The idea for SweetWood Temenos sprang from its early members’ experience of Neo-Paganism in the late twentieth century. There was a feeling that dedicated pieces of land set aside for Neo-Pagans were needed to celebrate their beliefs & values, and also to express the freedom and beauty inherent in this sacred way of life. The Land of SweetWood is clothes optional. From the beginning, the SweetWood Temenos organization has sought to foster and provide a Land for celebration, recreation and contemplation for those of like mind.
“SweetWood” was chosen for the many sugar maples on the land, and also for the sweetness that comes to our hearts when living with Nature in a peaceful community. In early Greek religion, the clan (or tribe) set aside, or ‘cut off’, a piece of land and dedicated it to the celebration & contemplation of Life’s Mysteries, and to the practice of their religious/spiritual rites. This land was a place of love, where individuals & families could come together in peaceful community to hold teachings, make music and share food. The clan/tribe also held assemblies to talk about religious ideas and social issues. Sacred Land so dedicated was called a “Temenos”.
Some of the early members of SweetWood Temenos (SWT) were Midwest Scions of the Church of All Worlds (CAW). The group called themselves the ‘Upper Mississippi Valley & Great Lakes Scion Council’. These Scions met together in the mid 1990s and explored the meaning of being in a ‘church of all worlds’ … (?)
Eventually, they came to understand that a ‘church of all worlds’ is a diverse vision of religions, that can be rooted in some common quintessential VALUES. A church based on Values (instead of on just traditional or religious doctrine and practices) was a novel idea to them at the time. These Scions came to an agreement on
5 essential Values. These values have been variously described as: (1) Deep Friendship, (2) Self Knowledge, (3) Positive Sexuality, (4) Attunement with Nature and (5) Diversity, including religious pluralism & a belief in Immanent Divinity. Three of these Scions later became ordained Clergy of CAW. (SweetWood was begun as Iacchus’ Clergy Project.) Then they became among the first members of the SweetWood Temenos Board of Directors and (together with others) started to write a Charter. The SWT Board now has 5 members.
Others were inspired to be part of both a diverse & religious organization that is rooted in these 5 values. (Atheists and agnostics were welcomed too!) They also wanted to help create a permanent place to celebrate, and contemplate life’s Mysteries (and sometimes life’s cosmic jokes!). The first Freedom Gather was held on the Land in 1997. SweetWood Temenos officially became a non-profit charitable organization in the State of Wisconsin on 3-30-2000 and then a subsidiary organization of (501c3 recognized) CAW on 5-16-2000.
At the SWT Freedom Gathering in 2000, the ritual celebration of the Sacred Marriage of the Younger Deities in the Age of Aquarius first took place. (Research by Iacchus postulates that May 2000 is the start of the Age of Aquarius.) This sacred marriage was a religious expression of SWT’s pluralistic vision of religion rooted in its quintessential values. For example, we celebrate the Moon as Goddess and also God. The Sun also has both male & female aspects. Every year at the Fall Equinox, they change aspects, but are always a pair. We envision peace & equality between all the sexes. We celebrate the 8 quarters & cross-quarters of the year.
Later, there came a time for SweetWood Temenos to wean itself from the Church of All Worlds and establish itself as an independent organization. SweetWood Temenos separated from CAW on 4-30-2004, and made a final farewell tithe to the CAW on 5-22-2004. In Aug 2004, SweetWood Temenos obtained its own Federal 501c3 status as a Church, and backdated our recognized status to May 2000. We agree with CAW on the importance and meaning of ‘Sharing Water’, ‘Thou art God/dess’ and ‘Being Excellent to one another’.
SweetWood Temenos continues to evolve in harmony with the spirit of peace & understanding
amongst Humankind and Nature
DRINK DEEP AND BLESSED BE !!
“SweetWood” was chosen for the many sugar maples on the land, and also for the sweetness that comes to our hearts when living with Nature in a peaceful community. In early Greek religion, the clan (or tribe) set aside, or ‘cut off’, a piece of land and dedicated it to the celebration & contemplation of Life’s Mysteries, and to the practice of their religious/spiritual rites. This land was a place of love, where individuals & families could come together in peaceful community to hold teachings, make music and share food. The clan/tribe also held assemblies to talk about religious ideas and social issues. Sacred Land so dedicated was called a “Temenos”.
Some of the early members of SweetWood Temenos (SWT) were Midwest Scions of the Church of All Worlds (CAW). The group called themselves the ‘Upper Mississippi Valley & Great Lakes Scion Council’. These Scions met together in the mid 1990s and explored the meaning of being in a ‘church of all worlds’ … (?)
Eventually, they came to understand that a ‘church of all worlds’ is a diverse vision of religions, that can be rooted in some common quintessential VALUES. A church based on Values (instead of on just traditional or religious doctrine and practices) was a novel idea to them at the time. These Scions came to an agreement on
5 essential Values. These values have been variously described as: (1) Deep Friendship, (2) Self Knowledge, (3) Positive Sexuality, (4) Attunement with Nature and (5) Diversity, including religious pluralism & a belief in Immanent Divinity. Three of these Scions later became ordained Clergy of CAW. (SweetWood was begun as Iacchus’ Clergy Project.) Then they became among the first members of the SweetWood Temenos Board of Directors and (together with others) started to write a Charter. The SWT Board now has 5 members.
Others were inspired to be part of both a diverse & religious organization that is rooted in these 5 values. (Atheists and agnostics were welcomed too!) They also wanted to help create a permanent place to celebrate, and contemplate life’s Mysteries (and sometimes life’s cosmic jokes!). The first Freedom Gather was held on the Land in 1997. SweetWood Temenos officially became a non-profit charitable organization in the State of Wisconsin on 3-30-2000 and then a subsidiary organization of (501c3 recognized) CAW on 5-16-2000.
At the SWT Freedom Gathering in 2000, the ritual celebration of the Sacred Marriage of the Younger Deities in the Age of Aquarius first took place. (Research by Iacchus postulates that May 2000 is the start of the Age of Aquarius.) This sacred marriage was a religious expression of SWT’s pluralistic vision of religion rooted in its quintessential values. For example, we celebrate the Moon as Goddess and also God. The Sun also has both male & female aspects. Every year at the Fall Equinox, they change aspects, but are always a pair. We envision peace & equality between all the sexes. We celebrate the 8 quarters & cross-quarters of the year.
Later, there came a time for SweetWood Temenos to wean itself from the Church of All Worlds and establish itself as an independent organization. SweetWood Temenos separated from CAW on 4-30-2004, and made a final farewell tithe to the CAW on 5-22-2004. In Aug 2004, SweetWood Temenos obtained its own Federal 501c3 status as a Church, and backdated our recognized status to May 2000. We agree with CAW on the importance and meaning of ‘Sharing Water’, ‘Thou art God/dess’ and ‘Being Excellent to one another’.
SweetWood Temenos continues to evolve in harmony with the spirit of peace & understanding
amongst Humankind and Nature
DRINK DEEP AND BLESSED BE !!