Fellowship of Isis History - A Chronological List

Key Events in Fellowship of Isis History

1917 - Present

Part I. Before the Founding of the Fellowship of Isis

1917

Friday 13, 1917 Olivia Robertson is born at Paddington Hospital, London

1920

May 6, 1920 birth of Lawrence Durdin-Robertson

1923

February 14, 1923 birth of Pamela Mary Barclay

1946

Samhain - Olivia experiences her first vision of the Goddess

1948

Lawrence is ordained in the Anglican Church

Marriage of Lawrence Durdin-Robertson and Pamela Mary Barclay

1951-2

Lawrence Durdin-Robertson is rector of Aghold, Co. Wicklow

1952

Lawrence and Pamela receive their respective “awakenings” to the Goddess

Olivia receives her first vision of the “Golden Goddess” whom she later learns is Dana (see second entry, 1960)

1952-7

Lawrence Durdin-Robertson is rector of East Bilney, Norfolk

1957

Lawrence and Pamela Durdin-Robertson move to Clonegal Castle

1960

Olivia comes to live at Clonegal Castle with Lawrence and Pamela Durdin-Robertson. Together they begin charity work for the local community.

Olivia and others working together in a spiritualist circle receive oracles of the Goddess Dana.

1963

Founding of the Huntington Castle Centre for Meditation and Study.

Olivia and Lawrence received Druid Initiation from Ross Nichols.

Old Abbey designated as The Temple of Dana Founding of the Grove of Eithne by Lawrence Durdin-Robertson and Olivia Robertson

1965

Olivia heads an important series of group meditations. Her experience and work during these sessions provides material for later FOI ritual dramas.

1970

Lawrence starts to research and compile information about the Goddess, beginning work on his first manuscripts.

1972

Lawrence receives vocation as a Priest of Isis.

1975

Cesara Publications is created by Lawrence Durdin-Robertson and Olivia Robertson.

First book published by Cesara:

The Call of Isis, by Olivia Robertson, January 1, 1975

Second book published by Cesara:

The Cult of the Goddess, by Lawrence Durdin-Robertson, February, 1975

Third book published by Cesara:

The Goddesses of Chaldea, Syria & Egypt, by Lawrence Durdin-Robertson

May, 1975

1975 - Rituals Are Performed at Clonegal Castle Prior to the Founding of the FOI.

A series of Mystery Dramas written by Olivia Robertson were performed by family members, visitors and friends in the Temple and on the castle grounds, most notably within the Old Abbey (Temple of Dana).

Spring, 1975

The Isis Wedding Rite (Bernard & Julia)

June 28, 1975

The Isis Wedding Rite (Swadesh Poorun & Melian Durdin-Robertson)

Late Summer - Autumn 1975

Olivia makes a pilgrimage to Egypt, followed by other Goddess pilgrimages to Greece, Rhodes and Crete.

December 9, 1975

The Isis Wedding Rite (re-enactment for filming, Swadesh & Melian)

February, 1976

First publishing of a ritual used by the FOI - The Isis Wedding Rite, by Cesara Publications

Part II. The Fellowship of Isis

1976

Founding of the Fellowship of Isis, Vernal Equinox

Creation of the Chapel of the Well of Brigid

June 24, 1976 - The Isis Wedding Rite, (Michael Griffin, Kathy Brown)

Development of the Aset Shemsu hieroglyphic logo for the FOI

Summer, 1976 - First Issue of Isian News, with hieroglyphic logo as masthead.

Summer, 1976 - First oracle printed in Isian News, Oracle of the Goddess Dana of Ireland (Isian News no. 1)

August 1, 1976 - First Ordinations, Temple of Dana

Samhain, 1976 - First Enactment of the Rite of Rebirth, Samhain

Winter, 1976 - First ritual printed in Isian News, Ritual Dedication of a Shrine to Isis (Isian News no. 3)

Spring, 1977

First FOI Iseums:

Iseum of Rhiannon of the Wild White Horse, Surrey, UK

Centre of the Silver Crescent, Sussex, UK

Centre of Dana, County Dublin, Ireland

Autumn, 1977

The Animal Family of Isis

1979

First FOI Public Event, Kensington Central Library, London

Hosted by Maureen Ballard of the Iseum of Athena

1981

Lawrence Durdin-Robertson makes over by Deed of Gift, the Temple of Isis at Clonegal Castle to the Fellowship of Isis

