Issue No. 155, Brigantia, 2015
Published Quarterly Since 1976
“Brigid of the Five-Fold Fractal”
by Olivia Robertson
Aset Shemsu – Retinue of Isis
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Invocation and Oracle, and About the Cover
Invocation and Oracle
Isis of Alchemy, Transformation Through the Goddess
Fellowship of Isis Liturgy by Olivia Robertson
The Jade Pylon of Earth
The Octagonal Temple of Alchemy
Ritual no. 8
ORACLE OF THE GODDESS TARA
Invocation: Rainbow
Goddess Tara, Who brings Heaven and Earth into harmony through Your manifold
beautiful forms, help us to live in Peace with each other and all that is.
Oracle: Because
you wish this, it is so! There is a fundamental longing within every creature,
every element, to blend with all that crosses its path. In the evolving
creatures of earth, this leads to the devouring of food, violence, rape and
cruelty. But buried in the heart of even the most savage predator, animal or
human, is the will to return to the Universal Mother, Who gives birth to all
that is.
Yin and Yang the
cosmic feminine and masculine modes are out of balance on earth. The Yang power
of controlling Nature by force is threatening the continuance of earthly
organic life. To save this, we need to bring balance by invoking Yin Power,
Feminine Divinity.
Instead of making
harsh laws that defy your own natures, grow your own souls as you cultivate
plants! You do this by enjoying the company of others, living in harmony with
nature and in practicing the creative arts. For you create your own hells and
heavens. When you do wrong, openly face this and make reparation. Then forgive
yourself and others. It is cruel to invent hells for people you imagine to be
"dark" or "evil" even if this is so. With your gift of
creation, make heavens for evil doers, and they may choose to dwell there in
new found Peace.
Where is this buried
treasure? Within the earth! Yes, there is a sun within, but there are many
suns! But unique among the encircling Planets of the solar system, earth
produces abundant living beings. The Goddess and God is within each one of you.
You are united with a rainbow network with all that is.
Note: The Invocation, Oracle, and Ritual are available here: The Jade Pylon of Earth
About the Cover
Olivia wrote the following explanation for this piece: “I have painted a five-fold Palladium myself, superimposing it over a silver Piscean Madonna… She has vermilion hair, very long, and she holds her baby girl, also with long red hair. The baby holds a doll with spiky red hair. The doll holds a mini-doll ********
She is Brigid holding Bride: Magdalene holding
Sophia. Something was lacking. Were we only to diminish in consciousness? No!
So I painted giant hands coming out of a tumultuous sky, enfolding the figure
in a maternal embrace.”
(Excerpt from “The FractalGoddess of Solar Alchemy”, introduction to rituals 1 and 2, “Ishtar of the
Starry Heavens”.)
Announcement - Statement of The Star of Tara
The Star of Tara
The Star of Tara, an advisory board
of the Fellowship of Isis, consists of the following members: Hamsa Devi, David
de Roeck, Arthur Freeheart, Maury White-Hereford, Daniel Campbell, Christine
Rhone, Johannes Nugroho Onggo Sanusi, Kasey Conder, Carolina A. Amor, Maire Doyle and Linda
Iles. The Star of Tara has issued the following:
Statement
- Star of Tara
The Star of Tara, an
Advisory Board of the Fellowship of Isis, is committed to upholding the vision
of Olivia Robertson and Lawrence and Pamela Durdin-Robertson. We honor and
safeguard the legacy of the work of the three Fellowship of Isis co-founders;
continuing their legacy unchanged. We uphold the Fellowship of Isis as
initiated by the three co-founders; to resurrect a tenant of vocation to the
Divine, be it God or Goddess, furthering awareness of the Goddess, and
initiation into Her mysteries. This is as true now as it has always been.
The Star of Tara is for that
New Aeon. We still recognize in full the Druid Clan of Dana, Noble Order of
Tara, College of Isis, Muses Symposium and types of centers, whether iseums,
solar iseums, lyceums, groves and priories under the Sacred FOI Foundation
Union Triad. The triad consists of the ArchPriesthood Union, the ArchDruid
Union and the Grand Commander Union. We are here to guide assist and walk with
all those who have been called to vocation to the Divine.
The three FOI Co-Founders,
Lawrence and Pamela Durdin-Robertson and Olivia Robertson created the following
methods and practices of the Fellowship of Isis. They were written down by
Olivia Robertson and published by Cesara Publications, the private publishing
house of the FOI Co-Founders. Each numbered section is an exact quote extracted
from the source cited in parentheses.
1. “The Fellowship is
dedicated to spreading the religion of all the Goddesses throughout this
planet. The Gods are also venerated. The Goddess is seen as Deity, the Divine
Mother of all beings, as well as the embodiment of Truth and Beauty.” (Original
Version of the FOI Manifesto, 1976)
2. “Creativity comes from
the harmony of the psychic and earthly spheres. The Goddess needs our help,
that She may bring Her era of happiness, wisdom and creativity to this earth.
Each member who chooses to join the Fellowship dedicated to the Goddess may
give a unique contribution. Every talent is needed.” (Original Version of the
FOI Manifesto, 1976)
3. “The Priesthood of the
Fellowship of Isis is hereditary in source through the Robertsons of
Strathloch, and is passed to priestesses and priests of the Fellowship through
the Rite of Ordination, also through touch and oil. Vocation is essential. The
Priestesses and Priests may in turn ordain others, either through ceremony or
through oil and touch, as was the custom in Ancient Egypt. The ceremony may be
conducted at a distance through mutual arrangement.” (Original Handbook of the
Fellowship of Isis, 1992)
4. a. “Vocation from the
Goddess is essential for candidates for the Priesthood. When this Vocation is
experienced, the would-be candidate should apply to a member of the Priesthood.
Preparation varies according to the ways of each Iseum [or lyceum], but an
initiatory period of a year would be the minimum time needed. The candidate
chooses the Goddess or Goddess and God she/he wishes to serve in order to help
the Deity in the Divine Plan. Ordination by Attunement is only used when the
applicant is in an isolated position. Preparation may be made through a
Correspondence Course.” (Original Handbook of the Fellowship of Isis, 1992)
b. Ordination is bestowed by the F.O.I.
Priesthood through the ceremony “Ordination of Priestesses and Priests”, the
Rite inspired by Isis for the F.O.I. Liturgy. The same Ordination ceremony
conveyed through Telepathic Attunement is as effective as the physical Rite.
Telepathy is the language of the New Aeon. (Handbook of the Fellowship of Isis,
second edition, 1995)
5. “The College of Isis has
been revived after its suppression 1,500 years ago. Like Aset Shemsu, the
F.O.I. itself, it has always been alive in the Inner Planes. It is from these
Inner Planes that its return has been inspired. As the College of Isis is part
of the Fellowship, the ideal of the Manifesto also apply. The qualities of
Goodness, Harmony and Wisdom are manifested through a multi-religious,
multi-racial and multi-cultural Fellowship which honours the good in all
faiths. Magi degrees may be conferred through Lyceums of the College.
Correspondence courses are offered. There are no vows nor secrecy.” (Original
Handbook of the Fellowship of Isis, 1992, Second Version of the FOI Manifesto,
1992)
6. “The Goddess Isis alone
is Head of Her Fellowship. Within Her Family - Shemsu - all members will still
have equal privileges. Membership will continue to be free. F.O.I. is not a
Patriarchal Hierarchy, so no member can have spiritual authority over another.
Iseums, Lyceums, Groves and Priories will remain on equal footing. Titles
describe work undertaken, and are not a badge of authority over people or
beliefs.” (Original Handbook of the Fellowship of Isis, 1992)
7. “Each Lyceum, through its
Dedication, is twinned with an initial Iseum, thus bringing the College into
close communion with the wider network of Iseums. The Dedicatory Divine Names
of Power of Goddess, or Goddess and God manifest particular attributes of the
Deities concerned in the Iseum - Lyceum. Therefore there can be no set
curriculum for the College. Deity in its eternal Being contains all aspects
mirrored forth through the whole Company of Heaven, from Deities to birds. Thus
Hierophants, through inspiration from their particular Deity or Deities,
produce their own training Course. This reflects the democratic character of
the Fellowship …” (Original College of Isis Manual, 1992)
8. (a.) “The Liturgy of the
Fellowship of Isis has been inspired by She whose name it bears; She who is
crowned with the stars, is robed by the sun and standeth upon the moon. It
deals with earthly, psychic and spiritual spheres.” (Original College of Isis
Manual, 1992)
(b.) “All the Arts
strengthen Ritual and bring about purposeful changes. When ancient liturgies
are recited and words of Power uttered, sound reverberates through the
centuries, note calling to note. Words are uttered, even in translation, they
reiterate those used in temples for thousands of years. In these Rites for the
Fellowship of Isis, ancient invocations, hymns and dialogues are used from
ancient liturgies from many religions. For the time has come when Iris, the
rainbow messenger, is forming a pattern of beauty from many faiths. … So in
these Rites prayers and hymns are used from Karnak, Babylon, Africa, the Norse
lands, India, China, Japan, the Celtic countries. For all are relevant, and
without one faith the planetary symphony is deficient.” (Introduction,
"Dea, Rites and Mysteries of the Goddess" FOI liturgy book, written
by Olivia Robertson, 1988)
9. "As the Goddess Isis inspired the ArchPriesthood Union, so the Goddess Dana and the Goddess Tara have inspired the foundation of the ArchDruid Union of the Druid Clan of Dana and the Grand Commander Union of the Noble Order of Tara. This triad brings into harmony the Priesthood, the Mysteries and Philosophy, and Environmental Activity. The inspired guidance came through Rt. Rev. Olivia Robertson at Isis Oasis, USA. The three Unions form a triad of equal importance, they are on the same level, share the same format and same scope of work. All three Foundation Unions are protected by the Wings of Isis, inspired by the Holy Grael of Dana and strengthened by the Sacred Mounds of Tara." (Announcement by Olivia Robertson, published in Isian News, Issue no. 134, Samhain, 2009; Isis-Seshat Journal, Issue no. 24, December, 2009)
The above statement is supported by the following, who are pledged to honor and safeguard the legacy of the work of the three Fellowship of Isis co-founders; continuing their legacy unchanged, which also includes all the FOI centres and communities they represent in perpetuity:
Star
of Tara Advisory Board
Circle
of Isis Advisory Board
Circle
of the Sacred Cauldron Advisory Board
FOI
Germany
Fellowship
of Isis Central
Fellowship
of Isis Utah
Circulo
de Isis
FOI
Chicago
FOI
London
Irmandade
de Isis
Compagnia
de Iside
Upcoming Events
The Perfect Way to Keep Track of FOI Events!
A beautiful calendar for
the Fellowship of Isis is offered by FOI Germany as a free pdf download. The
calendar was created in joint cooperation between FOI Germany and FOI Central.
You may view the file and download it here: http://www.fellowship-of-isis.de/
Many Thanks to Claudia Wehmeyer of FOI Germany for this beautiful calendar!
Isis Symposium, April 9 - 12, 2015, Isis Oasis Retreat
Center, Geyserville, CA. The event theme is ancient Egypt and the ancient Egyptian
pantheon. Deadline for presentation proposals is February 28. Please sent
proposals or questions to rain.graves@gmail.com
Blog: http://isissymposium.blogspot.com/
FOI International Priesthood Retreat, August 28 - 30, 2015 - Vision of the New Aeon led by Cressida Pryor, Cáit Branigan & Caitlín Matthews. Fees: Single £215, Shared £185, Non-res. £140. Please send your non-returnable deposit of £90 payable to Hawkwood College, Painswick Old Rd., Stroud, Glos GL6 7QW (01453 759034) quoting course 15-341 Enclose an SAE for map & confirmation.
Parliament of World's Religions, October, 2015 held in Salt Lake City, Utah. Kasey Conder, head of Fellowship of Isis Utah will be coordinating FOI participation in this event. For more information please visit the post on the Fellowship of Isis Central blog.
FOI Convocation, Temple of Isis, October 8 - 12, 2015, Isis Oasis Retreat Center, Geyserville, CA. Deities honored will be Hathor of Denderah and Horus of Edfu.
Circle of
the Sacred Cauldron – “Dark and Full moon mothers of the night, Surround us
with your love of dark and light.” Temple of Isis Long Beach/Circle of the
Sacred Cauldron. Honor the Dark and Full moon monthly, via rituals by
attunement. The times are 4 through 6:30 Pm PST. Different gods and goddesses
are invited as guests. Names are placed into the sacred cauldron for health
peace love and prosperity. If you want your name or your loved ones name in the
sacred cauldron, please e-mail Anniitra Ravenmoon sacredraven@msn.com
Reports
Winter Solstice Faire
From Anniitra Ravenmoon: Long Beach WomanSpirit, and
the Temple of Isis, Los Angeles, founded by Laura Janesdaughter, celebrated our
(20th plus) Winter Solstice Fair with beautiful weather, joined by friends
old and new. Our opening circle was dedicated to our ancestors and loved ones who have crossed over, culminating with
a love balloon ceremony led by Lucy Tate, a veteran vendor of our fair, in
honor of her beloved son, Julian. It ushered us into a wonderful day of
shopping, entertainment and celebration. Blessings and thanks to all for your
continued support.
Thank you Tony Mierzwicki
for the wonderful photo!
The photo above was taken at
Isis Oasis on Sunday, January 4, 2015 at 11:13 pm. Several of us noticed the
small point of light in the sky above the Isis Chapel, which is the star
Sirius. The picture was taken while standing near the Great Tree. (Photo by Jeff Iles)
Some Thoughts ... What If?
Ptahmassu Nofra Uaa
Olivia Robertson ordaining Ptahmassu at Isis Oasis, FOI Convocation, 2002
On October 13, 2002 I was ordained
by Lady Olivia Robertson as a Priest of the Goddess Isis in the International
Fellowship of Isis, the largest community of Goddess adorers in the world. The
Fellowship of Isis is a multi-cultural, multi-religious, multi-ethnic family
spanning the globe, consecrated to living the ideals of the Goddess in today's
world. We follow no dogma or authoritative text.
Dogma constrains the conscience of the individual, and
authoritative texts strangle the human longing for freedom. It is by developing
our psychic gifts, intuition, devotion and wisdom of the Sacred that we come
closest to our pure selves, and it is within this purity that the Goddess Isis
speaks clearly as the Universal Mother. She includes, never excludes. She
embraces, never shuns. She reaches out Her hand to take our sorrows and bring
us together into wholeness.
What if one day each member of the
human family awoke to find that there were no longer boundaries separating us
as dwellers on the same planet? What if gender dissolved? What if sexual
orientation no longer acted as a barrier to the joy of love and sexual passion?
What if race no longer inflamed hatred, but instead became an embodiment of the
diversity of the human condition? What if being human no longer separated us from
animals, trees, birds...the waters? What if we could gather up our joy,
pleasure and existence and share it freely with others?
These are the treasures I have found
in the Goddess, and though I cannot claim to be spiritually enlightened or
self-realized, I have found within my heart a place where being human is a
cause for the greatest gratitude and love. The Sacred and the
"mundane" are two sides of the same mirror. When we look into the
mirror and we see a good person, then we are seeing God, Goddess, Enlightenment,
Salvation.
(Photo, above) Here I am being
Consecrated by Lady Olivia Robertson beneath a 500 year old tree, a tree
embodying the generations of the human race who have come together to celebrate
the Sacredness of this Mystery we call life.
Isian Society for Integrated Studies
Vigil for Olivia Robertson and Loreon Vigne
Mana, left, and Loreon, right
Report from Mana Youngbear: Last night on Sunday [November 2, 2014] we four priestesses of the Isian Society for Integrated Studies in Willits, Californian came together and performed our annual Dumb Supper, which we have changed the name to "The Ancestor's Silent Mass."
Although
I do not have photos of this spectacular altar , I was taken back by the
presence of the ancestors in the room.
An altar was made with framed photos of Lady Loreon Vigne' and Lady Olivia Robertson with their obituaries below illuminated by candlelight.
Peter
Norris a local light worker confirmed for me as well as many others that
evening that the presence of the beloved dead was alive and loving.
We
opened our ritual all in black with ankh and altar In memory of Lady Olivia
Robertson.
We
called the directions in with our late beloved Lady Loreon Vigne's "Song
For the Directions" and then went directly into the reciting of names of
the dead and then the Silent Mass to be followed by the song Angle of Bells.
After
the mass and song that the entire group sang , priestess Annie Waters dismissed
the directions and we all brought chairs around the long banquet style altar
with photos candles and favorite foods of the deceased and shared stores of our
distinguished spirit guests.
The
food and conversation was wonderful and all left feeling quite complete.
Proceeds of this ritual will go to the local Phoenix Hospice of Willits and we
will return next year to do the same.
Thank
you to all who supported our work both by attending in flesh and spirit and for
those who also attuned.. Isis is for All!
Rev.
Mana Youngbear H.P. Temple of the Muse of Isis Willits California,
as
well as the Isian Society for Integrated Studies Lyceum. Hail Isis!
Isian Society For Integrated Studies
Isian Society For Integrated Studies
Goddess
of the Moon
A
Meditation Report by Máire Doyle
I walked along a
narrow lane with silvery mist swirling all around. My breath formed shapes in
front of my face. High above, a full silvery moon lit up everything around me
and I sensed of other-worldly forms drifting around me. My senses were
heightened and I heard the Lady Luna call my name. I seemed to levitate. Slowly
I rose, up and up towards the Moon. My Heart felt full to overflowing and I was
embraced by the energy emitted from her loving embrace.
From the corner of my
eye I noticed something shining and turning, I beheld a small altar. Everything
was enveloped in a silvery white shroud and the altar was adorned with a
glittering cloth of silver. I stood in front of the altar and raised my arms,
giving praise to the Goddess. On the cloth stood a golden chalice and inside
was a fiery red liquid. I lifted the chalice and drank deeply from it. It
coursed through my Being, uplifting and energising me.
As if by magic the
Goddess stood in front of me, arms outstretched. Her long silver hair flowed
around her shoulders and was covered by a veil of gossamer. What beauty, such
gentleness and yet such power. As she looked at me, her lips moving in an
almost silent whisper, I experienced her words. She spoke of the Light of the
World, in the Cosmos, in each and every one of her children. Her great desire
is that all will recognise the Divine within. Suddenly she stared to fade, yet
she faded into me and I knew I had been given a task, to help others to become
aware of their own Divinity.
Suddenly I began to
shiver and realised I was back in the lane, staring up at the Moon. My body
felt cold, but inside I still felt the effects of the red fiery liquid and the
words of the Goddess filled me with strength.
Taking to my heel I
began to run, filled with a sense of great expectation.
Máire Doyle
"Flash of Isis" by Olivia Robertson
Vision of
the Goddess
by Linda Iles
Archdruidess, Archpriestess, Hierophant
“An account of a full apparition of the Goddess, seen by a Priestess in
Isis Oasis.” - Rt. Rev. Olivia
Robertson, FOI Co-Founder
FOI Co-Founder Olivia Robertson had
originally asked that a full account of this vision be
posted in Isian News. Now at last, although several years later, her wish will
be fulfilled.
When I first told Olivia about the
vision on the morning of October 12, 2005, she became
very excited. She said it was a full apparition of the Goddess, the
only one reported to her that year during her visit to the USA. "What
is meant by full apparition?" I asked at that time. She replied, "Your experience incorporated heart, mind
and spirit with bodily senses - sight, hearing, scent."
The Vision
“On Tuesday evening, October 11, 2005, I
settled into my bed at the Nesu House at Isis Oasis.
The annual Convocation had come to an end
the day before. Very early the next morning, deTraci and I were to drive Olivia
from Geyserville to the San Francisco International Airport. From there we
would begin our journey home to Southern California.
I thought I was tired, but after lying
down, suddenly, instead of being sleepy, I felt vibrantly alive. A sun disc
glowing orange-gold appeared, and settled upon the top of my head.
Energy shot
from my crown chakra downwards into my heart. A white lotus opened in my crown,
and a red rose opened in my heart. Then a Goddess appeared, all dressed in
white, with a white veil. Her heart chakra was open and looked like a flower of
many, many petals. Colored light radiated from the flower of her heart,
turquoise, magenta and gold. It spread out, color by color and enveloped me in
what can only be described as profound and fragrant sweetness. And I heard a
long, high, beautiful note, as though a crystal had been struck like a chime.”
After she returned home from her USA tour that year, Olivia sent the original art, which is featured above, colored with the turquoise, magenta and gold of my vision. She wrote: "I want you to have this. I drew it for you."
Muses Symposium - Articles and Poetry by Members
Three Poetic Offerings By David de Roeck:
Keeper of Thy Peace
A little time to think.
The Lord to the Limit speaks
Before those who still the storm, at the sailing of the
entourage
Proceed in peace.
Atum creates the Cosmic mind.
The Cosmic mind creates the Cosmos.
The Cosmos creates Time.
Time creates Change.
I made the four winds that every man might breathe in his
place.
I made the great inundation, that the wretched should have
power over it like the great.
I made every man like his fellow;
I did not ordain them to do evil; it was their own hearts,
which destroyed that which I pronounced.
To those who are Temporal guide those who are not.
Let no stranger anywhere have knowledge of this. Do
not speak about it to any man. Do not repeat it. Let no [other] eye
see it. Let no [other] ear hear it. Let no one see it except
[thyself] and him who taught [it to thee]. Let not the multitude [know of
it] except thyself and thy beloved friend of thy heart. Thou shalt do
this in a chamber on a cloth painted with the stars in colour all over
it. It is indeed a mystery.
This is part of a mystery coming of Being as you read it
feel the words let each syllable wrap around you like gossamer. Let each
sentence cleanse you like a mountain waterfall, let your being rise forth like
warm summer air, Now breath and hold that moment between your heart beat and
journey forth. Please post what you feel and how you get on all words are
part of the great knowledge.
Blessings David de Roeck
A Kiss to Be Home
The coolness of your kiss steals breath
from my lips;
The beauty of your form fills my
heart with desire;
When standing before you my knees
grow weak;
As I lay with you in the
magnificence of all;
If mine eyes are darkened to never
see again;
This once this love this joy will
feed me till I rest;
Where ere I go on your rondure I
cannot compare;
For your beauty and kiss makes my
soul take flight;
As form perfection in every crease
in all the lines;
In shadowed valleys deep with moss;
All dessert sands leap from dunes
eclipse;
Or velvet night lay on mountains
high;
This globe I love this mothers
embrace;
Silently we dance whirling long
after I sleep;
My corpus form is gifted back to
whence it came;
Thou art truly mother earth my love
my sphere my home;
By David de Roeck
Photo of Olivia Robertson by David de Roeck
Please do not reproduce.
The Red Silk Coat
I did spy a candle bright
shining forth one starry night;
Twas not the flame that
caught my eye but words so pure to light the sky;
Like a comets tail on purple
night translucent fears just out of sight;
When hollowed heart for some
great loss a swirling mind that’s full with dross;
All things so said and so
were done counting costs to see who’s won;
So as the abacus clacks away
naught is naught to end the day;
As if the road was lost from
sight not landscape sure as a gardeners plight;
With one who struggles for
feet on ground listening for an ethereal sound?
And portals lead through
temple door to a sacred space on yonder shore;
The wisdom spoke in gentle
phrase that resonate through darkened haze;
It moved so swift with sound
so clear when touched by light the loss of fear;
As a piper leads the lament
away down leafy avenue at midday;
Through mystic trees in
circles round all crunching steps in silent sound;
To all the thoughts that do
take flight This Blessed Soul is ever Light.
By David de Roeck
The Test of Bastet
This was a prostration to be
initiated into the first shrine temple of Bastet from Upper Egypt “Boaz”.
“Blessed Oh thou Bastet,
patron of the Woman within Women, know me by my utterances that my spells are
true. This is my voice in the expanse of
the Duat. Thy protector is the Star-God thy soul passeth on, thy body is
equipped with powers. The doors of the
hidden land are opened before thee Osiris, conqueror of millions of years, cometh
unto thee. I stand before the masters
who bore witness to zep-tepi, who were the authors of their own forms, who
walked the dark, circuitous passages of their own becoming. I stand before the masters who witnessed the
transformation of the body of a man into the body in spirit. Who were witnessed to the resurrection when
the corpse of Osiris entered the mountain, and the soul of Osiris walked out
shining when he came forth from death, a shining thing, his face white with
heat. I stand before the masters who
know the histories of the dead, who decide which tales to hear again, who judge
the books of lives as either full or empty, who are themselves authors of
truth. They are Isis and Osiris, the
divine intelligences and when the story is written and the end is good and the
soul of a man is perfected, with a shout they lift him into heaven, bid me
entrance within thee”.
Although there are a few
male references within the text take careful note of the feelings of the words
the intent and expression are without doubt feminine. Consolidating the point
that the term master to the Egyptians was like the term King did not refer to a
gender but a position of authority thus a female could be King or master. Also pay note to absence of Bastet yet this
was the first stage to enter and to be initiated into the temple of Bastet, so
we can glean that it was a test of devotion to whether the quester would ask of
the priesthood or just blindly follow. Again note the feelings at certain
points, read over them a few times and see if you get the same feelings and
journey on that. For we are all temporal
beings, some are old souls, some are younger souls. Some carry a burden that is not theirs to
carry yet they do so anyway, others refuse to see that which is the very waters
they try to navigate. Some who see have
no vision, some of vision are unwilling to see, But to experience the vision
you do not have to see just remember what is in your heart will be in your mind
and thus come from your tongue. So the
more you allow yourself to journey the more you will expand your sense of
being. Our life is but a journey our
spirit is on that journey, as we enter and egress through many doors and
portals they all have one thing in common that is you. You are equal unto all others when you stand
to be counted you will number more than One, for you and all that comes with
you is in me as I am in you we are all thoughts in the cosmic mind be true to
your heart.
Blessings to one and all.
David de Roeck
The Star of Ishtar and Gaia – An
Introduction and the Myth of Creation
By Bruno Pythio
Iseum Rosa de Gaia and Mahina Lyceum
Brazil
The
diagram of the Star, also known as “The Star of Ishtar and the web of the
universe and the Tiamat Dragon around the Divine Matrix Diagram” is one of the
most important symbols in the Fellowship of Isis liturgy. Its references to the
universal energy of creation, life, death and transformation are deep and
complex. It is also the Goddess dynamic’s pattern, made through spontaneous
thought, divine inspiration and as a sign of something much more intrinsic than
what we can realize at first sight. This diagram is the core of FOI’s liturgy
and it’s full of mystery and power.
Before
continuing this article I have to give thanks to Matthew Bearden in the first
place, as a sponsor and friend, he guided me through so many paths during these
couple of years, I’ve grown so much under his wings and I’m blessed for having
someone so special and kind in my life, his personal article of the Star of
Ishtar and Qabalah inspired me to write my own article and, like a beacon, he
showed me the way to follow and where to start and still helps me on my
hierophancy path. I also want to thanks Linda Iles, her article and her help
made everything so much clearer to me. Thank you all.
I
decided to connect the Star of Ishtar and the myth of creation as known by the
ancient Greeks in order to honor my bonds with Gaia, to go deep into Her Myth
and energy and to have (or trying to have) a spiritual epiphany around us, human
beings and the Divine. As I always honored Gaia through my body and my self, I
thought it would be wonderful to create a link between the human body, the
Planet Earth and the Deity. The Diagram is a complete and powerful way to
realize both, divine and human nature, as the hermetic law says the “As above,
so below” I decided to see the Star Of Ishtar as a way to understand creation
and as a path to re-connect ourselves to this Divine Energy. In this article I
will first start by working from within
the Star, the point that I decided to call “Nada”, the big zero, beyond human
understanding, and then follow the path outwards until rite number 1 as the
creation of everything comes forth, takes form to the point of humanity. As
Linda says “The ankh represents the emanation of life from this Divine womb and
the numbered rituals around the spiral show both the path of return to Her and
the Path of emergence from Her.” So, the second way is to follow the path
inwards, as we, humans search for connection and understanding.
For
that matter Olivia said “Eight is the special number of the Fellowship. The Star
of Ishtar has eight rays, the year has eight main festivals, it is the sign of
eternity, of magic – the two loops signifying higher and lower awareness, the
world above and the world below experienced as one.” And also, Linda in her
article writes that “the rays of the Star of Ishtar total to eight, which is a
uniquely feminine number because it corresponds to the sum of the terminals of
the XX of feminine chromosomes. The spiraled coils of Tiamat symbolize the
concept of the Fibonacci numbers – the perfect and divine proportion which is
expressed throughout nature.”
Not
only the human body and divine creation is expressed through the Star, but all
that is manifested and in some way rules our plan, like time, space and life
itself can be understood by this diagram. It expresses the former order or
manifestation, as the Goddess utters the words of transformation on and on. Time
is represented by the rays of the Star, and space is the coiled Dragon. I soon
interpreted that as the act of manifestation. Not only earthly manifestation,
but all the forms of creation, since time and space are rules of divine nature,
not only time and space as we know it, but as ways of Divine expression - like
a blank page - on which the Goddess can express Herself. This is one more
reason to believe that those rites stimulate psychic perception and spiritual
illumination.
This
point of view is also made clear in Linda’s article when she writes about the
four levels of the Star: Physical – Alma Mater, Astral or psychic – Flamma
Vestae, Spiritual – Porta Mystica and Divine – Dulce Domum. One of the things
that impressed me the most was the connection between the colors of the levels,
it starts with violet and grows until violet again, showing that the beginning
and the end are divine, human and deities alike, are both divine creation. In
order of polarity Linda writes “The God manifests in the Outer Arcanum as
attributes that are visible in the physical world. The Goddess represents the
Inner mysteries or knowledge.” Our divine legacy is also expressed in “Panthea,
Initiation and Festival of the Goddess” when Olivia writes “And we, children of
the Mother of all beings, are therefore as immortal as She. For the Mother is
expressed throughout Her offspring.
Gaia
is expressed through this diagram, not only in human beings, but in all perfect
creation, as Linda beautifully writes “The coils of Tiamat on the star of
Ishtar echo the Spiral forms that often appear in nature […] The coils of
Tiamat are representative of the divine proportions of creation found in all
forms of spirals, including the cosmic spirals of galaxies and the spiraling
helix of our own DNA.” And in Nuit of the Milky way “The lesser reflects the
greater. There is divinity in all that is”. There’s some connection between the
colors of the rays and the body’s chakras, it’s a way of illustrating how the
human body reflects a greater logic.
Theogony
– Creation. Gaia and the Star of Ishtar
“This
is a story about Gaia, but as She is many, plenty, this also will be a tale
about Her forms, Rhea, Hera, Zeus, Chronus and Uranus. They can be deities, but
they can also be forces of creation. This will be a myth about how human beings
can find the divine within as the Divine Mother finds her expression into the
human world, just like the star of Ishtar can spiral inwards and outwards.”
