About Hands of Change

History & Structure

Hands of Change began from a small group of us who were regularly leading/organizing open full moon circles at a small metaphysical bookstore and outdoor Sabbats.

After about a year, four visionary people -- Blaze, Crow, Maeve, and Sea -- decided to officially form a coven. These four original "Kore" members came from different spiritual backgrounds and training but shared a commitment to spiritual growth, teaching, healing, and community. They spent the summer of 1997 working out what Hands of Change would be, its structure, it's mission, etc.

We are a well-established coven, having announced our formation in early Fall 1997. In 2000 HOC became a Church with all rights and privileges afforded by the government. We now have 15 coven members. Of those 15, three are in the "Kore" of Elders (leadership) and others are working towards Kore membership. In addition, we are fortunate to have a number of what we call "Seekers," some who regularly attend our circles, others who pop in and out. Our open circles generally draw 25-50 people. Sabbat invitations are granted to seekers who have attended at least three full moon circles and who ask to attend.

Coven membership is open to those who have attended a minimum of three Sabbats, are willing to commit to their spiritual growth and that of the coven, agree to abide by our charter, are willing to provide some sort of service to the coven, and request membership.

Besides open circles and workshops and invitation-only Sabbats, coven members meet regularly for social and spiritual reasons. We are working on empowerment, healing, and growth, not on maintaining hierarchies.

Seekers and coven members are encouraged to attend our classes/workshops. Coven members are also encouraged to assist Kore members in leading circles and workshops, and eventually, in applying for Kore membership. Both the coven and the Kore make decisions using consensus process.

Our open circles are open to all respectful seekers. They are "teaching circles," where we explain the magic we are creating. (We encourage attending children to be of an age to be respectful of the circle and its energies, and we encourage minors to bring their parents.)

We welcome you to join us in building pagan community, growing spiritually, and healing ourselves and the planet.

About our Circles

We are an eclectic group, drawing strength from several traditions and disciplines. Much of our power comes from our acceptance of diversity and our commitment to inclusion.

What results from our magical union are circles that alternate and/or merge several Spiritual traditions, depending on the strengths of the particular (rotating) facilitators, the season, and our moods/needs at the time. Although most of our circles follow a similar Wiccan structure -- purification, welcoming the elements, welcoming the divine, raising and focusing energy, blessing and sharing "cakes" & (non-alcoholic) "wine," and dismissing/thanking the divine & the elements -- each circle is different. Circles may include fire, water, earth, or air magick, talking sticks or bowls, guided meditations, blessings, dancing, chanting, drumming etc.

Tradition

Hands of Change is an Eclectic Wiccan-Pagan tradition that celebrates and honors world customs as they relate to the seasons and our lives.

We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythms of life forces marked by the phases of the Moon and the seasonal quarters and cross-quarters.

We recognize our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility toward our environment. We seek to live in harmony with Nature.

We believe all spiritual paths are equal in the eyes of the divine. We respect all spiritual seekers and paths.

We believe that every faith is a road that leads the individual to their Higher Self and the Divine. We do not proselytize, but believe that each individual is unique and will find the path that will lead them to enlightenment.

We do not discriminate against a person based on religion, race, sexual preference, gender or political view. We celebrate the different aspects of god and goddess as manifesting in all people in a non-gender specific fashion.

We conceive of the Creative Power in the Universe as manifesting through polarity-as active, dynamic, and magnetic, intuitive forces-which support each other.

This same Creative Power lives in all people, and when balanced, manifests its self as an integrated force which creates a mature self-actualized person.

We seek to control the forces within ourselves that make life possible in order to live wisely and well, without harm to others and in harmony with Nature. We use medication and magick, as tools to enable us to see ourselves clearly and with compassion, so we may constantly strive to keep our intentions and ourselves centered and in balance with the World.

We see religion, spirituality, magick, and wisdom-in-living as being united in the way one sees the world and interacts with it. We identify this worldview and philosophy of life as the Wiccan or Pagan Way.

We acknowledge that a depth of power far greater than is apparent to the average person exists in the universe. Because it is far greater than ordinary, it is sometimes called "supernatural", but we see it as lying within everyone's potential.

We recognize both outer and inner, or psychological worlds-sometimes known as the Spiritual World, the Collective Unconscious, etc. We neglect neither dimension for the other, seeing both as necessary for our fulfillment.

We empower those who join us by giving them a voice in coven matters by using an agreement seeking process and encouraging a permeable hierarchy of leadership.

We believe that by maximizing member participation in the decision making process we relate openly and continually improve communication skills. This enables every member to build upon the foundation of perfect love and perfect trust that is pivotal in our relationship with each other.

We promote growth in our members by offering opportunities to lead rituals and teach classes.

Our goal is to foster spiritual community through a policy of inclusion, which creates a diverse, powerful, and caring coven.

We reach out to society through our actions and intentions to create healing change and a stronger, more viable pagan community.