Drawing Down the Moon (94 page)

Silver Circle.
A center for the Old Religion in the Netherlands, which represents the Gardnerian Craft in that country. They publish a quarterly magazine
Wiccan Rede
(see page 503) and a series of Dutch-language booklets about the Craft, produce a mail order course in Dutch, conduct other activities, and host a very lively Dutch-language forum for the initiatory traditions and Paganism in general. Address: Silver Circle, P.O. Box 473, 3705 AL, Zeist, The Netherlands.

Web site:
www.silvercircle.org

The Sisterhood of Avalon (SOA).
A fully incorporated, non-profit international Celtic Women's Mysteries organization that seeks to balance intuitive wisdom with scholastic achievement. Founded in 1995 by Jhenah Telyndru, and patterned after the all-female religious enclaves found throughout the Celtic lands, the SOA draws inspiration from the myths, legends, folklore, and tradition of the Celtic Britons or Cymry. Focusing on the concept of personal sovereignty, the pursuit of Awen, and connection with the Divine Feminine, the SOA seeks to empower women as they walk a path of wholeness and soul healing. The SOA sponsors the Avalonian Thealogical Seminary; facilitates training intensives; hosts spiritual pilgrimages to Wales, Glastonbury, and other Celtic Sacred Sites; organizes the International Avalonian Symposium for Celtic Women's Spirituality; supports a network of Avalonian Hearths and Learning Circles; publishes
The Tor Stone: A Quarterly Journal for Women's Mysteries
; and provides a variety of opportunities for learning and celebration. Address: The Sisterhood of Avalon, P.O. Box 842, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.sisterhoodofavalon.org

SisterSpirit.
An eclectic women's spirituality group founded in 1985 and led by the Rev. Frodo Okulam. “Through female imagery we are transforming ourselves, building bridges between our traditions and the common ground we share with other traditions.” Programs include weekly study groups, workshops, and monthly rituals, which focus on the sacredness of the female spirit. There are also classes, an annual Croning ceremony, some specialized workshops, and the annual Pagan Faire. Address: SisterSpirit, P.O. Box 9246, Portland, OR 97207. Phone: 503-736-3297. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.sisterspirit-portland.com

Society of the Evening Star (S.O.T.E.S.).
A non-profit cross-cultural organization founded in 1983 in Rhode Island, open to individuals who embrace the sameness in all cultures and religion. The mission of the Society of the Evening Star is to provide an educational facility, library, housing, and outdoor green space for the elder leaders of world faiths and minority religions to practice, to teach, and to mentor students who are searching for spiritual answers. S.O.T.E.S. maintains a library filled with culturally diverse materials; its healing circle, Hygeia, allows people from different faiths to explore healing techniques together. It sponsors lectures and classes and maintains a charitable organization, Acts of Kindness (A.O.K.). It also has a publishing arm, Olympian Press. Address: S.O.T.E.S., P.O. Box 29182, Providence, RI 02909. Phone: 401-331-8576.

Web site:
www.sotes.org

South African Pagan Rights Alliance (SAPRA).
Formed in 2004 in order to promote the constitutional liberties and freedoms enshrined in the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, SAPRA assists those South African Pagans whose constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms have been infringed upon due to unfair discrimination to obtain appropriate redress. In the execution of its mission statement, SAPRA welcomes the participation of all South African Pagan organizations, groups, religious affiliations, and individual South African Pagans without prejudice. Address: SAPRA, P.O. Box 184, Hoekwil 6538, South Africa. Phone: (044) 850 1297 E-mail: [email protected] Forum:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sapra
.

Web site:
www.geocities.com/paganrightsalliancesouthafrica

The Spiral Grove.
The Spiral Grove, an Interfaith Church of Nature Spirituality, was founded in 1990 to support a diverse community of varied traditions. “We co-create rituals celebrating the nature holidays and moon phases in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, as far south as Madison County and as far north as Loudon County. We are interested in supporting the creation of non-hierarchal circles anywhere.” The Spiral Grove provides open ceremonies, charity work, environmental activities such as Earth Day at Tasker Lake in Stephens City, and Shenandoah River clean-up days. A quarterly newsletter,
Close to Mother Earth,
has announcement lists, an event calendar, poems, readers' forum, and articles supporting issues important to earthy-spiritual community. There is also an Ordination Training Program, as well as workshops and individual mentoring. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.spiralgrove.org

