Faerie Faith Program

The women of the Apple Branch identify as Witches but we believe that much of what we do was done by our ancestors the Bandrui of the Celtic people and of the Volva’s of Northern Europe.  As such, we are creating a sacred life based on nature as did those ancestors.   They began in a time when men and women were equal in all ways.  Certain distinctions, did of course exist, but were not prohibitive.

We are a matriarchal, Goddess-only Tradition and community, offering mentoring, an online Seminary, as well as both lunar and solar rites, and devoted to the empowerment of women and people of integrity, honoring the Goddess within and without.

We incorporate a way of life that is based on the beliefs and practices of our ancestors. Our teachings evolved from the animistic philosophies of the early people who merged to form the Celts and other European cultures. Thus, our ways are deeply rooted in the Ways of Nature and the Otherworld, a belief structure centered around the concept of “balance in all things”.

The cosmos is made up of three interconnected realms…Land, Sea and Sky interwoven with the Sacred Fire, the Divine Spark within all living and non-living beings. A woman of the Apple Branch follows the Lunar Cycles applying her knowledge of the Ogham as her guide. Work is done on the 13 New Moons, as well as on the Full and Dark Moons. She keeps the Cycle of the Year, that Great Spiral that guides her in her daily life. The pantheon followed is her personal choice. She believes that “like attracts like” thus, she works with the female divinities to allow for greater focus.

The Apple Branch opens their practices to welcome goddesses from all cultures, so long as the practice is in keeping with a nature-based philosophy.

Service to the Goddess and to humanity is an important part of our life and character. We believe that there are many paths to enlightenment and to truth…no one path is “better” than another. All have validity. As such women of the Apple Branch serve in a variety of ways.  All are trained to assist others in life passages.  There are those who specialize in the healing arts.  They may be teachers, counselors, and artists.  There are those who serve as “edge walkers” and who specialize in the awareness of and use of energy.  Regardless of the specialty, all work with the natural order of life, in balance and harmony with all.

Magic is viewed as a potential for creation, a potential that exists within all things… living and non-living. We draw upon this energy and the energy within ourselves to bring into manifestation that which is needed for the highest good of all. We give thanks and offerings respectfully as we know that we still have much to learn.

By the time the work is completed, each student will have done the work of the Tradition and will be considered for ordination.  It depends on the level of commitment and what plans are made for doing the work.  The primary reason for becoming ordained in any tradition is to continue the lineage.  One who desires ordination also is making a commitment to pass on the Tradition to at least one other person in their lifetime. Priestesses who have hived off from The Branch, establish their own guidelines and teaching policies, which may even include calling themselves by another name, or they may establish their own tradition, independent of The Branch.  That is the beauty of autonomy.