Star of Ishtar

"The Rays of the Star are Time; the levels are the coils of the Creatrix Dragon of Babylon, the Goddess Tiamat. Her four coils form Space, these correspond to the four levels of the Qabalistic Tree of Life (Atziluth, Briah, Yetzirah, Assiah). The matrix resembles in form a spider’s web, around an egg-shaped oval center, which is the seed, the central point from which life emanates in the eight coloured cosmic rays of Sirius, known as the Star of Ishtar, and Soul of Isis ." - Olivia Robertson

"On the High Altar in the Chapel of Ishtar we have eight candles, eight is the special number of the Fellowship. The Star of Ishtar has eight rays, the year has eight main festivals, it is the sign of eternity, of magic - the two loops signifying higher and lower awareness, the world above and the world below experienced as one." - Olivia Robertson

Knowledge of The Star of Ishtar and the Web of the Universe is crucial to perceiving the underlying potency of each ritual in the Liturgy of the Fellowship of Isis. It symbolizes the relationship between Space, formed by the coils of the spiral dragon Tiamat, with Time, formed by the eight-pointed Star of Ishtar, which is also known as the Star Sirius or Sothis, the Soul of Isis. The eight rays emanating off the Star of Ishtar intersect the four levels of consciousness to form portals which provide opportunities for spiritual growth through focusing on Divine energies, keys and symbols, like those provided within the FOI Liturgy.

The Star of Ishtar and the Web of the Universe Diagram is the basis for all of the Spirals of Spiritual Growth utilized within the Fellowship of Isis, including the Magi Degrees of the College of Isis, the Spiral of the Adepti, the Spiral of Alchemy, and the ritual structure for the Druid Clan of Dana and Noble Order of Tara. Rays of the Star of Ishtar total to eight, which is a uniquely feminine number because it corresponds to the sum of the terminals of the XX of feminine chromosones. The spiraled coils of Tiamat symbolize the concept of the Fibonacci numbers - the perfect and divine proportion which is expressed throughout nature. The diagram depicts a matrix, formed by the Babylonian Goddess Tiamat as a four-coiled dragon, Divine Creatress and Mother of all, bisected by the eight rayed Star of Ishtar. Ishtar descended and ascended all spheres to rescue Her Divine Consort Tammuz, who is the Shepherd of the Starry Flocks in the sky. We use this diagram to illustrate the development of consciousness through the Spiral as Space, where it is bisected by Time.

The concept and key for this diagram was revealed to Lady Olivia Robertson through spiritual inspiration. It was originally drawn for Lady Olivia by Chesca Potter. The four coils of the Tiamat Dragon represent the four stages of consciousness; the thirty-two rituals are represented on the diagram where the rays intersect these four planes of consciousness, creating portals to access different levels of being, thus giving access to 32 working rites, and one mystical degree, the 33rd, which is situated in the heart of the Star of Ishtar. Olivia writes: "I felt it necessary to keep the 33rd degree open and therefore mystic, with no corresponding rite - spontaneous spiritual awakening can happen at any time." The FOI Liturgy rites are vehicles to stimulate psychic perception and spiritual illumination.

“The diagram of the Star of Ishtar was created over a period of time through a series of visions and experiences which led to the gradual formation of the Star diagram. As with all aspects of the Fellowship of Isis the diagram is open. You can see at the beginning of the diagram a kind of tail of cosmic dust that leads to ritual number one. This is because the spiral is a map or chart of a multi-layered and ever-expanding existence. It is the purpose of spiritual experience to attune our awareness - as we become more fully conscious we retain the lessons, visions and messages we receive from the otherworld. Make no mistake - we are in contact with this astral world whether we are aware of it or not. It is part of the very fabric of our existence, both of our own being and that of everything around us.

After creating the Star of Ishtar I found an ancient Chinese diagram which contained a seven-coiled dragon and eight-pointed star. Later I learned this dragon and star were symbols of Daoist Inner Alchemy and that our Fellowship diagram is in agreement with the eastern sages! Like the teachers of the east, I see ‘now’ as all we truly have. This 'now' is bisected by time and space. Time is comprised of the out-reaching rays of the Star of Ishtar, emanating in rainbow rays to Her children who are dispersed throughout Her creation. This Web of Life is the universe, both our physical universe and those of varying etheric levels within it. All co-exists in Her Body, for She is Mother of All. I was guided in visions to illustrate Her as a cosmic spiral which I saw as the Coils of Tiamat, though the Goddess as Creatrix has been known by many names in many cultures.” (Olivia Robertson, October, 2006)

Students of the Qabalah will notice the relation between the Star of Ishtar, Web of the Universe diagram with the four worlds and thirty-two paths of the Qabalistic Tree of Life:

• Physical - Alma Mater (awakening to our true relationship to the physical world)
   corresponds to earth (Qabalistic level of Assiah)

