Happy Birthday to Us – 25 years of magick!

I can’t believe it’s been 25 years! When D Blaze Johnson, C Lynn Carr, Maeve, and I first hatched the idea of starting a Wiccan coven in central New Jersey, after meeting for full moons in Conny Jasper‘s Milltown witchy store Salamander and Maggie’s land in Piscataway, the landscape of the pagan community was so different! Not the least of which was getting the word out– by flyer, pagan stores, and eventually Witchvox.

There were a few groups operating in northern Jersey — the Morristown women’s circle out of the Unitarian church, a Cristo Pagan group, and Green Man Grove, a druid group in New Brunswick. We had so much energy back then that we were hosting over 20 rituals a year plus monthly classes. At one point we had 23 members and our monthly public full moon rituals were drawing 50 people.

Memory: Hands of Change Retreat, Kateri Environmental Center

One of the things I’ve always loved about the New Jersey pagan community is how close and supportive it is. I love how we’ve come together every year for pagan picnics and festivals, like Pagan Pride, MPA Beltane, Caduceus and others. We even had an Ishtarfest back in 2003!

I’m also really proud that everyone pictured in this photo from over ten years ago is still a member of Hands of Change.

I hope to see some of you today at our 25th birthday celebration, psychic fair, and Mabon ritual on our covenstead in Old Bridge. Here’s to another 25 years of sharing magick in community!