Fellowship of Isis

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The Fellowship of Isis (FOI) is a modern religious organization devoted to the worship of the Egyptian goddess Isis. It is a multi-religious, multi-racial, and multi-cultural organization. All members in the Fellowship of Isis have equal privileges within its ranks, and membership is free.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

The FOI was founded at Huntinton Castle, Clonegal, Enniscorthy, Ireland at the Vernal Equinox of 1976. The founders were Lady Olivia Robertson and Lawrence and Pamela Durdin-Robertson, who wanted to create a fellowship to "help the Goddess actively in the manifestation of Her divine plan." Lady Olivia has described Isis as "God in female form." The FOI grew out of a "working group" created in 1963 called the Huntington Castle Centre for Meditation and Study. This Centre was active in gathering together various occult and theological figures such as Philip Ross Nichols, Josephine and Mohun Lall, and Gerald Gough. This group slowly changed over time, and in 1975 the group began organizing and preparing. From 1976 until the early 1990's, the group was mostly quiet, slowly gathering members and interacting with other pagan groups.

In August of 1993, the Fellowship of Isis was represented at the Parliament of World's Religions at Chicago by Olivia Robertson and other member delegates. It is the first time that the Religion of the Goddess has been acknowledged as a world faith at this Parliament.[2] [The Parliament] "became a showcase for the new religions in America, especially since mainstream Christianity was much underrepresented . . . Two feminist neopagan groups, the Covenant of the Goddess and the Fellowship of Isis, were among the sponsors of the parliament." [3]

In January of 1999, the Archpriesthood Union was created from thirty-two Fellowship of Isis Archpriestesses and Archpriests. The members of this Archpriesthood are the custodians of the policies and principles of the FOI. The "Star of Isis-AU" was later added by Olivia Robertson in 2003. It is made up of eight members of the AU in order to function as an advisory board and consultancy service to all Fellowship of Isis members. [4]

[edit] Practices

"Over the past 30 years a body of liturgy has developed, detailing how the [Manifesto] principles can be practised by interested members through establishing a relationship between self and deity. Members are encouraged to express this spiritual relationship by enacting rituals, prayers and meditations, as detailed in the liturgy. This liturgy is drawn from the ritual structures of contemporary paganisms, Goddess spirituality and diverse archaeological scholarship into religious experience in the ancient world."[5] The Liturgy of the Fellowship of Isis was written by Olivia Robertson, each ritual honouring different pantheons, and including a divinely channeled oracle encouraging spiritual communion with that Deity. These rites may be used for personal spiritual enhancement or, via instruction from a Fellowship of Isis center, various degrees may be attained.

[edit] Focus

The stated goal of the Fellowship of Isis is to support and promote the idea of the Divine Feminine. The Fellowship of Isis Manifesto sets out the basic principles of this society. The Fellowship accepts religious toleration, and is not exclusivist. Members are free to maintain other religious allegiances. The good in all faiths is honoured. The Fellowship of Isis has no particular affiliations.[6] "It practices total religious tolerance, forbids sacrifice of any kind and discourages asceticism." [7]

The Fellowship is dedicated to spreading the religion of all the Goddesses throughout this planet. The Gods are also venerated. The Goddess is seen as Deity, the Divine Mother of all beings, as well as the embodiment of Truth and Beauty. "The ecumenical nature of this nonprofit organization reveals itself in a membership that includes Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Shintoists, Cabalists, Spiritualists, and Wiccan and pagan worshippers of all kinds." [8]

FOI sub-groups, called "FOI Foundation Center Societies" or "Daughter Societies" of the Fellowship of Isis consist of the ‘College of Isis’ (Lyceums), the ‘Spiral of the Adepti’ (Iseums), the ‘Spiral of Alchemy’ (Solar Iseums), the 'Druid Clan of Dana' (Groves) and the 'Noble Order of Tara' (Priories). Additionally, there are sub-chapters of these societies of the FOI in many major cities and countries around the world.

The Fellowship of Isis claims over 24,000 members in nearly a hundred countries. Members often blend their own traditions and beliefs with those offered by the Fellowship. [2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Adler, Margot. Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today. New York: Penguin Group, 2006.
  2. ^ a b Robertson, Olivia. The Handbook of the Fellowship of Isis. Enniscorthy: Cesara Publications, 1992.
  3. ^ Keller, Rosemary Skinner & Ruether, Rosemary Radford. In Our Own Voices, 4 Centuries of American Women's Religious Writings. San Francisco: Westminster John Knox Press, 1995. pg. 428.
  4. ^ Fellowship of Isis Homepage. [1]
  5. ^ Melton, Gordon J., and Partridge, Christopher, New Religions: A Guide: New Religious Movements, Sects and Alternative Spiritualities. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. pg. 300
  6. ^ The Fellowship of Isis Manifesto. Olivia Robertson, Lawrence & Pamela Durdin-Robertson. 1976.[2]
  7. ^ Borcherding, David H., Ed., The Writers Complete Fantasy Reference: An Indispensable Compendium of Myth and Magic. Ohio: Writers Digest Books, 1998. pg. 121.
  8. ^ Cott, Jonathan, Isis and Osiris. New York: Doubleday, 1995. pg. 52.

[edit] External links

In alphabetical order:

  • Circle of Isis [3]
  • FOI Chicago [4]
  • FOI Germany [5]
  • Fellowship of Isis Homepage [6]
  • FOI Kansas City [7]
  • Fellowship of Isis MySpace [8]
  • FOI Star of the Gulf [9]
  • Interview with co-founder, Olivia Robertson [10]
  • Temple of Isis Los Angeles, Circle of Pelagia[11]
Languages