festival to Isis whose ancient name was Aset. It falls on or close to the summer solstice every year when the sun is at its peak in the northern hemisphere and from when the nights will get progressively darker bringing the light of the moon and candles into play.

In an under-chapel beneath the temple, lamps were carried in procession around the coffin of Osiris, whose ancient name was Ausar. It was by the power of light, symbolising the life-giving power of the Moon, with which Isis rekindled life in her dead husband. Even today it is customary in many cultures for candles to be light around a coffin prior to burial.

Why did the Ancient Egyptians believe this?  The Ancient Egyptians, known as Khemitians, believed that when a deceased soul departed this world, they entered into the Halls of Amenti, traditionally defined as what we would call the ‘Underworld’ or ‘Heaven’. However, the Halls of Amenti are also frequently understood to be a series of Etheric Temples, i.e. ones that exists outside of time and space, where our Akashic Records are kept, also known as the Hall of Records or even the Collective Unconscious. 

On this night, the Veil of Aset (Isis), representing the veil between the worlds, was drawn aside. 
The Festival of Lamps was part of the Ausarian Mysteries, and on this night Ausar (Osiris), who was titled “Lord of the Otherworld” and “King of the Dead” was honoured. On the night of the Festival of Lamps, the light of the lamps mirrored the stars and therefore symbolised Aset drawing aside Her Veil thus creating a pathway across the Heavens, as a guide for wandering souls to find their resting place in Amenti - the Khemitian paradise for righteous souls.  

Many believe that there is a Violet Flame Temple, housing a massive living Violet Fire of Consciousness, within the great Halls of Amenti. The violet flame has the power to erase, or transmute the cause, the effect, and even the memory of our past mistakes. Transmutation means to change from one form, nature, substance or state into another. The violet flame changes negative energy into positive energy, darkness into light, destiny into opportunity.

The flame even erases the consequential bad karma of our misdemeanours  

The Lamps of Aset safeguard all who are undertaking that journey into a new world, where they will find a new awakening. Her Veil is drawn aside not only for those who have left physical existence, but for those who are ready and willing to experience Aset’s Guiding Light of the Divine Feminine as it illuminates a way forward from grief, whether it be from a lost loved one or from a relationship which has ‘died’. Although the relationship has ended, a positive or negative connection sometimes remains with the ex-partner (who may have since re-married), friend or family member making it hard to move on.  

It is a day when we can release to the Violet Flame emotions such as grief, fear, despair, anger or frustration which can be transformed into the positive energies of the learning and joy these experiences brought into our lives.  

(My thanks to Joanna Bristow Watkins of Harmony Healing for the history of this festival)