NMR ISSUE 48

Astrological Forecast 48
Be Careful What you Wish For
Cherished Secret of Success Resonance
Crone Empowered
Crystal Skull Luminaria
Daily Prayer
Doing It by the Book
Editorial 48
Esoteric Symbology of the Tarot
Frog, Cobra & Chickadee
Helping Hand or Magickal Hand
Ikhanten's Doom
Letters 48
Modern Scapegoat Rituals
North Star Road:
Other Editorial 48
Pagan Catechism
Prayer to the Goddess
Renewal Through Release
Samhain Ritual
Temple of the Goddess grounding Meditation
The Fellowship of Isis
The Kabalah in Everyday Use
The Serpent and the Radio
Timelapse
Wolf Moon
Wrath of the Gods Luminaria

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The Fellowship of Isis Manifesto

By Karen Tate

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 inquiries 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 a 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 all over the world and thousands of members since the Fellowship of Isis was founded in 1976 by Lawrence, Pamela and Olivia Durdin-Robertson.

The Fellowship is organized on a democratic basis. All members have equal privileges within it, whether as a single member or as part of an Iseum or Lyceum.

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 or rejoin at their own choice.

The Fellowship reverences all manifestations of life. The rites exclude any form of sacrifice, whether actual or symbolic. Nature is revered and conserved.

The Fellowship accepts religious tolerance and is not exclusivist. Members are free to maintain other religious allegiances. Membership is open to all of every religion, tradition and race. Children are welcome, subject to parental consent.

The Fellowship believes in the promotion of Love, Beauty, and Abundance. No encouragement is given to asceticism.

The Fellowship seeks to develop psychic gifts, wisdom and compassion for all life.

The College of Isis has revived after its suppression 1500 years ago. Like Aset Shemsu, the Fellowship of Isis itself has always been alive on the Inner Planes. It is from these Inner Planes that its return has been inspired. As the College of Isis is part of the Fellowship, the ideals of the Manifesto also apply. The qualities of Goodness, Harmony and Wisdom are manifested through a multireligious, multiracial and multicultural Fellowship that honors the good in all faiths. Magi degrees may be conferred through Lyceums of the College. There are no vows or secrecy.

Iseums are the very hearth of the Goddess and God to whom they are dedicated. They are listed, along with Lyceums and new members, in every issue of Isian News.

Membership in the Fellowship of Isis is free. To join, sign the Manifesto and mail it to FOI, Clonegal Castle, Enniscorthy, EIRE. A certificate will be sent. If you wish to obtain the Isian News, enclose a check for $20 for a one year subscription.

________________________________________________________

I WISH TO JOIN THE FELLOWSHIP OF ISIS. Membership is free.

Name:_______________________________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________________________

