The group that Witches work in is most often called a coven. The coven has advantages and disadvantages. If a coven has the right group of people it is a marvelous entity.

The coven system allows each Witch to share the energy and creativity of others in practicing magick. It becomes sort of a "Magickal Cooperative" where joint efforts benefit everyone.

Simple companionship is important as well. Celebrating a sabbat as a group is far more fun than trying to sing, dance, and feast by yourself.

Perhaps most important is the caring support of one another. As covernors work and play together, they form emotional and psychic bonds that make it possible to share dreams and fears, explore hidden parts of themselves, and take those risks so necessary for growth that are so difficult to do with casual friends or acquaintances.

COVEN OFFICES

Leadership in a mixed coven:

1. High Priestess - Coordinates ritual leadership, counseling,

teaching, and administration duties, in company with the High

Priest. Chief representative of the Goddess energies at rituals.

Badge of office: crescent Moon crown or coronet of candles.

2. High Priest - See above. Chief representative of the God

energies at rituals. Badge of office: horned headdress or animal

mask.

3. Maiden - Understudy to the High Priestess, and substitutes for

her when necessary. Badge of office may be a simple silver

circlet or tiara.

4. Summoner - Understudy to the High Priest, who substitutes for

him when necessary. Main administrative deputy, passing out

information, collecting dues, letting people know when to meet and

what to bring, etc. Also called the "Man in Black," "Black Rod,"

or "Verdelet." Badge of office may be a blackthorn staff.

Leadership in an all-woman's coven:

One pattern: No hierarchy or titles at all: ritual leadership

rotates, other jobs are carried out by anyone capable and willing.

Another pattern:

1. Maiden - Understudy to the Mother, and chief administrative

deputy (see Summoner's duties above)

2. Mother - Coordinates ritual leadership and administration,

guides coven projects and activities. She does not necessarily do

these jobs herself always, but has the responsibility to see that

they are apportioned fairly and done effectively.

3. Crone - Chief counselor to the Mother, and does a large share

of teaching and individual counseling. May perform divination on

questions of concern to the coven. Possibly a former "Mother" or

High Priestess, experienced and skilled in magick, herbalism, etc.

For both mixed and single-sex coven:

Council of Elders - A gathering of all the higher-rank initiates

in the coven. They may function as advisors to the coven leaders,

or may actually set policy, establish the budget etc. In the

latter case, coven leaders are essentially executives responsible

to the Elders.

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Other possible officers in mixed or single-sex covens:

1. Scribe (secretary) - Keeps minutes of business meetings, handles

correspondence under the direction of coven leaders.

2. Pursewarden (treasurer) - collects dues, keeps accounts, makes

purchases, coordinates fund-raising projects.

3. Archivist (historian) - Keeps the coven Book of Shadows or "Witch Book"

up to date, keeps files of coven projects and activities, rituals. These

functions may be combined with the

Scribe's job.

4. Bard (music director) - Collects songs and chants, leads the coven in

them, provides musical accompaniment; collects ballads and legends,

preserves the old lore and coven history in original songs.

5. Watchman (sergeant-at-arms) - Assists in initiation rituals; in charge

of safety & security at meetings and rituals. Indoors, checks locks and

closes curtains; outdoors, finds safe places for rituals and posts

sentries to warn off strangers approaching. Sets wards and arranges other

magickal protection. Knows laws regarding freedom of religion and

assembly, trespass ordinances etc.

6. Mistress-of, Master-of- (resource persons and teachers) - Any

individual who has achieved great competency in a magickal skill may

earn this title. They serve as a resource for the coven, and teach

others. An initiate may choose to apprentice with any Mistress or

Master. Fields:

* Divinatory Arts (or sub-category, such as Tarot, Astrology, I

Ching, Lithomony, Dreamcraft, Scrying, Radiesthesia etc.)

* Herbalism (for healing, amulets/talismans, oils, incense)

* Healing Arts (including herbal healing, psychic healing, aromatherapy,

Bach remedies, polarity balancing, healing with stones, color therapy,

chakras etc.)

* Familiar Arts (magickal work with animals, totems, elementals,

shapeshifting)

* Talismanic Arts (designing & creating talismans & amulets)

* Ritual Toolcraft (designing & creating ritual tools)

* Runecraft (use of magickal alphabets)

* Necromancy (communication with, or evocation of, the dead)

* Psychic Skills (astral travel, telepathy, telempathy, clairvoyance,

clairaudience, telekinesis, teleportation)

* Incantation (Words of Power, charms, chants, mantras)

* Fascination (trancework, hypnosis)