Category: Ritual

Everyone has a right to the Goddess

6/28/2020

Originally posted on August 28, 2017

Our 'About Page' starts with this statement.

For a quarter of a century, we have practiced our brand of Wicca and taught it to the public regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, political orientation, health, and class. We see more similarities than separation among people, and transform our differences into strength.

Inner Circle, in all it's incarnations, has always been inclusive and we maintain that stance even more so today.

The High Priest of our group, Lord Mordred, (whom we affectionately called the "Dark Lord") had many sayings we loved dearly... including this one: "Everyone has a right to the Goddess."

Anyone who wishes to join us will have to accept that we may have a gay couple leading our ring... we may have a trans-gendered person paired with a partner leading our ring... and they will kiss one another, as is the way of our rituals. We already have plenty of priests and priestesses who have no issue with performing these rituals so it is not required, but if you wish to join us, you have to be accepting of this. The "it's Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve" has NO place in our Wiccan coven.

There is a Wiccan chant that seems like it's been around forever that says:

We All Come From The Goddess
And To Her We Shall Return
Like A Drop Of Rain,
Flowing To The Ocean

We believe that 'We All Come From the Goddess' and since We are a part of Nature and We hold all things in Nature in reverence, We ourselves hold each other in reverence. This is a core belief of Wicca and anything else is completely incongruent with that belief.

Board of Elders,
Inner Circle Sanctuary

June 28, 2020 Update

It is with a heavy heart that we announce that we will no longer support Temple of Sekhmet. Inner Circle Sanctuary will not attend any event that is held there and will not be holding any further events of our own there. Their founder has voiced opinions that go against our own teachings.

We have repeatedly heralded that "Everyone has a right to the Goddess." Trans Women are Women. Trans Men are Men. Non Binary People are People. We believe that the Goddess sees us as we are and not as society defines us.

Post edit: removed "we believe" as our High Priest said "Trans Women are Women. Trans Men are Men. Non Binary People are People." Belief is not needed.

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Event: Waning Moon Esbat Ritual 2020

3/13/2020

Waning Moon Esbat Ritual
with Inner Circle Sanctuary
Saturday, Sep. 5, 2020 at 6 PM – 9 PM

Join Inner Circle Sanctuary for a waning moon ritual. Our members will ritually create a magic space where everyone can come together to create and empower their own unique spell.

The waning phase of the moon is a good time for work that involves releasing things, getting rid of unwanted habits, stopping problems, and generally moving things away from you. “As the moon wanes, so may my”......whatever you’d like.

Event: Magical Bread Making

6/1/2019

Magical Bread Making
with Inner Circle Sanctuary
Saturday, July 13, 2019 at 6-9 PM

It’s our tastiest event of the year! Join us on Saturday, July 13 and let us show you how to make tasty homemade bread that you can use in rituals or to just satisfy your carb craving.

Event: New Moon Ritual 2018

6/7/2018

New Moon Ritual
with Inner Circle Sanctuary
Saturday, August 11, 2018 at 6 pm

Bealtaine 2018

5/11/2018

Ga: Lady Rosimari
Gi: Lord Nashoba
Jf: Lady Satthel
V: Lord Tanys

NEW MOON with Inner Circle Sanctuary

10/23/2017

Join us for a
NEW MOON
Open Circle
hosted by Inner Circle Sanctuary
Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017
Starting at 6pm

The New Moon marks the beginning of the moons cycle.
It is the perfect time to set your intentions in motion.

The New Moon marks the beginning of the waxing phase.
It is the perfect time to grow the abundance you deserve.

The New Moon is the darkest night of the moons cycle.
It is the perfect time to draw into you that which you desire.

This event is RSVP only.
Please email us at [email protected]
or message us here for location details.

$10 donation
or bring what you can afford.

Bealtaine 2017

6/11/2017

The Elders of Inner Circle Sanctuary (ICS) are made up of second and third degree initiates of the ICS, or previous TOTIC, program. The job of the Elders, as administrators, is to resolve issues, plan extracurricular events, review the teaching programs, discuss the advancements and well-being of our members, and plan, assign, and execute the sabbat holidays. When needed or desired, an Elder will step in and perform the sabbat ritual.

Being a student of ICS means you never stop learning. Our 1st year students learn the basic sabbat ring and perform as High Priestess or High Priest when they want to and are able. It is the only ring we ask our students to use whenever they do any work. It is chock full of every basic ritual a new and burgeoning witch needs.

Our second year students learn a whole new ring to add to their repertoire; a different way of creating sacred space. Just as in the first year, it is a ring they must commit to memory while maintaining the first year sabbat ring.

Third year students learn several rings. The rings for the third year program cover the gamut of priesthood duties: Wiccanings, Handfastings, Requiems, Initiations, and more involved sabbat rings, or as we call them: Greater Ritual Rings.

When an ICS Elder fulfills the role of a High Priestess or High Priest of a sabbat, they can institute something we call "Elder Options." An Elder Option is when an Elder adds particular parts of a Greater Ritual Ring to the first year sabbat ring. It is a change-up and quite the treat (or scare tactic) for those students looking to attain their second degree initiation. On rare occasion, both roles of High Priestess and High Priest are filled with an elder and when this happens, those elders can decide to blow the socks off their younger, up & coming, brethren. This was the occasion at our Bealtaine sabbat.

Lady Sistterwolf, 2nd degree initiate, Elder, & Guardian was the High Priestess and Lord Tanys, 3rd degree initiate, Guardian, and High Priest of ICS led our coven in the Bealtaine sabbat and fully populated it with Elder Options. The younger members of the coven were able to see the entirety of the opening ritual from a wholly different viewpoint.

