Stillwater Moon
A Circle of the Old Religion
Stillwater Moon is a private Traditional Circle serving West Georgia and East Alabama. We offer a place to study, practice, and experience the Old Religion through structured learning, ritual practice, seasonal celebrations, and supportive community.
Discover Our Tradition
Stillwater Moon is a private Circle dedicated to the Traditional Craft. We believe Wicca is best learned through thoughtful study, personal responsibility, ritual practice, and a deep connection to the natural cycles of the year. Rather than offering quick answers, we encourage a lifelong path of learning supported by experience, discipline, and community.
Is Stillwater Moon Right for You?
You may feel at home here if you...
seek a traditional path of Craft practice • value study as much as ritual • learn patiently over time • respect nature and the seasonal cycle • seek genuine community.
Course of Study
Our training follows a structured course of study that blends discussion, practical exercises, ritual work, and personal development. Students celebrate the seasonal Sabbats, participate in monthly Esbats, and explore the history, philosophy, and practices of the Traditional Craft while gradually developing the knowledge and skills needed for a lifelong practice.
The Invitation
Each October, Stillwater Moon welcomes a new class of students. Training follows the traditional rhythm of a year and a day, with weekly Saturday classes and participation in the Sabbats and Esbats throughout the seasons. If you feel called to the Traditional Craft and are prepared to make a sincere commitment to study, we invite you to begin the conversation.
The Circle
Some places become sacred because people return to them, season after season, generation after generation.
Nestled among the oak woods of east Alabama lies the Circle of Stillwater Moon. The Circle was raised in September 2001 by a group of Third Degree Priestesses and Priests of the Old Religion and was first cast at Samhain of that same year. Since then, it has remained a place of living practice. In the language of the Craft, the Circle has never stopped spinning - its work has continued through the turning of the seasons and the lives of those who have gathered within it.
Over the years it has witnessed initiations, coming-of-age rites, handfastings, passings, and countless celebrations of the Sabbats and Esbats. It has served as sacred ground for more than one community and continues to be a place where tradition is lived rather than merely remembered.
Today, the coveners of Stillwater Moon gather within this same sacred space, carrying forward a tradition of study, ritual, and community while beginning a new chapter in its own history.
"Traditions are not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire."
— Gustav Mahler
Stillwater Moon is guided by Lady Rhiannon, a High Priestess of the Old Religion whose own training began more than four decades ago within the House of Ravenwood, an established Traditional coven in Atlanta that is still flourishing and will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year.
Her path was shaped over the course of three decades under the guidance of a single Priest and mentor, who performed her dedication and all three initiations. That unbroken continuity of instruction - from teacher to student across many years - is increasingly uncommon and reflects the enduring strength of a living tradition.
Over the years Lady Rhiannon has taught and mentored students, developed a comprehensive First Degree course of study, and led covens in both Tennessee and Alabama. Those years of study, practice, teaching, and service now form the foundation upon which the coven of Stillwater Moon has been established.
Today, that same lineage continues through a new generation of students who seek authentic instruction within the Old Religion with patience, commitment, and respect.
The Lineage
The Year and a Day
Some lessons can only be learned through time.
Foundations
Ritual and Practice
Living the Wheel
Apprenticeship
Every journey begins with understanding. Students build a solid foundation in the history, philosophy, symbolism, and core practices of the Traditional Craft. These first steps provide the knowledge upon which everything else is built.
Knowledge becomes meaningful through experience. Students apply what they learn through ritual work, practical exercises, meditation, and disciplined personal practice. The Craft is not simply studied—it is lived.
The rhythm of the year becomes the rhythm of the student. Through participation in the seasonal Sabbats and monthly Esbats, students experience the turning of the Wheel of the Year as an essential part of their spiritual and personal development.
As understanding deepens, learning becomes more personal. Students work closely with experienced practitioners, developing confidence, responsibility,
and the practical wisdom that comes from study and participation within the Circle.
A Different Way of Learning
We live in an age of instant information, yet the Old Religion continues to value patient learning. A year and a day is not an arbitrary measure of time. It allows students to experience every season, every Sabbat, and the rhythm of the lunar cycle while gradually developing understanding through study, ritual, practice, and reflection.
