Blackberry Circle
Encyclopedia
Blackberry Circle is a legally recognized Wiccan church
and state non-profit located in Conroe, Texas
. They provide open Sabbat rituals for the general public as well as educational opportunities for those wishing to learn Wicca.
that would provide open Sabbat rituals for those who wished to attend and fellowship with other Pagans. The first open ritual held was Yule on December 16, 2006 with approximately 20 people in attendance.
On March 13, 2007, Blackberry Circle filed papers as a non-profit corporation in the state of Texas. The application was approved and on March 20, 2007 (the Spring Equinox), Blackberry Circle became an official church. The Bylaws of Blackberry Circle were voted on and approved by the board of directors on March 22, 2007.
Since that time Blackberry Circle has provided open rituals for all the Sabbats, with the exception of a few that were canceled due to weather, and on one occasion to show support for the 2008 Houston Witches Ball.
In March, 2009, Blackberry Circle became a member of the now defunct Family Wiccan Traditions International, founded by Lydia M. Crabtree. While Blackberry Circle is not true family coven under the guidelines of FWTI, they share the same core ideas and values.
Due to the unique and adaptable nature of the rituals performed by Blackberry Circle, they have been invited by other groups, Pagan and non-Pagan, to perform rituals. The most recent was a 2011 midnight ritual at Sherwood Forest Faire (located near Giddings, Texas
). Blackberry Circle also celebrated the closing ritual at the 2009 Houston Pagan Pride Day
and provided the original stone circle consecration at Sherwood Forest Faire.
Blackberry Circle was featured in the Witches & Pagans Magazine, Issue #22, in the article "Southern, Pagan & Proud: Thriving in the Heart of the Bible Belt."
The primary deities worshiped by Blackberry Circle are Danu and The Dagda but they have been known to incorporate other deities in their open rituals, ranging from Hawaiian to Greek and Roman Gods, depending on the theme of the ritual.
Blackberry Circle also believes that the rituals are celebrations of the seasons and as such they need to be fun. They encourage humour and laughter in each of their rituals and have designed most rituals to include humour.
They believe that family is the basis of spiritual life and that worship should not only include the parents but also the children. They ensure that all rituals are children friendly and encourage the children to participate. http://www.blackberrycircle.org/index.php/beliefs.
The Blackberry Circle Tradition incorporates a degree system of training:
Wiccan church
Wiccan churches are a type of organization found within some groups of Wicca, particularly in North America. While in Europe Wicca is most often organized into independent covens, in the United States some covens choose to combine to form a "church". Churches are often formed from hive covens...
and state non-profit located in Conroe, Texas
Conroe, Texas
Conroe is a suburban city 40 miles north of Houston in the gulf coastal plains/piney woods region of southeast Texas.It is the seat of Montgomery County and falls within the metropolitan area.As of the 2000 U.S...
. They provide open Sabbat rituals for the general public as well as educational opportunities for those wishing to learn Wicca.
History
Following the purchase of land in Conroe by one of the founders of Blackberry Circle in October, 2006, a group of like-minded people decided to start a covenCoven
A coven or covan is a name used to describe a gathering of witches or in some cases vampires. Due to the word's association with witches, a gathering of Wiccans, followers of the witchcraft-based neopagan religion of Wicca, is also described as a coven....
that would provide open Sabbat rituals for those who wished to attend and fellowship with other Pagans. The first open ritual held was Yule on December 16, 2006 with approximately 20 people in attendance.
On March 13, 2007, Blackberry Circle filed papers as a non-profit corporation in the state of Texas. The application was approved and on March 20, 2007 (the Spring Equinox), Blackberry Circle became an official church. The Bylaws of Blackberry Circle were voted on and approved by the board of directors on March 22, 2007.
Since that time Blackberry Circle has provided open rituals for all the Sabbats, with the exception of a few that were canceled due to weather, and on one occasion to show support for the 2008 Houston Witches Ball.
In March, 2009, Blackberry Circle became a member of the now defunct Family Wiccan Traditions International, founded by Lydia M. Crabtree. While Blackberry Circle is not true family coven under the guidelines of FWTI, they share the same core ideas and values.
Due to the unique and adaptable nature of the rituals performed by Blackberry Circle, they have been invited by other groups, Pagan and non-Pagan, to perform rituals. The most recent was a 2011 midnight ritual at Sherwood Forest Faire (located near Giddings, Texas
Giddings, Texas
Giddings is the county seat of Lee County, Texas, United States situated on the intersection of U.S. Highways 77 and 290, east of Austin. Its population was 5,105 at the 2000 census. The city's motto is "Giddings Texas: Experience Hometown Hospitality"....
). Blackberry Circle also celebrated the closing ritual at the 2009 Houston Pagan Pride Day
Pagan Pride Day
Pagan Pride is a movement among the American Neopagan community to provide a positive public image of Neopagans and Neopaganism.Local Pagan Pride groups sponsor "Pagan Pride Day" festivals, usually in public locations such as city parks or university campuses...
and provided the original stone circle consecration at Sherwood Forest Faire.
Blackberry Circle was featured in the Witches & Pagans Magazine, Issue #22, in the article "Southern, Pagan & Proud: Thriving in the Heart of the Bible Belt."
Beliefs and Tradition
While Blackberry Circle has its own cosmology and tradition, it is an inclusive rather than exclusive organization in that it recognizes the individual members may have their own particular beliefs, practices and Gods that they worship and does not seek to supplant those beliefs.The primary deities worshiped by Blackberry Circle are Danu and The Dagda but they have been known to incorporate other deities in their open rituals, ranging from Hawaiian to Greek and Roman Gods, depending on the theme of the ritual.
Blackberry Circle also believes that the rituals are celebrations of the seasons and as such they need to be fun. They encourage humour and laughter in each of their rituals and have designed most rituals to include humour.
They believe that family is the basis of spiritual life and that worship should not only include the parents but also the children. They ensure that all rituals are children friendly and encourage the children to participate. http://www.blackberrycircle.org/index.php/beliefs.
The Blackberry Circle Tradition incorporates a degree system of training:
- Dedication - Where the student dedicates themselves to learning the Blackberry Circle Tradition for a minimum of one year and one day and to worship the Old Gods.
- First Degree Initiation - Designates that the student has completed their studies and have successfully passed a written exam with a minimum of 85%, have demonstrated to Elders the generation and control of energy, and have demonstrated leadership abilities either through their work or through ritual.
- Second Degree Initiation - Designates that the student has completed a minimum of one year of intensive study into a specialty within the Craft. The student must exhibit a very thorough working knowledge of their specialty, submit a peer review style paper regarding some aspect of their specialty, and be able to withstand examination of that specialty by others who are familiar with that specific specialty. This is similar to arguing your dissertation before a board of peers in college.
- Third Degree Initiation - Designates the student is a leader within the Blackberry Circle Tradition, the Craft and the community at large. This degree is not a knowledge based degree per se, but one that is obtained only after invitation by the Elders who have recognized the student has exhibited self realization, self reliance, leadership abilities, and a strong spiritual connection with the Divine. This degree may follow shortly after realization of the Second Degree Initiation or it may be years in the making. It is recognized within the student by the Elders and it cannot be requested.