Fellowship of Isis History - Isian News

It was Caroline Wise who introduced the concept and format for the cover for the Isian News 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 was featured, at first 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 published on the cross quarters of the wheel of the year, with the name of the festival accompanying the issue number and 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.