Making a coven

[acorn elf]

Has anyone ever gathered up a coven? I am a teen living in a suburb where that kind of thing would not be publicized so I might end up having to do that if I ever want to take a break from being solitary. If you've made a coven or been in one, how long did it take, any advice, where to meet, etc?

[Sibylle]

I have NOT been in a coven yet, I'm a solitary and quite comfortable being one. I know people in covens though, and maybe I can give you some helpful hints.

First of all, don't rush it. I don't want to sound as old as the hills (well, I guess I am, LOL), but especially among teens there are many who'll go along just because being a "witch" sounds cool. Make sure you gather people around you who are serious about wanting to study the mysteries, and who know that it'll take more than a bit of incense-burning and murmuring incantations to be a practising witch.

Next step, study together. Get a good book with group exercises, Starhawk's "The Spiral Dance" has a few great ones (even if you don't agree with her version of witchcraft, the exercises are still good and can be used in almost any tradition). Agree on a few good books to read and discuss them in the group. Complement the book study with the aforementioned exercises, things like breathing as a group, group meditations, and eventually energy work (raising and grounding energy as a group).

Take your time; allow at least six months before you start calling this a "coven". A coven is something where people have absolute trust in each other, and something for the long haul; after several months you'll be able to see who's serious and who was just curious but isn't ready to actually put in some work.

Eventually, you can decide as a group which tradition you want to follow, if any, and what your practise is going to look like. Will you meet at the full moons and sabbats only? Or at waxing moon, full moon, waning moon? Will you do formal rituals or rather group exercises? Etc. etc. But trust me, if you allow enough time as a study group before you actually found the coven, you will all have a pretty clear idea about what you're going to do when the time comes.

Good luck :)

Hugs!!


P.S. I like your avatar ;)

[Ben Gruagach]

I would recommend that you wait more than just six months with the same group of people before calling your group a coven. A year and a day is a better time period as it gives you a full cycle through the Wheel of the Year.

There are a number of books out about starting up and running covens. There are a few of them mentioned in this thread (http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=96331) here at MysticWicks.

And be sure to check the listings for your area at http://www.witchvox.com/xvn.html (http://www.witchvox.com/xvn.html) as there might be groups that are already established that you didn't know about. And if there aren't any in your area, you should consider creating a listing at Witchvox for your group (if you start one) so that others can find you.

Witchvox also has a lot of good info and resources specifically for teens. There are listings specifically for teen groups for instance. And they have a lot of essays and articles written by teens for teens (http://www.witchvox.com/_x.html?c=teen) too.

[Sibylle]

To avoid misunderstandings... I didn't mean six months as a limit, rather as a sort of minimum time period, knowing the impatience of teens ;)

Hugs!!

[acorn elf]

:spinnysmi you've got that right. I think maybe I'll just get together with a few friends on occasion, not having anything formal. I looked up on witchvox and the closest thing is probably a 1/2 hour drive away, so I think I'd rather just keep it casual here.
Sibylle, I like your avatar, too.

[KEishin]

Witchvox is probably the best place to start. Don't just limit yourself to looking for covens alone - many only advertise (if at all) by word of mouth. Often times if you active in community groups, you'll leanr who's looking and who isn't. And if you decide after all you don't want a coven, at least you've made lot of similarly-minded friends. Most coven have what called "Opens" or open circles, which allow you to celebrate Sabbats and decide if you'd like to join.

I waited 7 years to join a coven - I was solitary first. They both have their charm. Don't feel pressured into being in one of the other.

Good luck!

[RubyRose]

Personally, I like being a practicing solitary, its rather peaceful.
But I'd try searching witchvox first see if there's a coven in your area. It might be easier than trying to start your own.

[Ron]

All I can say is: Make friends; mutural relationships, in which neither is the teacher, but both are learners.

:)

[fay]

Last year I started at sixth form college and met up with a girl I went to primary school with. She and I made friends and I found that she also practiced Wicca. She introduced me to another like-minded friend and for most of last year we would go to this cafe after college on Mondays and talk about things Pagan-related. It was really great, we even did a ritual together on Beltane. I really enjoyed having people to talk to about that stuff and help me, as they had both been practicing a lot longer than I have. We didn't call it a coven, mainly because it wasn't, we called it a circle.
Unfortunately, this year those two girls had a big falling out and are no longer friends and so circle stopped. However, in a strange coincidence that makes me smile, one of our other friends has shown an interest in tarot cards and so the girl I went to primary school with and I decided to take her to the shop that we know that sells them. Then she wanted help in using them so we've met up over the past couple of weeks and it feels similar to last year, having like minded people to talk to :)

Anyways, sorry. I did have a point, I just no longer remember it :bigredblu
But talking to like minded people is always fun and I agree with Sibylle and Ben that maybe you should just start with that and move onto being a coven. My friends and I actually said that last year, that we would see if more people were interested in coming and if, after a while, we felt that we trusted each other enough then maybe we could think about calling ourselves a coven. As I said before though, we didn't exactly last the duration :)
good luck
blessed be