Yes, it is True.

On May 1st 2008 DTCP completed its 10th year in business.

I asked all of our community to please submit in writing their own testimonial,

personal thoughts or experiences with the company to commemorate it.

Here is what we received.

If you would like to submit sometning you can via e-mail at

DrawingtheCircle@aol.com.

We are only using first names unless permission is given otherwise.

This is an easy page to update, so send your stuff in

& thankyou so much for helping us make it to our 10th.

Blessed Be,

Rev. Mark A. Lyons, President

Drawing the Circle Productions, INC.

Drawing the Circle

Productions

10th year Anniversary

Thursday, May 1st , 2008

Rev. Amy Krinner VP

10 years ago I saw Drawing the Circle Productions

give my best friend Mark a purpose & an outlet for his amazing gifts.

Suffering through days in corporate America slowly chipped away at his soul.

By taking a tremendous leap of faith he branched out on his own

to provide his service to those in need.

Through his work, Mark grew as a teacher, healer, reader & human being.

His selfless dedication to helping people on their spiritual path

& in their every day lives has gifted all of us with a wonderful place to come home to.

Drawing the Circle Productions has brought people together with Spirit

& each other forming ties of friendship & family

that will never be broken.

Amen for that.

Kathy Torres

I became a part of Drawing the Circle Productions in 1999

when Mark came to my apartment once a week to use me as a guinea pig for his Angel classes. Together we put the classes on paper and acted them out in my living room.

All it cost me was a few cups of coffee.

It was during one of those classes that I got my magical name.

I listened closely because it sounded like a distant radio signal,

something coming from the other side of the universe.

In trying to repeat the name, all I could say was ak, ak, akra.

I couldn't spit it out. Mark and I worked on it and I determined it was Arcana.

It fit like a glove. I also suggested to Mark that he start teaching a tarot class.

At first he was reluctant to give away his secrets

but he soon relented and started his tarot weekends.

Drawing the Circle was growing and many wonderful things have happened

since those early days.

I'm happy to still be a part of it all.

Brian Story

Reflections of DTCP

Having gotten interested in pursuing a more Spiritual path while living in the Hampton ’s

(I was living a rather shallow and bohemian lifestyle at the time)

I found an ad in an alternative paper for a “Witch Class”…

My journey with DTCP began in the fall of 98 when I showed up in Bayshore

having navigated that looooong driveway past the large, beautiful,

somewhat intimidating home and its honeysuckle scented path

that lead to the quirky boathouse in back.

I knocked on the door not knowing what to expect

when I was greeted by two long haired blondes who stared at me

with a look upon their faces that said “I didn’t send for him, did you send for him?

I was nervous having arrived 10 minutes late for the class

only to find out I actually arrived a day early!

Told to come back tomorrow, I could tell that exciting things lay ahead.

Classes were held in Mark’s apartment at the time,

and we had a chatty group though I couldn’t tell you all their names.

We all tried to arrive earlier than the next person for prime spots on the couch

(A tradition to this day) or for a coveted spot in the strange red chair.

Some of these friends later joined me in our dedication to SSB on 9/9/99

(Hey Hickey Witches)…more on that later

By the second class Mark announced that he was looking for someone

who knew something about business that could assist him in the office

and in growing Drawing the Circle.

With a background in Advertising

(In actuality, an as yet incomplete Bachelors degree in Advertising)

I quickly raised my hand and began my next adventure as DTCP’s office assistant

(Not the last person to hold this position).

This decision forever changed my life and put me in a position

to watch and occasionally help DTCP grow and evolve over the years.

I saw Mark lecture in Borders or teach Angelic techniques in Bayport.

The classes outgrew Mark’s apartment and wound up at one point

in what I remember as a shed.

Still the people came.

They gathered and shared a fellowship with one another.

Eventually and inevitably, DTCP’s growth allowed for it to find its home in Sayville .

A place from which ever more people could be served in a way that allowed

for greater healing, teaching, and educational opportunities.

Also, there were always great gatherings of friends, food and frolicking.

Some went on their way.

Others returned to audit the classes during the next cycle,

always lending their new experiences and their enthusiasm

for having applied the lesson work in their lives.

We trained a lot of Witches and to this day,

I believe we have not yet blown up any cats.

By 2000, I was receiving free classes in exchange for my work

of organizing the files or flattening newsletters with my butt.

I got to watch Ally Mcbeal after class, and a lot of Cartoon Network before it.

