Drawing Down the Moon (85 page)

Web site:
www.spiraloak.com

Church of the Spiral Tree (CST).
A non-profit, volunteer-staffed, ecumenical Pagan church based out of Georgia and Alabama, designed to foster and celebrate a sense of community and family among Pagans, both locally and in other regions of the country and the world. CST celebrates the unique Pagan family: parents, children, elders, and extended family. It is an ecumenical church in that it encompasses all traditions, and is non-exclusive. It welcomes all who revere the Earth Mother and who respect themselves and others, regardless of which tradition one is affiliated with. CST was incorporated in August 1997 by Linda Kerr (now retired). CST offers sabbat rituals, networking, several festivals, a newsletter, a library, and a Pagan prisoner outreach program. The Sacred Grove Academy also provides resources for Pagan homeschooling families. Address: Spiral Tree, P.O. Box 8396, Columbus, GA 31908. Phone: 706-570-1017. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.spiraltree.org

Circle.
Circle, also known as Circle Sanctuary, is a Shamanic Wiccan church and a non-profit Nature Spirituality resource center located on a two hundred acre nature preserve in southwestern Wisconsin. Founded in 1974, Circle continues to be one of the most important Pagan networking organizations in America. Volunteers and staff work together with many activities, such as networking, publishing, education, and environmental preservation. Circle presents sabbat festivals, Moon rituals, and training programs throughout the year. Circle promotes the creation and sharing of Pagan rituals, music, and other art forms. Circle priestesses and priests in the United States and elsewhere are involved in public education, interfaith networking, chaplaincy services, and spiritual healing and counseling, plus weddings, funerals, and other rites of passage. Circle publishes
CIRCLE
magazine (quarterly journal), the
Circle Guide to Pagan Groups
(networking directory), and
Circle Times
(e-bulletin), plus recordings and books. Circle sponsors and coordinates the Lady Liberty League to fight for religious freedom and respect for Pagans. They also sponsor the Pagan Academic Network, which facilitates communication between scholars who are involved in Pagan teaching and research. Circle sponsors classes, along with many festivals, the most important being Pagan Spirit Gathering, a one-week festival at the time of the Summer Solstice (see page 584). Circle also holds many other annual events, including festivals for Imbolc, Spring Equinox, Beltane, Green Spirit Gathering (Lugnasadh), Fall Equinox, Samhain, and Yule. Circle maintains shrines, other ritual sites, a cemetery, and library/archives on its land. Executive Director and High Priestess: Selena Fox. Address: Circle, P.O. Box 9, Barneveld, WI 53507, Phone: 608-924-2216. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.circlesanctuary.org

Circle Cemetery.
Operated by Circle, this is “America's first national Pagan cemetery,” located in part of the oak forest at Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve in southwestern Wisconsin. Cremains of Pagans of a variety of paths and from around the United States have been placed there since the cemetery was consecrated in 1999. Director: Selena Fox. Address: Circle Cemetery, Circle Sanctuary, P.O. Box 9, Barneveld, WI 53507. Phone: 608-924-2216. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.circlesanctuary.org

Circle of the African Moon (CAM).
A non-profit, national, religio-spiritual organization whose members are drawn from varying Pagan beliefs and practices. Established in 2002, the CAM Tradition recognizes the uniqueness and eclecticism of South African Wicca and “consequently draws heavily on the magickal inheritance and consciousness of South African Black/Tribal Paganisms.” Potential candidates for training in the five-degree CAM tradition are required to complete a year-and-a-day postulancy to prepare them for entry into the tradition. Locating its role firmly in transformation in a post-apartheid South Africa, CAM has engaged with many forms of public information through various media, and through opening sabbat celebrations and the conducting of rites of passage for the public. Address: CAM, P.O. Box 1559, Durbanville 7551, Cape Town, South Africa. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.cam.za.net

Circle of Aradia/Temple of Diana in California.
This is the California branch of Temple of Diana (see page 566), a national feminist Dianic Wiccan organization dedicated to celebrating Women's Magick and Mysteries. Letecia Layson is High Priestess of Diana, ordained by Ruth Barrett in 2000. Address: Circle of Aradia, P.O. Box 46130, Los Angeles, CA 90046. Phone: 323-650-1605. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.circleofaradia.org

