Our Beliefs
We believe in:
1. The Sacredness of All Life
*Magick spelled with a "k" refers to the real energetic spiritual practice within modern pagan traditions of using intention, visualization, rituals, and natural energies to bring about change either in the practitioner or the world around them.
- We believe that The Great Divine manifests within all beings, within all of nature, and as the subtle force which connects all beings with one another and with The Great Divine Spirit itself.
- For this reason, we believe that all life and nature itself are sacred, and therefore, we work to avoid harm to others, ourselves, and nature.
- We strive to live in harmony with nature and accept the sacred responsibility of protecting her.
- We believe The Great Divine manifests in a sacred balance of Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine energies.
- The Divine Feminine represents intuition, inner wisdom, nurturing, rest, and the womb of creation.
- The Divine Masculine represents intellect, action, expansion, and the drive to shape and create.
- These forces are complementary, equally sacred, and together sustain the cycles of life.
- Both energies can be present within all beings, in varying amounts, and these concepts do not rigidly align with human gender. They can also be thought of as Yin/Yang, Inner self/Outer world, etc.
- The Great Divine expresses itself in countless archetypes, as gods, goddesses, and other spiritual beings, with each revealing different aspects of Divine Truth.
- Because of this, we believe that many spiritual paths can be valid, so long as they honor the intrinsic Divine nature of the universe and all beings within it.
- Spiritual beliefs should never be imposed on another; each seeker must find their own path.
- We encourage all to foster a personal connection with the Great Divine, which may be through ritual, meditation, magick*, prayer, communion with nature, and/or expressions of creativity and joy.
- Each person should seek to align their souls with the Divine Spirit within themselves and determine their own unique Divine gifts that they are meant to manifest in the world.
- Because we are Divine, our choices and our actions, collectively, create existence. Our intentions and choices send ripples of Divine energy into the universe and impact life around us.
- Therefore, we have a responsibility to all living beings to act with thoughtful intention, authenticity, integrity, and compassion, according to the will of the Divine within our hearts. We are called to promote love, peace, safety, and prosperity within ourselves and in the world.
- The Great Divine, manifesting as time and space, moves in a sacred spiral as the Wheel of Life turns, continually carrying us through cycles of transformation and renewal.
- Though its mysteries cannot be fully known, we trust that the Divine Spirit finds peace within a Universal Consciousness after passing on from the physical world, before manifesting anew as the spiral turns again.
*Magick spelled with a "k" refers to the real energetic spiritual practice within modern pagan traditions of using intention, visualization, rituals, and natural energies to bring about change either in the practitioner or the world around them.
Our Practices
We practice our beliefs by:
1. Participating in ceremonies, rites, and rituals appropriate for all ages that:
- Help us elevate ourselves and align the Divine Spirit within us with The Great Divine around us
- Mark important life events, including births, coming-of-age, marriage/handfasting, eldering/croning, and deaths
- Provide hope and/or healing to our members during times of struggle or illness
2. Celebrating the cycles in nature with services that acknowledge, honor, and allow us to align ourselves with the natural energies associated with:
- The solar quarters: the solstices and equinoxes that mark the changing of the seasons and the turning of the Wheel of the Year
- The solar cross-quarters: the mid-points between the solar quarters which occur at the height of each season
- The lunar cycles: the phases of the moon, especially the new and full moons
- The astrological cycles: how different planetary bodies move through time and space
3. Communing with and honoring our benevolent ancestors and manifestations of The Great Divine with which we have a personal connection.
4. Working individually or within a group to raise, focus, and direct Divine energy in order to positively influence and shape reality.
Examples of what might do during a ritual include:
All parts of a ceremony or ritual are always optional.
4. Working individually or within a group to raise, focus, and direct Divine energy in order to positively influence and shape reality.
Examples of what might do during a ritual include:
- Grounding and centering our minds
- Inviting the Elements, beloved Ancestors, and Spirit in the form of the God and Goddess to join us
- Guided meditations or journaling (e.g., to promote inner peace, personal growth, gratitude, etc.)
- Small activities done with intention (e.g., lighting candles, pouring sand, writing something we want to release on paper & burning it, etc.)
- Listening to a passage, quote, poem, song, etc. and hearing a message of inspiration from our leaders
- Raising and directing energy for a purpose (e.g., healing, safety, abundance, etc.) through drumming, chanting, sound, or movement
- Cleansing with incense or bells.
All parts of a ceremony or ritual are always optional.
Spiritual Beings We Work With
While we acknowledge that individuals will connect with The Great Divine in different ways during rituals, celebrations, and events, we often work with:
We may also invoke named deities from a variety of historic pantheons that align with the theme and intention of a particular gathering (eg, Brigid at Imbolc, Hecate at Samhain, etc.).
As a community, we do not work with any purely evil beings, such as Satan, the Devil, demons, etc.
Regarding Christianity: We consider Jesus to be a manifestation of the Divine Spirit, who is worshipped by many around the world as a God who promotes love and forgiveness. While we typically do not work with Jesus by name as a community, we recognize that some people may share our beliefs regarding the nature of the universe and Divine Spirit and may also work with Jesus, Mary, angels, etc., as different manifestations of the Divine. We welcome all open-minded individuals, so long as they respect everyone's unique spiritual path and never attempt to impose their beliefs on others.
- The God and Goddess / the Lord & Lady / Divine Masculine and Feminine energies
- The Elements: Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit
- Benevolent Ancestral spirits
We may also invoke named deities from a variety of historic pantheons that align with the theme and intention of a particular gathering (eg, Brigid at Imbolc, Hecate at Samhain, etc.).
As a community, we do not work with any purely evil beings, such as Satan, the Devil, demons, etc.
Regarding Christianity: We consider Jesus to be a manifestation of the Divine Spirit, who is worshipped by many around the world as a God who promotes love and forgiveness. While we typically do not work with Jesus by name as a community, we recognize that some people may share our beliefs regarding the nature of the universe and Divine Spirit and may also work with Jesus, Mary, angels, etc., as different manifestations of the Divine. We welcome all open-minded individuals, so long as they respect everyone's unique spiritual path and never attempt to impose their beliefs on others.
