The Legacy of Mother Grove Temple: Honoring the Goddess Through Community and Service

By Marty Mullenax-Bull and Thorn

Nestled within the heart of modern Pagan practice, Mother Grove Temple has been a beacon of devotion to the Divine Feminine since its founding in 2008. Established as a 501(c)3 nonprofit church, the temple celebrates the many faces and names of the global Goddess, serving as a sanctuary for those seeking connection, healing, and spiritual growth.

A Living Temple of the Goddess

From its earliest days, Mother Grove has embodied the sacred rhythms of the Earth and Moon. The temple’s public rituals for the ancient holy days, Full Moon ceremonies, and Earth Day celebrations invite the community to dance in harmony with nature’s cycles. Within its small chapel, workshops, classes, and chanting nights offer a deeper exploration of Pagan spirituality and the wisdom of the Goddess.

The temple also honors the physical needs of its community through its food pantry, ensuring that acts of compassion accompany spiritual practice. Whether through a Spiral Dance under the open sky or a rite of passage in the temple, all are welcomed into the circle of celebration, reverence, and service.

A Sanctuary for All Paths

The purpose of the Mother Grove is to create and maintain a permanent sanctuary where people of all faith traditions may openly and safely celebrate the Divine Feminine. This sanctuary fulfills the community’s needs — which include, but are not limited to, worship, religious education, community outreach, and other charitable and religious activities.

In honoring the Divine Feminine, Mother Grove Temple welcomes diversity of belief and practice, recognizing that the Goddess appears in many forms and under many names. The temple stands as a spiritual hearth for all who seek to reconnect with the sacred, the Earth, and each other.

The Ethics of Interconnection

At the heart of Mother Grove Temple lies an Ethics Statement rooted in reverence for the interconnected web of life. The temple’s guiding principles emphasize that the material world is a manifestation of the Goddess, sacred in all its forms. Ethics, in this tradition, arise not from imposed rules but from lived experience, observation, and the cycles of nature.

The temple teaches that joy, pleasure, and love are holy acts — echoing Doreen Valiente’s “Charge of the Goddess,” which reminds practitioners that “All acts of love and pleasure are My rituals.”

Among its core values, Mother Grove Temple affirms:

• The sacredness and interdependence of all life.

  
  

• Wisdom gained through knowledge, reflection, and age.

  
  

• Protection for the vulnerable and mindful consumption of resources.

  Responsibility for the long-term consequences of our actions — extending to the ninth generation.

  
  

• Hospitality, healing, and compassion as sacred duties.

  
  

• The practice of shared leadership, cooperation, and consensus, honoring the balance of power and community.

  
  

A Community Rooted in the Goddess

Mother Grove Temple stands as more than a place of worship — it is a living embodiment of Pagan ethics, Earth-centered spirituality, and radical inclusivity. Its practices remind us that the divine is not distant but woven into every leaf, heartbeat, and act of kindness.

As the temple continues to grow, it remains a testament to the belief that by honoring the Goddess, we also honor one another, the land, and the generations yet to come