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Originally posted 03/25/2020  Tarostar has crossed the veil. March 25, 1942 - April 27, 2022 - May 30, 2022 This weekend marked the 30 day Ceremony commemorating one of the last OG Vegas Witches from the late 60s/early 70s Tarostar. People from all over North America attended. The following day was a live memorial in his adopted Canada, and was a beautiful event. This is the piece I sent to be read: TAROSTAR The Magical community of Las Vegas is built on the foundations laid by Tarostar and his magical companions, who are larger than life to those Witches here who know a bit of local history. History is a rare thing in Las Vegas, a town that is constantly reinventing itself. Stability as well is hard to find. Tarostar thankfully gives us a sense of both. My late High Priestess Lady Morgana spoke fondly about him, and I particularly recall her tales of the rented halls he would use for the Hallowmas Dumb Supper. I was of course duly impressed! His website rounded out my own Vegas Magical History education, and there is a special feeling knowing I have been to several of the places he mentioned, and met some of the people he wrote about. But alas, I never met Tarostar in person. I am eternally grateful for my dear friend Kate Russell, who put me in contact with him. I tried, to no avail, to not fan boy out in our conversations. Fortunately for me he was very gracious, informative, and even agreed to be interviewed. I know him mostly from his books, which are so unique and awesome! As Kate told me originally, the many spells that fill his books were written for clients with a specific need. Knowing Las Vegas people, it was so obvious once she pointed it out! I can easily imagine Tarostar reaching for the oils and herbs to dress the candles and give the directions to the would-be spell worker. His books on the religion of the Craft are the most dear to me. What an incredible body of wisdom and practice he gave to us. The books for the Solo Witch, the three person Chamber of Hecate, and the Sacred Pentagraph Tradition are the clearest, most complete out there. What an amazing body of work! Through these I came in contact with Thorn Nightwind, who is so inspirational, such a good leader, and is such a perfect person for keeping the Sacred Pentagraph Tradition alive and thriving. He gives me hope for the future. Tarostar was rather surprised when I told him that my late High Priestess Lady Morgana had used the corporate documents for his All Saints Church of Mystic Science for her own Witchcraft church, Temple of the Inner Circle, in 1991. That Temple became our Coven, Inner Circle Sanctuary, in 2014. The original documents from 1976 are a tangible link to the Man and what he started here, are a connection to him, and we cherish them. Our Coven still works material Tarostar wrote, including spells and some ritual lines such as the Invocation to Hecate from A Book Of Shadows. My memories of Bell Book & Candle (where I got my magical start) and Psychic Eye shops are charged with his presence. The power of place is evident to me whenever I am near the places in which he Worked. I am very thankful for you, our Siblings to the North, who made Tarostar so welcome and supported him for so many years. Thankful and a little bit envious to be honest! Our Magical Community in Las Vegas and indeed, our Coven Tradition would not be the same without Tarostar. He looms large in our collective spirit. He inspires us to more. And his spirit lives on. We love you and thank you Tarostar. Blessed Be. Tanys https://witchworld109.com/main_page.html Interview with Tarostar | Inner Circle Sanctuary https://www.innercirclesanctuary.com/updates-and-info/interview-with-tarostar-occult-author Interview with Kate (Lady Iris) Aug 2019 (Audio Only) - Inner Circle Sanctuary https://www.innercirclesanctuary.com/updates-and-info/interview-with-kate-lady-iris Happy Birthday, Tarostar! Or as we often refer to him: “The Man”. Today, March 25, we honor this incredible Witch, Author, and Craft Elder, who has touched the lives of so many people. Whether you have gotten readings from him, or magical supplies, or read one of his many books, or are a Sacred Pentagraph member, or putting his Sacred Pentagraph Lodge-Style Wicca system to work for you, many thanks are owed to this dedicated, hard working man! Here in Las Vegas, Tarostar perfected his Craft at the original Bell, Book and Candle, and running his own store, Ye Olde Herb Doctor. As our mutual friend Lady Iris describes, many of the spells in Tarostar’s books come from customer requests for magical solutions to the real life issues they had. Anyone who has read his books, can see how serious some of these issues were. "A classic occult curmudgeon, Tarostar's no-nonsense practical application approach to the Craft, his written legacy and role modeling of life as lesson is cherished by those who love his wit, follow his blazed trail and find themselves more self aware and deeply engaged in the inner occult path as a result. He is a true Elder in every sense of the word." Lady