How to Become a Witch (39 page)

Woo-Woo: Slang term for all the arcane, esoteric, and mystical parts of the Craft.

Yule: One of the eight sabbats. Celebrates the Winter Solstice, the return of the light in the midst of winter; usually celebrated on the Winter Solstice, December 21–23.

Appendix C

Contact Points

Organizations

Circle Network

From the website: “Founded in 1977 by Selena Fox, Circle Network is an international Nature Spirituality network of individuals and groups, centers, periodicals, gathering communities, and other organizations.

“Circle Network includes those who are involved in one or more paths of Wiccan spirituality, Druidism, Animism, Pantheism, Ecospirituality, Shamanism, Goddess spirituality, Egyptian mystery traditions, Heathenism, ancient and contemporary forms of Paganism, and related ways.

“The purpose of Circle Network is to help Pagans from many paths and places connect with each other and share information, ideas, and energy to mutually benefit each other, Pagan culture, and the greater web of Life on planet Earth and the universe. There is no fee to be affiliated with Circle Network.”

Circle offers newsletters, festivals and other events, and opportunities to connect with other Pagans.

Address:
Circle Sanctuary, P.O. Box 9, Barneveld, WI 53507 USA

Website:
www.circlesanctuary.org/network/

Covenant of the Goddess

COG was organized in 1975, in order “to increase cooperation among Witches and to secure for Witches and covens the legal protection enjoyed by members of other religions.” It is one of the largest and oldest Wiccan religious organizations and serves primarily the United States.

COG fosters cooperation and mutual support among Witches. The Covenant publishes a newsletter, issues ministerial credentials on request to qualified persons, sponsors a national festival each summer, and encourages networking nationally as well as regionally through local councils. The Covenant is non-hierarchical and governed by consensus.

The Covenant has taken part in spiritual and educational conferences, interfaith outreach, large public rituals, environmental activism, community projects and social action, as well as efforts to correct negative stereotypes and promote accurate media portrayals. Its clergy perform legal marriages (or handfastings), preside at funerals and other rituals of life transition, and provide counseling to Witches, including those in the military and in prisons.

COG offers membership to Goddess-supporting covens or solitaries who meet certain criteria. Potential members must:

• Generally focus theology and ritual, etc., around the worship of the Goddess and the Old Gods (or the Goddess alone; coven or solitary)
  
• Proclaim themselves Witches or Wiccans in their Statement of Practice (coven or solitary).
  
• Believe in and follow a code of ethics compatible with that of the Covenant (coven or solitary).
  
• Have been meeting monthly or more often for at least six months (coven).
  
• Have three or more members who have been formally accepted into the clergy (coven).
  
• Be a cohesive, self-perpetuating group (coven).
  

A Local Council is a branch of the Covenant, consisting of at least three member covens of at least two different traditions in reasonably close geographic proximity. They meet at least twice a year and usually more often. They may initiate independent projects, sponsor local festivals, and work together for common goals close to home.

Address:
P. O. Box 1226, Berkeley, CA 94701 USA

Website:
www.cog.org

The Pagan Federation

Founded in 1971 primarily for the United Kingdom, the Pagan Federation now has programs in many countries and thousands of members from many different traditions of Paganism. It was organized to “actively fight…ignorance and negative attitudes toward Paganism” and to “create a network of like-minded people who…work together for the benefit of Paganism.”

The Pagan Federation offers Associate Memberships which, after one year, may become Full Memberships. Members can read the newsletter, receive invitations to events, and help with the work of the Federation. Members must subscribe to the following three principles:

“(1) Love for and Kinship with Nature. Reverence for the life force and its ever-renewing cycles of life and death; (2) A positive morality, in which the individual is responsible for the discovery and development of their true nature in harmony with the outer world and community. This is often expressed as “Do what you will, as long as it harms none”; and (3) Recognition of the Divine, which transcends gender, acknowledging both the female and male aspect of Deity.”

Address:
PFI International, P. O. Box 473, 3700 Al Zeist, The Netherlands

Website:
www.paganfederation.org

Website

The Witches’ Voice (Witchvox)

This is “a proactive educational network providing news, information services and resources for and about Pagans, Heathens, Witches and Wiccans.” Witchvox provides thousands upon thousands of listings of Pagan groups, individuals, clergy, events, stores, and much more, listed by country, state, or province.

The “critical resource tools” they offer include articles that can be used for public education regarding Paganism. “We provide educational materials on the basic beliefs of the religion of Witchcraft/Wicca to dispel the stereotypical image perpetuated by the media and centuries of negative propaganda. We uphold the civil and religious freedom guaranteed to all citizens in the Constitution and Bill of Rights and will actively resist those who would seek to suppress or restrict these rights.”

The website tries to maintain a neutral, even-handed policy toward all Pagan religions that follow a positive code of ethics.

Website:
www.witchvox.com

Magazines And Newsletters

Circle Magazine

From the website: “
CIRCLE Magazine
is a 72-page magazine published quarterly, with each issue dedicated to a particular theme and filled with a variety of articles, rituals, meditations, illustrations, invocations, contacts, news, photos, herbal formulas, reviews, magical development exercises, chants, advertisements, and other material.”

