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The Temple of the Sacred Spiral is a Pagan spiritual organisation situated at the Sunshine Coast, North Brisbane and Caboolture and on the Internet as a correspondence Temple. It is dedicated to a religion with an immanent and transcendent view of Divinity, emphasising the world we live in, aiming to achieve a positive balance of the material and spiritual. We run a two year teaching course, aiming to teach a generic view of Paganism and Magick, owing much to modern Wicca, but not confined to it. We draw especially on Australian motifs, incorporating Australian animals, plants, landscapes, seasons and customs of not only the native Murri peoples, but also Asian, European and other immigrant Australians into our teachings, rituals and magickal practices. We celebrate the traditional Sabbats and Full Moons, albeit within an Australian context.

We all join together to celebrate the Sabbat Rites at Imarbara, the spiritual headquarters of the Temple of the Sacred Spiral. Imarbara (meaning 'Peacemakers' in the Dingadau dialect of the Kabi Kabi language) is a 50 acre property outside Woodford on the Sunshine coast hinterland. It is bordered by the Stanley River and bisected by the beautiful Cedar Creek, which through it meanderings and looping creates many very special areas used for ritual and magickal purposes, including the main Circle of Avendesora. The creek and river are home to the platypus ('mairwar'), totem of many of the old tribes that used to inhabit the region.

The Temple meets for teaching sessions at Imarbara, every second Friday. All are welcome to attend, but a prior telephone call is appreciated.

Each teaching session consists of a one hour talk, with discussion, followed by supper and concluding with a practical lesson. Notes are distributed at $5 cost, but the cost of attending each session is free. A plate of food to share is appreciated as are voluntary donations to help cover the costs of postage, candles, and other miscellaneous costs.

The first semester concentrates on issues basic to paganism, and in learning who you are, with the practical emphasis being on ritual. The second semester's theme is magick, spellcraft and initiation; the third semester's is divination and the fourth semester's is on priesthood, community and involvement with the entire planet. At the end of the first Semester, one can take a Dedication to the Pagan Way of Living; at the end of the second, Initiation, and the fourth, Ordination as a priest or priestess.

All are offered eventual advancement spiritually through Dedicant, Initiate to Ordained Priest/ess. These are spiritual titles, achieved after a great deal of personal work, some set 'ordeals', and written and oral exams and assignments. NO SEX RITES are EVER required for any position. All are regarded as equal members, regardless of the spiritual state reached. In fact, the deeper the spiritual advancement, the greater the responsibility of committing to service to the Temple and the wider community.

There is also an administrative structure, with six Chancellors in administrative charge of the whole organisation. These people meet regularly to democratically decide on policy within the Temples, although each Temple is allowed a great deal of autonomy. Any member, regardless of their length of membership, is able to put matters of concern to this body, and it will be fairly discussed. We do NOT operate as a 'one man band', nor do the same people always play the role of High Priest or High Priestess. Instead, true to our teaching charter, we aim to give all the experience as Presiding Priest/ess as soon as practicable, to further educate them and allow them to gain valued experience. So although we do have delineated administrative roles, with access to the decision-making processes available to all, we see the spiritual side as personal advancement, towards the goal of union with our personal divinity within and without.

PHILOSOPHY OF TEACHING:

Each meeting will generally consist of a teaching session on a topic related to Paganism. These are part of a 2 year course in paganism, consisting of 4 13-session semesters, assignments and yearly exams. The course is open to all, will be free (excluding notes, which will cost $5 per lesson, but are not compulsory to have; and books and tools , which each participant must provide for themselves). There will be no pressure apart from a general invitation to formally join the Temple (though we would hope that some at least will want to!), but Initiation into the Temple, and Dedication to Paganism will be available to all who wish and who complete various stages of the course successfully.

Our Philosophy of teaching Paganism is to be guides. We do not pretend to have all the answers, nor that our way of doing things is the only correct way. Rather, we see the real teaching coming from within you, and from the whole Universe without.

However, what we can offer is to act as guides, and to teach discernment to enable you to traverse this passage without too many trip ups from the fools who believe the nonsense they sprout with no regard for factual evidence, or the liars who know what they say is wrong but are out to make money or gain power.

Harsh words perhaps, and to these I should add the most insidious; the lazy who are not fools, but do not do adequate research before putting various statements into print which, being demonstrably wrong, detract from the rest of what may otherwise be worthwhile.

Our teaching sessions will take the form of a 40-45 minute dissertation on the topic set out, with pointers to where authorities disagree, where there is speculation only, and areas of genuine controversy. This will be followed by general discussion. The notes will then be posted on this Web site, via the syllabus page, for use and comment by the pagan community generally.

The main house rule is "Be excellent to each other", ie be civil and respect the rights of others, especially to speak without interruption, snide comments or obvious inattention. However, free discussion, and even disagreement(!) is allowed (and encouraged).

After this marathon, we will have a feast (Pagan Rule Number One: Bring a plate of food), followed by some practical work related to the session, a short meditation, and some singing (Aussies are not great singers, and pagan Aussies even less so - hope this is not the case elsewhere). Please feel free to disagree with anything or everything we say, but do so in a courteous and non-personal way. We too can learn from you, and are more likely to take your point if stated without rancour. To indicate that we are a spiritual group, we will open each session with a quick circle and invocation to the guardians, and at the end, thank them for their help.

To indicate what we see as our proper role, we use titles reminiscent of medieval universities. We reserve the titles of Priestess and Priest, and High Priestess and High Priest for those who have fulfilled the necessary spiritual, magickal and mental work. They are not administrative positions, and all should aspire to become fully fledged priestesses and priests - we are a religion of Priestesses and Priests, not priest and congregation. So for the Administrative roles, we use the term Chancellor for those on the Chancellors' Council, the governing body of the Temple.

The current Chancellors in charge of Teaching are Kim and Quenten Bruce-Walker.

Sabbats, Full Moons and other special rituals are also be held, sometimes in conjunction with other groups and individuals, and these are only be open to those who indicate they are seeking to explore the Pagan Path with intention to becoming a Pagan.

It would be appreciated if those interested in attending could first contact Nicole on 07 5496 2788 or Kim and Quenten on 07 5496 1925 after 6pm any night (but before 9, please). Please remember that the teaching sessions are open to anyone, and will be free. All that is asked is politeness, food to share and ring us beforehand.

Blessed be, all. Please send feedback!

Email us at kimandq@caliph.net.au

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