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| Clonegal Castle, FOI Foundation Center |
Fellowship of Isis co-founders, Lawrence Durdin-Robertson, his wife Pamela, and his sister,
Olivia Durdin-Robertson founded the Fellowship of Isis at their ancestral home, Clonegal (Huntington) Castle in Ireland,
on the Vernal Equinox of 1976.
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| Olivia Robertson and Lawrence Durdin-Robertson in the temple at Clonegal Castle |
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| Ross Nichols (Nuinn) and Lady Olivia Robertson |
Huntington Castle Centre for Meditation and
Study
In previous years, the three co-founders had
worked together in the "Huntington Castle Centre for Meditation and Study." They received psychics, mystics, occultists and
theologists, including Robert Graves, a cousin of the Durdin-Robertson family, Ross Nichols (Nuinn) who later founded
the OBOD, Gerald Gough, Josephine and Mohun Lall.
The Purpose of
the Fellowship of Isis
As time passed the three FOI co-founders decided
it was time to create a Goddess-based organization. Their aim was to spread the Religion of the Goddess throughout
the world. Another founding premise was to create an organization which promotes the ideals of Love, Truth,
Beauty and Abundance. The Fellowship of Isis has as it's Divine Patroness, Isis of Ten Thousand Names, Who is Mother of all
beings. Through recognition of Her Divine Spark in all creatures, the Fellowship reveres all forms
of life. The Manifesto of the Fellowship sets out the specific aims. Since its founding, the Fellowship of Isis has been a
major force in the international awakening and renewal of the Goddess awareness. To read the FOI Manifesto, please click here.
Fellowship of Isis Foundation Centre
The Fellowship of Isis is now decentralized according to Lady Olivia Robertson's wishes. The FOI Foundation Headquarters
are referred to as the FOI Foundation Centre since decentralization. It is still located at the Durdin-Robertson ancestral
home of Clonegal Castle in Enniscorthy, Ireland. To read more about Clonegal Castle please click here.
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| Olivia and FOI members on the steps near the entrance to the Temple at Clonegal Castle |
Olivia Robertson (front row, second from left) standing in front of the entrance to the temple of the castle with members
of the Fellowship of Isis, visiting for ritual. Olivia receives visits from FOI members and others throughout
the year. In her ninth decade of life, Olivia still works continously in her role as FOI co-founder, to further
the principles of the Fellowship of Isis throughout the world.
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| Entrance to the Temple of Isis at Clonegal Castle |
The lower level of Clonegal Castle is the location of a series of shrines and chapels dedicated to Isis of Ten Thousand
Names. The shrines and chapels collectively are referred to as the Temple of Isis. The outdoor entrance to these
shrines is shown to the right, a balcony is situated directly above. Stairs from the upper level of the castle lead
to a landing featuring a statue of Atalanta, before resuming down to the temple entrance. The edge of the last step is
just visible in the lower right of the photo.
Logo of the Fellowship of Isis
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| Aset Shemsu, hieroglyphic logo of the Fellowship of Isis |
The hieroglyphic logo of the Fellowship of Isis was researched by Rt. Rev. Lawrence Durdin-Robertson, and
drawn by Rt. Rev. Olivia Robertson, two of the FOI co-founders.
The Manifesto of the Fellowship of Isis, official correspondence and all certification
issued from FOI Foundation Centre (Clonegal Castle) is headed by the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs illustrated
above, which are translated as "Aset Shemsu", the "Retinue of Isis".
FOI co-founder Lady Olivia Robertson writes that these hieroglyphs: "... link
the Fellowship with the love of the Goddess of six thousand years ago, and so have profound symbolic and occult significance.
The hieroglyphs are translated as “Aset Shemsu”, the Retinue of Isis. Among the picture signs is that of Aset,
the Throne of Isis, the Matriarchal seat which conferred power on each succeeding Pharaoh. The picture-word for Woman is presented
as seated woman in profile; and the symbol of the Sun-God Horus, son of Isis and Osiris, is given in his bird form, in which
he uses his Utchat eye. One may still see these symbols carved on the walls and columns in Egyptian temples an tombs. They
bring members into relationship with their ancestors who loved the Arts and Nature ..." (Preface, Handbook
of the Fellowship of Isis, first edition, 1992)
She has also written: "Creativity comes from the harmony of
the psychic and earthly spheres." According to Olivia, attunement to the creative energies of the Divine Source brings
harmony, healing and happiness. She states that one may augment their spiritual growth and awareness through
the arts and nature.
