August 27, 2015

Shrine of Ishtar

 
"This chapel of the Non-Zodiac Stars is centre of our Temple Labyrinth.
The main altar of the Goddess Ishtar of the 8-pointed star, Lady of 15
shows a 'Mirror of Hathor,' which reflects the soul's dreams.
Ishtar is painted on the surface.
She descended the Planes to rescue her Lover, Tammuz
Shepherd of the Starry Flocks.
The Goddess Tiamat of space is painted
with outspread wings on the altar frontal."



(photo copyright Minette Quick, Star Chapel, Foundation Center. Artwork by Olivia Robertson. Text by Olivia and Minette.)

August 23, 2015

Happy Sun in Virgo


The Shrine of Virgo is located in the passageway outside of the Cave of the Mothers in the Castle Temple of Isis.  Click below to hear an audio file of Olivia Robertson leading a meditation during a past rite: 

Meditation on the Window of Virgo
(MP3 File / 7:00 min. / 1.62MB)
 

Audio transcript: 
"We shut our eyes and still our minds. We see before us in the distance a hill crowned with a beautiful Temple surrounded by myriads of stars. We mount the hill by a winding path. We are climbing up to the Temple of the Zodiac. It is twelve-sided and pearl colored with long windows that glow with many colored lights. We are approaching a Gateway in the south-east, guarded by two bronze statues of Sphinxes - women to the waist, lions below, their wings reaching the roof. On the left of the Gateway is a spring from which a stream flows into the Temple through a conduit.

"We particularly examine the windows on either side of the doorway. On the left, is a window marked "Leo". The stained-glass depicts a naked woman surrounded by a Hawk, a Lioness, a Cow and a Winged God. On the window on the right, is a picture of a woman veiled from head to foot, holding an Ankh in her right hand, a scroll in her left. Over the window is the sign of Virgo, formed by two folded wings and the knot of Isis. The sign of Virgo looks like an "M" and you can form a loop in the center, the Knot of Isis.  Over the doorway is a bas-relief of a Sphinx, her lion's body facing the Leo window, her woman's face turning towards the window of Virgo. Her wings sweep downwards on either side of the entrance, forming two feathered curtains.

"Suddenly a powerful wind rushes through the Temple pushing open the Window of Virgo! Through it we see eight blazing stars shining through nebulae. Within this astral sphere of Virgo are the Isles of the Blest where we learn how to weave the future from the past, by using the present.

"Now I want you to visualize yourself passing through the Window of Virgo, the eight blazing stars, and we see islands of great beauty.  All may enter this place, the Isles of the Blest, but those who have done wrong, learn here how to expiate and make all well. How lovely are the islands.  There is music here, great beauty, nature spirits, wonderful animals.  Peaceful lions, deer, small animals playing around their feet, lionesses. . . The animals and birds here are intelligent.  You can communicate with them telepathically, as we can with angels, nature spirits, Deity.  Do this. . learn. . learn how to be blest so we may attain this place even in sleep on earth.  You learn here the weaving, because we are the Fates, we create our own Fate.  They're not sinister ladies sitting on thrones being disagreeable to us.  We have to learn even how to turn evil into good, which is wonderful because nothing's wasted you see - we can use the past now to create the present.  But you need help to do this and that is why we need to be in the Isles of the Blest.

"At first we feel overcome when we think of the harm we've done.. . maybe we've harmed animals or people.. .but now we see how we can 3-fold make up for it.  We can forgive others.  There's all of infinity to do good in.  There's much laughter here because nothing is more delightful than to recognize the Truth, and often it makes one laugh, at oneself, preferably.   All pretense vanishes here.  Now if you feel you have experienced this bliss of creation, of creating a better future for ourselves and our earth, you may now, I should think, feel like looking at the eight stars.. . you feel spiritual light pouring through you.  We learn here to center ourselves.  Now is the center of the circle around which time flows - past and present, like a stream flows around us - that is the secret.   We are not moving through time, we are ever the same in spirit - no, time is moving around us.  We are not moving through space, space is moving around us.  Feel this consciousness, this awareness.  You are in the center.  Time and space are flowing around you and you may therefore alter what happens.  This is the art of Creation."

"It is now time for us to return through the Window of Virgo.  Leave by this Window of Virgo, come back through the window.  We all return to the holy Temple, changed - even a little." 