Circle of the Phoenix Spiritual Community (CotP).
The Circle of the Phoenix has a long history of serving the local Twin Cities Wiccan community. CotP is an eclectic Alexandrian/Triskellion–based tradition with strong Greco/ Egyptian influences. The mission of the organization is to serve the needs of its members by providing worship and celebration opportunities for members, students, and invited guests; to encourage personal and spiritual growth to all members; and to provide a broad-based education in the Craft and continuing education opportunities for advanced students. CotP stresses ethics in its teaching and its workings. In addition, CotP provides a series of five “seeker” classes designed as a basic introduction to the Craft for the curious, offered several times per year with the opportunity to continue on to the traditional year-and-a-day training. Address: CotP, 2944 Albert Street N, Roseville, MN 55113. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.circleofthephoenix.org

Community Seed—Earth-Spirit, Pagan Fellowship.
Founded in 2000, Community Seed is a volunteer-based non-profit organization based in the Santa Cruz, California region, whose mission is to provide the local Pagan community with opportunities to create closer bonds of love and understanding through community service, publications, events, and ritual celebrations. Public rituals on the four major sabbats, monthly open circle, nature walks, beach clean-ups, charity work. Address: Community Seed, 849 Almar Avenue STE.C, PMB 217, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Phone: 831-469-0336. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site and Community Forum:
www.communityseed.org

Congregationalist Wiccan Association of British Columbia (CWA of BC).
CWA of BC is a legal church and a provincial not-for-profit society, working toward charitable status. It is a Wiccan association of autonomous public congregations and temples, not an organization of covens or a pan-Pagan association. Its clergy all are trained and initiated Priestesses and Priests of Wicca. It takes a year of involvement to be a voting member and a minimum of a further year of training to be clergy. There are outer court public circles, as well as religious education, counseling, chaplancy in hospitals and prisons, and other public religious services (marriages, funerals, and other rites of passage). As of 2005, there were six congregations in the Vancouver area, Abbotsford, Venon, Penticton, Surrey, and Nanaimo. Address: Congregationalist Wiccan Association of British Columbia, upper floor, 5196 Moscrop Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5G 2G4 Canada. You can e-mail the Secretary/Summoner: [email protected].

Web site:
www.cwabc.org

Connecticut Wiccan & Pagan Network (CWPN, Inc).
The CWPN is a not-for-profit educational and networking organization dedicated to meeting the spiritual needs of the greater Wiccan and Pagan community in Connecticut and surrounding areas. Established in December 1990, CWPN was the first organization of its kind in Connecticut. “Our goal has always been to help provide a forum for Wiccans and Pagans to meet others of ‘like mind' and to come together and worship in a safe environment. Our hope has been to construct a sense of ‘community' in which we can all share with and learn from one another.” CWPN hosts monthly networking meetings throughout the state, as well as open Sabbat circles, a coven and study group referral service and an annual four-day Pagan festival called Harvest Home Gathering (see page 588). The Connecticut Wiccan and Pagan Network also publishes a quarterly newsletter, provides classes/workshops, various social events, and lectures with well-known members of the Pagan community. Address: CWPN, Inc., P.O. Box 1175, New Milford, CT 06776-1175. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.cwpn.org

The Council of British Druid Orders (COBDO).
An organization that brings together many Druid groups, formed in 1988 to facilitate the discussion and exchange of information of concern to members of Druid orders. A number of groups in other parts of the world are associates. Contact: Liz Murray (liaison officer), BM Oakgrove, London WCIN 3XX, U.K.

Council of Magickal Arts (CMA).
A worldwide membership organization based in the state of Texas. A non-profit charitable organization, CMA's primary goal is to produce two festivals per year, Samhain (see page 587) and Beltane (see page 576), and to celebrate the sabbats. CMA holds programs and gatherings for members, and publishes a quarterly e-zine (
The Accord
) devoted to the magickal arts. CMA is open to adults of all traditions or religions who wish to celebrate nature, spirit, and community, and who are on or wish to explore a Pagan or magickal path. Membership is $33/year ($15 for each additional adult) and includes a subscription to the magazine
Accord.
Address: P.O. Box 8030, Ft. Worth, TX 76124-003. Phone: 361-865-9077. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.magickal-arts.org

Court of Earth Coven (Jordens Hov).
An initiatory Wiccan coven in the Stockholm area, focusing mainly on the Celtic pantheon. Court of Earth is a daughter coven to Court of Joy and works in that tradition. Address: Court of Earth Coven, c/o Calle Dybedahl, Vasavägen 105 SE-177 32 Järfälla, Sweden, or Court of Earth Coven, c/o Jennifer Larsson, Lilla Nybacken, SE-195 93 Märsta, Sweden. E-mail: [email protected]
.

