Post by jadedsage on Aug 10, 2004 13:59:53 GMT -5
by Urania (unicorntrad@unicorntrad.org)
Established at the Summer Solstice, 1980 c.e. by Lady Galadriel and Lord Athanor in Atlanta, Georgia. The Unicorn Tradition is essentially an eclectic one, rooted in the family tradition through which Galadriel and Athanor received their training and initiations.
We honor both Goddess and God as being essential to the sacred dance we call life, and the One Source from which the universe is created. We are a working/teaching tradition which celebrates the eight Solar Festivals, the New Moons, and the Full Moons. We are an initiatory mystery tradition, with a 5 level, three degree system of training and attainment. However, within the structure of the Grove the temple is run on a mostly democratic basis, with all initiates having voting privileges, with the High Priest and Priestess reserving the right to veto, and to have the last word on certain subjects, such as initiation.
The Grove of the Unicorn and her Atlanta daughter groups are all members of the Dogwood Local Council of the Covenant of the Goddess, the oldest and largest legally recognized national organization for Witches. Lady Galadriel served as Dogwood local council First Officer from 1994 to 1995, then as Public Information Officer from 1996 to 1997. After serving as National Membership Officer of Covenant of the Goddess from 1998 - 1999, Lady Galadriel was First Officer for the 1999 - 2000 term.
As of Feb 1, 2001 there are six recognized groups working the Unicorn Tradition and one due to open shortly:
Founding Group
Grove of the Unicorn, Decatur, Ga.
Daughter Groups
Grove of Phoenix Rising - founded by Lady Magdalena, in 1982, originally in Austin, Tx., currently located in Duluth, Ga.
Rainbow Grove - founded by Lady Magdalena, in 1986, in Stuttgart, Germany (now Lichtspinnerin)
Grove of the Winged Scarab - founded by Lady Amber and Lord Alexander in 1992, in Acworth, Ga.
Sylvan Forest - founded by Lady Arden in 1997, in Decatur, Ga.
Great Granddaughter Groups
Phoenix Moon - founded summer of 1998, Lady Selkhet
We also currently have initiates and members living in Florida, Colorado, Arizona, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, Canada, England, Germany, and the Summerlands. (We are not affiliated in any way with either Unicorn Circle of Texas or Unicorn Grove of Tennessee.)
In 1976 Galadriel and Athanor met Lady Rhea and began taking classes with her in the Atlanta area. At this time she was working with priests from two other Celtic Pagan groups, and the classes offered comprised subjects common to all three Craft traditions. Following the end of classes, Galadriel and Athanor moved to Florida, where they were later married in 1978. Following the birth of their first child and their move back to Atlanta in 1979, they began training once again under Lady Rhea. At this time they also began teaching classes under her direction.
Galadriel and Athanor received their priest and priestess initiations at Litha, 1980, and the Grove of the Unicorn was established as a blending of the family tradition and the modern Witchcraft revival movement with Lady Rhea's blessings. Galadriel and Athanor received their Eldership from Lady Rhea in December of 1984.
It is the retention of several core teachings from the family tradition that sets us apart from the many other traditions of Wicca. These practices include:
Astrological Dating of the Sabbats
We celebrate the solstices, equinoxes, and cross-quarter Sabbat days when the sun reaches certain degrees within its astrological circuit. For the solstices and equinoxes this date varies no more than 24 hrs either side of the calendar date. For the cross-quarters this often creates a week or more difference between the calendar date and the astrological date. According to our teachings the sabbat dates are as follows:
Samhain - Sun at 15 degrees Scorpio
Yule - (Winter Solstice) Sun at 0 degree Capricorn
Imbolc - Sun at 15 degrees Aquarius
Ostara - (Vernal Equinox) Sun at 0 degree Aries
Beltane - Sun at 15 degrees Taurus
Litha - (Summer Solstice) Sun at 0 degree Cancer
Lughnasadh - Sun at 15 degrees Leo
Mabon - (Autumnal Equinox) Sun at 0 degree Libra
We teach the annual circuit of the sun as the Wheel of the Year. Therefore, with the astrological dating of the sabbats, which are the stations of the sun, we get an eight-spoked figure, with the space between the sabbats equidistant. Both symbolically and literally we feel this helps the Wheel to turn more smoothly.
