The phrase “coven” itself could already be in your vocabulary. From watching cool and mysterious documentaries to seeing them in lots of Hollywood films and reveals like “The Craft,” “The Blair Witch Venture,” “Hansel & Gretel”, and “American Horror Story,” covens have been utilized in media for hundreds of years.
In truth, covens date again to the Renaissance prints that depicted witches. Even Shakespeare used witches for his three “bizarre sisters” in “Macbeth” in 1606. So, covens have been round for a while, however are they precisely?
What’s a coven?
In accordance with Britannica, a coven is a “primary group through which witches are stated to collect” and that “every member of a coven is alleged to focus on a selected department of magic, reminiscent of bewitching agricultural produce, producing illness or dying in people, storm elevating, or seduction.”
The phrase “coven” got here to be by English Egyptologist Margaret Murray in her work “The Witch Cult in Western Europe,” which was printed in 1921. In accordance with Murray, “a coven consists of 12 witches and a satan as a pacesetter. The quantity is usually taken as a parody of Christ and his 12 disciples.”
The phrase “coven” comes from the Anglo-Norman “covent,” “cuvent,” in addition to from Previous French “covent” and Latin “conventum.”
To place it merely, a coven is a bunch of witches, however there may be way more historical past, ritual, and that means behind these teams.
Covens maintain a sacred pact and bond their witch members collectively uniquely.
A coven is a congregation of witches devoted to the teachings and apply of Wicca. Whereas there may be usually a deity of some kind whom the coven worships — like a pagan god, an animal, and even the satan — it isn’t essentially important, particularly if the coven doesn’t prescribe to strict custom.
The aim of a coven is to carry witches collectively. A coven can educate rituals and spells to assist the group acquire extra data and go down traditions.
Covens are additionally stronger and stronger than particular person witches. When witches come collectively and apply as a coven, their spells are extra highly effective and extra more likely to manifest what they supposed. There’s additionally a way of unity and acceptance.
For hundreds of years, witches have been condemned, so coming collectively on this means can carry solace and supply a solution to look out for one another.
How To Begin A Coven
Within the nontraditional sense, a coven will be created by any group of witches who want to come collectively to apply magic. There’s actually no official information on the way to begin a coven particular guidelines to observe.
At its core, a coven is a bunch of nonetheless many individuals who share the identical ideology and respect for Wicca.
1. Be intent in your objectives.
Earlier than you do something, it is advisable to know what your objectives are on your coven. What are you going to worship? Will you worship one thing/somebody? How will your ceremonies go? When will conferences be held? What sort of members would you like?
It’s good to absolutely flesh this out earlier than you begin something in order that when your members have questions, you’ve solutions for them.
2. Create an initiation course of.
Historically, witches are initiated. The initiation practices can fluctuate between covens, however the level of initiation is to make a strong, solemn promise of loyalty and dedication.
Generally sacrifice is concerned, however that doesn’t essentially imply slaughtering an animal. The sacrifice may very well be private like sacrificing a sentimental object or turning into vegan.
Covens led by a Excessive Priestess are the most typical conventional formation of a coven. When a witch is coaching to be a Excessive Priestess and her coaching is full, she could then cut up off from her present coven to type her personal.
3. Keep in mind that numbers do not actually matter.
A coven is basically only a group of witches, so actual numbers can fluctuate.
Normally, not less than three witches are wanted to make up a coven, and historically not more than 20 could be part of. Nevertheless, massive covens reaching a lot greater than 20 members are doable.
However the variety of witches doesn’t decide the energy of the coven, which is deemed by the energy of the witches that make up the coven.
4. Preserve belief sturdy.
Inherently, a coven must be shaped on belief. With out belief in your coven, damaging power can spiral uncontrolled, particularly when training magic.
The group must really feel nurtured and supported, and have a secure area to be themselves. With out this bond, the coven will endure.
Consider a coven as your discovered household who understands each other and helps one another on their magical path or journey.
5. Make certain every witch is critical about their craft.
When making a coven, you do not wish to embody anybody who thinks it is only a enjoyable joke. You need critical practitioners so your coven can develop sturdy.
For a coven to work, you want fully-fledged believers in witchcraft so the rituals and ceremonies you carry out collectively do not get derailed by a non-believer.
Upon getting a brilliant sturdy coven, you can begin bringing in those that simply want to dabble within the apply or get their ft moist. In fact, you need to maintain them on the bench whereas ceremonies are occurring till they really feel they’re actually there for the craft.
6. Maintain an preliminary gathering.
As soon as you recognize what you need your coven to be, you’ll be able to start inviting folks to affix. Plan when and the place it is going to be, and what the agenda of the assembly will embody.
Deal with this primary assembly as an orientation to the coven (i.e., laying out what you’ll do, and what members shall be requested to do). Be absolutely conscious that some individuals who present up is not going to have an interest. Do not strain them to remain, since you don’t need that power in your coven, to start with.
Professional tip: Over-invite on your first assembly by 100%. So if you’re in search of 6 members, invite 12.
7. Be a democracy.
Sure, every coven ought to have a pacesetter and most frequently it is the one who founds the coven. An incredible coven, nonetheless, consists of its members in its selections.
So in your gatherings, focus on concepts along with your coven and brainstorm collectively. Facilitate the sharing and growth of concepts. Workshop what folks wish to do and see what works and what does not. It is vital to not be a dictatorship.
8. By no means push a member too far.
Individuals have boundaries for a purpose, so ensure that your members really feel secure and safe throughout the setting of the coven. If somebody is feeling uncomfortable a few ritual, for instance, do not push them to take part in it.
Simply as a lot as you wish to bask in magic and funky rituals, it is advisable to maintain your members first. With out wholesome, assured, and comfortable members, your coven will shortly flip fearful and crumble.
9. Do your analysis.
When you’ve a coven, you could wish to do analysis on the way to finest information them and look into rituals or ceremonies to make use of. You may lookup the way to strengthen your coven and assist them develop as witches.
It is vital that your coven is all the time progressing and never turning into stagnant. You wish to assist one another develop and develop data of the craft you all take pleasure in.
10. Keep away from stereotypes and dogma.
Dogma is a precept or set of ideas laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true. There is no such thing as a good and evil magic, so do not attempt to push that agenda in your coven.
Sure, there will be dangerous magic, however as you analysis, you’ll learn to take care of and keep away from that. In case you are open to new energies, your coven shall be secure and guarded and be led to greater data and perception.
11. Have enjoyable.
Covens are usually not all the time stern and critical. Sure, you have to be critical about your craft however a coven is a neighborhood.
Be sure you make it enjoyable and alluring. Maintain occasions that spark pleasure on your members and keep in mind why you created the coven within the first place: To have a bunch of like-minded folks share an area the place everybody might freely be themselves. And that, my mates, is one thing price celebrating.
Colleen Fogarty is a author and contributor to YourTango. She covers self-care, astrology, way of life, and relationship matters.