The purpose is not simply to acquire knowledge, but to become grounded in a living tradition. You will not simply complete a course of study - you will begin a lifelong relationship with the Old Religion.
Our students come from many walks of life, but they share a common curiosity, respect for tradition, and a willingness to learn with patience, discipline, and humility.
Each October, a new class begins. Classes meet on Saturday afternoons, and students participate fully in the celebration of the Sabbats and Esbats throughout the year.
If this approach to learning resonates with you, we invite you to accept the invitation.
Questions You May Have
Is Stillwater Moon a Wiccan coven?
In the historical sense of the word, yes. Our lineage comes from the initiatory traditions that were commonly known as Wicca when our teachers began their training decades ago. Today, however, the word Wicca has come to encompass many different practices and beliefs, most of which are not part of our tradition. Because the meaning of the word has broadened so much, we usually describe ourselves as a Traditional Circle of the Old Religion or a Traditional Craft.
If you're seeking an initiatory tradition grounded in lineage, disciplined study, and shared practice, you've come to the right place.
Do I need previous experience?
No. Many students begin with curiosity rather than experience. What matters most is a sincere interest, a willingness to learn, and respect for the tradition.
What does the training involve?
Training follows the traditional rhythm of a year and a day. Students attend weekly Saturday classes, participate in Sabbats and Esbats throughout the year, complete reading and practical work between classes, and gradually develop both knowledge and experience.
How much does it cost?
There is no tuition for training at Stillwater Moon. When a Priestess in our tradition receives her Third Degree initiation, she takes an oath to freely share the knowledge and experience she has been given with those whom she chooses to teach. We regard that promise as both an honor and a lifelong responsibility. For that reason, we do not charge for instruction.
Like any Circle, however, there are practical expenses - candles, incense, ritual supplies, and educational materials. Students are therefore expected to help support the Circle in whatever way they reasonably can. Some contribute financially toward shared expenses. Others help prepare the ritual space, bring refreshments, or assist with setup and cleanup. Every contribution is valued.
Knowledge is freely given. Responsibility is shared.
Who do you accept as students?
Stillwater Moon welcomes sincere seekers from many walks of life. We do not choose students based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, occupation, education, or social background. What matters to us is something much deeper.
We are less concerned with who you are than with what you seek to become. We look for people who are sincere, dependable, willing to learn, and committed to the long journey of becoming a priest or priestess of the Old Religion.
The Old Religion asks much of its students. In return, it offers a lifetime of growth, service, and spiritual practice.
What happens after I contact you?
We'll respond by email, answer your questions, and learn a little about your interest in the tradition. If, after reviewing your message, we believe there may be a good mutual fit, we'll invite you to an introductory conversation before the next training cycle begins. Please understand that contacting us does not guarantee an invitation or acceptance into the coven.
Are children permitted?
Our classes and rituals are intended for adults and are not suitable for children. We ask that children not attend gatherings so that all participants can fully engage in the quiet, focused environment of the Circle.
Do you run around naked in the woods?
It's question we've been asked more than once! The short answer is no. While some traditional practice have included ritual nudity in specific historical or symbolic contexts, it is neither the focus of our work nor something newcomers should expect. Our rituals are conducted in traditional ritual robes, in an atmosphere of reverence, respect, and quiet reflection. Besides - running around naked in the woods is not nearly as much fun as you think it would be.
How do I know if this path is right for me?
If you're looking for quick answers, instant certification, or a casual introduction to Wicca, this may not be the path you're seeking.
If you're drawn to a tradition that values study, practice, community, and gradual growth over time, we invite you to reach out. Our training follows a traditional year-and-a-day course of study and requires a serious commitment. If your current responsibilities - such as regular weekend work, caring for young children, or other major obligations - make consistent participation difficult., this might not be the right time to begin.
Begin the Conversation
The Old Religion has always been passed from person to person, season to season, through study, practice and trust. If these words resonate with you, we invite you to begin the conversation and see whether this path is right for both of us.
Tell us a little about who you are, what drew you to the Craft, and what you hope to find through a year and a day of study. All inquiries are treated with discretion and respect, and we will respond as soon as we are able.