As An Bhean O Tara
The Noble Order of Tara
Pro Dea Et Natura
(Environmental Conservation)
A Foundation
Center Society within the Fellowship of Isis, the Noble Order of Tara was founded on Beltane, May 1st, 1989, by
the acting Chancellors, the late Lawrence Durdin-Robertson and his sister, Olivia Robertson. The mottos of the society are
"As An Bhean O Tara" (All Glory to Tara) and "Pro Dea Et Natura" (For Goddess and Nature). Olivia writes
in the introduction of her book, "The Call of Isis", "We are gardeners of the earth, as in Eden. We are
guardians looking after all the species, and are part of the great symbiosis of animal and angel."
The Noble Order of Tara was created upon receipt of a request from
Douglas Reagan. He contacted Lawrence Durdin-Robertson asking for the creation of an Order of Chivalry
with the intention of conserving nature. Douglas Reagan received the first accolade of knighthood.
In 1979, the Chief Herald of Ireland had matriculated Lawrence as the twenty-first Baron of Strathloch. As a member
of the Baronic Court, Lawrence Durdin-Robertson had the authority to bestow knighthood within it. He became Chancellor
of the Noble Order of Tara upon his founding of the order in late 1989. Olivia Robertson is the current
Chancellor of the Noble Order of Tara which is often designated by the capital letters of it’s name - NOT. Olivia writes
that there will be no future Chancellor after she "departs for spirit sphere".
This is an Order of Chivalry, organized into chapters, which are designated as a Priory. Every Priory is founded
and headed by a Grand Dame Commander or Grand Knight Commander. Priories within the Noble Order of Tara work tirelessly to
provide environmental awareness, preservation and healing of our Mother Earth.
The tutelary Goddess of this Order of Chivalry is Tara of Ireland and Asia, Tara of 108 Names. Besides being the
name of the Goddess, Tara is also the name of the hill where the Kings of Ireland were crowned. The name Tara in ancient times
was Tea-mhair. It was the ancient capital of Ireland, and served both as the religious and cultural center of the whole country.
Tara is named after the Goddess of the de Danaan, Tea who founded Tara with the help of her sister, the Goddess Tephi. Together
these two goddesses were the patronesses of the noble and sacred Assemblies of Tara. Tea was wife of the first Milesian king
who was named Eremon. The Milesians were described in the 12th century text "Leabhar Gabhala Eireann", or the "Book
of Invasions," as the ancestors of the present day Irish people. Excavations at the ancient site of Tara have uncovered
surviving physical evidence that dates back to 2000 BCE. (This information comes from Lawrence Durdin-Robertson’s book
"Juno Covella: Perpetual Calendar of the Fellowship of Isis," Cesara Publishing, 1982.)
Like the other branches of the Fellowship of Isis, the Noble Order of Tara has it’s own Initiation System of
Rituals. There are 12 Initiations divided into 4 Grades. The Grand Dame Commander or Grand Knight Commander offers a structured
course of study within the Priory, which culminates in the performances of rites for each grade within the Noble Order of
Tara. As with all other centers in the various branches of the Fellowship of Isis, each course of study provided within the
Priories of the Noble Order of Tara are unique and original based on inspiration received by the Head of the Priory through
the Patron or Patroness Deity or Deities of the Priory.
The
Grades and Rituals of the Noble Order of Tara liturgy are taken from the following FOI books, "Melusina, Life Centers of the Goddess", Gaea:
Initiations of the Earth" and from "Isis of Fellowship, How the Fellowship of Isis was Founded",
chapter six.
INITIATION
into a Priory of the Noble of Order of Tara
Initiation into a Noble Order of Tara Priory is conferred through the ritual "Tara and Lugh: The Ordeal
of the Danaan Treasures" from the FOI Liturgy book "Gaea, Initiations of the Earth." This rite
confers the designation of Priory Companion upon an individual who is willing to commit to the work of the Priory. This rite
is separate from the Rites of the Grades listed below.
Gaea, Initiations of the Earth (Part I. Initiation of the Elements, 1 Rite)
Tara and Lugh: The Ordeal of the Danaan Treasures
The Fellowship of Isis was founded on May
1, 1989. The first Noble Order of Tara Priories were founded that same year (1989). The guidelines presented below, containing
a spiral of twelve rituals for the Noble Order of Tara, were introduced much later, in 2003. Many Noble Order of Tara Priories
were in operation for several years, some for as long as 14 years, before the guidelines below were created.
FOI Co-Founder Olivia Robertson writes (*) that the work of all FOI
centres, including their individual coursework, ordinations, consecrations and certification of degrees is honored. There
can be no ‘rigid laws’ as exist in hierarchic Churches and Orders. Heads of centers rely on psychic consensus
of the group and guidance through intuition and the manifestation of particular attributes of the Deity or Deities concerned
in their centre, therefore there can be no set curriculum. Thus, heads of centres, through inspiration from their particular
Deity or Deities, produce their own training course, which is based on the rituals of the FOI liturgy.
Many heads of centres have had long experience in the spiritual field
and choose to create their own course. The following is intended as a suggestion for those others, who desire guidelines for
the forming of a course.
(*) Sources: Original Fellowship of Isis Handbook (1992). Original College of Isis Manual (1992).
Rites
and Grades of the Noble Order of Tara
The
rituals for the four NOT grades can be found in the FOI Liturgy book "Melusina, Life Centres of the Goddess".
A link to the book of rituals and a listing of the rituals and the grades they are corresponded to are listed directly below.
Melusina, Life Centres of the Goddess (All Rites)
1st
Grade: Dame/Knight
1. Initiation of the Pylons
2. The Awakening of the Golden Phoenix
3. The Descent of the White Eagle
2nd
Grade: Lady/Lord of the Grael
4. Arousing the Kundalini
Serpent
5. Creation of Life Forms
6. Dawn of the Inner Sun
3rd
Grade: Dame/Knight Commander
7. Opening the Heart’s
Rose
8. Unfolding Wings
9. Music of the Spheres
4th
Grade: Grand Dame/Knight Commander
10. Opening the
Eye of Vision
11. Crowned with Glory
12. Lighting the Rainbow Aura
CONSECRATION of the Grades of the Noble Order of Tara
Consecration of a Dame/Knight is used to consecrate a Dame/Knight in the Noble Order of Tara. This rite
is performed after the grade of Dame/Knight has been achieved. It can be found in chapter six of "Isis of Fellowship,
How the Fellowship of Isis was Founded." This rite is separate from the Rites of the Grades listed above.
The Grand Dame/Knight
Commander is given the authority to create their own consecration rites for the following grades:
Lady/Lord of the
Grael (presentation of a Chalice)
Dame/Knight Commander (presentation of a Brooch of Tara and Sash)
Grand Dame/Knight Commander
(presentation of a Stone of Destiny for the new Priory).
