Ever thought of starting a coven?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 17 Jul 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

catlin	17 Jul 2002
I wonder if anyone of you has started or planned to start a coven. I am thinking about that because the only coven here around does not appeal to me. I have been a solitary practitioner for ages and now I wonder if I should start a coven to find kindred souls here where I live. What is your input?

Liliana	17 Jul 2002
Ive thought about it but I know its not time yet, I wont think about it seriously until my husband goes to graduate school and we move into a larger, my open minded city. Of course, when that happens I may not need to start one I may find one to join, but finding one open to my belief system may not be easy (mention Christianity around a lot of Wiccans and they instantly judge) But Id really like to start a coven based on the Christian Wicca book written by my friend. It may actually be published by Llwellyn, its made it through its first review and will be reviewed again in a couple months. I really hope they do it, it will be the only book of its type on the market other than the Crafted Cup, which is long out of print. :THP

magicmadrigal	17 Jul 2002
I've often thought about it, but I'm not sure I want to do something that formal. I do have an online group (coven if you like) that we've worked together for almost 8 (yikes!) years. I also have a group of female friends and we get together usually once a month for "Goddess Night" and have dinner, wine, good conversation and lots of laughs. We've done a few 'workings', healings, raising energy, even some beading, crafting and other stuff together. Both of these work well for me, so I haven't really felt the 'need' for a formal coven at this time. Maybe someday if the right sisters in the right location fall into place. MagicMadrigal

the hermit	17 Jul 2002
Not a coven, per say, but I've wanted, from time to time, to be associated with a group of people to work with. But since I'm pretty eclectic in my beliefs, I've never found a group that was willing to accept me… Here at Aeclectic I’ve sort of found a group to at least converse with. MagicMadrigal—your online group sounds interesting. If you don’t mind, how did you find and get involved with it? Liliana—As an eclectic, who isn’t Wiccan, I’ve run into some similar problems. I don’t believe in ‘christianity’ of the organized kind, but that has more to do with the organizations and their hierarchy than anything else. I’ve gathered together many different beliefs from many different paths. For instance, much of what Jesus had to say in the gospels, as opposed to how the apostles (like Paul in his letters, etc.) and later followers interpreted his teachings (catholics, protestants and other ‘organized’ sects) are not dissimilar to what other great philosophers had to say, such as Buddha. And yes, I've read the whole bible, in several different translations (KJV, NIV, NASB, NAB, NRSV, RSV), as well as much of the Torah and Mishna, the Quran, Buddhist and Taoist teachings and many philosophical christian and non-christian writings. For me, I’m still looking because it’s nice to be able to share, discuss and work together with other people along the path of knowledge.

Liliana	17 Jul 2002
Well my eclectic nature consists primarily of Christianity and Wicca, so Im used to hearing "You cant do that!" fairly frequently. Im not much into the religious hierarchy either, tho I do go to church sometimes because sermons can be educational if done well. Modern day Christianity isnt Christianity anymore, its Churchianity, as in if you dont go to my Church you are going to Hell. And if you arent even Christian then forget it. Cant take that crap much. But if you read just what Jesus taught, a lot of the religions of the World are jsut saying the same thing, so I wish wed stop arguing whose right :P :THP

the hermit	19 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Liliana Well my eclectic nature consists primarily of Christianity and Wicca, so Im used to hearing "You cant do that!" fairly frequently. Im not much into the religious hierarchy either, tho I do go to church sometimes because sermons can be educational if done well. Modern day Christianity isnt Christianity anymore, its Churchianity, as in if you dont go to my Church you are going to Hell. And if you arent even Christian then forget it. Cant take that crap much. But if you read just what Jesus taught, a lot of the religions of the World are jsut saying the same thing, so I wish wed stop arguing whose right :P :THP Liliana: Just an additional thought... I read a book sometime ago called "Meditations on the Tarot: A Journey into Christian Hermeticism". It's an interesting look at the Major Arcana by an anonymous French cleric who supposedly wanted it published anonymous after his death, which the book says was 1975. It's translated from the original french edition by Robert Powell. Another interesting book I read recently is called "Spirituality of the Skeptic" written by philosopher Robert Solomon who believes that you can have spirituality without religion or religious beliefs OR without belief in the 'supernatural'. I thought you might find them both of interest given your own issues with christianity--the Church. If you do read them, let me know what you think. Both are currently available from either Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.