1986

Founding of the College of Isis, Spring

The founding of the College of Isis was officially announced in Isian News, Summer, Issue No. 37, 1986 First Hierophants and Lyceums in the College of Isis:

Rev. Anne Morris, Prs. H. Lyceum of Vesta, Goddess of the Hearth

Rev. Sandra and James Beard, Hierophants, Lyceum of Isis and Nephthys, UK

Rev. Vivienne O’Regan, Crys O’Regan, Hierophants, Lyceum of Isis-Sophia of the Stars, Warwickshire, UK

(Vivienne was the founder of this lyceum, which originally operated in London)

Rev. Steve Wilson, Caroline Wise, Hierophants, Lyceum of Isis of Time & Space, London, UK

(Caroline later founded Isis of the Thames Lyceum in London)

Rev. Kati Koppana, Hierophant, Lyceum of the Star Goddess, Finland

Revs. Werner Laesen and Ulrika Werner, Hierophants, Nuit-Isis Lyceum, Germany

Rev. Swami Prem Sudheer, Hierophant, Lyceum of Brighid, Scotland

Rev. Kavina-Khandem Collyns, Hierophant, Lyceum of Isis and Ceridwen, UK

Rev. Morgan Benedict, Hierophant, Lyceum of the Veiled Isis, USA

Rev. Kenneth Arflame, Hierophant, Lyceum Alchymeia and Tomegatherion'Ra, Zimbabwe

1987

December 8, 1987, FOI Co-Founder Pamela Durdin-Robertson passes away.

1989

Founding of the Noble Order of Tara, Beltane

First to receive an accolade of Knight through the Noble Order of Tara:

Douglas Reagan, USA

Followed by:

Sandra Ramdhanie as Dame Commander, Ireland

Thomas Logan Weir, Knight, UK

First recorded Priories of the Noble Order of Tara:

Priory of the Knights & Dames of Dorset, UK

Priory of Brighid of the Elements, London, UK Priory of Elen and Gog Magog, London UK

1990

First Annual FOI Convention, Conway Hall, London, September

First Annual FOI Convocation, Isis Oasis, Geyserville, October

1992

Founding of the Druid Clan of Dana First Groves:

Grove of Danu, Dublin, Ireland

Grove of the Four Elements, London, UK

Nemeton of Dana, Tara Hedge College, Bielefeld, Germany

1993

Parliament of World’s Religions, August 28 - September 4

1994

August 4, 1994, Lawrence Durdin-Robertson passes away.

First Annual FOI Convention held in Chicago in November.

Late 1994 - Early 1995

First Fellowship of Isis Website programmed and published online by Michael A. Starsheen of Isis of the Stars Lyceum, USA.

1996

Temple of Isis headquartered at Isis Oasis gains Legal Status for Isian Clergy.

First Central Website for the Fellowship of Isis, London, UK

1999

Decentralization of the Fellowship of Isis

Founding of the Archpriesthood Union, January 28

Fellowship of Isis Homepage, published online May 18, written authorization dated July 23

Spiral of the Adepti (Iseums)

2000

First FOI Convention in Germany, August

2001

Helpers of Isis Special Projects

2003

Star of Isis-AU, August 18

Spiral of Alchemy, announcement date, October 31

2004

Isis-Seshat Magazine, Journal of the Fellowship of Isis

Circle of Brigid, Clonegal Castle Gatherings, May 17

Circle of Isis, Advisory Board and Central Website, October 10

Isis Theatre at Clonegal Castle re-opens, September 17

2005

Isis Theatre Company founded by Olivia Robertson and Gwendoline Rouiller, Clonegal Castle, Spring

Circle of Isis, Fellowship of Isis Central Website published online, November 19

2006

30th Anniversary of the Fellowship of Isis, Spring Equinox

Mirror of Isis, Official FOI Online Magazine, Beltane

Creation of the Spiral of Isis Website

Circle of Pelagia, Advisory Board and Regional Website, October 2

Round Table of Tara of the Noble Order of Tara, November 21

Nemeton of Dana of the Druid Clan of Dana, November 21

2007

Olivia Robertson's 90th Birthday, April 13th

Founding of the Muses Symposium, October Authorization for the Portal of Isis Website, Fall

2008

Star of Elen, Advisory Board and Central Website, July 8

FOI Germany designated as an FOI Central Website, December 19

2009

Foundation Union Triad, October 9 (ArchPriesthood Union, ArchDruid Union, Grand Commander Union)

ArchDruid Union founded October 9

Grand Commander Union founded October 9

2010

Fellowship of Isis Online Directory Website Unscripted Rites, July - August

2013

November 14, 2013, FOI Co-Founder Olivia Robertson passes away.

