Report of Winter Solstice Festival

 

Thanks to Minette for this lovely report of the Solstice ceremony at Foundation Centre yesterday, attended by local members.

The day of the Solstice dawned with the crash of thunder and lightning and downpours of rain…..

Then it cleared for several hours and reports were heard that the annual gathering at Newgrange in Co. Meath of those fortunate enough to have won tickets in the national draw to greet the long-awaited dawn were treated to the rare and magnificent sight of the light pouring down the central passage in which they stood right inside Ireland’s ancient and world-famous passage grave.

By the time our Fellowship members had gathered at the Castle later in the day, several further waves of wild, windy and wet weather had swept the country and there was certainly no possibility of processing round the grounds, so we entered the Temple of Isis by Persephone’s Shrine and Garden Gate and all Invocations were made at Brigid’s Well of Truth. The atmosphere shone most beautifully and Lady Olivia’s presence could be felt in her beloved Temple throughout the Ceremony which had been planned, coordinated and led by the Rev. Cait Branigan. Most beautiful live harp music and song was interspersed by various members throughout our time together, which deepened and enhanced the sense of purity and harmony already present. Olivia would have loved this!

Gathered round the High Altar, we first received a most beautiful and encouraging Oracle from the Goddess of Wisdom, Sophia. Then several members stood forward to take the main parts of an insightful Mystery Play based on the story of Newgrange. Various ideas had been offered by members for inclusion, such as the clarity and brilliance of Arianrhod and the winter constellations, the opposing forces (i.e. the baddies, in Olivia’s traditional and much-beloved format for improvised drama); the Deity bringing the message of the Gods (Arianrhod), the message of Boand (the Modron/Mother) and Oenghus the younger, the Divine Child of Light (the Mabon) at this sacred time, and Oenghus the older, God of Love.

Much could be said of the wisdom offered by each but suffice it to say that the opposing and inner nature of the forces of the ‘baddie’ within us expressed as greed and selfishness, was met by the inspired words of the Goddess, seemingly stern and unbending at times but ultimately working through the cycles of the seasons of life to bring back harmony, the love of the Mother for all and the Birth of the Light and Inner Sun which lies within each one of us ready to burst into new life.

The remainder of this inspiring ceremony was focused on providing and encouraging everyone present to take this opportunity to contribute their personal memories of Olivia. Strands of many coloured wools had been given out to everyone and then collected and braided together as a symbol of the joining of our hearts into a beautiful rainbow rope to grace the High Altar as the stories were told. The fun, the wisdom, the astonishing foresight, the adventures, in short the real, irrepressible phenomenon of nature and the divine that was Olivia came forth in abundance!!! The winter’s cold was more than offset by the warmth of our hearts.

We all retired to Osborne’s famous ‘coaching inn’ in the Village afterwards for hot tea and our traditional informal time together and for many more happy memories of a great lady whom so many met and were inspired by during her long and fruitful life. Her influence will last in the lives of us all for many years yet.

Much happiness to everyone throughout the Fellowship at this special time, and every blessing for the coming New Year in 2014.

Photo and text © Fellowship of Isis Central Website, Circle of Isis Advisory Board. Photo of Clonegal Castle by Barbara Lee Westlake.

Account of Olivia's Memorial in Ireland by Philip Carr-Gomm

 Olivia Robertson in Glastonbury

Philip Carr-Gomm, head of Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, and long time friend of Olivia Robertson and her family has written an account of his experiences during the memorial and funeral held for Olivia Robertson in Ireland. Caroline Wise of London and  Celia Thomas and Lydia Lite from Glastonbury, along with singer Julie Felix were invited to take part in the rites along with members of the Circle of Brighid, other FOI members, family and friends. The ritual was headed by Olivia’s niece and FOI steward, Cressida Pryor.

In Memory of Olivia Robertson

Photo and text © Fellowship of Isis Central Website, Circle of Isis Advisory Board. Photo courtesy of Caroline Wise.

New Video Clip of Olivia

Dennis Murphy and Steven Jones of Logic Reality have sent this new video clip. Olivia Robertson walks about the grounds of Clonegal and to the Temple. DVD Olivia Priestess of Isis. Dennis writes that this is: “the last time we were with Olivia, the final time we filmed Olivia in the Temple.” – Thank you Dennis and Steven!

Olivia Robertson 

Photo and text © Fellowship of Isis Central Website, Circle of Isis Advisory Board. Photo courtesy of Dennis Murphy of Logic Reality.

Video Tribute to Olivia Robertson

A video clip created to honor the memory of FOI co-founder Olivia Robertson has been shared with Fellowship of Isis Central. It was compiled by FOI priestess Carrie Kirkpatrick.

Tribute to Olivia Robertson

Fellowship of Isis Central extends sincere thanks to Carrie Kirkpatrick and to Caroline Wise.

Photo and text © Fellowship of Isis Central Website, Circle of Isis Advisory Board. Photo courtesy of Dennis Murphy of Logic Reality.

In Memory of Olivia

Remembering Olivia

November 20, 2013

by Minette Quick

Many, many thanks to all of you who tuned in from afar and supported everyone present with their love at this sad time. There was never going to be room in the Temple for everyone who would have liked to have been with us for Olivia’s Dulce Domum. Cressida crafted and led this most beautiful and moving private ceremony truly exquisitely, in the presence of her family, their guests and those of the Fellowship whom she had personally invited.

To go back a little, the days following Olivia’s passing, which her great nephew Alexander very kindly informed me of shortly afterwards, were marked by a great peace and the weather which had been wild, wet and windy became calm, dry and bright, and much warmer for a couple of days at least. It was as if Nature was marking and welcoming her passage into spirit. I walked my dogs and drank it all in and reflected upon the personal relationship which I had with her over the past number of years, as she strove to provide the Fellowship with everything which she could to enable it to thrive and grow in grace in the future.

