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How to find a Coven or Group
If you are looking for a group, then going out and meeting people and talking, asking questions and showing your intent of finding a group are the most important steps. If you stay at home and never mingle with other people, then don't expect anything to happen. This is not a 'spoon-fed' path to walk, there is a lot of serious work involved and when you do find a group, the work doesn't stop. Joining a Coven means giving up a lot of free time, substituting social time for Coven time and spending a lot of time studying and experiencing... So which ever path you follow, and which ever type of group you are seeking - make an effort and be patient. In big cities such as the one we live in, London (UK) there is no reason to say 'But there is nothing to go to'. There are online organizations such as WWL who keep their members informed of social events, workshops, training groups, conferences and open rituals. The WWL also organize events just for their members, so that you can meet the faces behind the names. To find out more about WWL visit http://www.avalonia.co.uk. The Withes Voice is another great resource. You can find contacts with similar interests to yourself to correspond with, but most importantly they list all the major events, conferences and festivals organized by Pagans from all over the world. They also list smaller events, such as pub moots and workshops. In parts of the world it is not that easy, and you might have to travel to attend conferences or workshops. This might seem like a lot of work just to meet other people, but if you are serious then travel should not deter you from your path. When you do get the opportunity to meet other Pagans, make an effort to ask around about open groups and other events. As the organizers of the event, they know of groups which might be taking on new trainees. It is important to note that even in big cities such as London there are very few new groups forming and the groups in existence might only take on a trainee every few years. Those who do might expect to interview you to see if you will fit in with the rest of their group. If this happens take the opportunity to interview them too! Be honest with them, but make sure that their answers also satisfy you. Ask what they will be expecting from you and what training they will be providing you with. Unfortunately there are still some dubious groups using the name of Wicca to cover other activities. Do not just join a group because they happen to be the first one which approaches you! Remember: You should feel comfortable with your HPS & HP; Sex should not be expected in return for training, nor should it be part of your initiation; You should not be expected to contribute large sums of money in return for training - although you should expect to contribute towards temple expenses; Confidentiality is VERY important in Wiccan groups; Expect a lot of hard work! Finally you should enjoy being part of the group you join! © David Rankine & Sorita 2000 Found on: Sacred Texts Covens and Solitary Witches Rae Schwarz (Bella Online's Pagan Editor) One of the biggest questions in pagan spiritual practice is whether to participate in a group or pursue such matters on one's own. Whether you decide to be part of a coven (a group) or decide to be a lone practitioner (often called a `solitary witch'), either option has pros and cons. One of the biggest advantages of having an organized group for doing spiritual workings is the shared knowledge and resources. The life experience and energy of many people is available for the group to draw upon. Groups often have better long-term records and codified information. Larger groups can sometimes pool resources to rent or own real estate space such that it can be solely devoted to the working of Spirit and activities of the group. Human resources are available for teaching and mentoring. Covens often are able to codify practices and keep consistent historical records. However there are those people who are unhappy having to participate in a larger group. Some people wish they didn't have to follow along. Others feel they are being called to follow an inner voice and vision. Sometimes a person feels an affinity for many deities and cultural practices. Often, people feel they have such a close personal relationship with the goddess or god that no other guidance is required. These people might be happier choosing a solitary practice. Choosing a solitary practice can mean several things. It can be choosing to follow an organized system of teaching but via a path of self-guidance. Most often it can mean that the practitioner has chosen to follow a personal combination of spiritual faiths. This allows one to blend and meld varying religious and spiritual traditions to meet your needs. Many who choose to practice a solitary tradition remain open to other traditions and participate on occasion in larger group rituals at regional gatherings and festivals. For people who learn best by following an example, learning in a group can be much more satisfying than trying to be a self-starter. Gatherings, festivals and conventions are ways to sample many learning and belief systems for those that are still trying to decide if they like larger group rituals and organized pagan religion. The Internet allows for virtual covens too, where people who are actually solitary in real life can come together as a group in virtual space and share their spiritual practices. Regardless of whether you choose to be part of a coven or practice as a solitary, a daily spiritual practice gives foundation to both. Try and establish an area for an altar, or meditation, or whatever you require to connect to the Divine. Reading the teachings of others and listening to your own spiritual intuition is a good way to gain the experience to choose what is right for you. Coven Warning By: Seamus Listen up kiddies, 'cause this is serious. Being a teenage witch, I can relate to many problems that are being discovered by the many younger members of our religion. I know that as teenagers, we are indeed very inquisitive and very social people. This is absolutely normal for human beings, and we are expected to be this way. If a teenager is practicing Witchcraft, a religion that is still being frowned upon and persecuted in too many parts of the nation, he or she may feel an extra sense of isolation. Along with the usual feelings of rejection, fear, inequality, low self-esteem, and various other emotional problems that afflict today's teens, this can be a real kicker. A teenager may want to seek out people who share their beliefs or interests. This is completely normal, for it is how we chose our friends during those formidable high school years and beyond, but when it involves an alternative religion, one must tread lightly. This is especially the case with today's laws. If you're not 18, anyone over the age of 18 who is discovered to be instructing you in any religious path of