City/State/Country/Zip: ________________________________________________

It Began With a Simple Vision- The Fellowship of Isis

By Karen Tate

Of A Special Journey Travel,
Iseum of Isis Navigatum. The Fellowship of Isis was founded by Olivia Durdin-Robertson, her brother, Robert Durdin-Lawrence, and his wife Pamela Durdin-Robertson in the mid 1970's. At this time other leaders raising the consciousness of Goddess Spirituality were also making their presence known in other parts of the world. It is no coincidence that during this cusp between the Age of Pisces and the Age of Aquarius these groups have sprung up. They help guide us through the transition of the Ages to a time of more enlightenment and spirituality. Lady Olive, as the members within the Fellowship of Isis know her, just turned 80 years young. She has always been a liberal and open-minded thinker, even when it was not acceptable to be such a rebel. As a successful novelist in the 1950's, Lady Olivia began exploring the esoteric sciences in order to put into practice psychic gifts gained as a child. She saw spirits and angels all her life, but was shocked and puzzled when she received a vision of The Goddess as Isis in 1976. She could resonate with the practices of psychics, healers, magicians and the likes of her cousin, Robert Graves (author of The White Goddess) despite his not being highly thought of in the family or proper society of the time. Lady Olivia and Lawrence can trace their family tree back to an Egyptian Priestess of Isis named Scota, the dark one, daughter of the Pharaoh Cincris. Scota was the hereditary Daughter of Isis. But it was after her revealing vision from the Goddess Isis in the mid-seventies, that she and brother Lawrence turned their ancestral home of Clonegal Castle in Enniscorthy, Ireland, into the home of the Fellowship of Isis. Lady Olivia, as Priestess of Isis, and Lawrence, former clergyman turned Priest of Isis, would both oversee the work of the Fellowship though Lawrence and Pamela are now deceased. The Fellowship of Isis, whose members number over 14,000 hail from all walks of life and from countries all over the world. Europe, Japan, U.S., Nigeria, India, New Zealand, etc. In 1990 the Fellowship of Isis formed an order of chivalry called the Noble Order of Tara, comprised of members dedicated to working for the environment. They have been instrumental in helping save Mount Leinster from strip-mining, and have other ecology-minded activities underway. In 1992 the Druid Clan of Dana, named for the Irish Mother Goddess, was formed and dedicated to the druidic mysteries. Their magazine, Ailing, is active in the Council of British Druid Orders and organized the 1993 Druid Convention in London. Also 1993, the Fellowship of Isis was one of two Goddess-based religions to be represented at the World Parliament of Religions held in Chicago. Though the Fellowship honors all Goddesses, why does Lady Olivia primarily resonate with Isis? In her own words, Lady Olivia feels Isis is the universal Goddess: the Isis of Ten Thousand Names. She includes them all...Demeter, Lakshmi, Kwan Yin, Dana, Ngame, Mary. To Lady Olivia, Mary of the Christian religion was Isis. Christ was both Osiris and then Horus after Osiris' resurrection. Also, Isis and Mary gave birth not through man, but through God. Lady Olivia believes that the Goddess Isis is manifesting physically and spiritually during this time of transition as the feminine expression of Divinity we so need. Millions everywhere are hearing Her call as they turn back to the Old Ways. Without such change the devastating effect patriarchy has had on the Earth ecologically, spiritually and technologically, will lead to catastrophe. The Divine Plan of the Goddess is to restore harmony, a love for nature and each other so that healthy, abundant life can be nurtured and enjoyed. In the physical plane, Isis has also manifested in apparitions. Though She no doubt appeared in apparitions before this, it is well documented that She has appeared to many since 1830, bringing a message of love, a call to penitence and a promise of heaven. One famous apparition was in Cairo from April 1968 through 1970. A phenomena of lights in the sky and the form of a woman with a halo made a dazzling appearance regularly over the Coptic church of St. Mary at On (now named Zeitun), even appearing in photographs. It is believed that Mary rested with Jesus at this site in their flight into Egypt. To many onlookers, depending on faith, this apparition took on the persona of Fatima and her son Ali, or Mary with Jesus, but there were many that recognized this as Isis with Horus. According to Lady Olivia, She was all of these. The Temple of Isis at the 17th Century Castle Clonegal in Ireland is a wonderful place. A visit promises a glimpse into the temples of ancient Rome and Greece. This is a working temple, not a relic or a museum; it is used throughout the year to celebrate the holiest of days. The temple consists of 26 shrines, including the main sanctuary, naive, chapel of Brighid and shrines dedicated to the twelve signs of the Zodiac. The shrines change occasionally, but this is an example of what you might see: As you enter through ornately carved doors you see a white form depicting the Egyptian god Thoth, Guardian of the mysteries. Stone steps lead down to a landing where a symbol of the Goddess shines forth. Beneath it is a plaque depicting Jesus surrounded by tokens depicting the Divine Feminine. To the left would be the main Temple area where you see images of Goddesses everywhere. Ahead is an Iron Gate leading to the ancient castle well. To the left of the gate is a huge Tibetan bell used to announce entrance into the Temple. The interior of the temple is 79 by 40 feet and built of granite. There is a large sanctuary and naive with a row of nine stone pillars. Two brick pillars stand before the High Altar with a low brick surround creating the sanctuary. On a low raised stone dais before the High Altar, the priests make invocations. The High Altar of Isis is the central focus of ceremonial activity within the Temple. Its central image is of Isis of 10,000 Names, carved for the Fellowship of Isis by the talented woodworker, David Robertson, Lawrence's son. There are five main chapels featuring Elemental attributions. The Chapel of Brighid contains the ancient druidic well 17 feet deep with noted healing properties. From Brighid's chapel carved doors lead to the Holy of Holies, also known as the Chapel of Ishtar, dedicated to the fifth Element, Spirit. The Temple is used daily for meditation and ritual by Lady Olivia. She helps heal and attune with members worldwide. To join the Fellowship of Isis, one must only resonate with their manifesto. Work continues at the Fellowship of Isis bringing the Goddess back to the world through whatever means She deems appropriate. The vision and dream of these dedicated people at the Fellowship of Isis has grown from a group of three to become a wonderful vehicle for the Goddess, reaching the hearts and minds and lives of thousands. Recommended Reading: The Call of Isis, by Olivia Robertson, can be obtained from Clonegal Castle at the address above. Isis and Osiris, by Jonathan Cott (Doubleday).Mysteries of Isis, by deTraci Regula (Llewellyn).Karen Tate has dedicated her travel agency to the Goddess. A Special Journey Travel is an Iseum dedicated specifically to Isis entitled Iseum of Isis Navigatum. As a hearth of the Goddess, Karen's hope is for her agency to help navigate for those interested in finding the Goddess, to help raise Goddess consciousness, and to empower women through matrifocal spirituality. Karen organizes trips to sacred Goddess/spirituality sites around the world, bringing together those new to the Goddess and those who know Her well; so that those of a like mind can share sacred space, take part in ritual and enjoy the love of the Goddess at Her sacred sites. Currently Karen has several trips planned for 1997 with noted leaders in the Goddess field to Salem, Egypt and Greece: Brenda Matarazzo, an egyptologist, psychic, Priestess of Isis and founder of Grove of the Green Cobra school of metaphysics will lead the trips to Egypt (December) and Salem (October).Patricia Monaghan, noted Goddess author/poetess, and Morning Glory Zell of The Church of All Worlds will lead a trip to Greece (Aug/Sept), creating the atmosphere of an ancient Greek pilgrimage to the Goddess. Both are leaders in their fields of academic Goddess knowledge, ritual and magick. For more information contact Karen Tattoo at: A Special Journey Travel, 660 Venice Boulevard Box 199, Venice CA 90291; 310/450-6661, 800/450-6813, FAX: 310/827-4887; e-mail: specialjourn@earthlink.com