In May of 2004, the Tri-County Open Circle held its first official Sabbat Celebration, Beltaine. The Sabbat Celebration was a huge success with people coming from all over, including various parts of Michigan and Ohio.
In June of 2004, the Reading Area Pagans (re-named the Hillsdale County Pagans) left the Tri-County Open Circle due to its wishes to move in a different direction. A short-lived alliance with a group in Toledo existed in 2005. There were philosphical differences and administrative duties were in conflict with their own mission, and so they voluntarily left the Tri-County Open Circle.
The Tri-County Open Circle continued to grow and expand adding new resources, tools and members; holding and sponsoring classes, Sabbats Celebrations and esbats and in continuing to connect with Pagans, witches and others in the area. Hillsdale and Lenawee County Witches, the leading body in the Tri-County Open Circle, attracts leaders from other groups in Michigan and the surrounding states. Subsequently, the decision was made to become the Great Lakes Regional Open Circle in meeting the needs of our much-larger membership. Friendships have been formed with FOCAS (The Federation of Circles and Solitaries), Sanctuary of the Winds and Mothergrove among others.
The Great Lakes Regional Open Circle is open to all individuals, groups and covens with various witchcraft traditions, spiritual beliefs and spiritual practices.
The Great Lakes Regional Open Circle does NOT recognize any one belief, tradition or practice to be the only way. Most Great Lakes Regional Open Circle events are led in a general, all-encompassing pagan direction, and individual events presented by member groups, covens or individuals are led in the tradition or practice of that group, coven or individual.
Hillsdale Daily News