(One must properly prepare, to teach Long Island Witches).

Amy and Mark rarely lost enthusiasm for the class.

Each cycle was a chance to meet new people,

many of whom would become parts of our lives for many years to come.

I was lucky enough to become a small part of an important family

that included a couple of blondes and lots of quirky cats

(I’ll always have a special place in my heart for Samantha and her healing ways)

I loved having access to the teachers when not in class

and my learning quickly leap-frogged past blocks

that may have taken others years to overcome.

(And yet I still procrastinate with my assigned work)

I was given a chance to walk between the worlds and taught how to do it in style.

(Gucci Witches indeed)

I was lucky enough to spend my first Beltane at Broomhaven (1999, a cold one) tending thefire and have loved that job ever since.

I’ve been privileged enough to pass on that task to others

like Lady Bunny or Tigers Eye.

I’ve seen ceremonies with Gods, Goddesses,

Barbeques and Burnings, Chocolate and Ice slopes.

I’ve seen hand-fastings and my share of drama.

From costumed Samhain to heartfelt Yule’s,

always Amy and Mark gave of themselves

(and their homes, and their lack of sleep)

and their lives to the people who looked to them for guidance, wisdom and fun.

I’ve been a part of something so amazing

and inexplicably shared that I know its memory will outlast me

and will be something that colors my life for all my days.

I am forever grateful for DTCP.

“Bringing People Together With Spirit”….

I am honored to have met some of the most amazing, loving, wonderful souls

that anyone could meet…all through DTCP.

I give thanks everyday for the family I have found through its good work

and the paths it has lead to (SSB among others).

One of those “other paths” includes my wife.

Having returned to DTCP from a hiatus in Philadelphia ,

I was granted the chance to student teach the curriculum

that I had been auditing on and off for years.

Our beloved Amy was pursuing her other works

and couldn’t continue her role on Monday nights for this cycle.

So this cycle was treated to a long haired brunette!

Playing Laurel to Marks Hardy…Oh boy, they were in for something different.

Right away, I spotted two young ladies that were attending the class for the first time after putting it off for a year (good thing, or I would have missed them.)

One was married and the other….

Well it was googly eyes and flirty glances from the start,

and though I decided not to pursue the “student” while I was teaching,

I wasn’t given much choice.

The Gods have their ways and of course when you teach about ethical love spells,

you might not expect the students to be trying them out on YOU, LOL…

Gabi and I had our first date shortly after classes ended,

were engaged three months later

and were married little more than a year after she had walked into that class

looking for an interesting experience that might bring something new into her life.

I had gained a lot over the years through DTCP but had never expected to find my partner

IN THE CLASS…

To have Mark officiate and to be surrounded by many of my DCTP/SSB family members

at our hand-fasting is a memory I will forever cherish.

10 years later, it awes me though I’m not surprised to see how DTCP has grown

and the sheer number of souls who have crossed its path.

We celebrate that which has been a source of so many celebrations in my life.

People (some) have grown up with DTCP, while others simply grew.

Thank you Mark and Amy for taking on the work

of bringing (and holding) this gift for all of us.

I'm sure there have been the occasional thoughts of running away.

My life is better for having found you.

Congratulations. Bravo
Love and blessings to all my brothers and sisters.
Brian Story
Ld. Tanor Dracon Hearthfyre

Reiki Gail

Believe it or not I actually know Mark since the early 90's,

the long ago days of Pillars of Light and Body Mind and Soul,

two of the earliest Metaphysical Centers on Long Island .

I remember being very intrigued and interesting in this "young kid"

who seemed so wise and seem to inherently know that which I was first studying.

I was heavy on my healing path and our paths crossed many times over the coming decade, once in a make up store in the Bayshore Mall.

I attended several lectures Mark did at borders and very much resonated to all he had to say

yet I was initially resistant to Witchcraft because of a pervious rigid, strict, experience I had.

My path had been a struggle with chronic illness and my condition worsened.

I could not leave my home for a year without an allergy Mask.

This was extremely limiting.

It was time for me to try a workshop at Drawing the Circle

but what would they think when I walking in with a Mask??

Well  I gingerly walking in not knowing what to expect and all Mark said was

"Welcome, sit down you fit right in! !!!   I knew I had found a home!

I enjoyed and gained something from every workshop,  Witch classes,  Angles Classes,  Magick Miracles and Mysticism.

If I had to pick the one thing out of the endless bits of wisdom and truths

I have discovered at DTCP it is from the CIM...

