The Isian News

"The Lightening Flash of Isis" by Olivia Robertson

This painting is featured on the cover of Issue no. 119, Brigantia 2006 of the Isian News

History of the Isian News

Official Newsletter of the Fellowship of Isis

In the Beginning, Summer 1976

The Isian News was the first official publication of the Fellowship of Isis. It was first published in the summer of 1976, a few months after the formal founding of the Fellowship of Isis on the Spring Equinox. Originally it was issued through the Foundation Centre Headquarters of the Fellowship of Isis at Clonegal Castle in Ireland, by FOI co-founder, Olivia Robertson.

Front page of first Isian News, Summer, 1976

For many years the Isian News had a simple format and informal appearance which did not change, as displayed directly to the right. It featured the FOI hieroglyphic logo "Aset Shemsu" as a masthead. These hieroglyphs were researched by Lawrence Durdin-Robertson and drawn by Olivia Robertson, two of the Fellowship of Isis co-founders. An invocation and oracle were presented, followed by commentary and a listing of news and reports from FOI members.

Isian News 1996 - 2003

From 1996 through mid 2003, the Isian News was printed and distributed by Caroline Wise, AU and Karl Duncan, Priest of Sekhmet and Bride, on a volunteer basis in London, UK.

It was Caroline Wise who introduced the concept and format for the cover for the Isian News; a format that is still in use today.

The new design included the hieroglyphic logo of the FOI as before, though now featured at the bottom of the page. At the top of the cover page, "Isian News" appeared in bold letters accompanied by a black eight pointed star, to represent the Star of Ishtar.

Beneath this heading artwork would be featured, for a time this consisted of illustrations of cards from the Marseilles Tarot, corresponding to the rituals for the later published FOI liturgy book "Fortuna, Creation Through the Goddess." After this collection of rituals was finished, black and white illustrations created by FOI co-founder Olivia Robertson (who is a renowned artist) were presented on the cover of each issue, and reproduced in subsequent liturgy books.

During this same period issues began to be referred to and published on the cross quarters of the wheel of the year, Samhain, Brigantia, Beltane and Lughnasadh, instead of by the season (fall, winter, spring, summer).

Each Isian News contained a ritual drama and oracle, commentary and open letters from our beloved FOI co-founder Olivia Robertson along with reports from various FOI members, which Olivia personally selected from correspondence she received.

The importance of the function of the Isian News, particularly in the years before e-mail and the internet were introduced through home computers, cannot be under estimated. The Isian News made FOI members feel connected to each other and to the Foundation Centre Headquarters through Olivia’s works and members' correspondence featured in each issue.

Summer 2003 - Present

Lughnasad 2003 marked the first issue presented on the internet.The Isian News was presented online through the FOI HomePage starting with the Lughnasadh 2003 issue, through the Samhain 2008 issue.

The first color cover of the Isian News

Issue no. 110, Samhain 2003

Issue no. 109 of the Isian News was available online in Adobe Reader pdf format, Adobe Reader 6.0 version. Anyone who was not able to access a free copy off the website via Adobe Reader 6.0, could order a printed copy for a nominal fee through snail mail via the FOI HomePage. Beginning with issue no. 120, Beltane 2006 through issue no. 130, Samhain 2008, issues of Isian News were offered online in both Adobe Reader 6.0 and html format.

Isian news editor, Rt. Rev. Connia Silver introduced the use of full color cover art in Isian News issue no. 110. Connia worked as editor of Isian News for five years. Her last presentation of Isian News was issue no. 130, Samhain 2008.

Issue no. 115, Brigantia 2005

Issue no. 110, Samhain 2003 (pictured above to the left) was the first color cover of the Isian News to ever be presented.

Issue no. 115, Brigantia 2005, pictured to the right, is another beautiful example of Lady Olivia's art that has graced the cover of Isian News.

Brigantia, 2009

On December 1st, 2008, the Circle of Isis Advisory Board was contacted by FOI co-founder Olivia Robertson. She requested the Circle of Isis website publish Isian News along with the various duties already taken on as Central Fellowship of Isis Website for the world wide FOI community.

The original newsletter of the Fellowship of Isis, is available online through the Fellowship of Isis Central Global Website of the Circle of Isis, starting with the Brigantia 2009 issue. You may contact the Circle of Isis if you need further information at isiscircleonline@yahoo.com

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The painting "The Lightening Flash of Isis" is used by permission of the artist, Olivia Robertson.

Issue no. 110, Samhain 2003 and Issue no. 115 Brigantia 2005 cover art used by permission of the artist, Olivia Robertson. The copyright of Isian News is retained by FOI co-founder Olivia Robertson and the Circle of Isis Fellowship of Isis Central Global Website.

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 Rt. Rev. Olivia Robertson, AU, FOI Foundation Centre, Clonegal Castle, Enniscorthy, Ireland

Notice of Copyright and Disclaimer of the Circle of Isis Website Contents: The Circle of Isis - Fellowship of Isis Central Global Website is an officially sanctioned central global website of the Fellowship of Isis, authorized by Rt. Rev. 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 - Fellowship of Isis Central Global Website" on this website are copyrighted. Our original URL (www.thecircleofisis.com) is copyrighted as well as our new updated URL (www.fellowshipofisiscentral.org). The name of this website "Fellowship of Isis Central Global Website - Circle of Isis" 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, Rt. Rev. 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. Rt. Rev. 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.