If you have come to this page on our site, then you are probably new to the whole Pagan scene. Hopefully, this page will assist you in approaching us about paganism, our coven and our circles.

WildWood is a coven in Brisbane which began to service young people trying to get started and continue along life's path. We meet on a weekly or fortnightly basis, generally on a Sunday afternoon (because there are less commitments then :P). Some weeks our circles are open to the general public, and new people are more than welcome to come and join us, or sit and watch or just do whatever they feel comfortable doing. Some weeks our circles are "invite only" to attend these circles, you need to have been to an open circle and be added to our "study circle" mailing list.

We are a welcoming group of people who accept everyone from every background. Our Inner Court members are happy to discuss the coven or paganism with your family and friends if they are worried about where you are and what you are doing.

Our group generally meets at the cafe at Roma Street Parklands, it is on Parklands Boulevard and is close to the Roma Street Train Station.

Please feel free to ring me anytime on 0437 021 686 to have a chat :)

Blessed Be on your journey.

-Talaria, Priestess of WildWood.
(aka Claire or Mamma lol)

On the WildWood Tradition of Witchcraft

By Eilan (Gede Parma), Co-Founder and Priest of the WildWood

Witchcraft, as Witches of the WildWood, live it, is a shamanic, eco-conscious, magickal spirituality. It can also be described as an ecstasy-driven, earth-based mystery tradition. Ecstasy-driven because we seek altered states of consciousness to experience the ‘Other’ realities. Through this one’s identity is absorbed into and becomes synonymous with the All that is Nature. Earth-based because this biosphere is our point of origin - the common denominator; our foundation as home. By attuning to the natural rhythms and cycles we come to wholeness as children of the Great Mother. Mystery tradition because as Witches we walk between the worlds and we know how true and powerful the Mystery is that makes it possible for us to do so. Mystery is intrinsic, underlying quintessence and is said by some to be a Goddess - a Paradox. The beauty and rhythm which is synchronicity and Magick is sometimes called the Wyrd in the WildWood.

The WildWood Tradition was officially brought into being at Imbolc (August) 2008 with the first coven branching of the Anthesterion Circle from the original Mother Coven, Coven of the WildWood. With the initiation of the second coven the tradition was perpetuated, and thus carried through. The original coven was founded at Samhain (April) 2006. The WildWood Tradition derives its namesake from our devotion to the WildWood which we know both as an astral realm and as the green, raw pockets of pure Nature that still exists on this planet - and the union of the two.

Covens are organised into inner and outer courts. The inner court comprises of Dedicants, Initiates and the Priesthood. The outer court consists of Aspirants, Children of the WildWood (WildKin) and anyone at all who attends coven open circles (outer-court members). A brief description of each ‘state of being’ follows:

Priest/ess - An initiated Witch of the inner court. A Priest/ess is devoted to the mysteries of the Sacred Four and the WildWood and serves his/her community as such. Generally initiation occurs after a year and a day of dedication; six months of which is committed to intensive weekly Priest-training.

Initiate - An initiated Witch of the inner court. Most initiates seek priesthood.

Dedicant - A dedicated Witch of the inner court. A Dedicant is empowered to lead and facilitiate WildWood rites. Dedication occurs after a period of aspiration, which can be as little as 3 months.

Aspirant - An affirmed member of the outer court and one who aspires to dedication into the inner court. Aspiration occurs after an individual officially decides the WildWood is for him/her.

Child of the WildWood (WildKin) - A member of the outer court who is perceived by the inner court to be an integral part of the coven’s group-soul. A ritual is performed to formally identify an individual as such.

Outer-Court Member - Anyone who attends a WildWood open circle is considered a member off the outer court. When new people are present a short welcoming ceremony is performed.

The reverence and celebration at WildWood circles is devoted to the Gods and Old Ones of the WildWood, known collectively as the Sacred Four. The Sacred Four are the Weaver, the Green Man, the Crescent-Crowned Goddess and the Stag-Horned God. They are also invoked in that order. The latter two have secret names known only to the inner court. Their mysteries of the cycles of life, death and rebirth are at the heart our tradition’s mythos.

The Weaver is the midnight lady who spins the silver thread of Wyrd through the Web of Life. She is our sovereign mother and the grandmother of space. Her gifts are knowledge of one’s fate and wisdom itself.

The Green Man is the face of the Weaver’s mystery. He is the green blood of Nature and the stalker of shadows. The Green Man is the Old One of the Earth whose bones are its skeleton. His gifts are connection to Nature and insights derived thereof.

The Crescent-Crowned Goddess is a lunar and stellar being who governs the psychic tides and thus all Witchcraft. She is also the Goddess of dreaming and a walker between the worlds. The moon is her symbol and her gifts are the Sight, intuition and the ability to move between worlds.

The Stag-Horned God is one of the old hunter deities and governs the realms of death and rebirth through sacrifice. He is the Lord of the Dance of Life and a friend to all wild things. He brings us to ecstatic states of liberation from ego and mundane constraints. His gifts to us are ecstasy and true intimacy with the wild things of Nature.

The WildWood Tradition is an auto-chthonic tradition in that it has naturally developed over the years. Pagan traditions derive from Nature and seek not to impose ‘civilisation’ on it. We are inspired by the WildWood and its mysteries reflected through the Sacred Four. Various magickal techniques, chants and other liturgies come directly from the Gods, usually by means of trance and drawing down. Other aspects of the tradition are creative additions of our own, but we seek to stay within the Anglo, Celtic and Mediterranean cultures which have always influenced our spirituality.

We celebrate in sacred space (however defined) the eight sabbats of the NeoPagan Wheel of the Year and both new and full moons. We always acknowledge the WildWood and our rituals usually (if not always) include meditation, trance, the raising and releasing of power, the blessing of offerings and feasting. It is needless to say that our tradition is not Wiccan, though we bear no animosity towards the religion.

Those seeking an entry-point into the WildWood should contact the priesthood through an appropriate channel. At this point in time we only have two covens worldwide - one based in Brisbane (QLD), Australia and another in Oxfordshire, England (UK). In the conceivable future several more covens will be established in Australia and perhaps Europe.

Contact Information

--- Coven of the WildWood ---

E-mail - covenofthewildwood@hotmail.com

Website - www.members.optusnet.com.au/wildwoodcoven

--- The Anthesterion Circle ---

E-mail - anthesterion.circle@googlemail.com

Website - www.myspace.com/theanthesterioncircle