"THE TRUTH IS, YOU ARE NEVER REALLY ALONE"

That has literally become my Mantra.

I have truly learned to "see things differently"

and  DTCP has not only become my miracle but my family too.

Jennifer

2001 was a year of great change for all of us.

On September 11 th , I, like so many people,

did not know how to process what was happening to us, to our country, and to our world.

I remember being in a daze for most of that day,

just trying to understand, not knowing what to do.

I stumbled through, never truly centering myself until that night

when I read an email that Mark sent out to everyone.

It woke me from my shock, and reminded me

that there was a lot I could do to help in that moment.

The email read:

“We’ve been fielding calls all day asking what we can do about today’s incidents.

1st of all, Ground & center.

So many people are in fear & panic

that it’s like a psychic haze on the planet, almost like another reality of illusion
superimposing itself on the 3rd dimension.

Remember, we are all children of the Gods

& our first duty is service to our families & our community.
Work your Magick to protect those who need it

& to shed a light upon this darkness.

Compassion is a better mode of thinking than panic.

Try to stay centered, beef up your own psychic protection & project healing

& light the best you can.
Let's use this as an opportunity to come together & be a blessing upon the world.
STAY HERE / NOW & BE OF SERVICE.
Blessings,
Mark/El*Star ”

I felt such relief knowing that I wasn’t alone in trying to process the events of that day,

and that we were going to work together to get through it.

Drawing the Circle and SSB have meant the world to me.

On a day of such horror, and in the days to follow when it finally began to actually hit us,

I was reminded that none of us are ever alone.

Michelle the Astrologer

2002

In 2002 we threw Chakra Fire

And learned to ascend with Karuna Ishaya

On Sunday mornings we’d meet and we’d say

the Angelic Rosary to start off our day

Tuesdays were Freebies, and, man, they were fun

To balance the work done at Council of One

Back from the Dead with the Reluctant Prophet

Arcana was still at Attias Flea Market

Amy taught Pow Wow and taught us to hex

Mark would tell fart jokes and talk about sex

The classes were great and so were the teachers

Elizabeth Morgan and Elizabeth Kieffer

Practical Magick taught herbs, A – Z

and stone lore and tree lore and astrology

There was no such thing as the Malachite Room

Or a ministry called The Silver Broom

The Malachite Room had plain white walls

With grape vines on top and out to the hall

No garden, PC, or cable or phone

But so many people called this place home

In 2002 your web page was purple

with white gothic letters saying, “Drawing The Circle”

Aisling

I have been blessed enough to have been a member of SSB & DTCP since 2000.

I have attended many sabbats, esbats, & rollicking parties.

While all of these memories are good,

there is one in particular that sticks out in my mind.
In 2004, Mark had decided to perform a theatrical ritual for our Beltane celebration called "Around the Fire".

He asked for volunteers to play certain gods & goddesses.

Since Mark told me when I first met him that I had a strong Athena archetype,

I jumped at the chance to play the Goddess of Wisdom.

Mark was kind enough to let me participate.  It was fantastic.

We had tremendous fun during our rehearsals,

& it helped me to get to know my coven-mates better.

When Beltane arrived, we were all so excited to perform our ritual!

We knew that all our hard work (& Mark's choreography) would pay off.

During my time to speak, I still to this day don't remember everything I said.

I think I was truly aspecting the goddess Athena.

Afterwards, everyone came up to us saying how much they enjoyed it!

It was a wonderful day & it made me happy & proud

to have found such a wonderful group of people to be my second family!
Congratulations Lord Elestariel, Lady Whisper Boom, Lady Arcana, & everyone else involved in Drawing the Circle Productions!  Happy 10th anniversary!

Diane

The day us Oz fans were in the city to see Wicked,

Mark had talked about how he does a blessing on his car before driving.

The blessing included lions, angels and dragons

and Mark promised he’d teach us in class next week.

A few weeks after I learned the blessing I was driving on the LIE service road

looking for Lowes.

There was a big pick up truck in front of me which had a dumpster,

the size of my car, in the back with the one corner leaning against the trucks cab.

I saw in my minds eye the dumpster JUMP out of the truck and landing on my car.

Do the blessing Mark taught as I said

“ lions, tigers and bears, oh my!

Dam , please hold my blessing till I say it right”.

I then said it right from my heart and kept driving

of course a further distant from the truck and made the next left turn.

It was wrong turn so I circled around under the LIE again.