2014

July 15, 2014, Loreon Vigne, founder of the Temple of Isis, the legal branch of the Fellowship of Isis priestess/priesthood, passes away.

November 11, 2014, The Star of Tara Advisory Board convenes, and begins work on a statement to address concerns of the general membership since the passing of Olivia Robertson, the last remaining FOI co-founder

2015

January 15, 2015 Statement issued by the Star of Tara Advisory Board

March 19, 2015, Eve of the Vernal Equinox, Membership updates for the FOI Foundation Union Triad are completed

2015 - 2016

Publication of materials for the Order of the Shining Helmet of Athena, as per the wishes of FOI Co-founder Olivia Robertson, with materials provided by her to FOI members for safekeeping.

2018

July 8, Minette Quick, honorary secretary of the Circle of Brigid retires from active service.

August 1, Circle of Brigid, responsible for FOI gatherings at the Temple of Isis at Huntington Castle, "dissolved into the Priest/esshood" and begin operation as the "Rainbow Circle."

Sources:

Official Announcements for the Fellowship of Isis received directly from Olivia Robertson.Isian News, the Official Newsletter of the Fellowship of Isis

By FOI Co-Founder Olivia Robertson:

The Call of Isis

(Cesara Publications, 1975, 1990 and Neptune Press edition, 1993)

Introduction, Dea, Rites and Mysteries of the Goddess

(Cesara Publications, 1979, 1988, Neptune Press edition, 1993)

Introduction, Part I & Introduction Part II, Gaea. Initiations of the Earth

(Cesara Publications, 1991)

Introduction, The Isis Wedding Rite

(Cesara Publications, 1976, 1983)

Introduction to Maya, Goddess Rites for Solo Use

(Cesara Publications, 1994)

Preface and Introduction, Ordination of Priestesses and Priests

(Cesara Publications, 1977, 1983)

Introduction, The Rite of Dana. Druid Initiation

(Cesara Publications, 1992)

Introduction, Rite of Rebirth of the Fellowship of Isis

(Cesara Publications, 1977, 1987, 1991)

Introduction, Sophia, Cosmic Consciousness of the Goddess

(Cesara Publications, 1986)

Original Fellowship of Isis Handbook

(Cesara Publications, 1992, 1995)

By FOI Co-Founder Lawrence Durdin-Robertson:

Clonegal Castle (Guide to Clonegal Castle)

(Cesara Publications, 1990)

The Cult of the Goddess

(Cesara Publications, 1975)

The Goddesses of Chaldea, Syria and Egypt

(Cesara Publications, 1975)

The Goddesses of India, Tibet, China and Japan

(Cesara Publications, 1976)

The Manual of the Fellowship of Isis: Communion with the Goddess, Parts I - III

(Cesara Publications, 1976)

The Religion of the Goddess, reprint of ‘The Cult of the Goddess’ with new title and cover

(Cesara Publications, 1982)

God the Mother, The Creatress and Giver of Life

(Cesara Publications, 1984)

“Isis and Osiris, Exploring the Goddess Myth,” Chapter 4. ‘The Fellowship of Isis at Clonegal Castle,’ Jonathan Cott, Doubleday, New York, 1995

“Of Castles and Matriarchs: An Interview with Olivia Robertson” by Diane Conn Darling, editor, Pangaia, Issue no. 21, Autumn, 1999

“An Interview with Olivia Robertson, FOI Co-Founder and ArchPriestess,” Steve Wilson, Pagan News, August 1992

“Interview with Olivia Robertson,” Alex Langstone, "The Lighthouse", Issue no. 2, Autumnal Equinox, 1993

Articles, Carlow Nationalist

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