Because we wanted it to be a surprise, there was a bit of discombobulation when they realized none of them had been assigned to call quarters, sprinkle, or cense. When the huge bag of salt was uncovered by a first year student, their thought was, "Holy Cow, was it really necessary to bring this gargantuan bag [of salt] to fill up the little bowl for the altar!?” And then there was more "hubbub and confusion" when the members were asked to line up their chairs outside the ring in a spot where that is not normally done. Thankfully, our group is a curious bunch so the irregularities were more in wonderment that chaos, as if the fun and endearing Lord of Misrule had come to share the night.

We remind our members every single sabbat to dress in layers because here in the high desert of the Mohave, it gets quite cold at night... no matter how hot it gets during the day. The relief from the cold of being outside the ring was collectively felt when they were finally allowed to enter. Immediately, the Witches' Rune helped to bring the temperature higher so that the cold was all but forgotten. The ritual for Bealtaine itself was filled with mirth and rejoicing. The Great Rite was a beautiful and poignant display of our reverence for all life, and the closing ritual was filled with toasts and love. The sabbat was incredible for elders and younger members alike.

But the after party though... So. Much. Food. So. Much. Our beloved guests entertained us with stories and the members themselves provided us with poems and songs and jokes to delight.

Last word concerning this sabbat for all of us at ICS: Unforgettable.

-Lady Atheona
Elder & Guardian
Inner Circle Sanctuary

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Ostara Sabbat 2017

4/19/2017

Ostara 2017
Inner Circle Sanctuary
High Priestess - Lady Nashoba
High Priest - Lord Tanys
Maiden - Lady Ravenfeather
Summoner - Lord Anwyn

Did you know that the observance of the 'New Year' was once dictated by the outbreak of Spring which 'seemingly' happened to coincide with the moment the Sun crossed the celestial equator from south to north? For many cultures, the Spring Equinox is the start of a new year; a fresh start; a new beginning.

The advent of two new members joining our small congregation allowed us to experience the newness of a sabbat again. The nervousness, the ceaseless smiles, the frenzied excitation... it hearkened us back to our own first times with this new group. Sometimes the emotional tension is not displayed so readily, which is why we love being able to read the journal experiences our members are required to write after every sabbat.

The newness of the season, the new students, the sightings of new gorgeous growth and the abundance of fauna in our desert gladdened our many hearts. Our ring was set up quickly and deftly and the members were able to relax and commune before the ritual began. Many explored the sights, nooks, and crannies of our sabbat site. Some napped, some were swept up with family and friend fellowships, and others enjoyed the quietness of the escape from the Las Vegas urban landscape.

As the sun set, the announcement of the approach of our High Priestess Lady Joyanna and High Priest Lord Tanys rang through the air starting the ceremony. Lady Ravenfeather swept the ring and Lady Nashoba and Lord Tanys took their places as the leaders of the ritual. Everyone gave their blessings for the potted seeds and a new, fresh poem from Lady Sistterwolf debuted. After the magical ring was taken down, we crowned Lady Ravenfeather as the Spring Queen and were delighted with all the attending males giving her the five-fold kiss to honor her. We ate the decorated eggs and drank the wondrous mead in celebration. After ring festivities graced us with a haunting song, a fire dance, poetry, stories, and jokes lending to another exceptional sabbat celebrated.

One of the great things about being in touch with the wheel of the year is that with every revolution we can start anew and afresh; every single season can be a marker to start again; and every dawn can bring a new perspective and beginning. We hope your new year, starting today, was great, and that your new day tomorrow is just as lovely.

A note about sacrifice...

The High Priestess for our sabbat spent a few weeks creating a wheel of the year for her sabbat altar. It was remarkable and everyone took their time in admiring it.

At sabbat's end, Lady Nashoba placed the piece into the holy fire and gave it to the Gods. There was a bit of shock from some of our younger (and older) members.

The concept of sacrifice is something we cover during our sabbat chapters for there are many. The Bridhe's Bed at Imbolg, the Maypole and flower crown at Bealtaine, the best (first) fruits at harvest, etc.

On a personal note, this kind of offering is my favorite: a hand wrought gift with the deities in mind as they are being made.

Here are a couple of article on Offerings to the Gods. The second one is my favorite.

What You Need To Know When Offering To Your Deities

Offerings to Gods in Hellenismos

Blessed Be,
Lady Atheona

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News, Updates, & Information

Everyone has a right to the Goddess

Event: Waning Moon Esbat Ritual 2020

Waning Moon Esbat Ritual
with Inner Circle Sanctuary
Saturday, Sep. 5, 2020 at 6 PM – 9 PM

Event: Magical Bread Making

Magical Bread Making
with Inner Circle Sanctuary
Saturday, July 13, 2019 at 6-9 PM

Event: New Moon Ritual 2018

New Moon Ritual
with Inner Circle Sanctuary
Saturday, August 11, 2018 at 6 pm

Bealtaine 2018

NEW MOON with Inner Circle Sanctuary

Bealtaine 2017

Ostara Sabbat 2017

A note about sacrifice...

Inner Circle Sanctuary

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News, Updates, & Information

Waning Moon Esbat Ritualwith Inner Circle SanctuarySaturday, Sep. 5, 2020 at 6 PM – 9 PM

Magical Bread Making with Inner Circle SanctuarySaturday, July 13, 2019 at 6-9 PM

New Moon Ritual with Inner Circle SanctuarySaturday, August 11, 2018 at 6 pm

A note about sacrifice...

Inner Circle Sanctuary

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Waning Moon Esbat Ritual
with Inner Circle Sanctuary
Saturday, Sep. 5, 2020 at 6 PM – 9 PM

Magical Bread Making
with Inner Circle Sanctuary
Saturday, July 13, 2019 at 6-9 PM

New Moon Ritual
with Inner Circle Sanctuary
Saturday, August 11, 2018 at 6 pm