I saw a bit of traffic and was wondering what was going on.

Then I made the left turn and saw it.

The dumpster, it hit the bridge and had Jumped out of the truck just as I saw.

I was protected as I had asked.

When you do anything with feeling and intent as Mark teaches all the time,

even lions tigers and bears protect you.

Jeanette

I've been thinking of this ritual for the 10th anniversary of DTCP

and I can't remember when I first walked through the doors of the center.

To this I would say, I was right on time.

What matters more is, the moment I entered the center for the first time,

my life was to change.

The religious blinders were coming off.

I was to become more open-minded and eventually more tolerant of many belief systems. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am very feeling oriented.

Change occurs for me based on my feelings.

Call it what you like, intuition or just good ole' gut reaction.

In any case I had an overwhelming feeling that I was in for major change in my life

and I was right.

The friendships I have made and the love and support I have felt,

have been well worth the journey.

I am growing in ways that I couldn't have imagined.

So I want to extend a heart felt thank you

to everyone within this community we call Drawing the Circle Productions.

It is my pleasure to continue to grow and experience with all of you.

Blessed Be, Jeannette

Lisa

" Mark Lyons, Drawing the Circle Productions

and all other entities in which they are directly or indirectly involved

helped me to find the path back to myself, and whenever I veer off course,

I simply return to the original lessons and I remember the warmth and love

with which I was embraced.

And then, just as Avalon appeared through the mist,

my path becomes clear once again. "

Gaetana

While looking for events on Witchvox,

I came across an advertisement that read, Witch Class Cycle One.

I called the phone number provided to get a little more information.

I decided to take a look at the place were the class would be held

to get a feel for the energy.

In no way shape or form was I looking to join a Coven,

& I really didn't want to be sucked into a group that was looking for Coven members.

I just wanted to touch base with like minded people that I could actually resonate with,

perhaps take a few classes.

You can only get so much from books,

but I was happy practicing on my own.

I met the woman that runs the shop ( we all know who this woman is),

& after a brief conversation she had the audacity to inform me I had found a family.

Imagine me, joining a coven, I think not.

Fast forward, present time: I joined & am now one of the witches in the shop,

I am now there every Thursday, St Patrick’s Day 07 Marks my dedication to the Coven,

& I am actively pursuing my 1st Degree.

I know I could not have grown to become the witch, wife, mother & friend I am today without the many teachings of the DTCP, or without the family I have here.

Joan

I met Mark through Reiki Gail,

who suggested that I attend the Angelic Techniques class

with her at Lynda Carter's home in PJ.
Lynda was quite gracious and the class consisted of about 10 people.

It was a new experience for me, which I loved!
This was about 3/4 years ago...and to this day I cannot imagine missing Mark's classes.
In retrospect, many situations occurred which brought me to my knees....
In 2004, I had finished some karma with a prior life husband,

who left my life and I was devastated, depressed and heart broken.
I was dealing with a difficult corporate world situation as well.
In 2005, I surrendered and asked the Lord to show me where I should be,

what I should do and from whom I should learn.
I did receive my guidance and translated it to my current calling in Arizona ....in this quest,

I sought a new teacher.

(When the student is ready,
the teacher will appear)

Behold, sweet, Reiki Gail brought me to Mark....bless her soul!!!
Fast forward to years 2006-2007...

I attended the Saturday Morning Miracles class,

which consisted of teachings from , A Course in Miracles ,
which was channeled from Yeshua.

This is the timeframe within which I believe,

Mark brought me to what I consider to be my path of my salvation...
Mark taught me that true forgiveness is overlooking what has never happened

and forgiving with all of my heart the situation, people, myself

and giving it up to the Holy Spirit for healing.
He also taught me to understand that I broke my own heart

by projecting my expectations onto another,

who would only disappoint me. What a revelation!!!
In the meantime, I experienced many Hands On Healing sessions with Mark,

which were mind-blowing, and the greatest opportunities for true forgiveness.
Needless to say, Mark is so spiritually connected

that he is able to define, by chakra, what each of my issues represented.
If I could, I would suggest that everyone experience at least one

Hands on Healing session with Mark....it is an eye-opener for sure.
I am so grateful to Mark for the long road he has walked with me,

consistently supportive, nurturing, patient and gentle in his advice.
I feel that my journey would not have been so rewarding had it not been for Mark,

who "walks the walk" and doesn't stop at the talk....
God bless you, Mark, for showing me that Love & Forgiveness as defined in

A Course in Miracles , is the path to my Supreme Being and eternal bliss!!!!.

