Firstly let me start by saying this is a VERY serious page on our website. If you have visited others, you will doubtless have spotted some "funny bits", and hopefully had a giggle or two.. but not on this page. This is me with my "High Priest" head on, and being 100% serious.
With the absolute "explosion" of occult books, occult films and general "coming out of the broom-closet" that has happened in the last decade or so, it is unavoidable that the wrong types of people have got in on the act and set up their own coven, grove or circle.....just to extort money, act "hard", or get lots of deviant sex.
So, you genuinely want to find a coven, and learn the "Ways of the Wise".....how do you make sure you are joining in with a group of people who will nurture and help you, and not screw you...mentally, physically and/or financially?.
So. What to watch for........
HP=High Priest HPS=High Priestess
1) Check how you feel when you visit the new coven...nervous?.. excited?...scared?....Listen to your "Inner Voice"...go with what it is telling you. Don't stay with the first coven you find, just because it has taken you ages to actually find a group that will see you.......You stay with a coven because it feels right to do so.
What is your "Inner Voice" telling you?
2) As well as listening to the High Priest/Priestess look at how the others in the group react in their presence. You aren't in a Circle now, you are probably sitting in a room having a chat and a cup of tea, there is no need for the HP/HPS to play the part now.......if the others call the HP "Bob", and are relaxed and happy, then this is a positive sign that everyone is happy with the type of HP they have, the HP has no need to "lord it" over the coven during "playtime". If however the HP is still called "Lord Robert" or "Master" etc etc, be careful......ask yourself "Why?" ..is it for your benefit, as the newbie, or is it a regular thing?.. Does the HP hold such sway over the actions of the Coven, that even in "playtime" the others can't relax?
Same goes for the HPS, watch how she acts, and reacts with the other members.....a good HPS is a mum, agony aunt, first aider, warrior, Goddess all rolled into on. Coven members will love, respect and revere their HP and HPS, not fear them.......remember this when you see how the members act in their presence.
What is your "Inner Voice telling you now?
3) What have you been asked to contribute?
I don't ask or expect financial contributions.. so if you are asked to "stump up" some cash, ask yourself "Why?. What am I going to get for this?". Now be sensible, if it's a few dollars and you've had some food/beer etc then it can be a reasonable request, especially if it is a regular thing run by the coven.....a "Get to know the Newbie" day for instance. but if it looks like an excessive amount of money beware!
What does your "Inner Voice" say?
4) Look at the life style of the HP and HPS.....does it appear to be out of the league of the other members?. If so, who is contributing to it?.. the other members? It's worth thinking about when you are writing the cheque to cover "Beginners Expenses"......
5) If you are in the room/location where they have a selection of occult books, take a look at the titles. Try to remember a few, and see if you can find them later in the local library.....what have they read?, what do they adhere to?, who seems to be their favourite author?
If they have 100 books on Tantric Ritual, the entire Dennis Wheatley collection and 3 books on Herbal Healing, it is a pretty good bet where their particular Path lies.
However, if you see hundreds of assorted occult books, on all sorts of subjects, from Tealeaves to Tarot, from Healing to Hermetic, they are at least "aware" of the many diverse forms that the Paths can take, and worth staying around a little longer perhaps, until you know a bit more about them.
My own collection consists at this time of over 700 books, including some 10 or 12 about the "Left Hand Path". When I am asked about this by a newbie, I reply "It is a foolish man who doesn't study the ways of the enemy, but be certain you are adept in your own ways first".
"Inner Voice" calling to you yet?
6) Ask questions.....ask LOTS of questions, an open and honest HP/HPs will answer everything promptly, and as best they can. Do not accept "A newbie doesn't need to know that yet". Be aware though, that the answers may be pitched in terminology that the HP/HPS may think you understand, this isn't in anyway suspicious, it is just that mention of "Widdershins" and "Deosil" may be lost on the newbie, so "Anti-clockwise" and "Clockwise" may be used instead.....
I personally believe in being straight up and honest with a newbie, I will answer questions on advanced topics to them, knowing that they lack the basic ground-work/knowledge to do themselves any harm.
I have no problems showing the builders the plans of what the roof will look like when they build it, provided they understand that it comes AFTER the walls, which in turn come AFTER the foundations have been dug......
If at this point you are unsure about the coven, the HP or the HPS, or the motives behind the coven, IMHO collect your coat and go.......there are always other covens.......
7) About nudity and sex.
A lot of covens work naked (sky-clad), this is their choice...it does not mean orgies or satanic ritual......it is a way of making everyone equal within a circle. Some say it is to help raise/direct "power", personally I think it is a pretty weak witch who can't radiate power through a light cotton robe......in our circle, all that is removed are shoes and socks, watches, and any money.
If during your interview/conversation you hear something like..
Are you still chatting with the HP/HPS and the other members?. maybe this Coven is the one for you......just have a quick listen to your "Inner Voice".....
8) Don't accept the statement "We do it the right way, everything else is wrong" from any group member. Think about it, that sounds VERY similar, if not identical to, what a Christian would say. There are literally thousands of different ways to do things in Witchcraft/Wicca, all valid, and all attainable by you, with the correct guidance from a good HP/HPS.
9) About Sacrifices.
We sacrifice cakes and biscuits in our rituals, one for each member, and an addition one for the God and Goddess which get sprinkled on the Earth to be absorbed.
10) About Secrecy.
Lots (if not most) covens expect you to be discreet, and selective of who you tell about them. This is not a bad thing, even now a lot of people hate and fear witches, and to advertise offers visits from Zealous Fundamentalists, Social Services and drunk, brave yobs on a Saturday night...and no matter how good you are, remember..."Witchcraft doesn't repair broken windows"!.
However, too much emphasis on secrecy should start throwing up alarms in your mind, is there anything shady going on that needs to be covered up and hidden.....
11) About leaving a coven.....
If you wish to leave the coven and are "persuaded" in ANY way to stay, then you are in the wrong group. The best magic works when performed by people who trust each other, and really want to be there, not where performed by a group when half of them wish they were somewhere else!.
If you are physically threatened into staying...contact your local police.
The above is the result of a lot of years listening to others I have met, and people that have been helped.
Kaizen
The terms "Coven", Circle", "Grove" + "Bush" etc are all interchangeable in this instance.
As a High Priest in my own right, I ask my coven for one thing, and one thing only.....and that is honesty. I want each of them to be honest with me, with the others in the group, and with themselves. That is it!
Witchcraft/Wicca is a FERTILITY based faith, not a SEX based faith. there is a difference!
"During certain Rituals/Sabbats you may be expected to make love to ....."
.....GO NOW...don't even wait for your coat! You do not need to have sex with the HP to be initiated either!
Using sex of any type during ritual is extremely powerful, and should be done between consenting adults, and usually married or at least "long term" couples.......not the newbie and someone else.
Do not confuse sexual depravity/ blood sacrifices with "doing it the right way"......
The Goddess/God are jointly the Creators of Life, so (IMHO) how can it be as a tribute to Them to kill something living, and let its' blood flow upon the ground?.
If you are constantly reminded about the need for secrecy, this may not be an indication that anything nasty is going on, but it MIGHT be.. you will have to weigh up which, based on your other impressions of the coven.
During your interview ask about leaving, what if at a date in the future you decide that this coven isn't working for you, can you leave?. Listen to the reply of the HP and HPS, and at the same time watch the others, if they look "shifty" or "guilty" then listen next to your "Inner Voice". Also watch out for "I left, but came back" type of statement from any of them.....people don't leave a good job, nor do they generally leave a good coven.
I hope this helps you to make an informed choice when trying to find and join a Coven.
