SunStave Circle F.A.Q.

Frequently asked questions about SunStave Circle

Q. Is SunStave Circle run by a coven or group?

A. No. SunStave Circle is not run or controlled by any person, coven or group. It is in fact owned collectively by the community, which simply means anyone who chooses to go to the gatherings or volunteer to run or help with a sabbat or celebration. Sun Stave Circle exists only on those eight days a year on which we come together as a community to honor the turning of the wheel and the passing of the seasons.
Sun Stave has no hierarchy, no leaders and no bylaws.
It belongs to the community.
It belongs to you!

SunStave Circle is a completely volunteer effort!

Q. What is that staff that I see at the rituals?

A. Literally, that is the SunStave - Sun - Because we celebrate the four solar holidays and four cross-quarter dates, and because the first decoration was a sun in honor of the Summer Solstice on which it was born. Stave is an old Middle English word dating from about the 13th century meaning staff. Thus the SunStave is the staff that gets passed and after which the rituals are named.

The SunStave is the thread of continuity that binds the community together when we gather for the sabbat celebrations. The next time you see it, take a closer look. Hold it in your hand and see just how much community art and energy and love is on it and in it. You can add to that by hosting a sabbat!

Q. How does it really work? There has to be somebody in charge!

A. SunStave Circle was started as an experiment to see if truly non-hierarchical group structure is possible. You see, it literally does matter if you take the staff or not. If the staff doesn't get picked up, the next ritual WON'T happen. So far, it has worked pretty well. In it's years of existence, there have been only a few rituals missed. But there have been sabbats missed because everyone thought that someone else would do it. There is no shadowy conspiracy that is making sure the staff gets passed. There is nobody in charge to tell anyone how to do anything, although there are a few simple rules to follow that the community has agreed on. Don't believe it? Take the staff and see!

Q. When I go to the rituals it seems like everyone knows each other!
What's up with that? I mean doesn't the staff get passed just among "friends"?

A. Well, we Pagans are a friendly bunch, so don't be shy. Just come up and say hi and introduce yourself to anyone! That's how friendships are started! And there are a lot of Pagans that have been kicking around the Salt Lake area for quite a while, but all that really means is we are all getting old together! ;) But no, the staff is really passed to whoever steps up to take it! It is usually not arranged in advance unless someone is really really excited about doing a particular ritual in which case they will usually start telling people things like - "I want to take the staff for Yule and do this really neat Oak King/Holly King sword battle!" or something similar, and then the word gets out on mailing lists or the local grapevine that so-and-so wants to take the staff for Yule, in this example. They might even call up the person who currently holds the staff and tell them. That doesn't guarantee that it will be "held" for them though. Since the staff is passed at the end of each ritual, it is better to actually attend the prior ritual if you are wanting to take the staff for the next one.

Remember - If you don't take the staff, it won't happen!

If you join the Yahoo group below, you can send an email directly to everyone on the SunStave Circle email list. Any questions, comments or cries for help will be read by all the people on the list, and anyone there can respond to you.