Theresa

Fall '07 - Just 6 months prior, my belief system was shaken up

from my own doing's & curiosities.

I would have to start by thanking Jenn Vitale for saying,

NO! I will not call my High Priest &/Or Priestess at 10 o'clock at night!

But for suggesting the DTCP website a few times

so that it finally sunk in and I took my own initiative;

scheduled a reservation and started attending classes.

Not only was I immediately drawn to the family and the lessons....

Most importantly for me was the wit & wisdom that would fall into place

between the structure and organization.
Thank You to Mark, for reading energy so well.

He can include a statement or so, personally hitting home for Everyone,

making them feel special.

Knowing he had to have said or done that...    Just for me!

We’ve all been in awe mentioning it to each other
I'd also like to thank the whole family for their grace & patience

taking strangers off the street, to watch them prove their self.
I continue to hope that courage spreads at an accelerated rate*
Love Always,
Theresa Sky Garden McCullough

ScarletWolf

My testimonial is about how much better I feel

since I started going to the Silver Broom.

I believe and I have great faith that what I have learned so far

is the way that WitchCraft is meant to be practiced.

I have learned so much at such a great speed

and my past practices of WitchCraft are starting to leave behind me.

I have began to practice more positive magick

and I am trying to see the goodness in all human nature

and if I can't find it in certain individuals I don't let it pollute myself.

I am also trying to give people better advice

also and not use it as a means of working Black Magick against them

with poor advice and bad magick in addition.

My mother is also so happy with me leaving the Coven I was in behind me

and the beliefs we learned that Karma only matters if you get caught.

I now believe that Karma does exist on all levels

and you always do get caught in the end.

The Silver Broom was the best thing that could have happened to me.

ScarletWolf

Angela

I also wanted to contribute my experience with DTCP.

I first came to DTCP on a fluke.

I was always interested in the existential, but being a good Catholic girl

(well maybe not as good as I should have been... okay I wasn't good at all),

I never explored anything witchy. 

In my quest to always make money, I thought it would be a great idea to learn to read cards. My daughter's high school friend told me about a place in Sayville that taught Tarot.

I thought it would be a blast to learn, then read my bar customers fortunes,

so I could increase my own :).

When I met Mark, I immediately felt like I hit on something that was waiting for me.

After a class or two, I realized I was the only non-witch there.

I started to ask questions, and the answers made a lot of sense.

I felt a calling. I started to attend Sunday service.

Since I never do anything without him, my husband, Vincent, came with me.

It felt like coming home. I was never really religious before, but this was different.

This was home. I never felt so connected. I was at peace.

Vincent also felt the same way. The more we participated, the more spiritual we felt.

It has been an amazing transformation for me,

and I realize that all the roads of my life led me here, where I belong. This is my family.

Blessed Be,

Angela D'Aguanno/Aradia Moon

Michelle

Hi Mark.Blessed Beltane & Happy Anniversary! 

Here is my little contribution to the anniv. board(I just hope Im not too late?).

Ill be JUST missing the party,since Im coming to L.I. on the 8th.

Im gonna try to make it down to the center during the few days Im there...... 

Anyway,here goes. 

I came across DTCP I believe during the spring of 2001.

The first thing to catch my eye was the store-which was called

"A Touch of Magick",owned by a woman named Angela at the time.

It was a time of many synchronistic happenings.

I had just cut myself off from a long stretch of time living thruogh "the system"

(ill just leave it at that!)

I had just found a job in Holbrook,so I had to switch buses in that area in Sayville.

Long before that,when I first started looking into the craft,amoung other things-

I often wished there was some sort of community that was "witchy",

yet ecclectic in nature.I was led straight there when the time had come.DTCP

(& later when I became a part of SSB)was perfect for me.

"Council of One"was the first thing I was regular with.

A perfect blend of open minded "group therapy"with the type of spirituality that I was into. From that time up until now,Ive seen the community go thruogh many changes,

met some amazing people,learned so much about spirit,

others,& myself!I am & will be forever grateful.

I could write so much more,but it will end up a book.

Whether I live on L.I. or not,

I look forward to many more years with my connection to DTCP/SSB!!!

Happy Anniversary & Blessed Beltane to all!!!

Arial

Most of these submissions have been placed in a book at

The Silver Broom Ministries in Sayville.

If you would like to add to the book or read through it,

just ask the person at the front desk.

Thank you.