Female

My name is Shira, and my magical name is Artemisia Cybele. I am a Witch in the Minoan Tradition (ancient Crete tradition of the sacred Snake Goddess and Minotaur God), which is derivative of the Gardnerian path. While I have been Pagan all my life, I have been a "practicing" Wiccan since the mid-1990’s and have immersed myself in Minoan studies since 2002. I studied under High Priestess Lady Chandara Anath as a member of Circle of the Crescent Moon (Initiation and Dedication), which was one of the original covens affiliated with Temple of the Evening Star [a 501 (c) 3 Wiccan organization] in New York.

I am the founder of Handfastings.org, a website that links people in the Pagan and Wiccan communities with ordained officiants. I first conceived Handfastings.org on Beltane of 2004. It is a free service to the community and helps Pagan clergy connect with couples interested in being handfasted. The website currently lists more than 70 legally ordained officiants from four countries.

On a work-study scholarship with the Woolston-Steen Theological Seminary, I develop core and elective curriculum teaching natural magick and sacred costuming while pursuing a Masters in Ministry/Divinity at the school. Sponsored by the established Aquarian Tabernacle Church, the Woolston-Steen Theological Seminary is one of the first accredited seminaries in the U.S. dedicated to Pagan theology and Wiccan studies – and the first to offer live online classes with audio/visual teacher-student interaction.

Both an artist and writer, I have been in fundraising and development since 1994 and am former director of development of a number of New York-based non-profits. I am a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology where I studied marketing and communications along with fashion design.

Currently affiliated with the Church of Spiritual Humanism for the purposes of ordination, I am legally registered to perform handfastings in New York City. In addition, I have studied Reiki 1 and received my attunement from Reiki Master Valerie Valerie Gaglione Schott, M.S., R.M.T., IARP of Westchester, NY.

I consider myself to be a student of life and will forever welcome newfound knowledge and fresh experiences during my existence on this good Earth as Mother Gaia sees fit. I am in love with Wiccan ritual and helping to better all creatures of the planet through magic, meditation, love, tolerance, and understanding. I live in Westchester, NY with my husband and our two cats.

The moon is bright, my cup is full, and I love Allie!