Announcements

Dawn Costorf Appointed Cancer Lead Minister

The Temple of Witchcraft board of directors is pleased to announce High Priestess Dawn Costorf as the new Lead Minister of the Temple’s Cancer Ministry.

Dawn is a long-time volunteer and leader in the Temple community. In addition to her new role, Dawn is a Pisces Deputy Minister, leading  Sabbats and Full Moon rituals for the Temple in New Hampshire. Dawn is also a Deputy Virgo Minister leading some of the Healing Deity rituals and helping to heal what is needed. She volunteers with the Aquarius Ministry as the Red Ray for TempleFest.

Dawn is looking to bring new energy to the Cancer Ministry with planned women’s circles and rituals that center around the themes and cycles of the Goddess as well as online Goddess devotionals for all.  Anyone looking to volunteer with the Mother Ministry should reach out to Dawn at [email protected].

Cancer Lead Minister Position Available

Lead Minister Application Process

Applications are due no later than May 31, 2024. Thank you for your interest in Temple leadership.

The Ministerial Church of the Temple of Witchcraft is divided into twelve major areas of service. Each is based upon one of the twelve zodiac signs and its archetype as taught in the Seminary school. Each of the twelve ministries is further subdivided into three areas. The first is a public area of service to the greater community. The second consists of work primarily for the Temple and its members. The third is the mystical service provided to the community, often unseen and unheard, but vitally important nonetheless.

Please review the job description for the ministry you are interested in, included below. You may also wish to review the current mission statement for the ministry of which you are applying to be lead minister. There are versions of these on the Temple website under the Structure tab and then linked for each ministry, on pages 10–12 and again on pages 38–42 of the Temple Handbook and in the book Foundations of the Temple by Christopher Penczak.

Please provide your application in writing and include information that covers the following areas and questions:

  • Details of your experience and skills as they fit the job description. Please include administrative and managerial skills as well as your spiritual experience.
  • Description of any prior experience with the particular ministry.
  • What motivates you to apply to leadership? What motivates you to apply to this particular ministry?
  • What are your plans and vision for how you wish to work with this ministry? What does the first 6 months look like if you are chosen for this position?
  • How do you see the three areas outlined above, and in the job description below, for this ministry?
  • Anything else you wish to tell us about yourself or your interest in this position.
  • Please also address the description of experience, qualifications and responsibilities described in the Lead Minister job description for which you are applying.

If you have questions about this process, please email [email protected]. Interested applicants, please email your application to [email protected] prior to the deadline. Thank you!

Cancer Lead Minister Job Description

The Ministry of Cancer, The Mother,  is the work of care-taking, providing nurturing and the support of the home. It shall include:

  • Organizing and administering social services such as food drives, housing and other social services.
  • Providing religious education and public rituals appropriate for the children of the community. Education in childbirth, including natural and traditional alternatives, as well as support for pregnant families is included in this work.
  • This ministry is responsible for maintaining a strong spiritual link between the Temple and the Goddess through public and private ritual. Included in this work will be rituals, rites and training in Women’s Mysteries.

Major Responsibilities

  • The Cancer Lead Minister can appoint and oversee up to three deputy ministers who can be  an integral part of the ministry.  There are currently two deputies involved with the ministry. One oversees the Children’s Ministry and the other oversees Social Services such as donations at Sabbats and logistics around food at the in person Sabbats in New Hampshire. 
  • The Cancer Lead Minister should have the capabilities to lead, facilitate or appoint deputies to lead the following: 
    • Organizing and administering social services such as food drives, housing and other social services.
    • Providing religious education and public rituals appropriate for the children of the community. Education in childbirth, including natural and traditional alternatives, as well as support for pregnant families is included in this work.
    •  This ministry is responsible for maintaining a strong spiritual link between the Temple and the Goddess through public and private ritual. Included in this work will be rituals, rites and training in Women’s Mysteries.
  • Exhibit commitment to connect with spiritual beings and maintain servitors and other spiritual practices on a regular basis.
  • As the Temple grows, transition to a position akin to a National Director, overseeing, guiding, and supporting Temple ministers authorized to work with administering social services, providing activities for children’s ministry, and work in the Women’s mysteries.
  • Connect with the greater community, with a cooperative, collaborative, and community approach.
  • Engage others in a supportive and collaborative manner. 
  • Prepare and submit a monthly ministerial report to the leadership council.
  • Prepare and present annual reports (year-end and next year projection) to the Board of Directors for the July Board of Directors meeting.
  • Engage the Temple community during the solar month of Cancer as a means to promote and teach about the ministry.  
  • Lead Ministers are expected to attend the Temple’s annual ministerial retreat, either in person, via video conferencing, or by having a deputy attend as their proxy.

