What Is a Coven

By Forest Butera 4/29/98
Rev. 2/16/99; 2nd Rev. 8/17/01

Over the past decade more and more people have become interested in Wicca leading to a shortage of teachers of traditional Wicca. Many people are forced to, or are choosing to form their own working groups with friends without having had any formal training in Wicca. Many people call their groups “covens” believing that any group of people working together for the purpose of practicing witchcraft may claim this title. We do not want to argue this point, but we do want it known that since the beginning of Wicca in 1949 covens have had structure, training programs and trained priests and priestesses.

Traditionally new covens are formed by “hiving” from a mother coven. In other words when a priest and/or priestess have attained the level of competency and wisdom deemed adequate to run a coven they are officially given permission from their teachers to break away and form a new coven. We observe that the definition of “coven” has become greatly diluted by the number of loose-knit, and self-taught groups using the term. A traditional coven is not for everyone. Many people are more at home in a non-traditional group. Be sure you know the structure of any group you are investigating before you make commitments to that group.

A coven is a unique entity.

It is not a club.

A club may include members who drop in whenever they don't have something better to do, joined merely to find friends without having a sincere interest in the club's focus, or because it is “in” to belong to that particular club. As long as you pay your dues, you remain a member of the club. That will not work in a coven.

It is not a church.

Churches have large congregations in order to support large buildings. Churches may contain within their structure many “ministries”, whose purpose may be teaching children, visiting the sick, fund raising, and community outreach. Most covens have no paid clergy, nor fund-raising sub-groups, nor are they practical within any group with a limited membership consisting mainly of people who work full-time jobs.

Wicca is said to be a “religion” because it involves worship of gods, has priests (and priestesses), and provides a platform for spiritual growth. However, Wicca differs from “conventional” religions in many ways. Everyone in Wicca is considered to be a priest or priestess, or in training to become a priest or priestess. We do not believe we need someone to intervene between us and the gods. High Priests and Priestesses of Wicca serve as guides to point the way to enlightenment but should never be viewed as an indispensable part of one's spirituality. Wicca teaches that each individual has the capability to draw energy from the gods and universe into themselves for the purpose of healing and other magic. We do not ask (pray to) the gods to do things for us. We ask them to guide us, instruct us and give us strength.

What a coven is

While a coven may seem to have some elements of the above mentioned groups, it is a mistake to expect a coven to duplicate or be a substitute for any or all of them.

Ideally, a coven is a group of like-minded people who come together with the understanding that there is strength in numbers and any organization is only as strong as its weakest link. What a coven is, most of all, is a “group mind”. A coven is a group of people who have worked hard to achieve rapport so that the focus and flow of every ritual comes naturally to the entire group.
With that in mind it is necessary for each member of a coven to understand that self-confidence, sincerity, ambition, and absolute honesty are critical characteristics of a dedicated witch. While even the most traditional coven allows for some differences in belief, there is absolutely no room for personal agendas which do not serve the interests of the entire coven.
A coven provides a platform for sharing craft-related experiences, working together to raise energy for magic, group meditations, spiritual growth, and enlightenment.

Coven membership (Dedication or Initiation depending on the tradition) is not something to be entered into lightly. One must understand completely, the rights and obligations of members of the coven at all the various levels. If there is ever any question as to what those rights and obligations are, the priest or priestess should be consulted personally as soon as the question arises.