Circle Sanctuary is a non-profit Nature Spirituality church and 200-acre nature preserve founded in 1974 by Selena Fox, dedicated to networking, community celebrations, spiritual healing, and education. Located in the forested hills of southwestern Wisconsin, Circle Sanctuary sponsors gatherings and workshops at the Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve, where a vibrant community converges at classes, Full Moon circles, seasonal sabbats, volunteer days, Sacred Fire Circles, and the annual week-long Pagan Spirit Gathering. Circle Sanctuary maintains connection with national and international Pagan communities through email announcement lists, social media presence, membership newsletters, podcasts, publications, and an online shop that provides information and aids to spiritual practice. The organization advocates for religious freedom and civil rights through the Lady Liberty League and participation in interfaith dialogues, serves active and retired troops and their families through military ministries, and operates a 20-acre green cemetery.
Why it matters: Circle Sanctuary has served for five decades as a pioneering institution legitimizing and supporting Nature Spirituality and Pagan practices in North America, providing both sacred land and legal protection for practitioners of earth-based religions. By operating as a legally recognized church while maintaining a nature preserve, Circle Sanctuary demonstrates that spiritual practice and ecological stewardship are inseparable, offering a living model of how to honor the sacred in the natural world. The Lady Liberty League’s advocacy work has been crucial in protecting religious freedom for Pagans and other nature-based spiritual practitioners, while the military ministries ensure that Pagan service members receive the same spiritual support as practitioners of more mainstream religions. Through decades of Full Moon circles, seasonal celebrations, and the annual Pagan Spirit Gathering, Circle Sanctuary has woven together a thriving community that keeps ancient earth-honoring traditions alive while adapting them for contemporary practice.