Experience and Qualifications

  • All applicants should be Ministerial Members (Witchcraft V graduates) in good standing, and ideally ordained, though ordination is not a requirement. 
  • Experience in leading Temple of Witchcraft groups, classes, or events.
  • Familiarity with the foundations of the Temple of Witchcraft’s mythos.
  • Track record of collaborating and partnering with stakeholders within the Temple of Witchcraft. 
  • Fluency with the Google Workspace suite of productivity tools; Google Docs, Sheets, Groups, and e-mail.
  • Commitment to timely response to email and other communication with Temple leadership and membership.
  • History of continued education in Temple of Witchcraft classes in the esoteric and in business and soft skills.

Key Competencies 

  • Excellent interpersonal skills and experience working across Temple ministries and the greater Community.
  • Ability to provide monthly reporting of activities of the Cancer ministry to the leadership council.
  • Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both in person and in writing.
  • Proficiency in identifying and solving problems while thinking outside of the box.
  • Feeding of the Witch soul through continued reading of books and other Witchcraft sources.
  • Commitment to a regular Witchcraft practice in adherence to the Temple of Witchcraft standards.

While this is an unpaid volunteer position, Temple policy is to pay up to 70% of net fees for public rituals, classes, and events to the ritualist(s) or teacher(s) of the events and the Cancer Lead Minister is entitled to accept such payment for any rituals, classes or events that they lead.

Supporter Spotlight: The Robin’s Nest

With deep thanks and gratitude to our top supporter, the Robin’s Nest, we wish them well with the upcoming Spring “Nestival” Psychic Fair on March 16th and encourage everyone in the Bellingham, Massachusetts, area to visit and support their community and good works!

The Second Annual Oracular Spectacular!

The Temple of Witchcraft is thrilled to offer an exciting opportunity to support our Community Center fundraiser through our second annual Oracular Spectacular!

Readers of all kinds have generously offered their services for this month-long event. Please consider booking a reading with one of our talented readers here:

Book Your Reading Now!

Once you book a reading you will receive a confirmation message and the reader will reach out to you shortly with a Zoom link or other remote access.

All readings will be remote, so access to a laptop or electronic device is all you will need.

Previous donations toward our community center have supported important parts of this project, such as securing an engineer and an architect to design the interior and site plan to submit to the Town of Salem.  We are deeply thankful for all your support. It’s a long-term project but we are confident in our community goals that will outlive us all and serve the community for time to come.

Hecate’s Nights

9-month ritual working-group with High Priest Adam Sartwell
$270 tuitionHecate’s Nights online application form

Hecate is the primal goddess of Witches and Witchcraft. On these nine nights this year, we will seek to learn more about her, deepen our connection through devotions, and do ritual and meditation to explore our work with her. We will delve into her symbols, nine-fold aspects, performing magick with her, and more. Join High Priest Adam Sartwell for these empowering in-person nights of magick, culminating in a ritual celebration of Hecate’s Night in November 2024.

  • Those seeking to follow this path should be a graduate of Witchcraft III or higher, have a deep interest in or devotion to Hecate, and the dedication to show up to the Great Work.
  • In-person only.This series is limited to twelve participants and is in-person only at the Temple of Witchcraft in Salem, NH. Participants will be chosen by application.
  • Application: Please fill-out the Hecate’s Nights online application form to apply.
  • Tuition: Accepted ritualists must pay a tuition of $270 before March 10, 2024. Please use the Hecate’s Nights payment product in the Temple Class Store.
  • Schedule: Planned dates of the nights in 2024 are as follows: 3/11, 4/15, 5/13, 6/12, 7/10, 8/14, 9/12, 10/9, and Hecate’s Night on 11/16, all from 7pm to 10pm.
  • Questions? Email Adam at [email protected] with questions.

Michael Usher Appointed Capricorn Lead Minister

The Temple of Witchcraft board of directors is pleased to announce High Priest Michael Usher of south Florida as the new Lead Minister of the Temple’s Capricorn Ministry.

