Celebrating the Goddess
(cont'd) Davis said despite many misconceptions of what Wicca and paganism are, the Tabernacle has run into very few problems over its 30-year history. The church has on occasion been vandalized or threatened by people passing through town, but Davis said for the most part it receives respect in the community because many of its members are well-liked and involved in town affairs.
Davis said the biggest opponent he has run into was the post office.
“When we tried to get a bulk mailing permit for our newsletter, they decided that since we don’t believe in Jesus, we’re not a real religion. Therefore, we don’t get a permit,” he said. “But it resolved itself quickly as soon as we got a lawyer.”
The church has continued to expand into different realms in order to serve its members better, Davis said. It is the only Wiccan church in the nation that offers a four-year seminary program culminating in a Bachelor of Ministry degree, a degree recognized by the Higher Education Coordinating Board of the State of Washington. The seminary also offers masters and doctorate degrees.
Jamie Freeman began seminary classes approximately seven months ago and said it is similar to attending school. Classes are held at the Tab and taught by church priests and priestesses. About 20 people are currently enrolled to train in the ways of the Wiccan church.
Davis said every member of the church is considered a priest or priestess, but it is important to have trained clergy who are prepared to undertake serious matters.
“We’re not trying to tell anyone how to conduct their clergy training, but we want our clergy to be professional if they’re going to be dealing with marital problems, childhood traumas, psychological disorders, and other things,” Davis said.
Practices of the Wiccan Church
The Aquarian Tabernacle Church performs moon rituals, celebrates the eight Sabbats, which are Wiccan holidays, and hosts two festivals a year.
Davis said moon rituals are held roughly twice a month, on the Saturdays closest to the new moon and the full moon. He said Saturdays are chosen simply for convenience because many of the church members come from long distances in order to attend.
Davis said that after the rituals, the church hosts a potluck so members can mingle and get to know each other, and the church, better.
The eight Sabbats are longer, more involved rituals, though they are still held in the MoonStone Circle. Many of the Judeo-Christian tradition holidays stem from pagan holidys, Davis said, and therefore they have strong correlations, such as Samhain and Halloween, or Yule and Christmas.
Davis said the two festivals the church hosts, Spring Mysteries and Hekate’s Sickle, are the most involved rituals of all.
The Spring Mysteries, which are held over Easter weekend, are a recreation of the Eleusinian Mysteries, which were the initiatory rites of classical Greek paganism. —>
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