In Memory of Steve Wilson

Photo: FOI members enact the Mystery of Isis and Osiris. Photo © Johnny Merron.

Members of the Priesthood of the Fellowship of Isis, including Steve Wilson (in striped robe, arms upraised), Caroline Wise, Ingrid Fischer and Johnny Merron enact The Mystery of the Awakening of Osiris with Lawrence and Olivia near the balustraded portico entrance to the Temple of Isis at Clonegal Castle. Johnny is seen here lying prone as Osiris.  He had a time lapse on his camera, which enabled him to set it and have time to get in position before the photo was taken.

It is with great sadness FOI Central announces the passing of Steve Wilson, Archpriest, Hierophant, Grand Knight Commander and Archdruid of the Fellowship of Isis.

Steve Wilson was a priest in the FOI and dedicated to the Goddess Nuit. He joined in the mid 80s. He was originally a member of Isis Lyceum of the Stars, in London, the first Lyceum in the British Isles (The first FOI Lyceums were in the USA).

Steve was made a Druid in the Druid Clan of Dana by Olivia and Lawrence, at their request, and edited the Druid Clan of Dana’s official magazine “Aisling”, which was produced by FOI priest Karl Duncan with Caroline Wise at Atlantis Bookshop. It carried original articles and research into the origins of Modern Pagan Witchcraft and Druidry. Steve wrote “Robin Hood: The Spirit of The Forest” in 1993. It was published by Neptune Press in London. His book “Chaos Ritual” was published in 1994, and a second edition of this book was republished ten years later by Neptune Press. Steve wrote numerous articles on the theory and practice of contemporary magic for many publications throughout the years.

He contributed to Olivia’s spiritual autobiography "The Call of Isis" (Neptune Press edition only) and stayed at Clonegal Castle on several occasions with Olivia and Lawrence and in the early days, Pamela.

Steve was very active in speaking up for pagans and druids, and had a central role in the Council of British Druid Orders as representative of the Druid Clan of Dana. He was vocal in defending pagans from scurrilous attacks in the press at the time of the ‘Satanic Abuse’ libel.  He appeared on Television and in the press often. This article appeared in the Independent, a British national newspaper. He also liaised with the government via the Home Office on pagan rights and Stonehenge issues. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/my-week-steve-wilson-druid-1338121.html

Here is a letter that appeared in The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph newspapers  in August 6^th 2007:

“So the next Archbishop of Canterbury has become a "white druid" (Rite on, August 6) and denounced any attempt to link it with paganism, labelling such suggestions as "offensive". As a pagan druid I find his dismissal of pagan druidry offensive. Druids made up the first known national culture in these islands.”

Steve Wilson

Media officer, Council of British Druid Orders”

Steve was a very active member of the pagan scene generally. He was particularly active in the FOI in the mid-nineteen-eighties through late-nineteen- nineties. He was involved with the “Moot with No Name” in Deveraux Court in London for many years, and gave talks at other venues throughout that city. He was also an active member of the Pagan Federation and the Standing Advisory Councils for Religious Education (SACRES) through the British Humanist Association and a founder of PEBBLE (Public Body Liaison Committee for British Paganism Committee), which is helping to create government guidelines for recognising paganism. 

Steve was very supportive of FOI Central Website and kindly gave permission for his interview with Olivia to be posted there, along with an article about the Fellowship of Isis, an article about the College of Isis; quotes from him are featured several places on the site, including information about the first central FOI webpage which he programmed and hosted in London in the mid nineties, and his involvement as a representative for the FOI via the Council of British Druid Orders. He was present at a ceremony marking gaining access to Stonehenge after a long struggle of several years. He had grown quiet within the FOI for the past few years, but his heart remained with the Goddess and he loved Olivia greatly.

The First Lyceums with an excerpt from an introduction written by Steve Wilson for the “Call of Isis” published by Neptune Press on the nature of the College of Isis:

http://www.fellowshipofisiscentral.com/college-of-isis---college-of-isis-and-first-lyceums-1986 

The Druid Clan of Dana and the CoBDO at Stonehenge:

http://www.fellowshipofisiscentral.com/druid-clan-of-dana---cobdo-and-stonehenge

The Fellowship of Isis: An Article by Steve Wilson, 1989:

https://sites.google.com/site/fellowshipofisiscentral/fellowship-of-isis-history-archive---the-fellowship-of-isis-an-article--by-steve-wilson

Interview with Olivia Robertson by conducted by Steve Wilson in 1992:

http://www.fellowshipofisiscentral.com/fellowship-of-isis-history---interview-with-olivia-by-steve-wilson

The First FOI Convocations:

http://www.fellowshipofisiscentral.com/fellowship-of-isis-history-archive---first-foi-convocations

Announcement: First Official FOI Homepage in Isian News #79, Brigantia, 1996:

http://www.fellowshipofisiscentral.com/fellowship-of-isis-history-archive---first-foi-central-site 

FOI “Firsts” on the World Wide Web – First FOI Homepage, London, 1995 - 1999

http://www.fellowshipofisiscentral.com/fellowship-of-isis-history-archive---foi-firsts-on-the-world-wide-web