Court of Joy Coven.
A group in Stockholm that works with Faery tradition and traditional Celtic Wicca. It also works with dragon energy, direct communication with the Gods, and with the Celtic Mysteries. Strongly inspired by the writings of R. J. Stewart and John and Caitlin Matthews. Address: Court of Joy Coven, c/o Thorbiörn Fritzon, Holmvägen 20, S-194 35 Stockholm, Sweden. Phone: 46 8 590 838 20.

Coven of the Mother Mountain Aerie (COMMA).
Founded in 1986, COMMA is a woman-only group with Dianic tendencies, located in southern California. A collective effort of each of its priestesses, Coven of the Mother Mountain Aerie follows an eclectic spiritual path with a focus on womanenergy, goddess archetypes, and the Maid-Mother-Crone cycle, creating their own mythology and traditions where needed as they walk and weave their convoluted paths together. Although they hold very few public rituals, this group hosts open workshops or discussions at least four times a year on practical and esoteric topics useful and interesting to modern-day suburban Witches and seekers. Address: COMMA, P.O. Box 91803, Pasadena, CA 91109.

Web site:
www.mothermountain.org

Coven Oldenwilde.
A non-profit religious organization dedicated to perpetuating the beauty, antiquity, and validity of Witchcraft. Founded October 31, 1994, and based in Asheville, North Carolina, this traditional Wiccan group teaches serious occult students of all ages British Gardnerian and Italian Strega magic. High Priestess Lady Passion and Diuvei are authors and social activists. They work to help Wiccans worldwide (Pagan prisoners, students, parents in custody battles, etc.), bless and de-ghost houses, marry and bury, and lecture on Craft topics at area universities. Coven Oldenwilde holds an elaborate, free, public Samhain rite each year. Address: 113 Clinton Avenue, Asheville, NC 28806. Phone: 828-251-0343. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.oldenwilde.org

The Coven of the Wylde Rose.
A Gardnerian Wiccan coven of the Whitecroft line, located in the greater Toronto area of Canada. The coven is dedicated to spiritual growth within the practices of the Old Religion. The coven offers invitationonly Sabbat Circles to friends of the coven and offers training to sincere seekers. Also performs legally recognized weddings and handfastings. The Coven of the Wylde Rose helps in networking with other Pagan and Wiccans within the greater Toronto area and internationally as well. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
http://ca.geocities.com/[email protected]/page1.html

Covenant of Gaia Wiccan Church of Alberta.
The Covenant of Gaia was legally constituted as a church in 1990. It offers membership to individuals of varying Pagan paths. Members share responsibility for regular celebrations of the Wheel of the Year. Address: Covenant of Gaia, P.O. Box 1742, Station M, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 2L7. Phone: 403-283-5719. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.cogcoa.ab.ca

Covenant of the Goddess.
A cross-traditional federation of over one hundred covens, plus solitary elders and associates, who have joined together to win recognition for the Craft as a legitimate and legally recognized religion. The Covenant of the Goddess was organized in 1975 at Coeden Brith. It is incorporated as a non-profit religious organization in California, although it has grown to be a nationwide organization with members throughout the United Sates as well as some members in Canada and overseas. Decisions are made at an annual Grand Council or in local councils which may cover a city, state, or larger region. The Covenant publishes the
Covenant of the Goddess Newsletter
(see page 494) and sponsors the COG MerryMeet Festival (see page 583) and Grand Council each year. The festival is open to non-members. The Covenant makes ministerial credentials available to qualified members. It also publishes materials on the Craft and does a great deal of public education work with the media, law enforcement agencies, and interfaith groups. A coven can apply for membership if it is a cohesive, self-perpetuating group which has been meeting for six months or more; the group follows the code of ethics defined by COG; the coven has three or more members studying for the priesthood, one of whom is an Elder; and the focus of the group's ritual and thealogy is the worship of the Goddess and the Old Gods (or the Goddess alone). Address: COG, P.O. Box 1226, Berkeley, CA 94701.