Iris Love and Money, Luck and Revenge, were all aspects of life for which Tarostar crafted spells. And they got results. And whether you do the spells, or just read them, Tarostar’s rhymes, diagrams, and attitude make them so FUN! In 1976 Tarostar did the coolest thing: he incorporated the All Saints Church Of Mystic Science with the State of Nevada, putting Witchcraft and Magick on the same playing field as other religions. This would have the ripple effect not only of bringing respect to Witchcraft, but fast forwarding several years, the All Saints Church Of Mystic Science doing business as (dba) Temple of the Inner Circle, would again teach Witchcraft to the public, and was the parent organization of Inner Circle Sanctuary. Speaking of the religion of Wicca, Tarostar also created the Sacred Pentagraph Tradition. This Lodge Style tradition of Craft working is a monumental achievement. And fortunately, he has written it all down for us to use. These incredible documents can be found at http://witchworld109.com/main_page.html and in two beautiful books called The Sacred Pentagraph. So really, Tarostar has thought of it all, and written it out for us. He wrote spellbooks for people who need practical results. He wrote a book I hope to see republished soon- “Sabbat Ceremonies for Solo Witches”. For a group of three, there are the “Chamber of Hecate” rituals found in his Book of Shadows. And of course, an incredible wealth of material in the Sacred Pentagraph books awaits any group of people ready to do work seriously cool Witchcraft. “Tarostar V* is not just an Elder who has passed down tried and true occult wisdom to us through the lodge-based system we know, love and hold dearly as the Sacred Pentagraph Tradition, but is such a trusted friend and teacher. He has been the most impactful teacher I’ve had on my Wiccan & occult journey and my life has forever changed in the most magical of ways. Today, the legacy of Sacred Pentagraph has continued and is honored by many generations of practitioners stemming from our coven and his teachings. Happy Bday Tarostar!” -Matt, High Priest IV* from the Wolfa Coven of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. https://covenofthewolfa.wordpress.com/ Tarostar is still working Magick and doing readings for clients in Canada. He is active on facebook, and of course you can read more about him in his own words at his website http://witchworld109.com/main_page.html Happy Birthday Tarostar! We love you!
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If you are interested in learning more about us, please don't hesitate to Contact Us. If you are interested in Joining our classes, please start with our questionnaire here.  Tonight's class (ICS holds classes 6+ days a week) watched a video of our Midsummer 1995 Sabbat, when we were Temple of the Inner Circle. Our Coven's High Priestess consecrated the Circle "in the elements of Earth and Water", and our High Priest was the Summoner. Lord Mordred used to say "Once you get on 'the Sabbat Train' life moves really fast" and it's so true. We are already practicing for our Summer Solstice Ritual, organizing all the mundane activities, and even re-examining our Ritual, which we have performed for thirty years with very little modification. The Summer Solstice will be here before we know it!  Follow Inner Circle Sanctuary on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.
If you are interested in learning more about us, please don't hesitate to Contact Us. If you are interested in joining our classes, please start with our questionnaire here. Want to see how we do things? Try out a sample test: Follow this link to a Google Doc: https://forms.gle/7oaQ5GF3d8k4CsA37  The most intense fun a group of people can have with their clothes on. We couldn’t have asked for a better Sabbat. A New Moon, on May Eve, out of town and out in Nature, with a dedicated and motivated Coven of Witches - priceless. This was our Homecoming. As we are firm believers in Science, we took the pandemic very seriously, and moved ALL of our functions online until the CDC guidelines were such that our members were not at risk. We missed no classes, practices, Sabbats or public events because of Covid. Because our online events were so good, we are keeping them ongoing as yet another service our Coven offers. But we all feel the call to be under the stars, surrounded by the Elements, with our Witches garbed in their Sabbat attire and bringing the Magick. And oh, did they ever! Inner Circle Sanctuary operates 7 days a week, and it is Sabbats like this that make it all worthwhile. As Lady Morgana and Lord Mordred used to say, “It recharges our batteries.”  So much preparation went into this Sabbat. Our Witchlings heeded the Elders well for the area was set up beautifully, our huge Ring was set up perfectly (no small feat!), and there was plenty of good food, drink, and fellowship for all. As the light of the day faded, the temperature plummeted, and the wind rose. This is when our members are very thankful we are a robed Coven! Add the effect of your Witch siblings in their robes, chaplets, bells and crowns, and the atmosphere sings with Magick. Then the Rite began.  