Catherine Starr
Pagan/Wiccan Chaplain

I became involved in the Pagan community in Northern California in the mid- 80s after attending my first public ritual in Tilden Park in Berkeley. It was a Black Oak NROOGD Beltane – and the first time they did a ritual with the ‘Oss* (The ‘Oss is part of a traditional May Day celebration from Padstow in Cornwall). The ritual was inspiring and I felt as though I had finally come home. I have always felt a strong connection to the Divine in natural settings, here I was, dancing in the park with a large community of people -- all there to worship and the Gods.

I began serious training with a Gardnerian coven, was initiated and founded my first coven in 1990. This coven, while it has gone through many changes over the years, was finally passed down to my initiates when I moved to Canada in 2001. I also trained in NROOGD and am a Red Cord in the tradition. I have worked with many other groups, such as South Bay Circles, and this has given me the opportunity to learn and appreciate many different Wiccan and Pagan practices in the US and Canada.

I joined Covenant of the Goddess in 1992 and have held many offices on both local and organization-wide boards. I was the Second Officer in 1995-1996 in charge of organizing the annual Merry Meet Festival and Grand Council meeting. I was co-First Officer with Don Frew in 1996-1997. In 1999, I was one of the representatives for CoG at the Parliament of World Religions in Cape Town, South Africa and did a presentation on “What is Wicca” with Rowan Fairgrove.

I have done rituals and presentations at many festivals, including Ancient Ways, PantheaCon, Convocation, Wic-can Fest, The Toronto Pagan Conference, Kaleidoscope Gathering, and the Hamilton Pagan Pride Day.

Other highlights:
Founding Member, Magical Acts Ritual Theatre:
1998 - 2001 Managing Director
1998 – 2001 Creator and Director,
Oracles from the Living Tarot
1996 - 1998 Choreographer and performer,
QeHtIn- the Rite of Decision
1995 – 1996 Performer, Living in the Mists

Interfaith Organizations
1999 – Present United Religions Initiative (URI)
Spirituality and the Earth CC
Web and Technology CC
Bridge CC
1999 Parliament of World Religions
Delegate for the Covenant of the Goddess

(back)