From Olivia Robertson
FOI Co-Founder
Isian News 102, Samhain 2001
Last Open Letter
Though this will not prevent me writing as co-editor in Isian News or the web page if this comes over me! Or doing cover designs. I have been busy doing last touches to decentralisation of FOI Management - see notice. With some nostalgia I have finished the Liturgy with this final Rite, embodying the manifold rainbow aspects of the Goddess that encircle our earth and beyond. FOI is unusual, in that we have never had any one person as Head. Nor shall we. My brother and I never used that designation - we were co-founders and did the work. It is becoming increasingly obvious, even in international politics, that each country or district, every state is claiming more autonomy. Finally the individual will enjoy the sovereign rights belonging to all offspring of the Divine Mother.
Now nothing is more old-fashioned than religion. It hits at the very depths from childhood fears to hell to bigotry and claims based on myth and ancient custom. Up to now, most believers worshiped One Supreme God (Male) who ruled over a hierarchy of authorities (male). These usually with the best intentions, dictated marriage laws, dress, behaviour and above all creeds however cruel or unlikely.
Even more old-fashioned are those who follow the esoteric path. Wizards (Harry Potter) witches, High Priesthood, Shamans are apt to claim Divine or Magical lineage usually derived form the Himalayas or space. Such Akhnatons and Pleiadians make current royal families seem almost modern.
The Goddess does not subtract, She adds. By all means let us believe we are ascended masters or Mistress, let us believe we are Nefertiti, Merlin, as long as we accept that everybody else - including animals are special as well. That is the hard part. We can only try. So the new Isian News will have no editorials, no rituals, but be a diverse expression of each member's individuality, which is divine. Let us enjoy the new aeon!
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From Olivia Robertson
FOI Co-Founder
Isian News 101, Lughnasadh 2001
Re: The Secret of Isis of Harmony
I marvel at the moral courage of our members and all who follow new age beliefs and practices! Obviously the main-stream orthodox Establishment, whether religious or political, has the right of way. Few of us can endure confrontation with employers, friends and family. Therefore we naturally form ourselves into protection groups. There we feel safe from ridicule - criticism - condemnation.
However, we have a very human difficulty. We may avoid arguments with our fellow workers and relatives. But the temptation is to become tribal about our special Orders and Circles.
I feel we in FOI can help to bring harmony between various alternative beliefs. The Pagan Federation and those in the ecumenical movement are striving for this harmony. There is fun in "having fun", but not in making fun of others; not as a habit! We cannot drink salt water. What we lovers of the Goddess can do is what any mother does in a family. We can try to draw out what is special in each person, and not dwell on their faults. People laugh at the partiality of mothers for their often repulsive offspring. But let us realise that mothers act for the Great Mother. So we like them can bring harmony among even seemingly irreconcilable enemies. The secret of Isis is how to turn enemies into friends.
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From Olivia Robertson
FOI Co-Founder
Isian News 100, Beltaine 2001
Re: Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the FOI
It is with happiness and excitement that I welcome our twenty-fifth anniversary of the foundation of the Fellowship of Isis! The expansion of FOI through goodwill of fellow new-age societies, word of mouth, various groups, individuals, and now the vast World Wide Web network is bringing the widespread Wings of Isis to more and more people. It is exhilarating to welcome so many new members from so many lands.
However I personally am both elated and astonished at the sudden popularity of the FOI Special Projects. I expect like my fellow visionaries who are more at home with stars rather than facts, I admired so much the admirable good works performed by dedicated men and women. Anyone who listens to appeals for various charitable societies must feel like this: "I'm not doing anything much. I find committees boring. These do-gooders disapprove of "our sort." Yet they are doing the work of the Goddess, though they have either never heard of Her or disapprove, vaguely connecting Goddesses with pagan orgies or pop stars.
So I tried to work out what I wanted. That was simple. Like us all, I wished to help everybody including animals. But how to set about it? How to make it interesting? How to make it fun? How to create beauty rather than dowdiness associated with "do-gooders."
Then the solution came to me from Isis. Our ceremonies and private visions give us all the beauty, inspiration and help we need! A committee can be an Iseum: our helpers can be of a supernatural sort. By involving ourselves in the mundane we can bring into harmony heaven and earth: men and women: the high and the low: black and white: ecstasy and commonsense. What a glorious new Millennium we shall enjoy!
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From Olivia Robertson
FOI Co-Founder
Isian News 99, Brigantia 2001
Re: Rainbow Network of Goddess Projects
More than ever I am beginning to appreciate the full benefits of sharing responsibilities for the FOI with the Archpriesthood Union. But the time has come to call upon other members to help in this process.
My brother Lawrence and I ran many worthwhile Goddess projects, going accounts and lists of these in each issue of Isian News. After his passing I continued the work, until the expansion of our membership made that task impossible. These now neglected enterprises include Goddess World Wood, Goddess World Wells, the network of our members' shrines and temples, and full descriptions of members' spiritual experiences. Members of AU have helped, but now FOI has expanded beyond the possibility of including various services.
What Lawrence and I did for so long needs to be carried on by others. So now I suggest a FOI International network run by administrators. These need not be of the Priesthood. The services they offer will be described in Isian News. So this issue is dedicated to this new and useful development. After the relevant ritual, I shall introduce our first Special Projects Centre of this network. It is the important Post for Prisoner Service, the administrator being the Rev. Levanah Morgan, Prs. H.