Remembering Olivia

April 13, 2014 - Today we honor Olivia Robertson on what would have been her 97th birthday. May your travels be gentle and joyous in the Summerlands beloved Olivia! We created several photo galleries for Olivia in honor of her work for the Fellowship of Isis. Here are two in particular you may enjoy: Olivia Robertson Through the Years and Olivia Robertson's Online Art Gallery

Photo courtesy of P. McCarthy. Photo and text  © Fellowship of Isis Central Website.

Membership Changes in the Circle of Brigid

Received March 28, 2014

There have been a couple of further changes to the membership of the Circle of Brigid since those I sent only recently.  Perhaps you would kindly update your website notices for us:

The Rt. Rev. Pat Griffin wishes to retire at this stage of her life, having worked with Olivia for many years and run regular Fellowship meetings in her home in Dublin until just a couple of years ago.  As she is not able to be with us on a regular basis any more, she is stepping down from the Circle of Brigid.  However, we very much hope that she will come whenever she can, and, of course, for many years she was our most senior priestess together with one or two others whose association with the Fellowship went way back.  We all love her gentle ways and genuine devotion to the Goddess which is so apparent when you are with her.

Her retirement meant that there was a vacancy in our membership to be filled, and we are all delighted that Maire Doyle, one of our loyal and much liked priestesses, has accepted our invitation to assist in continuing to run the 8 Annual Festivals held in The Temple of Isis, which was created by the Co-Founders of the Fellowship, Olivia, Lawrence and Pamela Durdin-Robertson in the basement of their home in Clonegal Castle, 

Many Blessings!

Minette Quick (Hon.Sec.Circle of Brigid)

Photo © Fellowship of Isis Central Website.

 

Report from the Circle of Brigid

Members of the Circle of Brigid and all our regular FOI Members were delighted to welcome Cressida Pryor to preside at our Vernal Equinox Festival on Saturday 22nd March.  We were also delighted that so many people came along to join us and we all took the opportunity to meet and greet everyone in the Theatre which was nice and warm on a cold but lovely bright day which was also extremely welcome after the monumental rains and winds we have had these last few months.

Having processed through the grounds of the Castle, where members of DCD and NOT invoked Deity at the Druid Grove and Abbey, Persephone's was also invoked at her Gate into the Temple and the company came into the Temple and gathered at the Well for Blessings.  On this occasion it was lovely to have several newly Ordained priestesses present from The Three Mothers Lyceum, trained by Cait Branigan and Deirdre Wadding.  So at Cressida's request two of them were invited to step forward and bless the water which they did with great beauty and dedication, and after the remaining priesthood had stepped forward to invoke, they also gave the individual blessings to everyone present.

At the High Altar, Cressida again welcomed everyone present and Invoked Isis. It was a great privilege to us to be able to have her with us when she is able to come over to Ireland, and get to know her on a personal as well as a ceremonial level.  The Fellowship is in excellent hands for the future, of that we are assured.

We had a beautiful Oracle from the Goddess Lakshmi, and songs, poems and a deeply peaceful guided journey from Cait Branigan. This was  followed by a Mystery Play enacted by members of the priesthood representing the Goddess Danu as the ancient mother of winter who having carried the burdens of that long cold season, hands on her task to the rising Goddess of Spring, Persephone.  Olivia loved Mystery Plays and as we watch the seasons go by and honour her memory in continuing this tradition, it enriches our experience and brings them to life for us all, whether we are new to the Fellowship or have been members for longer.   

We completed the main ceremony with another excellent poem from a member of the priesthood.  It should be mentioned that the poems that have been offered on these occasions are all the work of those offering them, and show a great depth of understanding which is wonderful and uplifting.  After this a short chant to the words "Brigid light the Path for us, show us the Way!" was sung by everyone.  Notices were given and thanks offered to Deity, after which the customary short healing and counselling sessions were offered to those who wished to receive them.  We all then repaired to Osborne's for tea and good company amongst old and new friends.  It had been an excellent day altogether.

Photo © Fellowship of Isis Central Website.

Update to Membership of the Circle of Brigid

Message received from Minette Quick, Honorary Secretary of the Circle of Brigid, Ireland: 

Dear Friends,

Cressida has asked me to get in touch in order to update the information on your websites with regard the Circle of Brigid which as you know is responsible for planning and running the 8 Annual Festivals which Olivia held for so long at Foundation Centre.

Cressida Pryor will act as Sole Advisor to the Circle.

The current members are: (I'm sure you have all their correct titles already)
 

Rt. Rev. Pat Griffin

Ardr. Eileen Lawrence

Rev. Cait Branigan 
Rev.Deirdre Wadding

Rev. Marian Smiles

Rev. David de Roeck

Ardr. Minette Quick

And we welcome Ardr. Eimear Burke who has been invited to bring up our membership to 8.

Many Blessings,

Minette Quick (Hon.Sec. Circle of Brigid)

Photo © Fellowship of Isis Central Website.

Photo of Olivia Robertson

A photo of Olivia Robertson from 1992, taken during a Druid Solstice Ceremony on Primrose Hill, forwarded on behalf of Philip Shallcrass, Chief of the British Druid Order. Photo used by permission for use on Fellowship of Isis Central. The photo is on the Druid Clan of Dana page. Thanks to Caroline Wise for her assistance!

Visit to Clonegal Castle

 

A special treat - the Pagan Channel Italy staff posted this clip made during a visit to Clonegal Castle. Cronos and Ossian are members of the Fellowship of Isis and the Druid Clan of Dana. Thanks to Caroline Wise for forwarding this link.   http://vimeo.com/32310061 

Photo © Fellowship of Isis Central Website.

Fellowship of Isis Gathering in London

Fellowship of Isis London Gathering

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Central London Venue 10:30 - 5:30

Special Guest Delores Ashcroft Nowicki

Presentations from Cressida Pryor,

Plus - Sheila Broun speaking on Sulis, Silina and the Suleviae

Caroline Wise - Dreams of Horses, Wolves, Deer and Swans – finding the goddess and her allies in the British Landscape. Wells, Shrines, Rivers and Woods. With some practical work and tips for goddess dream work. 

Other Guest Speakers to be Announced - £20 for booking details

Contact  info@starofelen.com

 If you would like to join us on Sunday 18^th May for an optional 3 hour 

Goddess Walk of London, 1.30pm -4.30pm, add £12. 

If it is raining we will have a fascinating Goddess Tour of the British Museum. 

Gain courage. Cherish humility. Be original: respect the originality of others. 

Use your imagination: yet know that all you visualise manifests in some sphere; 

so let your visions be true and noble. When you achieve My Grael you will find Hy Brasil all around you: in the room where you dream: in the bird-filled tree outside 

your open window: in the eyes of all who love you. 

From Oracle of the Goddess Cerridwen through Olivia Robertson. 
Sybil: Part V. Radiations of the Zodiac

Photo above: Olivia’s desk in her study where all her letters, Isian News and 

Liturgy Books were written. Her work goes on through the Fellowship of Isis. 

Photo courtesy of M. Quick ©Fellowship of Isis Central Website

"The goddess doesn’t subtract, she adds." - Olivia Robertson