Organzing a wicca group

[sybba_leigh]

i moved to las vegas last summer and have been wanting to be in a wiccan study group ever since. i couldn't find any good ones. people on online told me i should create my *own* wiccan group. i thought it was an interesting idea, but i didn't really know how to go about it. now i'm moving back to nyc soon, and witchvox hasn't listed any wiccans in my immediate area (except an old priest). so if i was really serious about creating a study group for younger wiccans (like 18-25 year olds)... how would i do it? i'm sure at least a few of you guys have created groups in your own area... so how did you get started? do you have to have a name for it? do you have to act as a "preistess" during celebrations? i guess i can find out where the local metaphsyical shops are and post a thing like "semi-experienced 18 year old wiccan is looking to start a group. if you are 1-25, please contact her at ______." and then i could meet whoever's interested for coffee or something and get to know them. its just an idea though... i don't know...

[tlmorgaine]

I would start out by getting a copy of Amber K's Covencraft. It is a really good book that talks about Magickal groups and it will help you out a lot. Witchvox is a really good tool to promote that you are trying to start a new group in the area. You will be surprised how many are usually looking for what you are, and they will reply pretty quick. You can also post a notice in local witchy shops about your group. Most are willing to allow it or have a bulletin board.

When posting about wanting to start a new group you should include who you are, and talk about what you want to start. Let people know what will be done when the group is formed. Will you get together and do rituals, or just sit down and discuss certain topics every so often.

Good Luck! I hope that this helps:)
The Lady Morgaine

[sybba_leigh]

I would start out by getting a copy of Amber K's Covencraft. It is a really good book that talks about Magickal groups and it will help you out a lot. Witchvox is a really good tool to promote that you are trying to start a new group in the area. You will be surprised how many are usually looking for what you are, and they will reply pretty quick. You can also post a notice in local witchy shops about your group. Most are willing to allow it or have a bulletin board.

When posting about wanting to start a new group you should include who you are, and talk about what you want to start. Let people know what will be done when the group is formed. Will you get together and do rituals, or just sit down and discuss certain topics every so often.

Good Luck! I hope that this helps:)
The Lady Morgaine

thank you very much! i'll try to get that book :-).

[Romani Vixen]

I would start out by getting a copy of Amber K's Covencraft. It is a really good book that talks about Magickal groups and it will help you out a lot. Witchvox is a really good tool to promote that you are trying to start a new group in the area. You will be surprised how many are usually looking for what you are, and they will reply pretty quick. You can also post a notice in local witchy shops about your group. Most are willing to allow it or have a bulletin board.

When posting about wanting to start a new group you should include who you are, and talk about what you want to start. Let people know what will be done when the group is formed. Will you get together and do rituals, or just sit down and discuss certain topics every so often.

Good Luck! I hope that this helps:)
The Lady Morgaine

I agree here.

One question though... Why do you want to have no one over 25 in your group?

[RedRaven]

hi,
for study groups you dont need to name the group since its not a formal group and i personally dont think you need anyone to act as a HP/S. if you go to a shop and make notes for people to contact you i would suggest you create a new email address and have people write you there, you dont want any weirdos having your number and being able to find you. also, if you make up notes and small fliers you can invade the bookstore and library and slip the notes in wicca books :)

RR

[sybba_leigh]

I agree here.

One question though... Why do you want to have no one over 25 in your group?

well i just think it would be good to have all the members around the same age. besides i don't think a 35 year old would want to be in a group run by an 18 year old anyway, it will be very unproffessional.

[sybba_leigh]

hi,
for study groups you dont need to name the group since its not a formal group and i personally dont think you need anyone to act as a HP/S. if you go to a shop and make notes for people to contact you i would suggest you create a new email address and have people write you there, you dont want any weirdos having your number and being able to find you. also, if you make up notes and small fliers you can invade the bookstore and library and slip the notes in wicca books :)

RR

haha slip notes in wicca books. that's brilliant!!!! i hadn't thought of that lol.

it sounds like i really may be able to do this. i'm nervous but kind of excited.

so you don't think i should include my number? that's probably good advice. okays, just my new e-mail. *ponders a name for a new e-mail address*

thanks :-).

[~Elise~]

There are quite a few pagans in Vegas that I know of and I'm here in OK. maybe you should ask at some of the pagan-y shops.

Elise

[sybba_leigh]

There are quite a few pagans in Vegas that I know of and I'm here in OK. maybe you should ask at some of the pagan-y shops.

Elise

in ok? i've never heard of that. anyways, i'm going to be leaving soon, but thanks :-). i've been to the psychic eye shops and wicca world but i've never seen any bulletin boards or notices or anything. i never really asked cuz i'm really shy, but i'll make sure to def. ask in ny.

[~Elise~]

OK=Oklahoma

If I know pagans in Vegas, so it shouldn't be that hard for you to find 'em.

Okay-if you are moving to NY, why would you want to start a group in Vegas? just wondering-esp. if you're leaving in 15 days?

[sybba_leigh]

OK=Oklahoma

If I know pagans in Vegas, so it shouldn't be that hard for you to find 'em.

Okay-if you are moving to NY, why would you want to start a group in Vegas? just wondering-esp. if you're leaving in 15 days?

what? i guess i wasn't clear... i want to start a group in ny when i get there. and i thought you mean ok was a place in las vegas.

[Romani Vixen]

well i just think it would be good to have all the members around the same age. besides i don't think a 35 year old would want to be in a group run by an 18 year old anyway, it will be very unproffessional.

My personal take is that having a wide range of ages would allow the group to be more balanced. There are many new Pagans, who happen to be older, who would be quite interested in such a group, regardless of the age of the organizer. And there are more experienced older Pagans who could lend their wisdom and insight to the group.