(photo of the Shrine of Virgo, Foundation Center Temple, copyright Minette Quick.)


August 18, 2015

Fellowship of Isis Manifesto

 
Fellowship of Isis Manifesto

Growing numbers of people are rediscovering their love for the Goddess. At first, this love may seem to be no more than an inner feeling. But soon it develops; it becomes a longing to help the Goddess actively in the manifestation of Her divine plan. Thus, one hears such enquiries as, "How can I get initiated into the Mysteries of the Goddess? How can I experience a closer communion with her? Where are her nearest temples and devotees? How can I join the priesthood of the Goddess?", and many other such questions.

The Fellowship of Isis has been founded to answer these needs. Membership provides means of promoting a closer communion between the Goddess and each member, both singly and as part of a larger group. There are hundreds of Iseums and thousands of members all over the world, since the Fellowship was founded in 1976 by Lawrence, Pamela and Olivia Durdin-Robertson. Love, Beauty and Truth are expressed through a multi-religious, multi-cultural, multi-racial Fellowship. The good in all faiths is honoured. The Fellowship of Isis has no particular affiliations.

The Fellowship is organized on a democratic basis. All members have equal privileges within it, whether as a single member or part of an Iseum or Lyceum. This manifesto applies also to the daughter societies: the College of Isis, the Spiral of the Adepti, the Spiral of Alchemy, the Noble Order of Tara and the Druid Clan of Dana.

The Fellowship respects the freedom of conscience of each member. There are no vows required or commitments to secrecy. All Fellowship activities are optional and members are free to resign without question. Membership is free.

The Fellowship reverences all manifestations of Life. The God also is venerated. The Rites exclude any form of sacrifice, whether actual or symbolic. Nature is revered and conserved. The work of the Noble Order of Tara is for conservation of Nature.

The Fellowship accepts religious toleration, and is not exclusivist. Members are free to maintain other religious allegiances. Membership is open to all of every religion, tradition and race. Children, listed as "Children of Isis", are welcomed, subject to parental consent. The “Animal Family of Isis” accepts members’ animal and bird friends through centres.

The Fellowship believes in the promotion of Love, Beauty and Abundance. No encouragement is given to asceticism. The Fellowship seeks to develop friendliness, psychic gifts, happiness, and compassion for all life. The Druid Clan of Dana develops Nature's psychic gifts.

The College of Isis has been revived after its suppression 1,500 years ago. Like Aset Shemsu, The F.O.I. itself, it has always been alive in the Inner Planes. It is from these Inner Planes that its return has been inspired. Magi degrees may be conferred through Lyceums of the College. Correspondence courses are offered. There are no vows nor secrecy.  

Iseums are the very Hearths of the Goddess, or Goddess and God to Whom they are dedicated. These are listed, along with Lyceums in every Isian News. Tara Priories and Dana Groves are also listed regularly. All these centers and Isian News are for FOI members only.

All members are equal, and are not subject to anyone. All work with the Goddess - or Goddess and God - of their own Faith. Every Being - human, animal, bird, tree - element - is an eternal offspring of the Divine Family of the Mother Goddess.



(The FOI Manifesto was originally created in 1976 by the Fellowship of Isis founders: Olivia Robertson, Lawrence and Pamela Durdin-Robertson. It has been updated many times throughout the years and the most recent revision is above, last updated by FOI Steward Cressida Pryor on Samhain 2014.)

Archival Link:
Fellowship of Isis Manifesto

August 12, 2015

Fellowship of Isis Thanksgiving Prayer

 
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."
 
 
 
(Painting of Isis and Osiris by Olivia Robertson, photo copyright M. Quick.)

August 7, 2015

Shrine of Persephone

 
Shrine of Persephone,
Castle Portico to the Temple of Isis.



(photo copyright Durdin-Robertson family, Huntington Castle.)

August 1, 2015

August Oracle


"Hear My call.
Defend our children, the animals.
Protect our woods and waters."

 The Oracle for August is from the Goddess Kore and includes audio of Lawrence Durdin-Robertson and Olivia Robertson giving the Invocation and Oracle.  Read and listen to it by clicking on the link below:





(Photo copyright Dennis Murphy from "Olivia Robertson, Priestess of Isis" DVD.)