Established at the Summer Solstice, 1980 c.e. by Lady Galadriel and Lord Athanor in Atlanta, Georgia. The Unicorn Tradition is essentially an eclectic one, rooted in the family tradition through which Galadriel and Athanor received their training and initiations.
We honor both Goddess and God as being essential to the sacred dance we call life, and the One Source from which the universe is created. We are a working/teaching tradition which celebrates the eight Solar Festivals, the New Moons, and the Full Moons. We are an initiatory mystery tradition, with a 5 level, three degree system of training and attainment. However, within the structure of the Grove the temple is run on a mostly democratic basis, with all initiates having voting privileges, with the High Priest and Priestess reserving the right to veto, and to have the last word on certain subjects, such as initiation.
The Grove of the Unicorn and her Atlanta daughter groups are all members of the Dogwood Local Council of the Covenant of the Goddess, the oldest and largest legally recognized national organization for Witches. Lady Galadriel served as Dogwood local council First Officer from 1994 to 1995, then as Public Information Officer from 1996 to 1997. After serving as National Membership Officer of Covenant of the Goddess from 1998 - 1999, Lady Galadriel was First Officer for the 1999 - 2000 term.
As of Feb 1, 2001 there are six recognized groups working the Unicorn Tradition and one due to open shortly:
Founding Group
Grove of the Unicorn, Decatur, Ga.
Daughter Groups
Grove of Phoenix Rising - founded by Lady Magdalena, in 1982, originally in Austin, Tx., currently located in Duluth, Ga.
Rainbow Grove - founded by Lady Magdalena, in 1986, in Stuttgart, Germany (now Lichtspinnerin)
Grove of the Winged Scarab - founded by Lady Amber and Lord Alexander in 1992, in Acworth, Ga.
Sylvan Forest - founded by Lady Arden in 1997, in Decatur, Ga.
Great Granddaughter Groups
Phoenix Moon - founded summer of 1998, Lady Selkhet
We also currently have initiates and members living in Florida, Colorado, Arizona, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, Canada, England, Germany, and the Summerlands. (We are not affiliated in any way with either Unicorn Circle of Texas or Unicorn Grove of Tennessee.)
In 1976 Galadriel and Athanor met Lady Rhea and began taking classes with her in the Atlanta area. At this time she was working with priests from two other Celtic Pagan groups, and the classes offered comprised subjects common to all three Craft traditions. Following the end of classes, Galadriel and Athanor moved to Florida, where they were later married in 1978. Following the birth of their first child and their move back to Atlanta in 1979, they began training once again under Lady Rhea. At this time they also began teaching classes under her direction.
Galadriel and Athanor received their priest and priestess initiations at Litha, 1980, and the Grove of the Unicorn was established as a blending of the family tradition and the modern Witchcraft revival movement with Lady Rhea's blessings. Galadriel and Athanor received their Eldership from Lady Rhea in December of 1984.
It is the retention of several core teachings from the family tradition that sets us apart from the many other traditions of Wicca. These practices include:
Astrological Dating of the Sabbats
We celebrate the solstices, equinoxes, and cross-quarter Sabbat days when the sun reaches certain degrees within its astrological circuit. For the solstices and equinoxes this date varies no more than 24 hrs either side of the calendar date. For the cross-quarters this often creates a week or more difference between the calendar date and the astrological date. According to our teachings the sabbat dates are as follows:
Samhain - Sun at 15 degrees Scorpio
Yule - (Winter Solstice) Sun at 0 degree Capricorn
Imbolc - Sun at 15 degrees Aquarius
Ostara - (Vernal Equinox) Sun at 0 degree Aries
Beltane - Sun at 15 degrees Taurus
Litha - (Summer Solstice) Sun at 0 degree Cancer
Lughnasadh - Sun at 15 degrees Leo
Mabon - (Autumnal Equinox) Sun at 0 degree Libra
We teach the annual circuit of the sun as the Wheel of the Year. Therefore, with the astrological dating of the sabbats, which are the stations of the sun, we get an eight-spoked figure, with the space between the sabbats equidistant. Both symbolically and literally we feel this helps the Wheel to turn more smoothly.