Professor and Rt Rev'd Kevin Gardner began his formal studies of Celtic Wicca in March of 1977. In 1986, he began teaching and training others who sought this path. The Temple of Ishtar is a Traditional/Celtic group based in Clay City, IN. In September of 1999, due to several requests by active seekers, and the lack of good teachers and teaching covens available in some areas, we began offering a correspondence course in Traditional/Celtic Wicca.
Our Legally Ordained Clergy can provide legal weddings/Handfastings, funerals, hospice visits and other services for the Pagan Community.
We have been providing alternative forms of healing within our religious structure to supplement and support standard healing practices for more than 20 years. Since 1997, we have been doing Pastorial Counseling with those of the Wiccan faith, and since 1998 we have occasionally been conducting Public Rites and Rituals at Pagan festival events. Our Legally Ordained Clergy are able to do Legal Handfastings/ Marriages, Commitment Ceremonies and Wiccanings. We can also Provide Funeral services, grief counseling, and Hospice visitations, lending support to the dying and their families. Dr. Gardner is the High Priest of Temple of Ishtar and has to date written three books, "A Handbook For Wiccan Clergy" , "The Wiccan Minister's Manual, a Guide for Priests and Priestesses", and released in September of 2009, "The Pagan Clergy's Guide to Counseling, Crisis Intervention and Otherworld Transitions, " Published by Waning Moon Publications. All three books are currently available through our website as well as Amazon.com. He has also written articles that have been published in Circle Magazine, Fate Magazine, Pan Gaia, and The Blessed Bee. We often give lectures an do workshops at Pagan Gatherings, and pretty much keep busy with our various and sundry duties.
Additionally, in 2009, Dr. Gardner was formally consecrated as a Bishop through Apostolic Succession and was admitted into the order of Bishops with The Church of Seven Planes (www.sevenplanes.org) , where he was assigned the states of Ky and IL to work with and assist CSP Ministers. In 2008 Kevin accepted a Bishops appointment presiding over the Wiccan Diocese with Four Winds Fellowship and another Clergy/mentoring position with the Federal Prison System in Terre Haute, Indiana. He is also enrolled with Vista Care as an Interfaith Minister working with Hospice patients. Currently Kevin is also a Professor of Spiritual Studies on staff for the "Interfaith Seminary" where he specializes in Wicca, Alternative Spirituality and the Paranormal.
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