The Modern Guide to Witchcraft (33 page)

For seasoned witches, a solitary path may be simply a matter of choice. For the beginner, however, working alone can be, well, lonely. It can also be more difficult to stumble along by yourself, instead of being guided by more experienced colleagues. Unfortunately, most of us didn’t have the opportunity to learn from experts as children. On the other hand, a solitary pursuit enables you to develop your own style of magickal expression, rather than taking on the ideology or outward form of an established group.

As a solitary witch—especially if you’re just starting out—some guidelines can help you proceed safely and successfully:

• Read lots of books by different authors, to gain a variety of insights and perspectives.
  
• Meditate regularly to improve your mental focus and your connection with your higher self.
  
• Set a schedule for yourself that makes magickal study and practice part of your everyday life, just like working out at the gym.
  
• Apply what you learn—study alone won’t make you a witch.
  
• Start with simple rituals and spells, then work up to more complicated ones.
  
• Don’t get discouraged if something doesn’t turn out the way you’d planned; try to determine what went wrong and why, and learn from your mistakes.
  
• Practice, practice, practice. Magick is like every other skill—the more you do it, the better you get.
  
• Keep a grimoire of your experiences.
  

After you’ve spent time studying and practicing on your own, you’ll have a better idea of what type of magick appeals to you and which path you want to follow. At some point, you may decide to find a teacher or a group of like-minded individuals to work with. Working with a teacher can help you advance more quickly and may steer you away from some pitfalls along the way. Good teachers tend to be selective about the students they take on. If you can show that you’ve done your homework through solitary study, you’ll have a better chance of convincing a teacher to help you reach the next level. Remember the old saying, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”

Witchcraft tends to appeal to people who dislike hierarchy and rigid dogma. In the past, witches often lived apart from the community they served, and even if people valued their wisdom and healing powers, the witches never quite fit in. Many modern witches were raised in patriarchal religions that didn’t encourage free thinking; they have chosen Wicca (or another Pagan path) because it allows them to follow their own truth.

The word
coven
originated from the Latin term
coventus
, meaning “assembly” or “agreement.” (Covenant comes from the same root.) The term first appeared in Scotland around the 1500s to denote a witches’ meeting or a local group of practicing witches. However, the word was rarely used until the modern witchcraft movement became more public and popularized.

In her book
The Spiral Dance
, Starhawk describes a coven as “a Witch’s support group, consciousness-raising group, psychic study center, clergy-training program, College of Mysteries, surrogate clan, and religious congregation all rolled into one.” That about sums it up. In short, a coven is a spiritual family in which each member is committed to the principles of the Craft and to one another.

It’s nice to have “kinfolk” with whom you can share information about magick and your spiritual beliefs. Covens provide an opportunity for learning on all levels. It’s also fun to celebrate meaningful holidays and events with people who feel as you do. In a world that still doesn’t completely accept witches and magick, a coven brings you into a community where you can feel safe, accepted, and valued. Furthermore, the power a group can raise when working together far exceeds what one witch could muster alone.

As you can well imagine, a group of independent-minded witches will likely have lots of differing opinions, ideas, and objectives. At times things can get pretty complicated. Some covens split up over trivial matters; others work through problems and find solutions. If you decide to become part of a coven, you’ll want to ask yourself if you are willing to devote the effort necessary to make the coven work. Being part of something greater than yourself requires cooperation, respect, and tolerance.

You can learn a lot—about magick and life—through working with a coven, especially a well-established one. In particular, you will have the opportunity to:

• Learn what modern magick really is, versus popular ideas and misrepresentations
  
• Discover the history of a specific magickal tradition
  
• Receive instruction on how to meditate and focus your mind effectively (in a group setting)
  
• Learn how to raise and direct energy through group spells and rituals
  
• Develop a closer relationship with deities that the coven considers important to its purposes
  
• Receive guidance on how to select your magick tools and use them effectively
  

Unless the group is eclectic, these points will be explained to you before you get involved. Usually, you’ll have a chance to get to know the witches in a group and to work with them for a while before you (and they) decide if you should become a member.

The best covens are made up of individuals who take their responsibility to the group seriously. You want a group whose practices honor both the individual and the group.

Consider the coven’s traditions. Some covens follow specific “lineages” and ideologies, such as Celtic or Egyptian, Dianic or Alexandrian. If a coven holds to a particular tradition that doesn’t interest you or makes you feel uncomfortable, you’re in the wrong place. Ask yourself the following questions:

• What kind of attendance and study requirements are expected of you?
  
• Do these mesh with your schedule and responsibilities?
  
• Does the group have a specific initiation ritual? What is it like? Is there anything in that ritual that doesn’t fit your vision?
  
• Does the group require secrecy? If so, what’s the reason behind it and how hush-hush is everything?
  

Ask to attend an open Circle, celebration, or other function before you consider membership. This will allow you to observe how the coven operates and how the people involved interact.

Only you can determine whether joining a coven is right for you, and if it is, which coven best suits your objectives. Take your time. Bear in mind that every group will have its strengths, weaknesses, and idiosyncrasies—that’s part of being human. Find a group with whom you feel a common bond and focus on the big picture; the nitpicky stuff you can work on over time.

