The History of The Green Faerie Grove

The first “known” gay eclectic coven in Columbus, Ohio was the Circle of Winkte, which only operated for the summer of 1990. Its members drifted apart at the end of the summer and, for the better part of 8 years there was no organized queer Pagan group in Columbus. Both the gay and the Pagan communities in Columbus are quite large, but neither is particularly of an organizational bent. The community was so disinterested in the subject that even a laid back group like the Radical Faeries was unable to establish a permanent foothold. Over the years there have been many Pagan ritual groups in Columbus and the surrounds that have had queer members, and even leaders. But none were devoted solely to the concerns of queer men.In 1998, I and the High Priest of the Blackthorne Clan, David Wood, discussed the lack of any outlets for queer Pagans in Columbus and decided to form a gay Pagan study and discussion group. The group met from late Winter 1998 to late Summer 1998 before it finally disbanded. David was already involved with a mixed coven and didn’t have the time or inclination to start a new group. However, I still felt that Columbus could use a queer men’s spiritual group. After talking to a few more gay Pagans from September through December (including a few former member of the Circle of Winkte), I made the decision to form a queer men’s coven. After recruiting two other men, the three of us – Raven, ShadowOak and I – announced at the 1998 Community Pagan Alliance Yule ritual our intent to form a queer men’s coven. The gathered community members responded with their blessings on the venture. Within the next few weeks we met Raymere, and together the four of us organized The Green Faerie Grove. We held our first Sabbat at Imbolc 1999.

We initially organized ourselves as a Grove of equals who each takes it in turn to lead rituals, and this system has worked well for us over the years. We operate by consensus within a framework of bylaws, and these bylaws were very carefully crafted in the beginning to ensure that no one person or group of people could take over the group. We have relied upon a couple of driving personalities to motivate things over the years, yet we do remain true to our egalitarian ideals.

We have never been a large group, numbering seven members or fewer at any given time in the first eight years of our existence. And yet we have done a great deal with what we have had. The Green Faerie Grove has, from its inception, served the gay community. One of the main beneficiaries of our service over the years has been the Kaleidoscope Youth Coalition (KYC), for whom we have raised thousands of dollars. On September 15, 1999, we staged a benefit concert for KYC with Pansy Division and the H.I.S. Kings. In subsequent years, we hosted Samhain fundraisers for KYC. In 2000 we were honored to lead the Community Pagan Alliance’s public Yule ritual at The Shadow Realm bookstore. In 2003, Circle Sanctuary honored two of our members for their service and commitment to community by making them Coordinators of the newly-formed Rainbow Center at the annual Pagan Spirit Gathering. Several of our members are frequent speakers on the Pagan festival circuit.

In 2002, our public service and outreach took a gigantic step with the founding of the Between the Worlds Men’s Gathering (BTW). BTW was the brainchild of a dedicated group of gay and bi men from a number of different Pagan paths who were looking for an outlet tailored to their specific spiritual needs. Initial discussions setting the groundwork for BTW were held at the 1999 Pagan Spirit Gathering. After several years of dormancy, the members of The Green Faerie Grove revived the concept in 2001 and implemented it. BTW is now an internationally known gathering for queer Pagan men, and was mentioned in the most recent edition of Margot Adler’s classic book “Drawing Down the Moon” (Penguin Books, 2006).

Since our founding, members have come, and members have gone. I am the sole remaining original member of The Green Faerie Grove, and it is to me that the others have looked to relate the history of our group. I set it down now so that others might know it. If you take away nothing else from these words, then learn this truth – you have it within yourself to make your own way through life. If nothing exists where you live that speaks to your heart, your head, and your soul, then go out and create it for yourself just as we have done. You do not need a guru, you do not need a degree, nor do you need a controlling cult to make you healthy, or happy, or at peace with the world. Learn from others, yes, especially from their mistakes. But most of all, seize your own destiny and make do for yourself. May the Gods bless you with love and happiness.

Blessed Be,
Garan du,
Co-founder
The Green Faerie Grove – A Queer Pagan Brotherhood
Columbus, Ohio