In Ancient Egypt, people gathered every year in Abydos for the Feast of Wasir—the Feast of Osiris. It was not just a festival, not just a ritual—it was a journey. For five days, they walked beside their God through mourning, death, and darkness, until at last they celebrated his resurrection and triumph.
Even though thousands of years separate us from those people on the banks of the Nile, their story of Osiris still speaks to us. It whispers that our losses are not the end, that even when life breaks us, something within us is waiting to rise again.
The Journey Through the Festival
On the first day, they called upon Wepwawet, the Opener of the Ways, who cleared a path through obstacles and chaos. When life feels heavy, isn’t that what we wish for, a way forward through the struggles that seem impossible.
On the second day, Osiris was carried out of his temple, placed on his funeral boat, journeying into the unknown.
The third day was for mourning: tears, laments, grief shared by the community. They did not hide their sorrow. They allowed it to wash over them, knowing that grief itself can be sacred.
The fourth day brought the vigil: a night of prayer, silence, and waiting.
And then on the fifth day, Osiris was reborn, crowned with Ma’at— Truth, Balance, Justice, Harmony. His return to the temple was not just about him, but about every soul who dared to believe that death, failure, or despair could never have the final word.
What the Feast Teaches Us
The Ancient Egyptians weren’t just watching their God’s story unfold; they were stepping into it, allowing it to shape their lives. That is what makes the Feast of Osiris so powerful even now—it isn’t only about him, it’s about us.
When life knocks us down, we remember: Osiris rose.
When grief feels endless, we remember: mourning is not the end of the story.
When we feel lost in the dark, we hold vigil, trusting that light will return.
And when the dawn comes, we crown ourselves again with truth and step back into the world reborn.
Living Our Own Feast of Osiris
You don’t need to stand in Abydos or chant ancient prayers to honor this mystery. You can live it in your own life. Every time you let go of an old wound, you are enacting the procession of Osiris. Every time you sit in stillness through your grief, you are keeping the vigil. And every time you rise after hardship, you are celebrating the feast.
The Egyptians called this “actualized belief.” They didn’t just tell the story—they lived it. And maybe that is the invitation for us now: not simply to remember that Osiris triumphed, but to live as though resurrection is woven into the fabric of existence.
The Feast of Osiris reminds us that the soul is never defeated, that every ending is a doorway, and that within the mystery of death lies the promise of life renewed.
The Feast of Osiris
A One-Evening Ritual of Renewal
This ritual condenses the ancient five-day Feast of Osiris into a single evening of reflection, mourning,
and renewal. It may be done at home, with a candle or incense, a small piece of paper, a stone or bowl, and a simple meal or drink to share at the end.
Opening the Way
(Light your candle or incense.)
Wepwawet, Opener of the Ways,
guide me now.
Clear the shadows before me,
so that I may walk with courage.
All that blocks me falls away.
The path opens.
(Take three deep breaths, imagining obstacles dissolving.)
The Procession
(Write one thing you wish to release on your paper. Place it under the stone or bowl.)
Osiris, beloved one,
you journey now from temple to tomb.
As you travel, so do I.
Here I lay down this burden,
entrusting it to the silence of the earth.
Mourning
(Close your eyes. Let yourself feel grief, loss, or release. Speak softly if you wish.)
I mourn what has passed.
I mourn who I was,
what I loved,
what I lost.
Yet my grief is holy.
My tears water the soil,
and from them, life will rise again.
The Vigil
(Dim the lights. Sit in silence for a few minutes. When ready, whisper…)
In the stillness of night,
I wait.
No answers, no signs,
only trust.
The stars bear witness.
The silence keeps me.
And I believe:
dawn will come.
Resurrection
(Lift the candle higher, or relight it if extinguished.)
Osiris rises!
Crowned with Ma’at—
truth, balance, harmony.
So too do I rise.
From sorrow, I awaken.
From endings, I begin anew.
Like Osiris, I endure.
Like Osiris, I live again.
The Feast
(Eat or drink something simple. Hold gratitude in your heart.)
This is my feast.
I celebrate renewal.
I honor the god who shows
that death is never the end.
Within me, Osiris lives.
Within me, the dawn has come.
You must be logged in to post a comment.