What is Full Circle Temple?
(answers contributed by Temple women)
- Full Circle Temple is a sanctuary, universe-ity, and place of worship for women of all ages.
- Full Circle Temple is a big welcoming house and yard on a major street in Portland, OR that has been sacred community space for women and girls since 1995.
- Full Circle Temple is an all-volunteer organization, supporting programs for women to learn more about ancient and modern spirituality, providing services and service work to the larger community, and creating a sanctuary for women.
- Full Circle Temple is an ongoing collaborative improvisation in woman-centered spirituality, consensus decision-making, abundance magic, sacred art, truthful speaking, and radical kindness.
- Full Circle Temple is a three-ring sacred circus where each of us gets to be the ringmistress, the tiger, the open-mouthed little girl in the audience, the clown juggling water balloons, and the lady on the high wire in spangly tights - all at the same time.
- Full Circle Temple is a non-profit religious organization incorporated in Oregon.
- Full Circle Temple is an ever-evolving miracle of generosity, love, and creativity.
- Full Circle Temple is a place in the city where women are safe.
- Full Circle Temple is a mirrored studio where Chaos and Structure dance together while Goddess plays the piano.
- Full Circle Temple is a sacred space for all self-identified womyn and girls where workshops are held and the earth is worshipped. No religion is what Temple is, but paganism seems to be enjoyed. There are temple dances, dinners, and holiday celebrations. The Temple is supported by donations. I describe it as a support/activity network for womyn.
- Full Circle Temple is a place sacred to me, because I celebrated my lesbian "BapTism" surrounded by my spiritual sisters.
- Full Circle Temple glows with the radiance of women's energy, raised over the years in worshipping the Goddess.
- Full Circle Temple is "boundary boot camp," where we practice the yoga of community by showing up, being kind, speaking our truths, manifesting our unique beauty, owning and sharing power, and participating in the cycle of giving and receiving abundance.
What happens at the Temple?
Temple holds a variety of circles, workshops, rituals, parties, and other events led by community members and visitors. See the calendar for a current listing. Some recurring events include:
- Sunday dinners: Every Sunday, we cook a community dinner with donated food and whatever you bring to share. Come at 6:30 to eat, earlier to help cook. Sunday dinners are a great way to get to know the Temple.
- Rituals: We hold circles for Full Moons, New Moons, Equinoxes, Solstices, and cross-quarter days. Rituals are led by different community members and vary in their theme and focus. Beginners and newcomers are always welcome, as are volunteer priestesses for upcoming rituals. See the calendar for dates.
How did the Temple start?
Full Circle Temple was founded in 1995 by Terri Treat and Tia Ma (then called Thsia). Each of them had recently experienced traumatic events that made them long for a space of sacred sanctuary. Together they birthed the vision of the Temple and called a circle to witness and affirm that vision on 11/11/95.
After looking for a location to hold the Temple, Terri felt called to dedicate the house on Burnside where she had lived and had her business (www.cottoncloudfutons.com) for many years. (Previous incarnations of the Temple building include a Christian youth center and a rock'n'roll house where the Grateful Dead once stayed.) The Temple opened on 12/31/95 and was incorporated as a non-profit religious organization in 1997.
What do people at the Temple believe?
Women at Full Circle Temple come from and practice a variety of spiritual paths. We welcome those of all cultures and traditions who honor women and the Earth.
Many of us worship the Goddess, the feminine face of Spirit whom we find throughout human history, as well as in our own faces and lives. Others focus our spirituality on the Earth and the natural cycles of the elements and the seasons. Some identify with Jewish, Buddhist, Sufi, or Native American paths. Others decline all labels to practice an eclectic personal spirituality.
A large number of us identify as Pagans (literally "country-dwellers," meaning followers of pre-Christian indigenous traditions) or witches (from the Celtic wicca, meaning to shape or bend). Our rituals tend to include elements from Pagan practice, such as casting the circle and calling the directions, as well as celebrating the Summer and Winter Solstices, the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes, and the Celtic holy days of Samhain (10/31), Imbolc (2/2), Beltane (5/1), and Lammas (8/2). We welcome rituals rooted in other traditions as well.
Whatever your path, if it leads you toward women's sacred space, you are welcome at Temple.
When can I come here? What can I do here?
The Temple may be open to visitors Tuesday through Sunday between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. The door is only open for scheduled events or when a Templekeeper or guest is present, so check the calendar or call before you come (503-238-0675).