Just to help you develop this idea of yours a couple of questions...

What do you envision the group as doing? Would it be a "book club" of sorts? Would you have a calander of topics that are to be discussed? How often and when, and where, would you meet? I am assuming here that you aren't going to be doing any sort of practicing together. How would each topic or book be selected?

What do you envision your role in this group as being? Would you be the contact and make sure that there is a location? Would you make any sort of calander that is used?

These are a few of the things that you'll need to think about before starting a study group (we are soooo not going near starting a coven, that's a whole bigger and more complex ball o wax).

Also, sence you said that you couldn't find anything, I wanted to doublecheck the main site for listing covens and study groups. Here's for new york state: http://www.witchvox.com/vn/gr/usny_gra.html There are many things in and around NYC, though I don't know if any of them would suit you.

Gods... the names alone are so amusing... A *Celtic* coven named "Circle of Isis" O_o LOL

[MorningDove030202]

Just a suggestion.....

You can start a Study Circle using the very good lessons from witchschool.com I did this about a year ago and made some very good friends and learned alot, and gained some confidence in my skills. The lessons give you some structure, and people can study something and take the tests online to earn a real certificate or even go as far as to become members of the Correllian Wiccan Church, but that's optional. I recomend buying the lessons on CD so you can print out as many coppies as you need. The lessons are a great starting place IMHO. You could even start with www.wiccaforbeginners.com if you wanted something less lengthy.

Dove

[Ivy Artemisia]

First, figure out what kind of gorup you want to start. A study group or a working group? With a study group, it usually tends to be more open... and more discussion than practice... a working group is usually more like a coven, and practices and celebrates together.

I wouldn't limit the ages if I were you- you'll find that the right people will find your group. Age really is JUST a number. I know many mature 18 y/os, and very immature 50 year olds.

Be upfront with how much you know (and how much you don't know)... if you don't feel ready to "lead" a group- just be the group "coordinator," and take turns teaching or leading. Some of the best study group nights have been where everyone reseearched something on a topic, makes handouts and just shares knowledge and answers questions.

To spread the word about your group- post a listing @ witchvox, start a yahoogroup to communicate on, and put the link in your signature for your emails. Join local Pagan NY yahoogroups, and the link to your new group will be in your signature when you post. :)

Good luck!

[RhiannynWildseed]

i moved to las vegas last summer and have been wanting to be in a wiccan study group ever since. i couldn't find any good ones. people on online told me i should create my *own* wiccan group. i thought it was an interesting idea, but i didn't really know how to go about it. now i'm moving back to nyc soon, and witchvox hasn't listed any wiccans in my immediate area (except an old priest). so if i was really serious about creating a study group for younger wiccans (like 18-25 year olds)... how would i do it? i'm sure at least a few of you guys have created groups in your own area... so how did you get started? do you have to have a name for it? do you have to act as a "preistess" during celebrations? i guess i can find out where the local metaphsyical shops are and post a thing like "semi-experienced 18 year old wiccan is looking to start a group. if you are 1-25, please contact her at ______." and then i could meet whoever's interested for coffee or something and get to know them. its just an idea though... i don't know...

Hiya. I know you said you're moving to NYC, and while I don't personally know any groups in the city, I do know of a group, or church rather, out in the Rochester/Finger Lakes region of NY. I know they probably could put you in contact with some others close to the city. They are a very diverse, very knowledgable group of people.

They're called the Universal Terran Church, and you can get to there website here: http://www.uniterran-church.org (http://www.uniterran-church.org/index2.html)

Hope that helps. :)

[sybba_leigh]

Hiya. I know you said you're moving to NYC, and while I don't personally know any groups in the city, I do know of a group, or church rather, out in the Rochester/Finger Lakes region of NY. I know they probably could put you in contact with some others close to the city. They are a very diverse, very knowledgable group of people.

They're called the Universal Terran Church, and you can get to there website here: http://www.uniterran-church.org (http://www.uniterran-church.org/index2.html)

Hope that helps. :)

oh, thank you so much! that sounds awesome. i'll check it out and be sure to let you know if anything comes of it. :-)

[sybba_leigh]

Yay thank you for caring lol :-). i want to start a study group for people who aren't ready and experienced enough to be in a coven. i was thinking about maybe making it a coven after a few years if the whole idea really works out. i think basically it'll just be like a club for wiccans. we could talk about whatever we want... what's going on in our personal lives. we can lend out energy to one another and do readings for each other and learn about different things. thanks so much for the advice!


First, figure out what kind of gorup you want to start. A study group or a working group? With a study group, it usually tends to be more open... and more discussion than practice... a working group is usually more like a coven, and practices and celebrates together.

I wouldn't limit the ages if I were you- you'll find that the right people will find your group. Age really is JUST a number. I know many mature 18 y/os, and very immature 50 year olds.

Be upfront with how much you know (and how much you don't know)... if you don't feel ready to "lead" a group- just be the group "coordinator," and take turns teaching or leading. Some of the best study group nights have been where everyone reseearched something on a topic, makes handouts and just shares knowledge and answers questions.

To spread the word about your group- post a listing @ witchvox, start a yahoogroup to communicate on, and put the link in your signature for your emails. Join local Pagan NY yahoogroups, and the link to your new group will be in your signature when you post. :)

Good luck!

[RhiannynWildseed]

oh, thank you so much! that sounds awesome. i'll check it out and be sure to let you know if anything comes of it. :-)

You're entirely welcome. I met their founder online a couple years ago and he's great. They have an extention in Florida that works with a member of my organization down there to put on an interfaith discussion forum. I hear it's been a great success. I know they also have links on their site to other things in the NY area, even NYC Pagan Pride Day, so I know you'll find something. :)