Address:
Circle Magazine, P. O. Box 9, Barneveld, WI 53507 USA

Telephone:
(608) 924-2216

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.circlesanctuary.org

New Moon Rising Journal

From the website: “
New Moon Rising
is a magickal Pagan journal, begun in 1989 and committed to being a vital international stimulus in the continuing Pagan Renaissance as an intelligent forum on Magick, Pagan culture, history and practice. NMR aligns with no particular school or tradition…NMR explores such varied topics as: Chaos, magickal theory and practice, Northern and Western Mystery Traditions, Shamanism, Thelema, the Craft, herbal lore, Pagan pantheons, biographies, Neopaganism, Druidry, faery lore, folklore, Earth mysteries, Alchemy, rituals, spellwork, runes, poetry, fiction, pilgrimages, divination….” Issued eight times a year at the major festivals.

Address:
New Moon Rising, P. O. Box 16273, 
Phoenix, AZ 85011 USA

Telephone:
(440) 551-4781

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.nmrjournal.com

Witches & Pagans

The new 96-page pan-Pagan magazine “combining the fire and passion of
newWitch
with the gravitas and depth of
PanGaia
.” Look for interviews with Pagan artists, thinkers, writers, musicians, and celebrities, plus practical magick, AstroSpell, Pagan muses and mentors, including R. J. Stewart, Isaac Bonewits, Galina Krasskova, Kenaz Filan, Judy Harrow, Good Witch/Bad Witch, and much, much more.

Address:
Witches & Pagans Magazine, BBI Media, P. O. Box 687, Forest Grove, OR 97116 USA

Telephone:
(888) 724-3966

Website: www.bbimedia.com

SageWoman

From the website: “At
SageWoman
magazine, we believe that you are the Goddess, and we’re devoted to celebrating your journey. With every issue, you’ll connect with Goddess-loving women from around the world, rejoicing in our gifts, sharing our wisdom, reaching out to our sisters. In our pages, you’ll be supported, uplifted, and challenged to envision the Goddess in all women, especially, in yourself. We invite you to subscribe today and join our circle.”

Address:
SageWoman Magazine, P. O. Box 687, Forest Grove, OR 97116 USA

Telephone:
(503) 430-8817

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.sagewoman.com

Schools And Educational Programs

Ardantane

Teaching ancient wisdom, living magick.

Ardantane is a Pagan learning center and seminary, and an independent, registered 501c3 nonprofit corporation. It offers classes and certificate programs in the areas of Healing Arts, Magick and Witchcraft, Pagan Leadership, Pagan Spirituality, Sacred Living, and Shamanic Studies. Students who meet requirements may be granted a certificate in any of these areas or in more specialized areas of study. Most classes are weekend intensives; many are offered at the main campus in New Mexico, but also in various cities around the United States. Students may either simply attend individual classes or apply to a certificate program by e-mailing an application to the dean of the appropriate school, or by mailing it to Ardantane.

Address:
Ardantane, P. O. Box 307, Jemez Springs, NM 87025 USA

Telephone:
(505) 469-7777

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.ardantane.org

Cherry Hill Seminary

From the website: Cherry Hill offers “Quality higher education and practical training in Pagan ministry…The first and only graduate-level education for Pagan ministry in the modern world…Online distance-learning classes, regional workshops and intensive retreats.”

Address:
CHS, P. O. Box 5405, Columbia, SC 29250-5405 USA

Telephone:
(888) 503-4131

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.cherryhillseminary.org

Women’s Thealogical Institute

From the website: “WTI is a multidimensional school and seminary for women who wish to further their understanding of the Goddess, women’s spirituality, and/or women’s witchcraft. Being a part of WTI lets women learn, practice, and share their spiritual work with others on similar paths. There are three ways you can participate in WTI…through weekend classes, online programs, and online classes…. there are many ways to celebrate and serve the Goddess. Within the Cella Program there are six Paths or areas of specialization. They are: Creatrix, Earthwalker, Scholar/Teacher, Ritualist, Healer, and Organizer.” WTI is part of the Re-formed Congregation of the Goddess, International.

Address:
WTI, P. O. Box 6677, Madison, WI 53716 USA

Telephone:
(608) 226-9998

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.rcgi.org/wti/wti.asp

Environmental Organizations

There are many more organizations doing good work for the earth. For ratings on the effectiveness of environmental (and other) charities, see www.charitynavigator
.org. All of the following have earned three or four stars from Charity Navigator.

Arbor Day Foundation

Inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.

Address:
100 Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, NE 68410

Donations to:
211 North Twelfth St., Lincoln, NE 68508

Website: www.arborday.org

Telephone: (888) 448-7337

CN Rating: 3M, 50.37

The Conservation Fund

America’s partner in conservation.

Address:
1655 North Fort Meyer Dr., Suite 1300, Arlington, VA 22209

Website:
www.conservationfund.org

Telephone: (703) 525-6300

CN Rating: 4M, 67.15

Earth Island Institute

You are here.

Address:
2150 Allston Way, Suite 460, Berkeley, CA 94704-1375

Website:
www.earthisland.org

Telephone: (510) 859-9100

CN Rating: 4M, 63.54

Earthjustice

Because the earth needs a good lawyer.

Address:
426 Seventeenth St., 6th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612

Website:
www.earthjustice.org

Telephone: (800) 584-6460

CN Rating: 4M, 62.89

Environmental Defense Fund

Finding the ways that work.

Address:
257 Park Ave. South, New York, NY 10010

Donations to:
1875 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20009

Website: www.edf.org

Telephone: (800) 684-3322