Our signature Egyptian Pentagram Ritual was performed by an Elder with such precision and Heka the atmosphere crackled with energy. The Ring was swept by a First Degree Witch with a chant written by our Lady Morgana’s Lady. A Circle of Stones was laid down following the booming command of the Summoner. And then the High Priestess of the Ring set the stage for what was to come with a beautiful meditation on Bealtaine itself. One might say this is the calm before the storm, a chance to prepare oneself inside and out, for the Magick ahead. Our four quarter callers spoke to the Elements dynamically and endearingly. We do this before the Ring is cast, so the Ring is not broken, and so the Elements provide their energy to the Ring from beyond. Their voices rang and echoed through the place. That sense of Nature participating in what we were doing was palpable. After the Goddess was invoked into the body of the High Priestess, she reciprocates with an Invoking Pentagram of Earth, and a declamation that begins with “Of the Mother, darksome and Divine…” When I saw, heard and FELT our High Priestess do this, all I could think was “Oh it is ON!” Her Charge of the Goddess was intense, and perfect. Her voice and presence was more than hers alone. It affected us all. The High Priest exercised an Elder Option, this being a Horned God invocation that is a bit longer than the Great Cernunnos Invocation we normally do for Cross Quarter Sabbats. Both are intense and meant to arouse, shall we say, everyone within hearing.  For two years our members have freestyle danced the Witches’ Rune for our Online Sabbats. It was clearly good practice because our Rune this time, all together, raised such a Cone Of Power, with everyone in time and in tune, we could feel the energy grow exponentially. We have done this Sabbat Ritual for well over twenty-five years now. Seeing faces and hearing voices of longtime members and newer ones participate in this link in the chain that connects us to our past and future is so overwhelming it can bring tears to your eyes. Everyone did so well. The Great Rite, as Lord Mordred used to say, is the most Magical part of the Ring. It is the marriage of Heavens and Earth, the Sacred Mystery of love for the Goddess who created all, and gives all. The High Priestess embodied this in stellar fashion, complemented by her High Priest, and served with military drill team precision by the Summoner and Maiden. It was such a joy to see! The Closing Ritual affects us in interesting ways. It can be quite bittersweet, as being in Circle can be so seductive you never want to leave. Communing so closely with the Gods, and the shared experience among all present is not something easily ended. So, we don’t end it just yet. We chanted and jumped the Belfire: singly and paired, with joy and laughter we danced. We drank consecrated drink, and ate consecrated bread (homemade, delicious and magical!). We toasted life, love, and each other.  As if that wasn’t awesome enough, we saluted the three Spring Queens who had been chosen for that honor while we were performing our Sabbats online. Three bouquets presented; three tiaras crowned; Five Fold Kisses for all three of them! The Spring Queens worked hard to be chosen, and it was a joy for all involved to show them their due reverence. Later, as we ate and laughed, sang and joked, and it sunk in that this momentous night was almost over, I couldn’t help but feel again that same pride in this Coven that Lord Mordred must have felt for his Temple. I am always thankful that the members of ICS make us proud so often. We have been through a lot since 2014, when Temple of the Inner Circle became Inner Circle Sanctuary. Moving and performing our Coven functions online was a radical change, but through it all our members made it look easy. Our Witches, who made this Sabbat so incredibly moving, as they have done for two years online, Brought The Magick! What more could I ask for? I know! Our online Sabbat the next day! I loved it as well. I am still humming with energy from Bealtaine. Thankfully the Wheel of the Years keeps rolling ever onward, and Litha is right around the corner. I cannot wait to celebrate it with this incredible group of magical people. This is an excerpt from Lord Tanys’ journal. It is but a glimpse of how intense and moving Inner Circle Sanctuary Sabbats are, and how beautiful, magical, and transformative Wicca is.   Follow Inner Circle Sanctuary on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.
If you are interested in learning more about us, please don't hesitate to Contact Us. If you are interested in joining our classes, please start with our questionnaire here. Want to see how we do things? Try out a sample test: Follow this link to a Google Doc: https://forms.gle/7oaQ5GF3d8k4CsA37  Waning Moon Ritual |
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Inner Circle Sanctuary
An Eclectic Traditionalist Oath-bound, Initiatory Wiccan Coven |
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