Liliana	19 Jul 2002
Meditations on the Tarot has been on my wishlist for years, long before they reprinted it this year, maybe someday Ill have the money for it and the 20 or so other books I want lol Other book sounds interesting, but I do have a belief in the supernatural hehe :THP

the hermit	19 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Liliana Other book sounds interesting, but I do have a belief in the supernatural hehe As do I :) But still think it's a worthwhile read. He's a skeptic (and philosopy professor) who has come to realize that by marginalizing 'religion' (as in organized Church with a definite capital C) he recognizes that he's ignored concepts that are worth looking at and thus 'thrown out the baby with the bath water'. The book is essentially about his own inner journey (with the help of his VERY spiritually religious wife--who's a catholic) where by he realizes that spirituality is an important part of human life. And to ignore it is to be not fully alive. My own favorite example of spirituality vs religion is Nietzsche--that great "God is dead" philosopher who none the less believed in the importance of spirituality. He uses Nietzsche's great love, and feelings of spirituality, for music. His wife (Kathleen Higgins--the catholic) is a renowned Nietzsche scholar! Many forget that Nietzsche thought that god was dead within WESTERN religion and I agree. I think you might enjoy it.

lunar_rabbit	19 Jul 2002
I haven't started a coven myself, but was a member of a very new coven and had a lot of input in it's creation and growth. Unfortunately, I'm no longer a member, but that's a long story. Not sure of your path, but have you read "Covencraft"? It's basically a how to manual on starting and running a coven. You probably won't follow it to the letter, but it's a good jumping off point and may provide some things to think about. Good luck!

Ravenswing	20 Jul 2002
if we accept that any act of magick can be done over a distance, reiki can be done without contact, then the idea of a virtual coven is only one small step away. we call liliana the high priestess. and she claims to be. i consider this in all seriousness. i would say then that we are a virtual cyber-coven. we just have not all taken the step of re-cognition or initiation wasn't there a recent mid-summer celebration?? it too was a serious ritual, was it not?? i've recently had my first initiation. why now?? the difference in my life is the contact i have with all of you. i believe that was enough to rate initiation... it seems to be a piece of forever, but, by 'real' time it hasn't yet been three months. there's a powerful parcel of energy this group packs. gatherings can be through the chat room or any other such 'place'. so... what now? ravenswing tilting his head, waiting to hear an answer...

Rhiannon	20 Jul 2002
i read a post once in which zorya described herself as an "aeclectic pagan". Freudian Slip or New Religion???? R :) *who is bowing to our High Priestess* :*

Jeanette	20 Jul 2002
Well, I guess we're sort of off of the thread about starting a coven. But, since we've branched off, I could say "DITTO" to all of the things everyone else has said so far regarding their personal beliefs and feelings. When I read all of the posts so far, it was as if I had my thoughts in them! I, too, have feelings about christianity I don't want to totally ignore and discount, yet there are so many other valuable contributions other religions have made, I can't really say I believe in just one!!! I do feel a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother, which easily translates into a goddess-based religion, or spirituality, or whatever it should be called. I think it would be great to have a coven to belong to, but I wouldn't know how to find one. Are they in the yellow pages, LOL?? I'm going to look for those books, too............

Sally Gardens	20 Jul 2002
As someone who used to consider herself a "spiritual atheist" (I'm more pantheist, now), I think the book on skeptics and spirituality sounds good. I'm still not sure if I believe in the "supernatural," per se, or in simply expanding my vision of "the natural." My pantheism senses that all is connected, all is sacred, and that magic infuses the mundane and that there is no division between sacred and secular, between spirit and world. The trees are the true gods of the Earth. Anyone else ever have this feeling, or am I just wacked? :D