After you’ve carefully considered the pros and cons of joining a coven, and decide to take the next step, how do you go about finding a group to join? It’s not as if covens are listed in the Yellow Pages! You can, however, discover a wealth of resources and information online. The first place to look is
www.witchvox.com
. Since 1997, “The Witches’ Voice” has provided a forum for Neopagans around the world, including news, information, services, festivals, and a list of covens.

You may find a coven in your own hometown, or at least in your state. Get in touch with a group’s contact person—she should be able to give you more information about groups and gatherings. If none exists in your area, you could connect with one of the many online covens and Pagan groups.

Also check bulletin boards at bookstores, health food cooperatives, yoga centers, and New Age shops. A nearby Unity or Unitarian Universalist Church could steer you in the right direction—it may even provide space for Circles and other spiritual events.

If you’re lucky, you’ll find several groups to choose from. Pay particular attention to two key points: the aptitude of the leaders and the cohesiveness of the membership. These two factors can make or break a coven.

The best leaders don’t seem to need titles. They are skilled facilitators, communicators, and diplomats. They remain sensitive to the individuals and to the greater whole. They teach, inspire, and motivate the members of the coven. When deciding between covens, ask yourself whether the leaders have these qualities and whether they have earned the respect of the coven for their wisdom, responsibility, openness, and consistency.

The best members are those who work together for the greater good, placing their individual preferences and desires second to the group’s. They are dedicated to the group’s goals and the magickal tradition to which they belong. They support and encourage one another, and refrain from gossiping, criticizing, or bickering among themselves.

The witches you want to work with will welcome you into the collective and respect you, without judging or trying to control you. They’ll willingly share information with you and seek your input.

You’ll want to keep in mind these things when considering a coven. If you see any of these warning signs, don’t get near ’em with a ten-foot pole!

1. Any group that says you
   must
   do something in a particular way, even if it goes against your personal taboos or moral guidelines, is not for you.
   
2. Seeing members grovel before the coven’s leader should raise a red flag. A leader needs help and assistance, but should not order members around like servants.
   
3. Be wary of any coven that charges dues for membership, unless there is a valid reason for fees, such as renting a place to gather (and proper accounting is in place). Most witches believe that learning should be free. It’s okay to ask for help with the gas, or munchies for a meeting, but there’s a huge difference between this and making a fast buck off someone’s spiritual thirst.
   
4. A group whose members brag about their numbers, consider themselves all-powerful, or claim a 100-percent success rate in their magick isn’t worth your time.
   

Many spiritual groups have been guilty of these problems—not just witches. Spiritual hubris is one of the most seductive and destructive forms of arrogance. Of course, witches aren’t ego free, nor are they enlightened beings. They are humans, trying their best to become better people every day in every way.

If you have found your ideal coven and would like to join, the next step is to have an old-fashioned chat with the group’s leader. Tell him or her of your interest and what attracted you to this particular coven. Ask if the coven is open to new members and how to go about getting more involved. Find out when they hold initiations. The initiation process will vary from group to group, but in any case you’ll probably have some studying ahead of you and some things to learn before an actual initiation occurs.

Start thinking ahead. What role do you see for yourself in this group? Do you seek a specific function that utilizes your skills and talents? If, for example, you’re a musician you might enjoy playing at rituals. Or, if you’re a good writer, perhaps you could create some specialized spells, incantations, or rituals for the group.

This attitude will show your sincerity—and that you’re thinking in terms of the group and not just about yourself. Also, it will help you define your place in the coven if and when you choose to take the next step (initiation).

The initiation is a very important moment of bonding. At this stage, coven members extend their Circle, in all its quirky intimacy, to another person. Every person in the group should be present for this activity.

Each coven will enact its own, unique initiation ritual, even though there may be similarities from group to group. The ritual reflects the philosophy, traditions, objectives, and orientation of the group.

At the time of initiation, new members can choose the magickal names they wish to use in sacred space. They then go to each person present, introduce themselves by that name, and greet them as brothers or sisters in the Craft (perhaps with a kiss on the cheek or a hug). Some covens have degrees of initiation and you may progress to higher levels in time.

If, down the road, you find you’ve made the wrong choice, there’s nothing to prevent you from leaving a coven. Although covens would like people to stay for a while for the sake of continuity, witches recognize that each individual’s path changes over time. Try to part on good terms. As witches say: “Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!”

Sometimes you can’t find an existing coven that meets your needs. Or you may have belonged to a coven, but over time things have changed and it’s time to try something else. If you don’t wish to be solitary, you might consider forming your own group.

Remember, this isn’t a social club, it’s a spiritually mindful group and establishing it should be done with sincerity. Sometimes people form covens for the wrong reasons (for instance, to show off to friends or weird out their parents). Do some preliminary soul-searching—you really need to know yourself and be honest about your intentions.

If you’ve determined this is the right move for you, decide how many people you want to be involved. Thirteen is the traditional number of witches in a coven, but you don’t have to follow that custom. Set a reasonable limit on membership. Quantity is less important than quality—in fact, a large quantity may diminish quality.