In addition to his new role, Michael works with the Sagittarius Ministry as a mentor, works with Pisces Ministry offering public sabbats in south Florida, served as a Light Bearer for Aries, and is a member of Team TempleFest.

Michael is looking to build a stronger presence for Capricorn Ministry in the wider community of the Temple of Witchcraft, with plans to start a men’s group, a series of classes on various Divine Masculine god-forms, and Rites of Passage training. He can be reached at [email protected].

The Great Pumpkin Project

It’s the Great Pumpkin Project, Salem town! Started during the COVID-19 pandemic as a contactless means of spreading the joy of the season, the Temple is proud to continue our annual, Autumnal, Samhain-season tradition: from Monday, October 21st until the 31st, we invite you to join us once again in the Temple’s Great Pumpkin Project! To help our community feel connected during Samhain we welcome you to bring a carved pumpkin to place on the front garden wall on the Temple grounds in Salem, NH:

We are open for you to drop off of your pumpkin during the daylight hours from October 21–31. Your carved pumpkin will be lit by the founders for the days before Samhain. We will light them all at dusk and put them out in the morning.

The founders will take photos of the carved pumpkins to share on the Temple’s social media throughout the week and you are welcome to do the same! Everyone local is encouraged to drive by at night to see the pumpkins lit up even if they didn’t place a pumpkin.

Those who come by to drop off a pumpkin or just visit to see the carved pumpkins are also welcome to take an envelope with a tarot card and a Witchy wisdom saying for your fortune for the coming year. You’ll find them in a box on the porch of the main house. Please help yourself!

Though this Great Pumpkin Project is focused on our local community we encourage distant members to also share their carved pumpkins on social media and with the community using the hashtag #TOWpumpkin

Rules

  • We are a 501(c)3 religious nonprofit and can’t legally have political endorsements or commentary at the Temple, even in pumpkin form. So please don’t bring them.
  • The Temple founders reserve the right to remove any contribution that is problematic for any reason. Spooky, witchy, and fanciful pumpkin carvings are welcome, but please keep them in good taste.
  • All pumpkins will be farm-fed to cattle after the week is done. So please don’t use any chemicals on your pumpkin that would harm the cows! (No, this is not where pumpkin-spice lattes come from, but we like the way you think…)

The cows love the treat of our pumpkins!

  • Place your pumpkins only in the daytime before sunset. Anyone who comes after dark could be considered a pumpkin smasher and the police may be called!
  • The three best carved pumpkins selected by the founders will be displayed on our social media. Winners receive year-long bragging rights.

Michael Usher Appointed Capricorn Deputy Minister

The Capricorn Ministry is excited to announce Michael Usher will be coming on as a deputy minister. Capricorn Ministry is looking to build a stronger presence in the wider community of the Temple of Witchcraft, with plans to start a men’s group, series of classes on various Divine Masculine Godforms and even Rites of Passage training!

In addition to his role as Capricorn Deputy Minister, Michael helps in the Sagittarius Ministry as a mentor, works under Pisces Ministry offering public sabbats in south Florida, served as a Light Bearer for Aries, and is a member of Team Templefest.

Welcome Sellena Dear as Aquarius Lead Minister

SellenaIt is our pleasure to announce that Sellena Dear has been confirmed as the new Aquarius Lead Minister for the Temple of Witchcraft. Sellena has been an active force in the Temple’s Mississippi community as a teacher, ritualist, and leader, as well as involved in our community online. She has worked as a deputy within Pisces Ministry and an online moderator and mentor. We look forward to her guidance of the ministry. For more information on Sellena and her work, see her profile.

Welcome Scott K. Smith as Aries Lead Minister

It is our pleasure to announce that Scott K. Smith has been confirmed as the new Aries Lead Minister for the Temple of Witchcraft. Scott has been a very active Temple teacher and leader in the Los Angeles area, as well as incredibly involved in online and distant communities. Through his teaching and art, he is outspoken and faces the challenges of our modern world with compassion and boldness. We look forward to his plans for the ministry and his work of protection and guidance in the community. For more information on Scott and his work, see his profile.

The Temple board of directors, council, and community give deep thanks to High Priest Michael Cantone, Aries Lead Minister since the founding of the Temple and someone who has served on the Board of Directors himself. Michael has been a stellar example of community leadership and cooperation and the Temple would not be where it is without his great work.

Temple of Witchcraft