NRMs: Fellowship of Isis
Founded in 1976 at Clonegal Castle, Ireland, the Fellowship of Isis (FOI) was formed to foster closer unity between individuals and the Goddess. The founders include former clergy with the Anglican Church, Lawrence Durdin-Robertson (1920-1994); his wife and clairvoyant, Pamela (1923-????); and Lawrence’s older sister and surviving founder, Olivia Robertson (1917-). Claiming a hereditary lineage to the priesthood of Ancient Egypt, these Anglo-Irish aristocrat descendants sought to form a fellowship that embraced all religions, cultures, and traditions. This still remains an integral part of their manifesto, as members are free to maintain other religious allegiances.
FOI is organized on a democratic basis, whereby all members are equal. Further, the FOI does not require that members take any vows or commitments to secrecy. Both men and women can seek initiation as priests or priestesses. Membership is free, and members can resign at any point. The number of members throughout the fellowship’s history is murky, in part due to poorly kept records; however, some sources claim over 50,000 members.
Love, Beauty, and Truth, are engrained in the Fellowship’s manifesto. Further, it seeks “to develop friendliness, psychic gifts, happiness, and compassion for all life.”
Over the years, the Fellowship has grown to include a network of daughter societies, many of which honour a specific Goddess and/or God. In addition, the FOI network includes “colleges” which carry out the liturgy and training of priests and priestesses.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Fellowship, you can visit the Fellowship of Isis Web site which has numerous photos and writings. There are also a host of affiliated sites that can provide more in-depth information. Below is a short video that provides a great introduction to the Fellowship of Isis.
M. xo
Fellowship of Isis:
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons