I was saddened to learn that Lady Olivia, one of the founders of the international Fellowship of Isis, passed away this past month at the age of 96. She's had a long life, and done so much to inspire, teach, initiate, and serve the Goddess - she will be missed by many.
I've many times gone to Isis Oasis in California, a Center for Goddess Spirituality that is dedicated to the Fellowship of Isis. Lady Olivia, who lived in Ireland, came there for many years. If you have met any of the Fellowship, you
immediately are struck by what a wonderful, warm, life-affirming and
creative group of people they are.
Lady Olivia, who co-founded the Fellowship of Isis
with her brother in Ireland (and now around the world) was much loved
by friends and family everywhere. I met her briefly when I was at the
Goddess Conference in Glastonbury in 2011. Recently a movie
has been made about the Fellowship and Lady Olivia. She came to
Isis Oasis for Convocation and initiation of priestesses for many years
from her home in Ireland.
It will be strange to be in a world without Lady Olivia, although I know her work continues.
It was my pleasure to visit Isis Oasis on my trip to California, a sanctuary and retreat center I've visited many times in the past, and to visit with Reverend Loreon Vigne, the Founder of Isis Oasis Sanctuary and the Temple of Isis there. Loreon's vision has created and sustained the Oasis for over 30 years, in the beautiful wine country of northern California. Isis Oasis Sanctuary was founded in 1978.Before that time Loreon was an artist and in San Francisco. She created a line of gift ware and jewelry called Noir Enamel craft and as her work became popular she needed a workshop. Answering a newspaper ad, she was delighted to discover that the building was on Isis Street - Loreon knew of this street, and because it was named for the Goddess wanted to live there....this synchronicity was the "go ahead" for her.
Another reason Loreon moved was because of her love for ocelots (and later for servals, the "hunting cats" of ancient Egypt as well). On this visit Loreon let me visit with several of the big cats. Ocelots can purr, but they don't "meow", just growl their pleasure or dislike. It was quite a treat to sit with a gorgeous cat the size of a good sized dog who growled convincingly like a tiger to let me know he wanted his ears rubbed.
"While in the city of Saint Francis, patron saint of all living creatures, I discovered my passion for one of the most beautiful cats on the planet - The Ocelot. I have been working with Ocelots since the mid-1960’s and have created a vibrant family tree of Ocelots. To my knowledge I am the only one at this time to have bred a seventh generation domestic born Ocelot, and it is my hope to continue to create more of this highly endangered feline species of North America for future generations to enjoy.
There are some that believe that Ocelots should stay purely in the wild to live or to die. Commonly held knowledge shows the difficulties that this amazing species faces in the wild - Poachers who hunt them for their beautiful fur, although it is an illegal practice, and the deforestation of their habitats. Therefore I believe that a population of Ocelots kept in captivity is the only way to ensure their continued survival, for in ten years there may no longer be any Ocelots left in the wild in North America"
Lady Loreon Vigne
If you are passing through the area, it's just off of Route 101 and easy to find from the small town of Geyserville. Camping is available, and rooms can be rented in the Goddess Hotel, which has a hot tub and pool. I recommend the "Sekmet Room".
White Peacock at Isis Oasis
Mana sweeping before the Temple of Isis
"Dirt Sculpture" fire pit
Isis Oasis has been where Lady Olivia has come for many years, and I can't write about Loreon and Isis Oasis without including Lady Olivia. She's an amazing woman, and if you have met any of the Fellowship, you immediately are struck by what a wonderful, warm, life-affirming and creative group of people they are. I found it annoying that the group is so often called a "cult".
Now let me see.........millions and millions of people believe that we are born sinful (especially women because of Eve and that forbidden apple). Seeing this, God sent his only Son (who didn't have a mother, but was "incubated" in Virgin Mary) to be violently sacrificed like they used to do for God with sheep and goats ("Lamb of God") so that, instead of being eternally punished for being born (sinful, in other words), we could instead be "born again" and go to heaven with Jesus. This proves that God loves us (unless, of course, you don't believe this story or are born in some other part of the world that has a different idea, or were born and died prior to Jesus coming to earth to save us.) In those cases, whether God loves you or not, you have to spend all of eternity tormented in Hell. So it's really, really important that you take the appropriate initiations and vows now, while you still have the chance to be "saved".
That's called Religion. The Fellowship of Isis is called a cult. Hmm.
Lady Olivia, who co-founded the Fellowship of Isis with her brother in Ireland (and now around the world) is much loved by friends and family everywhere.....I met her briefly when I was at the Goddess Conference in Glastonbury last year. Recently a movie has been made about the Fellowship and Lady Olivia - She has come to Isis Oasis for Convocation and initiation of priestesses for many years from her home in Ireland - this year, her 96th, is the first time she hasn't been able to come, although she's planning on coming next year, Goddess willing.
I was so saddened to learn that Lady Loreon Vigne, founder of Isis Oasis in Geyserville, California, had passed away on July 15 at the age of 82. Lady Loreon created a true sanctuary - for the Fellowship of Isis, for the Goddess, for her beloved endangered animals, and especially her Ocelots, for beauty, and for many, many artists, seekers, healers, friends, and wanderers. I count myself privileged to be among them.She was one of those who did so much, in her life, generosity, and vision, to help create and re-claim Goddess Culture. She will be sorely missed.
It was my pleasure to visit Isis Oasis
on my trip to California in 2012. I visited the sanctuary and retreat center
many times in the past when lived in California. Reverend Loreon Vigne founded Isis Oasis in the
beautiful wine country of northern in 1978. Before
that time Loreon was an artist living in San Francisco. She created a
line of gift ware and jewelry called Noir Enamelcraft and as her work
became popular she needed a workshop. Answering a newspaper ad, she was
delighted to discover that the building was on Isis Street ....this synchronicity was the first "go ahead" for her.
Another reason Loreon moved was because of her love for ocelots (and later for servals, the "hunting cats" of ancient Egypt as well). Both animals are endangered species. On my visit in 2012 I was delighted when Loreon let me visit with several of the big cats. Ocelots can purr, but they don't "meow", they just growl their pleasure or dislike. It was quite a treat to sit with a gorgeous cat the size of a good sized dog who growled convincingly like a tiger to let me know he wanted his ears rubbed.
"While
in the city of Saint Francis, patron saint of all living creatures, I
discovered my passion for one of the most beautiful cats on the planet -
The Ocelot. I have been working with Ocelots since the mid-1960’s and
have created a vibrant family tree of Ocelots. To my knowledge I am the
only one at this time to have bred a seventh generation domestic born
Ocelot, and it is my hope to continue to create more of this highly
endangered feline species of North America for future generations to
enjoy. There are some that believe
that Ocelots should stay purely in the wild to live or to die. Commonly
held knowledge shows the difficulties that this amazing species faces in
the wild - Poachers who hunt them for their beautiful fur, although it
is an illegal practice, and the deforestation of their habitats. Therefore
I believe that a population of Ocelots kept in captivity is the only
way to ensure their continued survival, for in ten years there may no
longer be any Ocelots left in the wild in North America".
Loreon Vigne
Hymn to Isis
Bestower of Wealth, Queen of the Gods, Speaker of Wisdom, Omnipotent Lady, Agathe Tyche, greatly renowned Isis through you, Heaven and Earth have their being; and the gusts of winds and the sun with its sweet light All who live on the boundless earth invoke your fair name, honored among all Syrians honor you as Astarte, Artemis, Nanaia; Lycians as Leto, the Lady; Thracians name you Mother of the Gods; and the Greeks Hera of the Great Throne, Aphrodite, noble Hestia, Rhea and Demeter. But the Egyptians call you ‘The Goddess’; for you are all other goddesses invoked by humankind. –Isidorus, ca. 100 BCE. Adapted from Vera Frederika Vanderlip (1972) in The Four Greek Hymns of Isidorus and The Cult of Isis. Toronto: Hakkert.
White Peacock at Isis Oasis
Mana Youngbear sweeping before the Temple of Isis
"Dirt Sculpture" fire pit
I can't
write about Loreon and Isis Oasis without including Lady Olivia. Lady Olivia, who co-founded the Fellowship of Isis
with her brother in Ireland (and now around the world) passed away in 2013. Recently a movie
has been made about the Fellowship and Lady Olivia - She came to
Isis Oasis for Convocation and initiation of priestesses for many years
from her home in Ireland. If you have met any of the Fellowship, you
immediately are struck by what a wonderful, warm, life-affirming and
creative group of people they are.
I shall miss Lady Loreon, and it is my hope that the Sanctuary for the Goddess that she dedicated herself to will continue.
Vigne started a program welcoming classrooms of children from Sonoma County and beyond to teach them about the once endangered animals and their unique home at the Geyserville sanctuary. Last month, Vigne hosted the Geyserville Chamber of Commerce’s end of year dinner with a surprise guest, a snake dancer wrapped in a 20-foot live snake.
Lady Loreon Vigne was married to the late San Francisco beat era film maker, Dion Vigne who died in 1970.Lady Loreon Vigne’s artistic career started in San Francisco where she was an artist and crafts person. Vigne created a line of giftware and jewelry called Noir Enamelcraft. Her gallery specialized in enamels and stained glass was located in downtown San Francisco.Isis Oasis Lady Loreon had a collection of exotic Ocelot cats at her home and workshop on Isis Street in San Francisco. When the regulations against owning exotic cats in San Francisco were imposed, Lady Loreon moved to Geyserville to provide a new home for her exotic cats. Isis Street was one more thread in the woven cloth of the Isis Oasis beginning. Lady Loreon had a series of encounters with the Goddess Isis, and decided to transform the property into an Egyptian themed retreat center. Vigne personally created stained glass pieces all over the property, and built enclosures for her cats and exotic birds she began to acquire. Over time the animal sanctuary was born. 34 years later Isis Oasis has provided a place for artists to be creative and groups to use the space for retreats, workshops, weddings, concerts, and myriad other activities. Vigne was an author and poet, with past speaking engagements at the Wells Fargo Center, local bookstores and Isis Oasis. Lady Loreon leaves a living legacy in Geyserville, Isis Oasis.
Tuesday 26th -Sunday 31st July
Now five full days of celebration!!
with Fringe events from Sunday July 24th
I'm delighted to be able to attend and be a presenter this coming July! I'll also be attending the Glastonbury Symposium*** which should give me plenty of opportunity to learn about crop circles to my heart's delight. I have no idea where cheap lodging can be found for all of this (if anyone reading this has any ideas, all lead are most welcome!) I'm so happy to be able to participate in this wonderful conference - here is further information:
We are happy to welcome for the first time from the USA two pioneers of the Goddess movement – Vicki Noble, co-creator of the Motherpeace Tarot, and Zsuzsanna(Z) Budapest, Founder of the Dianic Wiccan Tradition! With Conference Favourites: Anique Radiant Heart, Barbara Meiklejohn-Free, Carolyn Hillyer, Julie Felix, Kathy Jones, Lydia Ruyle and Lady Olivia Durdin Robertson.
Plus Presenters: Lauren Raine, Amanda Baker, Annabel Du Boulay, Anna Saqqara Price, Charissa Schipper, Caroline Lir, Deonesea la Fey, Emma Rose Knight, Erin McCauliffe, Ganga Ashworth, Georgina Sirett-Hardie, Graell Corsini, Heloise Pilkington, Isabella Verbruggen, Isis Queen, Jacqui Woodward-Smith, Jennifer Cooper, Katinka Soetens, Kaye Cooksey, Koko Newport, Lisa Newing, Louise Bell, Louise Tarrier, Lydia Lite, Marion van Eupen, Mary Bruce, Michelle Patten, Miriam Raven, Morgaine, Noam Zimin, Oshia Drury, Rose Flint, Roz Bound, Sally Pullinger, Sharlea Johnson, Shirley-Ann Millar, Shoshana Horobin, Sophie Pullinger, Sue Quatermass, Tegwyn Hyndman, Thalia Brown, Tiana Pitman & Tina Free,
With Ceremonies and Praise Songs to the Great Goddess of Water, She who is the Source and Womb of all Life. Participate in moving Sacred Ceremonies, take part in inspiring Workshops, listen to fascinating Presentations, see beautiful Artwork & Stalls, Performances, Music, Song, Poetry and Dance. Visit the Holy Wells of the Goddess in Avalon, cleansing and immersing yourself in Her Healing Waters. Join one of Nine Wells - circles of support and participation in Conference Ceremonies. Dance the night away at the Goddess Gala Buffet and Masque, and join our Goddess Procession through the Landscape to the River Brue with a Fruit Feast!
