November 28, 2014

The passing of Dr. Jocelyn Almond


It is with deep sadness that we report the passing of Dr. Jocelyn Almond in the early morning of Thursday, November 27th. She was an FOI Archpriestess and member of the Star of Isis. In 1995 she founded the Lyceum of Isis Myrionymous near London and had correspondence students world-wide.

Jocelyn was the author of many books, including Egyptian Paganism for Beginners, An Egyptian Book of Shadows, The Book of Egyptian Ritual, The Fall of Xeirozogenes, The Barricaded Tower and also several on the Tarot, co-written with her husband, Dr. Keith Seddon.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family and friends. More information will be posted on this  page of our website as it is received:

 
 
(photo of the High Altar, FOI Foundation Center Temple, copyright M. Quick)

November 25, 2014

FOI Prayer of Thanks

 

FOI Thanksgiving Prayer
By:  Olivia Robertson

"Holy Isis, Holy Osiris;
We give you thanks
that your Love, Beauty and Truth
are manifest with Power and Peace
throughout all spheres,
within all beings,
and we accept your Blessing now,
in Mind and Heart."


Archival link: Fellowship of Isis Prayers

(photo of Winged Isis and Osiris in the Healing Chapel, Foundation Center Temple, by Minette Quick.)

November 21, 2014

Sun in Sagittarius

 
The Shrine of Sagittarius, Foundation Center Temple.

"Presided over by The Morrigan, Queen of All Rivers at Full Flow,
All Springs and Wells, She is the Virgin Source – the Baive.
Her husband is The Dagda Mor, Chief of the Danaans
She is also An Cailleach, the Widow, She Who Weeps.
Where Her Daughter, a tributary, joins her,
A Goddess Centre is traditionally established.
The Castle is on the Banks of the River Derry,
which is a tributary of the ‘River of Healing’- the Slaney.
The FOI as a Daughter of the Goddess
has established the ‘New Awakening’
And dedicated it as the Druid Clan of Dana,
Based in the Druid Grove
in the Wilderness in the grounds of the Castle."

 
 
(Commentary by Olivia Robertson and Minette Quick, photo by M.Q.)

November 18, 2014

Shrine of Persephone

 
"Harken to my words with your inner ear: and see with the Eye of Vision. The seed falls from the plant into the depths, there to draw within itself the elements of growth. When spring comes the plant grows through the earth into the bright air. The great trees and the small wild flowers alike give their gifts of colour and scent and good food. The birds make their nests in branches and the bees and butterflies are enchanted by the many coloured flowers. But when the autumn comes what then of the plants and flowers? Their seeds fall into the dark earth, as I did: and they are reborn on earth, as I was. But their true Selves enjoy eternal beauty with Demeter and all Deities: as I do, now and for ever more."  Oracle of Persephone, by Olivia Robertson.


(photo of the Shrine of Persephone, Foundation Center, copyright Durdin-Robertson, Huntington Castle.)

November 14, 2014

From Cressida Pryor: Olivia's Passing Anniversary

 
Olivia's Passing Anniversary
Message from Cressida Pryor
 
On today's anniversary of Olivia's earthly death I am sure we will all connect with our memories of her in our own way.

She was truly exceptional and her Tara poem seems so pertinent on the day we connect with a comet, which she would have loved, and we honour her life and death:

"The canopy of stars are mine,
Bright eyes of the black Mothers.
I draw the starlight through the spirals of space
To the dark earth's mountains and little hills,
So stars and earth are one.
See Me in the mirror of the moon
reflecting the Inner Sun.
I am with every being that is
For I am within you all."

Hail and farewell, dear Olivia.

Love and blessings,
Cressida

 

Archival Link: Fellowship of Isis Letters


(c) Tara poem and drawing by Olivia Robertson, from the NOT Manual/Compendium and Isis of Fellowship.

Olivia's Reflections - Audio

 
To further honor Olivia Robertson on the anniversary of her passing (see post directly below), we have uploaded fifteen new audio files. This adds two more hours of Olivia presenting her Reflections articles, often with additional commentary.  To listen and read the text as well, go to the link below, click on "Reflections" and scroll down to the new additions:

 
 
 
(Photo of Olivia by Logic Reality)

November 13, 2014

Remembering Olivia Robertson


Blessings to all Aset Shemsu.  Please join us in lighting a candle to remember and honor Olivia Robertson, on the first anniversary of her passing.