The
myth used as a base story to this analysis was the text Orphica, Theogonies
Fragment 54 (From Damascius) and found on www.theoi.com :
"Originally
there was Hydros (Water), he [Orpheus] says, and Mud, from which Ge (the Earth)
solidified: he posits these two as first principles, water and earth . . . The
one before the two [Thesis], however, he leaves unexpressed, his very silence
being an intimation of its ineffable nature. The third principle after the two
was engendered by these--Ge (Earth) and Hydros (Water), that is--and was a
Serpent (Drakon) with extra heads growing upon it of a bull and a lion, and a
god’s countenance in the middle; it had wings upon its shoulders, and its name
was Khronos (Unaging Time) and also Herakles. United with it was Ananke
(Inevitability, Compulsion) , being of the same nature, or Adrastea,
incorporeal, her arms extended throughout the universe and touching its
extremities. I think this stands for the third principle, occupying the place
of essence, only he [Orpheus] made it bisexual [as Phanes] to symbolize the
universal generative cause. And I assume that the theology of the [Orphic]
Rhapsodies discarded the two first principles (together with the one before the
two, that was left unspoken) [that is, the Orphics discarded the concepts of
Thesis, Khronos and Ananke], and began from this third principle [Phanes] after
the two, because this was the first that was expressible and acceptable to
human ears. For this is the great Khronos (Unaging Time) that we found in it
[the Rhapsodies], the father of Aither and Khaos. Indeed, in this theology too
[the Hieronyman], this Khronos (Time), the serpent has offspring, three in
number: moist Aither (Light) (I quote), unbounded Khaos (Air), and as a third,
misty Erebos (Darkness) . . . Among these, he says, Khronos (Time) generated an
egg--this tradition too making it generated by Khronos, and born ‘among’ these
because it is from these that the third Intelligible triad is produced
[Protogonos-Phanes]. What is this triad, then? The egg; the dyad of the two
natures inside it (male and female) [Ouranos, heaven, and Gaia, earth], and the
plurality of the various seeds between; and thirdly an incorporeal god with
golden wings on his shoulders, bulls’ heads growing upon his flanks, and on his
head a monstrous serpent, presenting the appearance of all kinds of animal
forms . . . And the third god of the third triad this theology too celebrates
as Protogonos (First-Born) [Phanes], and it calls him Zeus the order of all and
of the whole world, wherefore he is also called Pan (All). So much this second
genealogy supplies concerning the Intelligible principles."
I
based this article on the myth of Theogony and also on my personal experience
with Gaia, and as an Oracle Goddess I had the Tarot cards supporting me during
my wonders and thoughts. The way this was built made a beautiful piece of art,
as I took one card to understand each rite and each step of creation, to help
me with an unique point of view, inspired by Goddess Herself, which is the work of a hierophant. The deck
that I used was “The Goddess Tarot” by Kris Waldherr. This article has enormous
references to Matthew Bearden’s article about the FOI liturgy and Qabalah, it
may be found in the online magazine “The Mirror of Isis”.
The
rite’s sequence was:
-
Mystical Initiation (Conferred by direct Communion with Deity) – “Nada” the Big
Zero, oracle Card: Princess of pentacles (knight of pentacles).
-
Mystical awakening of Aquarius and Juno – Khaos/Hydros, oracle card: The
Hermit.
-
Mystical awakening of Capricorn and Terra – Ge/Cosmic Mud, oracle card: Queen
of Swords.
-
Mystical awakening of Sagittarius and Brynhild – Ananke, oracle card: 2 of
swords.
-
Mystical awakening of Scorpio and Kundalini – Kronus, oracle card: 9 of
pentacles.
-
Mystical awakening of Libra and Kwan Yin – The Cosmic Egg, oracle card: The
Empress.
-
Mystical awakening of Virgo and Dana – Gaia, oracle card: 2 of Wands.
1. Mystical
Initiation (Conferred by direct Communion with Deity) – “Nada” the Big Zero,
oracle Card: Princess of pentacles (knight of pentacles).
This
is a rite surrounded by mystery, as well as the stage of creation that it’s
related to, the “Nada”, this big zero is not to say that it is meaningless,
it’s quite the opposite, it means that this is everything, to number it is to
split it, to separate it from all, so Zero means the mystery, it’s the “taking
a chance on life”, personal and powerful. The princess of pentacles suggests
“That bountiful, generous forces now surround us. It symbolizes a need to enjoy
the pleasures of the material world […] all you need to do is to prepare the
ground for your flowering.” Isn’t that beautiful? To prepare the ground to
create new life, the whole potency of generating all that is, it’s simply
amazing!
As
Matthew wrote in his article, here is the beginning and the ending, as connected
to the Sphere of Daath: “This sphere has also the function of filtering out
energy that could be too much for us to withstand.”
2. Mystical
awakening of Aquarius and Juno – Khaos/Hydros, oracle card: The Hermit.
Hydros
is the cradle of life, is the primordial sea of creation and fertility, is the
unformed energy, full of potential but with no direction (yet), The Hermit Card
suggests a need of contemplation, a distance from the previous state (“Nada”)
to understand better the questions of life. The Qabalistic association
suggested by Matthew’s article is The Star, hope and direction. When both cards
are analyzed together, a question of understanding and creation can be fully
comprehended, The Hermit show us the need of a new way, reflection and thought,
taking some distance over what has been so far, thus the star is this
direction, is the pole star, Isis, Juno, is this hope of new beginnings.
As
we can read in the rite “In the beginning the creatures of earth dwell
encrusted, homebound in primaeval slime. The Embryo in the womb is thus: secure
and still.” The womb is full of water, just like Hydros, but the embryo holds
still, no movement… The Hermit, shown in the Goddess Tarot as “Contemplation”
is illustrated in this part of the Rite’s Oracle “…and they long to transcend
the Galaxy Herself, and see Her as a coiled serpent, like her sister Andromeda.
They dream of seeing the mega universe as a mighty Dragon, Inanna, and of
watching stars and galaxies consumed by vortices of darkness, to be re-born to
greater life.”
Here
the first idea of a pattern is seen, it’s the start of a new creation “Look
into a well and you will see a black hole in space. See the sparkle of a little
water-fall and you will appreciate a galaxy. Enjoy birds singing and you will
be listening to the music of the spheres!” as the oracle continues.
So
on, continuing the rite, during the invocation to Juno, She is shown as a
Goddess, creatrix of all life forms, mother of showers and winds (Hydros and
Khaos): “… Mother of showers and winds, from thee alone, producing all things,
mortal life is known; All nature shows Thy temperament divine, and universal
sway alone in Thine. With sounding blasts of wind, the swelling sea and rolling
rivers roar when shook by Thee.” It’s the idea of macrocosm and microcosm.
3. Mystical
awakening of Capricorn and Terra – Ge/Cosmic Mud, oracle card: Queen of Swords.
Here’s
the second stage of Creation, when two become one again, Ge is the cosmic mud,
the fertile ground on which life form will be generated. I like the symbolism
of this rite connected with this stage of life, Capricorn is a creature half
fish, half animal, just like the mud is half water, half earth. And this rite
is fully connected with an Earth Deity, Terra (earth, in Latin and Portuguese).
The oracle card given to this rite was the Queen of Swords, “Strong and
brilliant, a woman who pushes us to live by the standards of gaining wisdom by
experience. It’s time to create new experiences.
