Lyceums, The College of Isis

"The College of Isis has been revived after its suppression 1,500 years ago. Like Aset Shemsu, the FOI itself, it has always been alive in the Inner Planes." - Olivia Robertson, excerpt from Manifesto of the Fellowship of Isis

The drawing to the right is titled "Pallas Athena, Goddess of Light and Darkness." Pallas Athena is invoked and provides the oracle for the rite of consecration of a Hierophant, "Flamma Sacerdotae", into the College of Isis. The oracle reads in part: "Understand the meaning of what I am, and you will gain comprehension of your own lives and destiny. I am not divided against Myself: Bright Pallas with her Spear of Light does not war with the Dark Owl of Night."

The College of Isis was founded in 1986. It was a project dear to the hearts of the FOI co-founders, Lawrence Durdin-Robertson and his sister, Olivia Robertson. The Magi Degree System of the College of Isis was the first corresponding of FOI rituals to the Star of Ishtar for the purpose of a structured course of study.

LYCEUMS, The College of Isis

The word "Lyceum" is an archaic name for a place of learning. A Lyceum can be a specific physical location with sacred space and an altar. It can also be a place in heart and mind where student and teacher meet. In the College of Isis, within the Fellowship of Isis, the Lyceum curriculum is utilized to develop intuitive connection to the Deity within. This is encouraged through guidance and self discovery. This is facilitated by the Hierophant who heads the Lyceum.

A Hierophant is someone who has undergone much preparation and study. "Hierophant" literally means "one who shows forth." Hierophants of the College of Isis are consecrated in a separate ceremony following admittance into the Priestess/Priesthood of the Fellowship and subsequent training in the College of Isis. All titles within the Fellowship relate to the scope of work undertaken. Priesthood involves a voluntary acceptance of work undertaken for the Divine Plan of the Deities.

A Hierophant is a member of the ordained clergy who has earned four magi degrees. Magi degrees are received when divine awareness or divine communion is attained as a direct result of performance of one of the Magi Degree Rites. There are 33 initiations in the Magi Degree system, but only 32 rituals. The 33rd initiation being the attainment of divine awareness without ritual.

Every Lyceum is asked to provide a structured course of study which includes the Magi Degree System of rites. The contents of the study course should provide a culmination in a rite from the Magi Degree System of rites. There is no one particular established structure for the contents of a Lyceum study course. Each Lyceum offers a course of study that is brought through by inspiration from the Patron or Patroness Deity or Deities, making each training course unique to the particular Lyceum offering course work.

All Lyceums are paired with a Fellowship of Isis center called an Iseum. An Iseum is a Hearth of the Goddess, dedicated to a specific Patron or Patroness Deity or Deities. Iseums were the first FOI centers to be designated. A Lyceum, twinned with an Iseum, is therefore not only a teaching center within the Fellowship of Isis, it is also a Hearth of the Goddess.

INITIATION INTO A LYCEUM (Flamma Vestae)

Members of a Lyceum enjoy the same loving cooperation and companionship as members of Iseums. Teaching centers within the College of Isis also function as Iseums, the "Hearths of the Goddess" which nurture and protect the "sacred flame" burning within the heart of every FOI member. A Lyceum, twinned with it's Iseum, is also a branch of the Family of Isis. Members of a Lyceum are designated as Lyceum Companions.

Therefore the Initiation rite for admittance into a Lyceum is the same as that for admittance into an Iseum. This ritual is called "Flamma Vestae", interpreted from Latin it means literally “Flame of Vestae.” The Vestae were Priestesses of ancient Rome who guarded the sacred flame of their patroness Goddess Vesta, the Roman Goddess of the hearth and heart of the home. The Lyceum, like an Iseum, is seen as the spiritual home, a center where members gather together for friendship, teaching, ritual and to draw strength and comfort from the fellowship amongst Lyceum members. This ritual is found in the FOI Liturgy book "Panthea, Initiations and Festivals of the Goddess." A slightly altered version is used for admittance into a lyceum, which contains appropriate change of titles for the officiants of the ritual to designate their roles in a lyceum.

Flamma Vestae. Initiation into a Fellowship of Isis Lyceum

MAGI DEGREE SYSTEM (offered through Lyceums only)

The Magi Degree System of rites is carried out through a Lyceum within the College of Isis, which is headed by a Priest/ess Hierophant. There are 33 rites in the Magi Degree System, including 32 physical rites, and 1 Initiation of Divine Awareness without ritual. The experience of Divine Awareness without ritual, is considered private and no certification is issued for this Initiation.

Four magi degrees must be obtained before a Candidate becomes eligible for consecration as a Hierophant and founder of their own lyceum, this includes the Rite of Ordination into the Priest/esshood of the Fellowship of Isis. Consecration as a Hierophant is only carried out after a Candidate has first been ordained as a Priest or Priestess within the FOI. Certification of attainment of a Magi Degree is written as 1st Degree Magi/Maga after attaining the first initiation, 2nd Degree Magi/Maga after attaining the second initiation, etc.

HIEROPHANT CONSECRATION (Flamma Sacredotae)

The consecration ritual for a Hierophant is titled Flammae Sacredotae, which refers to the inner sacred flame that guides a Hierophant of the Fellowship of Isis. College of Isis Magi Degree rituals are dramas of sacred mystery. It is the role of the Hierophant to act as a guide for those who undertake these mystery dramas; so that the seeker is better enabled to achieve contact with divine awareness. The word “Hierophant” comes to us from Latin “hierophanta” but originally it came from the language of the ancient Greeks. It is a combination of “hieros” meaning “holy” and “phantēs” which means “one who shows.” A Hierophant in the College of Isis has attained the inner wisdom to guide others towards spiritual knowledge. A Hierophant understands the symbolism of the mystery dramas and has experienced the sacred mysteries in both mind and heart.

Hierophants perform a specialized function in the FOI priestess/priesthood. A Hierophant teaches within the Magi Degree system of sacred mystery dramas of the College of Isis. This is the only difference between a Hierophant and the rest of the members of the FOI priestess/priesthood. There is no ‘position’ in the FOI priesthood denoting rank one above the other, no member of the FOI is given privilege one above the other. Titles are merely a designation of work taken on. Every member of the FOI is equal one with the other.

Flammae Sacredotae. Consecration of a Hierophant

The Magi Degree rites are:

Rite of Rebirth (The Basic Initiation Rite of the Fellowship of Isis)

The Isis Wedding Rite (Awakening to One's True Relationship with Others)

Dea, Rites and Mysteries of the Goddess (Rites 8 - 12 only)

Mystery of the Awakening of Osiris

Mystery of the Spheres

Mystery of Demeter and Persephone

Mystery of Eros and Psyche

Mystery of the Labyrinth

Urania, Ceremonial Magic of the Goddess (All Rites)

Sophia, Cosmic Consciousness of the Goddess (All Rites)

Ordination of a Priestess or Priest

To view the Magi Ritual Key for the Star of Ishtar Diagram, please click here.

For listings of FOI Lyceums, please click here.

List of FOI Lyceums