the hermit	20 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Sally Gardens As someone who used to consider herself a "spiritual atheist" (I'm more pantheist, now), I think the book on skeptics and spirituality sounds good. I'm still not sure if I believe in the "supernatural," per se, or in simply expanding my vision of "the natural." My pantheism senses that all is connected, all is sacred, and that magic infuses the mundane and that there is no division between sacred and secular, between spirit and world. Sally: Given your statements, I think that you'd find the book very interesting. The subtitle for "Spirituality for the Skeptic" is "The Thoughtful Love of Life". As I wrote earlier in this thread, Robert Solomon examines his own search of philosophy for spirituality and takes us along for the ride. The chapter headings include-- 'Spirituality as Passion', 'Spirituality as Cosmic Trust', 'Spirituality, Fate and Fatalism', and 'The Self in Transformation: Self, Soul and Spirit'. I found it an interesting look at philosophy in general and today's 'canned' intellectualism. I also think at least some of what Solomon calls spirituality is very compatible with my view of life (magick). For me, all life is magickal. All creation is magickal. I hope you, and others take a look at this interesting book. Quote: Originally posted by Sally Gardens The trees are the true gods of the Earth. Anyone else ever have this feeling, or am I just wacked? :D If you are, then so am I. I can't stand under an old grandfather oak, or a towering pine, or massive redwood, without wondering if I'm looking at a god/dess. If not, then certainly, at the very least, a wise old sage. Even the little scrub oaks around California give me a feeling of wiseness, of knowledge to be shared... who knows, maybe we should be testing hickorys and elms instead of dolphins :)

Sally Gardens	21 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by the hermit Quote: The trees are the true gods of the Earth. Anyone else ever have this feeling, or am I just wacked? If you are, then so am I. I can't stand under an old grandfather oak, or a towering pine, or massive redwood, without wondering if I'm looking at a god/dess. If not, then certainly, at the very least, a wise old sage. Even the little scrub oaks around California give me a feeling of wiseness, of knowledge to be shared... who knows, maybe we should be testing hickorys and elms instead of dolphins :) The feeling I get, when I contemplate the trees, is one of awe and a redefinition of divinity. Instead of omnipotence, we see vulnerability, limitation, nurturing from that which "rules" our lives. The trees are literally our breath of life, and we (CO2-exhaling organisms) theirs, and yet we have the power to destroy them...anyway, I'm trying to express the ineffable, here, but maybe you can get a glimpse of what I'm trying to say.

catlin	23 Jul 2002
Until now I only got requests from newbies concerning my coven posting in www.witchvox.com so I think this will more turn into a Wiccan study group than a "real" coven. Frankly speaking, I am not so fond of having another newbie group round me as I am a bit spoilt with the high discussion level here on a.net and I am also a bit sobered by my experiences with my tarot circle so I am not sure to hold on this project.

emily2otters	24 Jul 2002
the two covens i've had the pleasure of co-creating began as discussion groups. over time, some people began to feel they had a bond and formalized it by naming themselves a group and meeting privately, outside the discussion space. i don't believe that a person starts with "coven" and finds people to fill it. i think you'll have better luck if you start with people, and then re-form into a coven.

catlin	29 Jul 2002
Hi Emily, I just started with the word "Coven" to make it clear that this is a serious request, not for wannabe's. You know, there is much "Eso-hopping" here (this is a word I created to describe ppl who pretend to be one day interested in channelling, next day in tarot, next day in something else, in short, they all pretend to be interested in spiritual matters but are not serious) and I really do not want to spent my free time with such guys. In the meantime, I have decided to meet with the folk who seems to be interested and to see what will turn out.

Liliana	29 Jul 2002
Well I guess I am sort of an unofficial High Priestess here, have been for quite awhile for a small group of us that we often jokingly refer to as the Tarot Sex Coven lol (mainly consisting of me, as High Priestess, Kiama as Princess of Pentacles, Pollux as Knight of Swords, and Kayne as King of Wands, tho there was one other person involved in the ritual who started this and I can remember who it was lol) But to be High Priestess to all of aeclectic, how scary, a cover with thousands of members lol. But perhaps I have been without realizing it :) I have been a part of cybercovens before, typing entire rituals in chat rooms, unfortunately the leaders of the cybercoven lived near each other and ended up forming a real coven so they are busy on the holidays :) Its ok tho since we have the rituals here, oops we never finished midsummer, oh well :) :THP

The Ever thought of starting a coven? thread was originally posted on 17 Jul 2002 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.