The
rite’s invocation starts like this “Holy Mother… all creatures that fly and run
and swim are under Thy sway. The sacred elements of earth form thy body and thy
mighty aura encompasses us as a protective veil”. This part of creation is the
start of physical creation, it’s now when things start to be born to generate a
new world. And the oracle continues, giving us advice to search Her wisdom, Her
creative energy is found within “The first quest to be undertaken by the seeker
is not without but within my being.” It’s a need to understand this stage of
creation, and find it within ourselves.
This
part of creation is also connected with nutrition, since the mud is full of
nutrients and feeds all life, “The goat-nymph Amalthea of Capricorn fed Jupiter
with her milk and it was her lost horn that became the ‘cornu Amaltheae’, the
cornucopia flowing with the food of the deities, nectar and ambrosia”, and
again during the invocation of Gaea “Eldest of all beings. She feedeth all
creatures that are in the world…”
As
the last most important aspect of this stage of life, creativity comes to show
its powers. “Propitious Terra and Ceres, Mothers of the Corn, bless these seeds
which are to be committed to the black earth. For Thou, Ceres, lendest to the
corn its vital force, and Thou, Terra, lendest it room. O grant Onto Thy tender
seeds unbroken increase. When we sow, let the sky be cloudless and the winds
blow fair: but when the seed is buried, then sprinkle it with water from the
sky. May the farms yield, with manifold interest, crops of wheat and barley.”
And the fantastic answer to Tom in the Tale "So people fancy", said
Mother Carey. "But I never trouble myself to make things. I sit here and
make them make themselves".
The
aspect of transformation of this part of creation is beautifully described in
the rite as follows “Know that She who turns fishes into beasts and into Men,
Mother Cary, is the Norse Goddess of the Sea, Goda, from Whom comes the Name of
God. She rides naked upon a goat and holds a fish net in one hand and an apple
in the other. She is accompanied by a Hare and a Raven. The Saxons called Her
Gode, and Godiva.”
4. Mystical
awakening of Sagittarius and Brynhild – Ananke, oracle card: 2 of swords.
Now
it’s the time of Sagittarius, half animal and half man, and evolution taking
under the last one. The oracle card is the two of swords “Transitory quality of
peace, confront.” As things must be taken out of the comfort zone to evolve,
this rite is about the inevitable, and who’s better to describe this energy
than Ananke? She is the need, the necessity, and this rite is described by
Matthew Bearden on his article by having an association with the card The
Chariot, Binah-Geburah, “The hall of carma”, again, the inevitable.
During
the invocation we can have an idea of what this energy of confront is: “Bring
us the energy to fight for a good cause!” and the Oracle says: “And when a
cause is wrongly undertaken is armed by auras of fire and spears of light,
disaster is inevitable.” And the two of swords presents itself: “For man is
neither entirely animal nor god: so he feels torn in two.”
This
is a stage in creation where things are coming to an inevitable direction, to
generate more things, but it’s not possible to create something of its own, it
must have a polarity balance, so Kronus was created as well, this part of the
rite illustrate this stage “But lo, the hero Sigurd discovered Her there,
guided by a magical bird. And He awakened Her and They remembered their lost
love when They dwelt together in heaven as Sieglinda and Siegmund, the Starry
Twins. But the doom of Asgard was upon the earth and no earthly marriage could
be theirs. Brynhild assumed Her head-dress of glory, Her Spear of Light. She
summoned Her white winged horse. And upon Her horse she entered the flames that
roared from the underworld into the sky. And they ascended into the heavens.
And, as was Her right, she brought with Her Sigurd, Her Consort, and the souls
of all whose bodies had perished in the flames of earth. And the flames
subsided as the waters of the oceans rose and covered the land.”
The
nature of Ananke (Inevitability) and Kronus (Time) is also shown here “At that
time earth will rise out of the sea and be green and fair, and fields of corn
will grow that were never sown and two human beings will escape the
destruction.” And also here “We have recalled the rise and fall of suns and
planets, and of all who dwell on the earth. We have told of the transmutation
of Brynhild as She passed through the ordeal of the elements, until She had
rescued those who suffered, and regained Her Divinity.”
5. Mystical
awakening of Scorpio and Kundalini – Kronus, oracle card: 9 of pentacles.
This
is the counterpart of this part of creation, Kronus and Ananke are usually seen
as one moment, but the feminine energy divided Herself into Ananke (first) and
Kronus. So, now both can generate life and create form at this stage. Until now
we’ve seen the creation from Pure divine energy unfolding itself into
manifestation, several steps were taken respecting the universal laws. Now it’s
the time of Gender and Polarity. United both can create life, and the oracle
card shows it very well, the nine of pentacles is the period of fertility and
luxury, a great satisfaction.
The
Qabalistic association is with The Magician and again, its complementary,
showing the relevance of this observation and study. Matthew wrote “The first
step on the way to form […] The letter of this path is beth, which means
“House”, a house is a form of restriction (I say that time is the first form of
restriction, Kronus = Time, He is the Unaging time, just to add value to this
sentence) of a part of the world.
The
invocation goes on to illustrate “For without thee we are as lifeless shadows
astray in this land of delusions, entangled in dead thoughts, stale emotions,
sucked of energies by debilitating forces which we cannot control.” And the
oracle connects itself to Kronus “For my fire either creates or it destroys.”
As time acts in general.
Again
an illusion to time is made: “For though the mysteries are preserved through
silence, we must offer ourselves and all we have to the Goddess, that we may be
reborn with knowledge of our immortality.” Again, to go back to the “Nada” we
must comprehend that time is also an illusion. Another beautiful part of the
rite connecting creation with time “Within the fiery cosmic wheel Thou doth
enact the dance of Creation.”
An
analogy to initiation (From latin “Initio”, beginning), the alliance of Ananke
and Kronus “Companions, harken to the story of Isis and the mother and her
child. Isis was seeking for the body of Her slain husband the God Osiris, and
She came to the city of Byblos. She was discovered by the royal handmaidens as
She sat by a well. Isis braided their hair, breathing a heavenly perfume upon
them from Her Divine Body. Queen Astarte of Byblos smelt this perfume and took
Isis to Her within the palace, to be nurse to her child. Now Isis discovered
that the body of Osiris, unknown to the King and Queen, was concealed within a
tree pillar of the palace. At night in the form of a swallow, She was wont to
flutter around the pillar of the palace, twittering mournfully.
[...]