Summerland Grove, Inc. (SGPC).
A Pagan Church and Networking Center, founded in 1994, designed to help Pagans and Wiccans in the mid-South to further evolve as a religious community. “Through meetings, classes and festivals, we hope to promote a positive image of Pagans/Wiccans in this community. We provide a United Front for groups, covens and solitairies in our community to rally behind as well as a great start in finding your own group or coven. We also wish to supply solitairies a place where they may worship and grow with others without the commitment involved with a group or coven.” It is non-profit, tax-exempt church that has clergy to perform legal handfastings and other rites of passage, as well as a training program for becoming an ordained Priest/ess of the Church. The grove promotes involvement with other groups of like mind in the area, as well as national organizations. Address: Summerland Grove, P.O. Box 776, Memphis, TN 38088. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.summerland.org

Technicians of the Sacred.
An organization formed in 1983 by Courtney Willis dedicated to the preservation and practice of Voudoun and other Neo-African religious systems, its art, magic, and culture. Technicians of the Sacred includes several magical and religious orders, including the Ordo Templi Orientis Antiqua and La Coulevre Noire—orders that began in Haiti in the 1920s and that combine Gnosticism, ceremonial magic, and Voudoun. They publish a journal
, Societe.
Address: Technicians of the Sacred, 1317 N. San Fernando Boulevard, Suite 310, Burbank, CA 91504.

Web site:
www.techniciansofthesacred.com

Temple of Brigantia.
A small local group offering open full moon rituals and occasional apprenticeship programs. The group has a focus on historical Celto-Roman deities and self-development through inner work. Address: Temple of Brigantia, P.O. Box 1897, Wells, ME 04090. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.janeraeburn.com/brigantia

Temple of Diana.
A national feminist Dianic Wiccan organization dedicated to celebrating Women's Magick and Mysteries. Temple of Diana offers personal and public community rituals, classes, workshops, priestess training, and an annual conference, the Daughters of Diana Gathering. Temple of Diana was co-founded by Falcon River and Ruth Barrett, who was ordained as a High Priestess by Z Budapest in 1980. Address: Temple of Diana/Wisconsin, P.O. Box 6425, Monona, WI 53716-0425. Phone: 608-882-4655. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.templeofdiana.org

Temple of the Feminine Divine and Iseum Musicum.
Founded in 1998 by the late feminist musician Kay Gardner. In 1999, the first class of students entered the Iseum Musicum, a three-year ordination program chartered by the Fellowship of Isis. In November 2001, ten priestesses were ordained, and that year they opened the Temple of the Feminine Divine. The Iseum continues to accept students who want to deepen their spiritual lives and to serve others. The temple also offers classes to the public; subjects include music, reiki, spiritual counseling, bodywork, drumming, and Celtic art. It also has a lending library and a meditation space and offers rituals and other events. The Temple and Iseum are governed by a non-hierarchical decision-making process. Address: Temple of the Feminine Divine, Suite #203, 31 Central Street, Bangor, ME 04401. Phone: 207-941-0261. E-mail: [email protected].

The Temple of Goddess Spirituality Dedicated to Sekhmet.
“Set in the Mohave Desert of Nevada, the sand-colored stucco Temple embraces the elements of nature, with archways to the four directions and a roof that is open to the sky. In these serene and beautiful surroundings the Temple stands as a symbol of peace and the sacredness of giving.” The Temple is a project of the Center for the Study of the Gift Economy under the direction of Genevieve Vaughan. Rituals are held at the Temple, and it is open for visitors. There is housing on site for women. Address: The Temple of Goddess Spirituality Dedicated to Sekhmet, P.O. Box 904, Indian Springs, NV 89018. Phone: 702-879-0872. Priestess: Anne Key; e-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.sekhmettemple.com

Temple of Nine Wells.
A public Wiccan congregation currently administrated by Rev. H.P. Richard Pavish and Rev. H.P.s. Amy “Gypsie” Ravish, elders in British lineaged Wicca A/G/H/T. The TNC was founded in 1992 by Rev. Laurie Cabot, now H.P.s. Emeritas, to facilitate a multitraditional practice of the religion of Witchcraft and in order to serve the growing Wiccan community in Salem, Massachusetts. An affiliate of the Aquarian Tabernacle Church (see page 511), the Temple of Nine Wells offers open eclectic rites and ceremonies for the eight Sabbats. Hundreds of members and guests attend and there is always live music, singing, dancing, drumming, and merriment. The TNW provides a model for practice of the Wiccan religion, encouraging and fostering tolerance and interaction between members of Wicca and the many differing faiths of the world. The leadership of the TNW believes that religious diversity and freedom of thought are of benefit to all members of society. Services by TNW clergy are available for rites of passage, handfastings, and funerary rites. Address: The Temple of Nine Wells—ATC, P.O. Box 281, Salem, MA 01970. Phone: 978-745-8668. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.tnw-salem.org

Thiasos Lusios.
A group dedicated to the worship of the Greek god Dionysos. Based online, the Thiasos is a meeting place for devotees who are scattered across the globe—a forum in which to share experience and knowledge, and to bring Dionysian religion into everyday life. The Web site includes information on Dionysos, pictures of members, altars and rituals, a place to leave virtual offerings, and a modern festival calendar. E-mail: oenochoe@
winterscapes.com
.

