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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