Magical Almanac: Practical Magic for Everyday Living - Lauryn Heineman 2018

So You Want to Start a Coven? by Alexandra Chauran
Water Magic

So you’ve decided that you’d like to start your very own coven of Witches. Perhaps you’ve been practicing the solitary lifestyle, meaning that you’ve been a Witch practicing magic or worship alone for a while, and now you’d like to try working with other Witches on your own terms. Perhaps you’re new to this whole Witchcraft thing, but you have an enthusiastic gaggle of friends eager to learn alongside you. Maybe you’ve enjoyed a coven before, but circumstances such as a move, a new baby, too many people, or ideological differences have caused you to part ways. Whatever the reason, you’re embarking on an incredible adventure that will teach you more than you can learn from any book. Make no mistake—there will be problems along the way. You’re probably in for a lot more work than you anticipated. Starting a coven is an act of service, so if you take on the attitude of service as your mantle, you’ll be just fine.

I remember when I first decided to start a coven. I had always been drawn to worshipping in a group of Witches. My parents drove me to witchy workshops and rituals when I was a teen. As a young undergraduate in university, I founded a Pagan student group. By the time I was in my early twenties, I was ready to settle down and let somebody else take the lead and teach me what I was supposed to be doing, in a traditional sense. Thank goodness I was wise enough to reach out to those who had gone before. After reading exemplary articles and books such as “Trollspotting” by Eran and A Teaching Handbook for Wiccans and Pagans by Thea Sabin, I stepped things up by watching other coven-leaders in action. I believe that the third step had to be from my gods, thrusting me into the leadership role once again.

After experiencing personality clashes and personal mistakes, I became a newly minted elder in my tradition in what was considered a foster coven, a place for me to learn and grow while I decided whether to return to my old coven or do something else. Suddenly, a highly regarded priest in my Wiccan community was diagnosed with cancer and made it known that starting a coven was on his bucket list. Since in my tradition a priest needs a high priestess to run a coven, I eagerly stepped forward to help a friend and to try to seek my heart’s true home. What I found in starting a coven was so much more than I could ever have dreamed. I forged a bond with my coven-mates that was closer than family, and I unwrapped my faith like a present of many layers.

Important Steps to Starting a Coven

Since my steps toward starting a coven worked for me, I’m going to present them here for you and share a few of the lessons that I learned the hard way.

Step 1. Research and Fix Your Mind on Your Goal

Figure out what you really want from practicing Witchcraft in a coven. Are you looking forward to becoming a teacher yourself? If so, you’ll want to form a “teaching coven.” A teaching coven is one that focuses on paying forward the gifts and knowledge that are received from the coven. As a member of a teaching coven, you can look forward to regular and increasing public outreach as you search for students, as well as frequent changes to your coven membership as your coven hives, or splits into two smaller covens, when it gets too large.

Conversely, you may be interested in a “working coven.” We’re Witches, right? That means we can focus our force of will on what we want in life and make it happen.

In the beginning of your coven formation, you’ll need to fully visualize what sort of coven bonds and practice you want to form. What will you actually do in your coven, and how will you treat each other when you gather?

Step 2: Find a Mentor

In many areas of the world, books are the only windows to the wisdom of those who have walked a path before you and chose to tell the tale. Reach out if you are lucky enough to have access to an experienced coven leader, called a queen; coleaders, which might include a magus, the high priest of the coven; a maiden, who is the understudy to the queen; or a summoner, who is the communications face of the coven. Learning from another coven can take the form of a Wicca 101 class, a book club, glorified ice cream social, or even just hanging out with the coven leaders in their homes.

In any case, the key to your learning is to ask the right questions. If two people were learning from the same coven mentors at the same time, the person who asked the most questions would learn the very most. So, lay aside your pride and bring up whatever questions spring to mind as you learn. As you see what works and what doesn’t, you’ll revise the initial image of what you’re going to be doing with your coven.

Step 3: Find Your People

If you don’t already have wannabe Witches beating down your door, you’ll have to reach out to find some members for your coven. Keep in mind that your coven won’t be right for absolutely everyone. There might be people out there willing to cause harm, or at least trouble, to your coven and household.

If you’re meeting strangers, it is essential that you make your first meeting outside of your home. Post flyers anywhere you want, such as metaphysical bookstores, coffee shops, festivals, or online. Interview newcomers in a coffee shop, pub, library, or bookstore to determine whether they have the same goals and to make sure they’re respectful and responsible. Set a date and a time on the calendar and get started.

Step 4: Reflect, Be Flexible, Learn, and Grow

You’ll need to be flexible to the needs of your coven and to your own boundaries as a coven leader. You may find yourself in the position of asking a coven member to take a break, often called a sabbatical, or even to leave the coven to find their own way or to be placed in another coven that you recommend. Be brave, and make the decision that best benefits your coven, your practice, and your gods.

____

In conclusion, I’d like to encourage folks to avoid some common mistakes that I have learned the hard way. Treat all your mentors with respect at all times, and consult them first even with your disagreements in their teachings, so that misunderstandings can be corrected before feelings are hurt. Don’t set ultimatums, spread gossip, or cause drama. If you find yourself needing to shop around for a new coven, make sure you do so with the full knowledge of your existing coven.

Starting a coven can be a rewarding way to learn and to serve one’s gods. I pray that you serve others well as a teacher and always temper your power with humility.