Web site:
www.winterscapes.com/thiasoslusios

Three Roads Community.
A group that blends Druid Revival–style Druidry with Traditional Witchcraft (or Wicca). Druidry is polytheistic—believing in multiple Gods and Goddesses as separate Beings, and most Wiccan traditions believe that all Gods and Goddesses are aspects or facets of the God and the Goddess. “In our tradition, we recognize that being polytheistic or duo-theistic (or anything else) is a very personal decision, and we do not teach or believe that one is better than the other.” The Three Roads Community was founded in 1998 and is now a member of the Ancient Order of Druids in America. Open worship services take place once a month and there are open celebrations of the eight Neo-Pagan sabbats. Legally ordained clergy are available for Rites of Passage ceremonies. Membership is open to anyone eighteen or older who wishes to honor and celebrate Nature and study the ways of Druids and Witches. Address: Three Roads Community, 3109 Sandalwood Avenue, Springfield, OH 45502. E-mail: [email protected].

Web site:
www.three-roads.org

The Toronto Pagan Pub Moot.
The first and longest-running Pagan Pub Moot in Canada (founded February 1996) is an ongoing monthly gathering of Pagans, Wiccans, Druids, Ceremonial Magicians, etc. It is sponsored and hosted by Karwen and Evan and held on the third calendar Monday of every month at the Imperial Pub located at 54 Dundas Street East. A place to meet old friends, make new friends, and to relax with good food and drink. The Toronto Pagan Pub Moot has a Web site which includes all kind of links, including information on eleven other Canadian pub moots. Phone: 416-635-5981. E-mail: [email protected].

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

Tree of Thirteen Runes.
A family-based Witch coven led by priestesses Lady Marne, daughter Lady Isadora, and granddaughter Lady Andred, incorporating decades of experience and practice. Its primary emphasis is Old English/Saxon, Scandinavian, and Celtic Pagan traditions, but also freely draws from other mythologies with which members have ancestral, past-life, or other spiritual kinships. Both Goddess and God are honored with music, poetry, dance, and other ritual artistry. There is a strong solar as well as lunar emphasis. “We are avid readers, but not by-the-book; positive-path, but not for the faint-hearted nor easily bent. We proudly practice passionate, dare-tocolor-outside-the-lines Witchcraft, not the prim and PC ‘Wicca' we've sometimes seen. As ‘Iowa Stubborn' free-thinkers, we deeply prize individualism, and love rousing discourse and debate, pursuing reach-for-the-stars contemplation and study, and kick-up-your-heels good fun!” Address: Tree of Thirteen Runes Coven, P.O. Box 41246, Des Moines, IA 50311. E-mail: bluestocking@
ladyisadora.com
.

Web site:
www.ladyisadora.com/13runes.html

The Troth.
An international Heathen organization that promotes the practice of pre-Christian Germanic religion, collectively known as Heathenry. There are many variations, names, and practices within Heathenry, including Ásatrú, Theodish Belief, Irminism, Odinism, and Anglo-Saxon Heathenry. “What we all share is a defining personal loyalty to, or Troth with, the Gods and Goddesses of the Northlands, including Odin, Thor, Frigga, Frey, Freya, Tyr, Idunna, and many others; we also share a commitment to the moral principles followed by our predecessors. The Troth welcomes all who have heard the call of our Gods and would like to know more about Heathenry.” The Troth publishes a quarterly journal,
Idunna
(see page 496), and a growing number of additional publications, including the two-volume compilation of Heathen lore and practice
, Our Troth
. The Troth also offers a clergy training program to its members, operates a number of e-mail lists on topics of interest to Heathens, and holds an annual gathering,
Trothmoot
, at a different location each year within the United States. Membership: $20/year for individuals and $30/year for families within the United States; $24/year for individuals and $34/year for families in other countries. Address: The Troth, P.O. Box 1369, Oldsmar, FL 34677. E-mail: [email protected].