Sacred Crossroads Founders & Community Advisors

Sacred Crossroads is run by Community Advisors hand-picked to represent the diverse paths available in the Toronto Pagan Community, as well as the respect they have already earned from their peers. Members are noted for their dedication to the community, and for their ability to think outside the circle...
We have also instituted a new category of Peripheral Advisors, for those who can help out with special events but are not able to commit to the time required to be a full Community Advisor.

The Founders

Heather (Maahet RainDragon)
A Founding Member of Sacred Crossroads, the official Secretary & donation seeker.
Heather is a visual artist with an Honours in BFA (art History & Design) for York University. She has one year's experience with concurrent primary education, training in dealing with Youth at Risk, and graduated Valedictorian of her Youth Entrepreneurship class at IEE. She was on the Board of Directors for Lighthouse Niagara Youth Resource Centre for two years, as Secretary and Fundraiser. Heather has been studying various forms of Paganism from the age of 16, and is currently a Neophyte of the Oddysean tradition. She is the publisher and editrix of both The Burning Times (WCC Toronto Temple newsletter) and The Cauldron & Quill magazine. She is studying ritual tattoo, reiki and other healing methods. Her experience as the WCC Handmaiden this year helps her to bring organization, groundedness, a multitude of ideas and co-ordination to the group.

Natasha (Tamryn)
A Founding Member of Sacred Crossroads, the official Volunteer Co-ordinator & Networker
Tamryn has been an active member of the Toronto Pagan Community since November 2001, when she started Cerridwen's Mug, a popular monthly coffee social. She has been practicing as a solitary eclectic for the past seven or so years. Distressed by the way the Pagan Community seemed to be tearing itself apart, she decided to do something to bring them together. Dedicated to community, Tamryn, or Natasha as she is known in the "Muggle world", has served on the Scarborough branch of the OSPCA, has volunteered at the St. Mike's Out of the Cold shelter for homeless men, and has tutored both children and adults in literacy. She is currently working towards her designation as a Spiritual Psychotherapist and is enrolled in the "Soundwork as Soulwork" program at the Transformational Arts College for September 2004, with goals of exploring how sound can be incorporated into the therapeutic process. She lives in Scarborough and is the willing and loving slave to three kitties.

Community Advisors

Amanda (Goldwater )
is the youngest of the Advisors, born in 1988. She is our teen representative, and has been granted a full membership on the committee due to her enthusiasm and follow-through. She is eclectic and has been an active part of the Pagan Community for more than a year. Goldwater has volunteered when and as she could, organizing or simply aiding community Sabbat rituals and festivals, as well as helping to create a Charity Art Exhibition which has become an annual event at a local elementary school. Amanda is a high school student in Toronto. Among her several dreams is to work in the more political or financial aspects of a Charity. She adores children, animals, art, and (of course) all things magickal. She loves to learn new things.

Andrew
is our newly-crowned Sun King for 2004-2005, and he greets the challenge with enthusiasm! More details to come.

Brandy
was once a devout Christian (she almost became a minister) but has since realized through exposure to other paths that paganism has always been her true nature; she just never had a name for it before. She is a semi-solitary on an eclectic green path (with Geoff), but believes in the need for a loving and supportive pagan community where we can all connect, support, learn, and grow. She has been "lurking" just outside the Toronto pagan community in search of the right forum for her to join in. She has experience in informal counseling, is very outgoing, and has extraordinary poetic skill.

Geoff
was exposed to herbalism, reflexology, reiki, chakras, and crystal healing from a very young age, through his mother's work. He didn't have exposure to major religions until later in life, which gives him a unique perspective. Living a life of near scrapes and lucky breaks has led to a strong belief that the Lord and Lady have guided and supported him through even the darkest times. He currently follows an eclectic green path with Brandy, which he says, "...has brought me more peace and comfort than I can place in words." He has an Arts degree in English and East Asian Studies, and now works in computers and networking. He loves fantasy literature, and claims to be a general handyman. We'll have to put him to work...

George (Ruadan Redwolf)
George provides tech support for the project, and will be the centre’s webmaster. He is a graduate of the Canadian College of Business and Computers (Microsoft Certified Systems Professional, MCP Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000, XP Home & Pro, server support, systems design, setup & configuration, basic web design). He is a font of ideas and odd facts, and willing to take on any task assigned to him. He is a long time member of the WCC, and new husband of Heather.

