Meet the Members of Celebrate the Circle

Go to:

CTC Homepage
Directions and General Information
CTC Learning Circles
Wheel of the Year Celebrations

Brydie Palmore aka Moonfire is my Witchy public name. I think now that I was born a Witch, however I did not know that for sure until 20 some years ago when I read Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler. I saw myself in that book was able then to name myself. And, of course, I was alone. I created my own ways of celebrating and my own wheel of the year. A friend gave me my first Tarot Deck, and another friend gave me a book. Now I read and study with people I honor and always, always I have been a rite writer. I am most intersted in ethics: how we treat one another; how we treat our planet; whom we honor and respect. Meditation is my most powerful tool. Using meditation I created a workshop called Circle of Stones.

MoonDance In her personal beliefs, moondance blends together Wicca and Women's Spirituality to form the main framework of her eclectic Pagan practices. Into this pattern, she draws what speaks to her from many other traditions including, but not limited to, Greco-Roman, Taoist, Arthurian/Avalonian, ancient Middle Eastern, Egyptian and various Native American practices. She is a Unitarian Universalist Pagan and believes that most spiritual paths are simply different ways to access the same sacred force. She is dedicated to the paths of a Community Priestess, a teacher of Sacred Sexuality and a Webweaver (one who helps people find the resources and make the connections that they need in order to grow and advance upon their path). Recently, she stepped down from many of her organizational positions in order to work on her private studies and projects.

Dick Merritt grew into paganism through the influence of eco-feminist spirituality in the 80's. He has been a member of CUUPS (Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans) since its inception and is one of the founding members of Celebrate the Circle, the CUUPS chapter at the Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Durham. He characterizes himself as a Joseph Campbell pagan because of his conviction that religion is metaphor. Dick enjoys frequent rituals and purification ceremonies. A techno-pagan, he is a UNIX technician and massage therapist.

Gryphon Rosemead has been practicing the craft since the early 70's and has given many Workshops and done Rituals at a variety of Gatherings in several states. Her path is closely aligned with the Elements and Directions. She is a High Priestess and an Elder and has earned a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture and Masters in Education from the University of Georgia. She is involved with Carolina Spirit Quest, Inc, where she has been on the Board and served as past Co-director and QuestSpecial Director, has served on the CTC Steering Committee, contributes frequently to the CTC Newsletter and was the Workshop Coordinator for Pagan Pride Day in the Triangle for its first three years. Gryph is a National Board Certified Teacher currently teaching High School Agriculture in Boone and lives with her cat, Grandmother. For more information visit her website at https://www.angelfire.com/nc/gryphon Contact her at gryph@pobox.com

RiverSong Gardner is an ecclectic Wiccan. She has been active in CTC since 1997 or so and has served on the Steering Committee for two terms as Keeper of the Closet.

Wind Spirit I came into the Wiccan path from several years of exploring native American spirituality and finding a strong kinship with the air element. Recently, that path has merged with my long term work in the health field, first as a health educator, then as a researcher, and most recently as a massage therapist. I find the "hands on" work very natural to me, and I draw upon the elements in working with my clients. As I gradually learn more about the craft, I incorporate more of those elements into my own rituals, while trying to stay true to my "intuitive" way of working with the energies of the natural world.

MorningSong Even as a young girl, I know that, with the changing of the seasons, my feelings and emotions took on the "old ways" of the pagan spirit. Probably in 1994 or 1995, I was more formally introduced to the Wiccan path. I consider myself an ecclectic wiccan, and learn from absolutely EVERYONE! Each person I come in contact with has a spirit, and I acknowledge it and that person's gift to us all.

Jenna I was raised Methodist and Presbyterian and have always appreciated the ceremonial way these religions practice purification, centering and honoring of the Divine. These gave me a perfect introduction into becoming a Unitarian Universalist. I have always believed that god is not only father, but also mother, sister, brother and more to each of us. I call myself a polytheistic monotheist, because I believe that there is one sacred divine spirit and all the different gods and goddesses are facets of that spirit. I have followed a mostly Wiccan path for the last four years, with a Celtic and Arthurian leaning. I am a techno-pagan, have participated in a 'cyber coven,' and practice frequent purification, honor and magical rituals. I am also a technical writer, aromatherapist and past President of Carolina Spirit Quest.

Stephanie L. Gross I was born to the Mennonite tradition and raised on fire & brimstone preaching. Not finding that either enjoyable or fulfilling, I turned my back on spirituality completely for 10 years. I have spent the years since 1996 or so in search of spiritual definition, a path to travel. My "personal credo" drew me toward Paganism. I have self-identified as Wiccan since 1995. My rituals are completely idiosyncratic. I joined CTC in a search for a community in which I could share and grow in my Dianic-based worship.While researching Paganism I became interested in the encompassing traditions of Unitarian Universalism. I have been a member of ERUUF since May 1998.

Gwen I am a Unitarian Univeralist Pagan, and although I have only been studying paganism for a few years, I feel I have been a Pagan for at least all of this life. I feel very connected to the Earth and all things on it, and I believe that everything we think and do impacts the world either positively or negatively, the choice is ours. I also believe that we create our own Heaven and Hell right here on Earth, and I prefer to exist in Heaven.

Lance is a native of Minnesota now living in Durham, NC. He has followed a pagan path since 1988 and names himself a modern eclectic UU pagan. You may arrange those words in any order as you see fit. He was a member of Celebrate The Circle from 1992 till 1996 and returned to CTC in the summer of 2000. He is also a member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Hillsborough, NC. He draws his spirituality from many sources including Wicca and other pagan traditions, UUism, and his Roman Catholic upbringing.

Ursa Madre As a life-long ecologist and naturalist, the Wheel of the Year resonates deeply in my spirit. Having explored polytheism and indigenous religions during high school and college, I have grown into a Joseph Campbell approach to religion - there are many rhymes and similar archetypes cross "diverse" religions. While I attempt to avoid labels outside of my professional career as a financial analyst, I seem to most closely fit into the UU Eclectic Pagan and naturalistic theist or panentheist models. My passions include, but are certainly not limited to, Goddess-centered spirituality with children, Creation Spirituality, the Aboriginal Australian Dreamtime, Native American theology, and sacred dance.

I came to Celebrate the Circle by way of the Cakes for the Queen of Heaven course and my deep respect for and friendship with Gryphon Rosemead. I am a co-founder of Children's Circle which seeks to provide age-appropriate pagan rituals for children, a steering committee member for CTC, and a board member of Carolina Spirit Quest. I am also the pagan mother of a delightful, but very active, pagan child who stretches my love and spirituality each and every day.

My public craft name is Amaunet Ka. I was a natural born wiccan. However, I was only instructed by my family to be an intuitive and to have the basic skills for working with nature. I have always been a forest dweller, choosing to play on the ground and experience life from a simple view of the world. Animals and nature have become my family with the elements as my guides and we have a very symbiotic relationship. I work in the field of Wildlife rescue and rehabilatation and hope to one day travel to other countries to expand my passion and my deep faith. I am very happy to have found a home at Celebrate the Circle and learn more from every soul that crosses my path.

Greetings. I am Bart Wendel. I am a massage therapist, healer, teacher, etc...
I live/breath/use/teach/play energy and magik.
I am science meets new age.
I am pagan/christian/buddhist/etc...
I am what is common to all religions.
I strive to be balance with all things.
I am also otherkin... relate strongly with dragon energy, want more info... come to my CTC talk. To learn more, go to http://www.tcnj.edu/~wendel