Now Isis loved the baby boy entrusted to Her and She decided to confer upon him
the gift of Immortality. So every night when all slept, She used to hold the
child over the fire in the hearth. But one night Queen Astarte discovered Isis
placing her baby on the fire, and she seized him and clasped him to her and
bitterly upbraided her nurse. Whereupon Isis revealed Herself in Her Divine
Being and gave Her Name. And She said unto the Queen: "Wretched woman, if
Thou hadst let me I would have made thy son immortal! As it is, he shall be as
other men and I must leave him." When King Malcandre heard of this he
understood the mystery of the swallow and the pillar, and he gave Isis the
Tamarisk tree which contained the coffin of Osiris.” And this is explained by
the following part “In celebration of the sacred Marriage of the Opposites, the
Initiation of Fire and Water which takes place in the House of Scorpio, let us
perform the Dance of the Azure Dragon!”
6. Mystical
awakening of Libra and Kwan Yin – The Cosmic Egg, oracle card: The Empress.
Now
it’s the time of balance again, as the wheel turns, we walked from Khaos to
potency of life, inevitability and time to come to this moment of Balance,
Harmony, Libra, the Cosmic Egg full of life itself and holding Gaia and Uranus
on its body, heaven and earth. The oracle card of this rite and moment of
creation is The Empress, fertility and “feelings of abundance as well as
renewed interest in sensuality” the pleasure, the connection between energies.
The Qabalistic card to this path is the Hanged man, the sacrifice. To sacrifice
is to become sacred, and this path in Qabalah is Geburah-hod and “sometimes
symbolized by water” and water again is a symbol of fertility, just like the
egg. And two become one again.
This
is the part of manifestation and as the Oracle says “Every true thought and
desire creates its own manifestation. Smile and you give birth to happiness in
some time and some place.” So now it’s the manifestation of an idea, a dream
formed in the beginning of time, a need of transforming and evolving.
As
manifestation goes on, the oracle continues “Artists painting pictures shall
create their visions in living forms. Composers shall bring harmony…” and this
happens when there’s perfect balance: “Know that in many ancient lands the
constellation of libra, when in the house of the Autumnal equinox, was revered
as portraying justice, through the equal balancing of day and night, summer and
winter.” And “Justice however, not only reveals the truth, but also sees that
the law is maintained on earth.”
The
Cosmic egg is the source of “life on earth” the one source of life “I speak the
words of the sage, and lay it upon your hearts – how the Gods and mortal men
sprang from one source!”
7. Mystical
awakening of Virgo and Dana – Gaia, oracle card: 2 of Wands.
As
the Egg cracks, it’s time to be separated again; the inside is Gaia, the womb,
earth and Mother. The outside is Uranus, the father. Like Ananke and Kronus,
those two will create life with their union, but at first, Gaia came to be.
This is once more, an earthly rite, with an earthly sign and an earthly Deity.
Virgo and Dana, some sort of organization comes from Virgo and Dana, the Great
Mother of the Tuatha De Dannan is fertile and breaths abundance. The Oracle
card for this step of creation is the two of wands, and I could not think of
one better. The two of wands, fire, spirit, energy is “the concrete beginning
of a new venture, a dynamic partnership that will fulfill us”, I can’t help but
think that this is related to Gaia and Uranus, so it’s perfect. Matthew said
something really beautiful about this rite and path (Kether-Tifareth), “Then
the soul is prepared for the second birth” and this is the second time that
Gaia takes form, the first one was Ge, and now Gaia and She will come back
again.
As
mother, Gaia is related to Dana and the invocation says: “Dana, star Goddess of
Atlantis, Mother of the Gods and Goddesses of Ireland, inspiring the magical
arts and bestowing bounty throughout the whole earth, we invoke Thy Aid.” And
the Goddess replies “…Through the present come to Me! For the present is your
gate to heaven” this shows that the time and space are already established and
She is the moment of now.
As
the essence of life and energy, all the Gods are in some level Her Children and
in some other level, the sign of an ancient and natural energy as we can see
here: “know that the Gods and Goddesses of Ireland, Sons and Daughters of the
Goddess Dana, journeyed to Ireland in ancient times. Among these Deities were
the Goddesses Brighid, the Poetess, Morrigan the Enchantress, Airmid the
Healer, Badbh, Bestower of Abundance, Fleachta the Druidess, and Eire the
Generous. The Gods had amongst them Manannan of the Sea, Oengus, Bringer of
Love, Cairbre the Poet, loarbonel the prophet, Giobnu the Great Smith and
Luchne, maker of The Roarer, the Wheel of Manannan. Hear of Their descent, as
recorded in "The Lebor Gabala Erenn!" 'They came without vessels or
barks, in dark clouds over the air, by the might of Druidry.”
Gaia
is the plenty, abundant and prosperous, She is the one who gives birth to all
creation upon earth and also nourishes us, food, whether spiritual or material
comes through Her sacred body, “The great Cauldron of Plenty they carried from
Murias: no company would go from that cauldron unsatisfied!” and also: “I offer
incense to the Goddess Dana. She sitteth upon the stone of Destiny that is the
earth, and in Her Left Hand is a sheaf of wheat which she taketh from Her
Cauldron of Plenty, that Her Son the God Dagda and those who follow Him may
feed all creatures upon the earth.”
Making
and allusion for creation, as the hermetic rules, the whole creation is mental,
and in this rite we can see something related to that: “Wind, the earth is sick
from silence. Though we possess light and colour and fruit, yet We have no
music. We must bestow music upon all creation! To the awakening dawn, to the
dreaming man, to the waiting mother, to the passing water and the flying bird,
life should be all music! Go, Quetzalcoatl, through the boundless sadness
between the blue smoke and the spaces to the High House of the Sun. There, the
bright sun is surrounded by makers of music who blow their flutes sweetly and
with their burning choir, scatter light abroad. Go, bring back to earth a
cluster - the most flowering - of those musicians and singers."
Later
in the rite we can see a reference to all the major powers of Gaia:
Food/Abundance; prophecy; mystery; faith; transformation and immanence. “I hail
the Guardians of the White-flushed Star Spica, the Ear of Wheat. Let the truth
planted in our souls grow through understanding to Wisdom!
I
hail the two white stars, Antevorta and Postvorta, stars of the two Goddesses
of Prophecy. By foreseeing the future may we direct our lives with wisdom.
I
hail the Guardians of Zaniah, Heaven's Gate. May we find the Gate of Heaven and
enter therein.
I
hail the Guardians of the pale yellow Star Zavijava, Kennel of the Hounds. Give
us strength and loyalty to follow Deity.
I
hail the Guardians of the bright yellow star Vindemiatrix, the Grape-Gatherer,
Star of Vintage. May we transmute adversity into the wine of experience.
I
hail the Guardians of Syrma, star on the Virgin's Robe. Let us have humility
when we wonder at many stars.”
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