I found myself reminded time and again of something she said to one of our members shortly after she had fractured her ankle and was in hospital in early June. She was puzzled as to “why” this had happened to her. Eventually, after a customary consultation with her guidance on the matter, she reported that she had finally realised “that it had never occurred to her to step down” - at 96! And many members had become used to receiving personal answers to the huge pile of letters which arrived in the post for her every day. In addition, she worked with me on general matters and keeping up to date on writing articles for Isian News; sending emails out to the sites and individuals; and virtually single-handedly planning and running the 8 Festivals with the assistance of the priesthood mainly on the day.

It was a quite astonishing workload for a lady of her age even if, as we all know, she had been “decentralizing” for many years. But so great was her devotion to the wellbeing of the Fellowship that she continued to focus on it right up until very shortly before she finally passed on. Mercifully she had been in good general health and in full possession of her faculties throughout her time in hospital until then. Fortunately she had asked the Circle of Brigid to host Festivals at Foundation Centre in her absence and this has been done since the Summer Solstice. You will be delighted to hear that at the warm invitation of Alexander supported by Olivia’s extended family, and in particular, Olivia’s niece, Cressida Pryor, her appointed successor, we will continue to hold the 8 Annual Festivals at Foundation Centre at Clonegal into the future.

The day before the Funeral, the family graciously extended the customary invitation in Ireland to those who knew her locally to come to her “Lying In” within the Castle and a number of our members were honoured to be included. The weather was mild and the atmosphere full of light as we entered the Yard from the far end. We were assured by some of our members coming out that we could go down into the Temple if we wished and then on upstairs to the dining-room and to Olivia’s drawing-room which adjoins it to pay our last respects.

In going down to the Temple first, we were greeted by a most beautiful atmosphere. Everything shone and gleamed with the loving preparations which had obviously been made by so many family members for the Dulce Domum next day.

Standing for a moment between the pillars facing the High Altar I was transported upwards by the powerful energy of the Goddess and the words of the rite floated into mind – “Rejoice. Olivia is Isis Risen” and I was reminded that immediately above was the true “Holy of Holies” - the place in her private drawing-room, where she had communed with the Goddess, meditated daily, received inspiration and written the Liturgy. This was the very place where Olivia’s body now lay in waiting for her last earthly journey home. Leaving the Temple and going up to the Castle dining-room, everything was beautifully prepared to welcome each guest as they arrived. Members of the family served tea so that they might feel at ease, and share a few words and memories of Olivia before going in to see her one last time.

It was an exquisite experience - she lay at rest, cradled in a beautiful light wicker casket draped at the foot with one of her familiar velvet hooded cloaks in a soft violet, with a small posy of the last of the summer roses from the garden resting on it. She looked totally dignified, as she would have liked, surrounded by her most treasured belongings. She was not there but it didn’t matter for she was everywhere else - in the Temple - in her kitchen where we had spent so many hours together -  and above all, as many of us agreed, outside in the Grounds, where she had walked every day since childhood. Nature again conspired to honour her, reflecting the many moods of this whole period of mourning but also rejoicing in her wonderful long life.

I will leave the detailed description of the day of the Funeral to others in the main. It was bitterly cold but dry and clear, though it had rained hard during the night. Suffice it to say, the magnificently coloured leaves were coming down and sun lit up the distant hills as I came into the Yard. The tall great lime trees at the head of the Avenue waved their branches and bowed in the breeze as the sun came out from behind the clouds in a burst of warmth, just as Olivia’s casket was carried out through the front door of the Castle, and down the steps, on the strong young shoulders of her great nieces, something which Olivia would have absolutely loved, to be placed reverently into the Hearse, to be led by a Lone Piper followed by the family, friends and Fellowship members down the Avenue to St. Fiaac’s Church of Ireland Church for the service and burial there with her beloved family members in this lovely ancient cemetery, overlooking the Valley of the River Slaney which flows through Clonegal and on to the sacred coming together of the two rivers which she spoke of so many times.

May her memory be blessed.

Much love to you all,

Minette

Report sent by Minette Quick, Circle of Brigid, Ireland. Thank you Minette! 

Photo and text © Fellowship of Isis Central Website, Circle of Isis Advisory Board. Photo courtesy of Dennis Murphy of Logic Reality.

Say My Name That I May Live Ritual

Say My Name That I May Live – for Olivia Robertson

For Those Who May Wish to Participate

After consulting with members of Temple of Isis/Los Angeles, we wish to invite FOI members who wish to participate in the “Say My Name That I May Live” rite for Olivia Robertson. This ritual was conceived by the late Laura Janesdaughter.

This is a very simple ceremony that can easily be added to your regular daily devotions. Light a candle on your altar and then sound a bell one ring. (You can sound a sistrum, singing bowl or gong if you don’t have a bell) accompanied by “I say your name that you may live, Olivia Robertson.”  This ritual should be carried out for 70 days in accordance with ancient Egyptian tradition. 

Photo provided by P. McCarthy. Photo and Text are copyrighted, Fellowship of Isis Central website.

Dulce Domum, Olivia Robertson

Official announcement on behalf of the Fellowship of Isis from Cressida Pryor, Olivia's niece, Caroline Wise and Linda Iles of FOI Central website. Sad news for the Fellowship and the wider Goddess community in the world, Olivia died last night. It was peaceful and she had her family with her. Her family ask that their privacy is respected at this time. A really great and original figure has left us, Many blessings.