Samantha (Amarantha WhiteRaven)
is currently a Journalism major at Humber College. She has started her own independent Pagan magazine for young adults entitled Mercury's Wings, though she has put off releasing until she has built up her resources in the community. She has also written for newWitch magazine, The Cauldron & Quill, and The Blessed Bee. At Humber, she is looking to help start an official Pagan group on Campus. Samantha was born and raised Buddhist and took on Eclectic Wicca and Witchcraft when she was 13 and has been practicing a blend of the faiths actively for the past seven years. She is a founding member of a local young adult eclectic coven called Silver Birch. Samantha has experience in theatre, film, music and photography. A proud extrovert, she has made a few appearances on the news to help shed a more positive light on Paganism to the public. To Sacred Crossroads Samantha brings energy, enthusiasm, a love of networking and a strong source of creative ideas.

Sheila (Sorcha)
has only consciously followed a Pagan path for a few years, but has lived these beliefs all her life. She is an eclectic solitary witch with strong callings to the Celtic and Druid teachings, and anything DRAGON!  She believes strongly in bringing the Community together for the greater good - regardless of petty differences or personal agendas. A professional truck driver with a background in retail ownership and office work, Sheila has throughout sought to aid and rescue animals in need. She is on the Board of Directors of the Feline Protection and Adoption Association (a Federally-sponsored non-profit animal shelter) and she is a past member of the OSPCA Scarborough branch. She hopes to bring organizational and people skills, an extra pair of hands/feet where needed, the viewpoint of someone "almost on the outside" and an often wacky sense of humour to the Board. She is also our resident proof-reader.

William
is an excellent planner, able to meet deadlines well within their range. He has great motivation and drive, combined with a bubbly personality. Responsibility and ethics are very important to William, and he is a man who actively gets involved in his community, having run for student representative of the School of Health Sciences at his college. William has great energy, a positive attitude, sense of co-operation, strength and insight, all of which add to his success as a member of Sacred Crossroads and to the Pagan Community. He welcomes the opportunity to teach others about Paganism, a path which he found as a young teenager. He now practices Asatru and Celtic Paganism, and actively posts on Caer Avalon and TorThing. He is also a member of Thundrún AEtt. Through Sacred Crossroads William represents the Asatru and Celtic communities.

Peripheral Advisors

Karen (Karwen)
is a wife, mommy and Gardnerian High Priestess. Raised in a Reformed Jewish home, she stumbled upon Paganism at the young age of 15 and has been practicing Wicca for 20 years now. In 1996 Karen and her husband, Evan, founded the first Pagan Pub Moot in Canada - The Toronto Pagan Pub Moot . Well known throughout the Pagan community of Southern Ontario, she is a well respected workshop presenter and has done so at WicCan Fest, Harvest Fest, Kalideoscope Gathering and SORCery. Karen is also a regular columnist for "The Cauldron & Quill," writing about the journey of being a Pagan Parent. Professionally, Karen works within the Holistic Health field running her own health practice - Wylde Rose Health Clinic and Doula Service .  She is a graduate of the Shiatsu School of Canada's 2200 hour diploma program and has been practicing Shiatsu Therapy for 10 years. To compliment, she has added other professional practices of Certified Reflexology, Certified Aromatherapy, Reiki Level II, and Certified Birth Doula. She plans on adding Certified Postpartum Doula Services soon and continuing a part time career as a Medical Office Assistant.

Spiros Parashis
has been part of Toronto's pagan community for the past four years. He is one of the organizers of the "Hellenic Way" group and newspaper. He has experience in promoting events and fundraising. His experience with other groups setting up community centres inspires Sacred Crossroads to believe that we, too, can succeed in this dream.

Tamarra James
is the High Priestess of the Wiccan Church of Canada, a spiritual advisor and reader, and a talented jeweller (see her wares at The Occult Shop, and at the Ontario Renaissance Festival). She is also the lead singer of the Toronto-based pagan rock band, Wych. She brings her vast and varied experience to events, and has an abundance of ideas, suggestions, and community connections. She loves to help the community, and is an avid supporter of pagan artisans and entrepreneurs. Tamarra has appeared on many radio programs, and has been interviewed for countless television programs, newspapers, and magazines.

Take me Home!