This logo has been in use since the earliest days of the Fellowship of Isis, according to FOI co-founder Rt. Rev. Olivia
Robertson. It was displayed as part of the masthead for the very first issue of Isian News in the summer of
1976, just a few months after the formal founding of the Fellowship of Isis on the Vernal Equinox of that same year.
Since decentralization in 1999, Rt. Rev. Olivia Robertson has stated that FOI centres issuing certification
may use a logo designed for their own centre. However, the certificate must also include the hieroglyphic
logo of the Fellowship of Isis.
Harmony for the Earth and All Beings
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| Aphrodite altar in the Temple of Isis shrines at Clonegal Castle |
Although the Fellowship is dedicated to spreading the religion of all the Goddesses
throughout this planet, the Gods are also venerated, which provides balance. The magical name I.S.I.S. represents all Goddesses
just as O.S.I.R.I.S represents all Gods. The Fellowship of Isis is a multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious organization.
The Goddess is seen as the Divine Mother of all beings, as well as the embodiment of Wisdom, Beauty, Truth and Compassion.
Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and Spiritualists have joined. From the many countries of Western Europe to Nigeria, from Japan,
Bali, New Zealand and Australia, followers of the various esoteric traditions have become members, including practitioners
of Wicca, Qabalah, Rosicrucianism, Celtic Mysteries and the Zen, Sufi and Tao paths.
The Fellowship of Isis provides a means of communion between the Goddess and each
individual member, whether they work as solitaries or as part of a specific center, all are joined in the ever expanding process
of spiritual awareness. The membership includes over twenty thousand members in ninety-eight countries,
who blend their personal beliefs and rites with those offered by the Fellowship of Isis.
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| A fond farewell at the castle gate |
For information about the policies of the FOI, for center listings, publications, networking and liturgy, please click
here:
To read additional pages about the background of the FOI, please click here:
To learn more about the Founding of the Fellowship of Isis please click here:
Photos of Clonegal Castle on this page courtesy of Lady Olivia Robertson, AU and Renee Samaniego-Lundy,
Prs. H. Photo of Ross Nichols and Olivia courtesy of Lady Olivia Robertson, AU. Photo of FOI
members and Olivia Robertson courtesy of Johnny Merron, AU. Aset Shemsu logo hieroglyphic art by Lady Olivia Robertson, AU. Aphrodite
altar photo courtesy of Rev. Karen Tate. Olivia standing at castle gate courtesy of Rev. Diane C. Darling. All photos
are copyrighted. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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May Isis richly bless all who visit this site.
This central Fellowship of Isis website is officially authorized and chartered by Fellowship of Isis
co-founder Lady Olivia Robertson, AU, FOI Foundation Centre, Clonegal Castle, Enniscorthy, Ireland
Copyright © 2004-2008 The Circle of Isis
Notice of Copyright and Disclaimer of the Circle of Isis Website Contents:
The Circle of Isis website is an officially sanctioned central global website of the Fellowship of Isis, authorized
by Lady Olivia Robertson, AU, co-founder of the Fellowship of Isis, Foundation Centre, Clonegal Castle, Enniscorthy, Ireland.
The contents of the Circle of Isis Website are not public domain. All contents published under the
name The Circle of Isis on this website are copyrighted. The URL (www.thecircleofisis.com) is copyrighted. Direct
links to these webpages are permitted. Copying the appearance, content or format of these pages is not permitted. All rights
reserved.
Notice of Copyright of the Fellowship of Isis Liturgy: Fellowship of Isis Liturgy copyright is legally shared by
the author, Lady Olivia Robertson, AU, FOI co-founder, with members of the Circle of Isis Advisory Board. Those
members are Rt. Rev. Loreon Vigne, Rt. Rev. deTraci Regula, ArchDrs. Linda Iles and Rt. Rev. Caroline Wise. The content and
format of the Fellowship of Isis Liturgy presented on the Circle of Isis website are not public domain. The content and
format are protected by a separate copyright. Lady Olivia Robertson, AU, FOI co-founder, personally upholds our copyright.
Private or public distribution, private or public reproduction, private or public publication in
any form, by any means, of the FOI Liturgy as presented on the Circle of Isis website, is not permitted. Direct links
to the FOI Liturgy pages on the Circle of Isis website are allowed, printing a copy for private ritual use is allowed.
All other rights reserved.
"Circle of Isis" line drawing by Lady Olivia Robertson. Used by permission of the artist. All rights reserved.
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