• Astral or Psychic - Flamma Vestae (awakening our psychic gifts) corresponds to air
   (Qabalistic level of Yetzirah)

• Spiritual - Porta Mystica (awakening to our true spiritual path) corresponds to water
   (Qabalistic level of Briah)

• Divine - Dulce Domum (receiving communion directly from the Divine Source)
   corresponds to fire (Qabalistic level of Atziluth)

These levels of existence spiral inward to the Divine Matrix or Womb of the Goddess placed in the center of the Star of Ishtar. The Ankh represents the Emanation of Life from this Divine Womb and the numbered rituals around the spiral show both the Path of Return to Her and the Path of Emergence from Her. The eight rays of the Star of Ishtar correspond to the eight Solar Festivals that make up the Wheel of the Year, the directions and the various astrological signs and planets. The student of the mysteries may travel the paths in various ways such as:

• Inward around the spiral (to gradually awaken union with the Divine Source)

• Outward around the spiral (to bring spiritual gifts into manifestation in our earthly life)

• Along one or more of the rays (to develop union with the Divine using a specific ray of archetypal energy)

Or they may choose a rite that feels resonate, regardless of the order of the rites upon the diagram.

The Colours of the Four Levels

Alma Mater is colored Violet to Indigo.

Flamma Vestae is colored Blue to Green.

Porta Mystica is colored Yellow to Orange.

Dulce Domum is colored Red to Violet.

The Eight Coloured Cosmic Rays

Ray 0 & VIII, White and Rainbow, corresponding to Earth and Pluto, North

Ray I, Red, corresponding to Mars, Northeast

Ray II, Orange, corresponding to Venus, East

Ray III, Yellow, corresponding to Mercury, Southeast

Ray IV, Green, corresponding to Jupiter, South

Ray V, Blue, corresponding to Saturn, Southwest

Ray VI, Indigo, corresponding to Uranus & Inner Sun, West

Ray VII, Violet, corresponding to Neptune and Moon, Northwest

The Rites of the Liturgy are divided into eight different sections that correspond to the Cosmic Rays. The first ritual in each section is either a personal role taken on by the seeker to gain new knowledge, or a mundane role describing an awakening to one’s true relationship to the physical world. The second ritual corresponds to one of the eight solar festivals of the Wheel of the Year, the third to an inner elemental or transcendental state of being. The fourth rite corresponds to the manifestation of a specific ability or spiritual experience directly related to this newly awakened inner state.

In these Magical Rites the God manifests in the Outer Arcanum as attributes that are visible in the physical world. The Goddess represents the Inner Mysteries or Knowledge, except in the case of the planet Venus. Her emanations manifest in the physical world as reproduction, love of physical beauty, sensuality and the aesthetic appreciation of art. In the inner worlds Venus manifests as the higher more spiritual aspects of love.

Basic Color Correspondences of the Numbered Rites & Cosmic Rays

When studying the structure of the magi degree system of the College of Isis, it is helpful to keep in mind that Lawrence Durdin-Robertson was greatly influenced by the work of Alice Bailey, Charles W. Leadbeater and Annie Besant.

Each of the eight rays of the Star of Ishtar correspond to the Colored Cosmic Rays of Divine Intelligence as described in the work of Alice Bailey and Charles W. Leadbeater. They are streams of pranic force. The purpose of these rituals is to strike a note on one level of being and so awaken the same note on other octaves of being through use of symbol and color. The elaborate description of colored robes, headdresses and other outer symbols at the beginning of each ritual puts these psychic keynotes into the creative imagination of the candidate to promote visualization of the energies being invoked.

0 and 8th Cosmic Ray, White and Rainbow: The color white is used to purify the etheric centers and the Rainbow then stimulates all these centers at once, thus, preparing the individual for receptivity to the subsequent work along the Cosmic Rays.

1st Cosmic Ray, Red: Strengthens the Will.

2nd Cosmic Ray, Orange: Stimulates Creative Potency.

3rd Cosmic Ray, Yellow: Awakens the Intellect of the Higher Mind.

4th Cosmic Ray, Green: Creates Inner Balance and Harmony.

5th Cosmic Ray, Blue: Opens Pathways to Inner Knowledge.

6th Cosmic Ray, Indigo: Spiritual Perception through Devotion.

7th Cosmic Ray, Violet: Connection to the Spiritual Self, Awakening of Higher Levels of Psychic Perception.

Magi Ritual Key to the Star of Ishtar

Adepti Ritual Key to the Star of Ishtar

Alchemy Ritual Key to the Star of Ishtar, Spiral 1

Alchemy Ritual Key to the Star of Ishtar, Spiral 2

Noble Order of Tara Ritual Key to the Star of Ishtar

Druid Clan of Dana Ritual Key to the Star of Ishtar