"My own dedication came from sudden awareness of identity with the White Light of Isis, a shining silver-white feminine figure with wide shining lightning flashes extending from either side of her head – that encompassed the stars. So I learnt that without Truth, Love becomes dissipated. I have always received inspiration from Those outside myself. I received the teaching: 'Approach Truth with courage: Love with humility.' Divine reality pervades every being. I learnt to honour the truth in all faiths and philosophies. To accept Deity in each creature and atom. I felt the love within all born of The Great Mother of All."  (Olivia Robertson, "The Call of Isis")


Archival Link:
The Life and Work of Olivia Robertson

November 12, 2014

Samhain Festival Foundation Center

 
SAMHAIN FESTIVAL FOUNDATION CENTER.
November 8, 2014. 
 
Greetings to all Members from Foundation Centre
As we approach the first anniversary
Of the passing of our Co-Founder
Rt. Rev. Olivia Robertson
On November 14th, 2013
 
The weather had been overcast and blustery with intermittent rain all week but it didn’t prevent us from processing the grounds of the Castle, to invoke Deity at the sacred places where the Druid Clan of Dana and the Noble Order of Tara were created by the Co-Founders of the Fellowship of Isis, before entering the Temple under the watchful eye of Persephone. It was wet underfoot but the sun shone upon the still green beech leaves high up amongst the magnificent tall trunks of the trees in the Druid’s Grove.
 
Many thanks to Pamela Currey, who as a member of the Durdin-Robertson family takes responsibility for the regular care of the Temple with the assistance of members of the priesthood. Their work continues to ensure that the life within the Temple itself which so inspired the Co-Founders is still palpable and provides a wonderful welcome to all who enter. The energy at Brigid’s Well of Truth, in particular, was incredibly powerful as water was drawn for the customary blessings of all present, a libation having been made to the Goddess of all Waters.
 
The programme on this occasion was very much cognisant of the legacy left to us all by Olivia, whom so many of us feel honoured to have known personally and spent so much time with. Marian who cared for her so exquisitely during the long months in hospital in Waterford presided on this occasion. At the High Altar we received an Oracle in deep peace from the Goddess Danu, and were enchanted in turn by some beautiful ‘a cappella’ solo singing, a poem inspired by the passing of a close relative, and an African chant which we all learnt and sang in parts led by Marian, but the centre-piece was a short Mystery Play the kernel of which was created by Olivia during her final months, and entrusted to both Marian and Cait who kept careful notes, as she wished it to be performed annually in the Temple at this time.
 
Many Blessings to you all from Foundation Centre! I haven’t gone into too much detail on this occasion, but you can be assured that the spirit of the Fellowship of Isis is still very much alive here at this time, and we believe that Olivia in closer Fellowship with the Goddess Herself is directing all our paths towards the growth of freedom to express our own inner divinity in love, beauty and truth together and pass it on in this troubled world.
 
Minette Quick
 
 
 
Archival Link:

(photo of Well of Brigid, Castle Temple, by M. Quick.)


November 11, 2014

Cave of the Mothers

 
The Cave of the Mothers, Foundation Center Temple:  "Wooden African Carving of Mother and Child. The Mother Goddess, Eke-Eyen. Behind left, the 3 Artistic Creators, Pele, Brighid and Maya. Stone figure of Child of Gaia. Painted cloth of Persephone, Queen of Hades."


(Commentary by Olivie Robertson, photo by M. Quick.)

November 5, 2014

Audio Highlight: Lawrence Durdin-Robertson

 
Listen to the words of Lawrence Durdin-Robertson, during a Fellowship ritual:
 
(mp3 / 54 sec / 204 kb)
 
Audio text:
"Know that the Divine Language of Symbols is comprehended throughout all spheres. Symbols not only have power within themselves, but also are the keys that unlock each successive door that guards the inner spheres. Each object on a lesser plane is a symbol on a greater level. Reality increases with consciousness. Every bird and tree here is a symbol of its greater being in the world of eternity. So with ourselves. Our bodies are a symbol for our souls in heaven, and our souls symbolize our spirits in realms of everlasting beauty."


(photo from the Occult Experience, created with permission, please do not reproduce.)

November 1, 2014

Nov. Oracle: Goddess Sarasvati

The true mystic becomes increasingly sensitive to the auras of others,
whether human, animal or plant, and honours and loves them all
as part of our Universal Family.
 
This month's Oracle features the Goddess Sarasvati. You may read it in full by clicking on the link below:
 
 
 
 
 
 
(photo of Olivia Robertson copyright P. Sudheer, with additional cropping by this site)