At the Temple, you can:
Pray... meditate... nap... build an altar... cook a meal... take a bath in the Lotus Bathroom... garden... read books from the Library... visit with sisters... make art... do massage and healing work... sweep and tend the space... sing... drum... cry... dream... make love.. make tea... hang out...
In short, you can use the space in whatever way nourishes your spirit and honors the rules below.
What are the rules?
- Please treat the space and the other beings here with kindness and respect.
This is women-only space. Only self-identified women, girls, and boy children up to their second birthdays may enter Temple. - This is a drug- and alcohol-free space.
- Please clean up after yourself, and leave the space a little cleaner than you found it.
- If you are the last one out, please remember to turn off lights and heaters, blow out all candles, and lock all doors.
- Women at Temple come from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and spiritual paths. Please respect each other's diversity.
- If another woman is doing something that bothers you, please try to resolve it by direct, kind communication.
- Temple relies on offerings of money, time, and supplies. Consider making some offering, no matter how small, every time you come here. (The donation box is to the right of the door from the dining room to the kitchen.)
Who can come to Temple?
Temple is open to self-identified women and girls. (That means that if you say you're a woman, you're a woman, regardless of original biological equipment.)
Boy children are welcome up to their second birthdays. Men may visit on the front porch but are respectfully prohibited from entering the house, and from entering the Temple grounds without invitation.
Why can't men come here?
The Temple is dedicated to the special beauty and power that comes through our lives as women. We hold the Temple as women's space in order to focus on and celebrate that spirit. We respect the need for men's and mixed-sex sacred spaces as well.
Many of us have beloved male partners, family, and friends. We choose to meet them elsewhere, and to hold the Temple as a separate space for the development of our identity and spirituality as women.
Does anyone live at the Temple?
We currently have our beloved Temple caretaker living in a basement apartment below the Temple. Temple also houses guests.
Can I stay overnight here?
Yes. Temple has a guest room, as well as other spaces where Temple women and visitors can stay. Call ahead if you would like to stay at Temple.
Who is in charge of the Temple?
Temple Council is the circle that makes decisions about business, financial, and policy matters for the Temple. We make decisions by consensus.
If you have suggestions, ideas for new projects, energy to contribute, conflicts that cannot be resolved by the participants directly, or questions about Temple, please bring them to Council.
We welcome all members of the community to attend our meetings and to join us in our work of guiding and sustaining the Temple.
You can also e-mail Council at fullcircletemple_pdx_council@yahoogroups.com.
What is consensus?
"Consensus decision making is a way for groups of people, any type of group, to arrive at solutions that work for all the members of the group. Although seemingly new in today's world, consensus decision making probably dates back to early tribal cultures and certainly to about 350 years ago with the establishment of the Society Of Friends (also known as Quakers).
"The essence of consensus decision making is the recognition that all members of a group are equal in their ability to bring a piece of the truth to the decision process; that all members have something - be it experience, perspective, etc. - of unique value to offer and are therefore honored and respected for what they bring. As a result, the group aims to arrive at solutions or decisions that reflect the input from all the members, not just the majority. It is important to be clear that it arrives at a unity of opinion rather than a unanimous opinion. Unity here means that everyone in the group agrees with the essence of the decision and can support it, rather than agreeing with every last word of the decision."
Used by permission from Alpha Institute. For more on consensus, see the Alpha Institute website.
Who owns the Temple?
Full Circle Temple, an incorporated non-profit religious organization, leases the building from Terri Treat, the owner of the building. The Temple then subleases the storefront space to a business tenant.
Where does the money come from?
Temple exists solely because of the generosity of our community. Everything you see at Temple - every book, roll of toilet paper, and bite of food - was donated, or was purchased with money from donations.
Temple's monthly expenses are about $1500. Temple relies on our regular donations of money, energy, and supplies.
How do I hold an event at the Temple?
The Temple has rooms of different sizes that are suitable for women-only circles, healing work, workshops, meetings, and other events.
If the event is free, we ask you to take donations for the Temple. If you charge admission, we ask you to donate a percentage.
To schedule an event, e-mail fullcircletemple@yahoo.com.
How can I get more involved?
So glad you asked! See Get Involved for the many ways you can contribute to and benefit from the Temple community.
What if I have a question that isn't answered here?
E-mail fullcircletemple@yahoo.com, or come to a Temple Council meeting.