The Earth Shield Pentacle & Flag

The Earth Shield Pentacle is a sacred symbol and visual icon of our religious tradition. It is meant to call to mind our beloved community and the values we enshrine in our charter. Its primary component is the pentacle, the interwoven five-pointed star within a circle. The pentacle symbolizes many things, including the five elements (spirit, earth, water, fire and air) and the human body (with head, arms and legs as the five points). The fact that it is interwoven reminds us of the web of life, the interconnectedness of all things. The circle defines sacred space, reminding us of the centrality of ritual to our religion and of our committment to creating a safe harbor for all beings. Interconnectedness and sacred space, together, define the worldview of our tradition, reminding us that we are physical and spiritual beings who move within metaphysical reality. Black, the color of the pentacle, represents the deep, unfathomable mysteries of spirit and the fecundity of earth.

The second component of our symbol is the earth shield, a circle divided into quarters, with each quarter a different color. These are the colors often used to represent the elements and directions in our tradition (green=earth, north; blue=water, west; red=fire, south; yellow=air, east). This shield reminds us of our committment to the metaphysical and physical components of all existence, the elements, and further reminds us of our ritual structure. Together, they remind us of our ideals of wholeness, healing, and balance. When the earth shield is superimposed over the interwoven star, a sun-burst or moon-burst pattern is created. This reminds us that the earth, and our particular communities upon the earth, exist within broader communities and within the grand universe. Our tradition associates the celestial bodies, the sun and the moon, with divinity and this pattern reminds us of the eternal presence of the Divine Mother and Father, ever ready to guide and teach us. The rays of the sun or moon burst are in motion, reminding us of the dynamic and energetic qualities of life, especially of the magical religious life.

Our flag is comprised of the earth-shield pentacle on a field of red or green. When upon a red field, it reminds us of the Life Force and of the Great Mother. When upon a green field, it reminds us of ecological balance and of the Great Father as Lord of the Greenwood. It is placed upon other colors for specific ritual purposes.

The Stole of Priesthood

 The Stole of Priesthood is used in our tradition to recognize our leaders, teachers, and officiants. One becomes a priest/ess in our community by study and dedication. When a student feels ready, after at least a year and a day of study, s/he petitions the Body of Priests to be considered as a candidate for priesthood. If the student is accepted as a candidate, over the course of the next year and a day, s/he assists other priests or priestesses in ritual, teaching and temple tasks. At the end of that year and a day, the Body of Priests carefully deliberate about the preparedness of the candidate and decide by consensus whether or not the candidate is ready for ordination. If the candidate is ready, the petition is brought before an assembly of members, who may either call for consensus or acclaim the candidate a new priest/ess. The community then participates in a ritual of annointing and blessing and invests the new priest/ess with the stole. After that ritual, s/he is considered a full priest/ess and member of the Body of Priests.

We are a non-hierarchical tradition without "high" priests or "high" priestesses and we do not have a degree system. Our priests are equals with other members, but they may be more dedicated or may have knowledge and skills to teach the rest of us. Members have great liberty to come and go, but priests and priestesses are expected to demonstrate consistency and committment to our religion. They need to be people that other members can rely on.

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