which your parents do not approve, can be held legally responsible for "influencing" you against your parents will. So many adult covens, ones with some real experience and lots of real knowledge to share, will usually prefer not to aid you until you are of legal age. It's a horrible thing to be denied knowledge or the right to learn, but I'm sorry to say that examples have been made, and this is an all too real possibility for those who would gladly help you otherwise. So it seems that other teens are the only option open huh? Well, let me share my experiences with you before you jump in over your head. As a teenager, I found people in my school who I believed were fun people, and even better, they practiced Wicca! These people actively practiced the religion by which I was so entranced. I felt like I had discovered "my" people. This is a very popular feeling when many people discover Wicca. What I failed to realize at first was that these people were my age. They had the normal teenage problems that I did. They weren't all mighty and able to banish their problems with a twitch of their noses or the wave of a magick wand. While they may have had a year or two more than me in which to practice what I was just discovering, I eventually realized that I had a year or two in maturity on them. Everyone's personality is different, and not all people can co-exist nicely. High school teaches this to everyone. You can't get along with everyone on this Earth, and not everyone agrees on everything. Getting back to my group, I was now in a coven. Oh yeah, we had an initiation. It took place in one member's basement, with a makeshift altar on a knock hockey board, and a wickedly sharp knife pressed to my throat as I croaked out the words "Perfect love and perfect trust." (I believe that my bulging eyes may have belied that statement a little.) I had to prick my finger with the rest of them, let one drop of blood fall into the wineglass, and then drink of our communal blood/wine offering. I was amazed at the depth of their knowledge. It felt as though I knew only the tip of the iceberg. Thus was I plunged headlong into idolatry. I idolized those in my new group of "friends." They were so much wiser than I was. (Never mind the fact that I was on the honor roll and each of them was failing a few classes.) They were my teachers, though I may not have agreed with what I learned. "The most important thing, " I was told, "is to protect yourself." For, unbeknownst to me, we had enemies. There were other covens in my school who would attack me with evil magick just because I was weaker than they were. I was in a war, and by joining with this coven, I had unknowingly chosen sides. I watched as my friend and covenmate crafted a spell in which to bind someone else with his blood. I was terrified. Was I going to be the next victim? Who would strike out at me? I had no enemies; at least that's what I thought. My friends told me otherwise. I later found out that while some other Pagan groups in my school did not exactly like the people I had gotten involved with, they weren't about to waste their time doing nasty spells on us. They were smarter than that. I wish my friends could see that. To this day I can still say that I am grateful to my Catholic upbringing for keeping me from dabbling in nasty hate magick and bindings. I abstained from assaulting anyone else, much to the dismay of one particular covenmate. They eventually stopped teaching me, as we all had our own lives to see about. I began to gain my knowledge solely from the many books which I had acquired. As I read the accounts and teachings of more and more older and wiser Witches such as Raymond Buckland, Scott Cunningham, Silver RavenWolf, and Doreen Valiente, I realized that my so called "teachers' were not all that wise. My visions of their power shattered. They were simply ordinary teenage witches, just like me. One of them had a dark streak, true, but most of the others were in it for acceptance, power trips, and maybe for two of us at least, to teach and to learn. It's too bad that the one designated as my teacher wanted me to pursue a slightly different path than I wanted to. Mysticism looked nice enough, but I was focusing on Wicca at the time, and I had my other interests too. They eventually began to lose interest in me, partly because I trusted my books over them, and also because I refused to even learn "black magick." "I'm a white witch, " I would tell them. I now realize that there is no such thing, but I tried to come as close as possible. Well, according to them, white was weak. I trusted in Karma and the Law of Three to protect me, and if necessary, an occasional Justice spell. They did not agree. I should fight back. Hell, I should strike first. I didn't think so. Now I realize that that blood binding initiation ritual was an absolutely stupid thing to be lead into. A blood binding is extremely hard to break, even with mutual consent among all involved. I am still with these people, and more have joined us, some have left. I am trapped. I lent a covenmate my pentacle, and he took my athame too. He has two of my most treasured and personal items, and I have no way of getting them back. Teenagers can be extremely petty. I plan to get out of this so called "coven" as soon as I can get my stuff and hightail it out of there. Until that opportunity arises, or it comes time for me to go away to college, I seem to be stuck with this crowd of wayward witches. It's not like I've given up hope for them or anything, for a real witch never gives up hope. It is simply a matter of knowing when it's best to try a little harder, and when to move on. So what's the moral of this story? High school covens are a bad idea. There is a distinct difference between a coven and a study circle. A study circle would be much better for a high school setting. What most teenagers fail to realize about a coven is that it isn't just a "come when you want to and we'll have fun learning together" kinda deal. A coven implies responsibility. There are lots of problems, like mediating disputes, group dynamics, witch wars, the whole perfect love and perfect trust, and lots of other group related problems. There is usually some type of hierarchy, which is the perfect opportunity for someone to be oppressed, used, dumped, and others to go on power trips, make wrong decisions, and pressure others into things that they don't want to do. There's the problem of who will teach what, and who wants to teach what to whom. Most teenagers are simply not old enough or experienced enough to carry these responsibilities. So take my advice. If you're a teenage witch and you feel the need to interact with others of like mind, don't seek out, form, or join a coven. Find some nice open-minded friends, and create a study circle. One where there are no obligations, no pressures, and no one has power over another. Encourage the free exchange of ideas and learn from and with each other. At this age, a coven is not all it's cracked up to be. |
