Wanna be Covens

[prettyfull]

I have been wanting to join a coven for a long time and decided since I would start looking. I went to Witchvox and found one in my area, Eclectic * I would much prefer traditional...like Gardinarian, Blue Star, Alexandrian..etc...* but I thought I would give it a shot. She was younger than me, that is fine...never belonged to a coven but said she had been practicing for 15 years..that would have made her 12 when she started. I let that go.

Several things happened that made me uncomfortable. One of them was her wanting to give me a test to see what I knew so she could start us out at any level and not necessarily on the first level. That was not right in my opinion but I went along with it. Another was her wanting to call herself a High Priestess when she had never belonged to a Coven..but it is her group so fine.

She was going to have the 4 of us, 5 counting her just be automatic members...initiated in Feb. That is odd but fine, not my group.

BUT what made me the most uncomfortable is that she jumps to conclusions without all the evidence or even asking questions. A person that she was friends with and having family problems but she did not know that before she kicked her out of the group for not coming to a meeting. Once she found out she was back in the group.

I have another group, they do not call themselves a Coven, just a group of people who want to get together to learn. I told this person about the group and she became immediately defensive.

I spoke to Lucius about this and he said run...so I have not gone back.

What I find interesting is this past weekend was a Pow Wow by my home. There was a full moon ritual scheduled. I told her I could not make it as it was something I did every year and since I had already planned to go before the group was formed I was not going to change my plans.

I received a text from her accusing me of being a spy for Chris's group. She then proceeded to tell me I was out of the group...which I had already decided to not be a member of. I reminded her of the plans, that she had already been told about but that I thought it was a good idea for me not to belong since she seem to jump to conclusions so often without all the facts. It is not something I want to be a part of. I told her she really should have more respect for her members and talk to them before she jumps ahead like that again. She text-ed me back and said she does have respect but that we are not a good fit...and sorry for forgetting about the Pow Wow and spy thing and to have a good life. I text ed her back and told her I bet the members would not have a negative view about me if she did not jump to conclusions before getting the facts. I then said good bye..and that is that.

Her energy was bad to start with, she seemed very immature, and the jumping to conclusion thing really had me uneasy to start with. It seems to me that people are so busy wanting to belong that they fail to stop and think. I am grateful to Lucius and our Goddess. They both kept me from a disaster.

Let this serve as a warning. I will find the proper Coven when it is time.

[mollimizz]

PrettyFull...
I guess one has to be careful, huh ?
We can't get along with everyone all the time *shrugs*
Good luck in finding a place where you feel you belong !
Maybe even start your own "group" ?
Gentle Light
Mollimizz

[watershield]

We are all stumbling around in the dark, trying to figure out which way to go or how to proceed with this that or the other. All to often, someone who thinks they know it all organizes a group, calls it a coven and declares themselves as lord high muckity muck.

If you find a group, it's always a good idea to attend and just take in what you can. How you feel about the leadership, the content, so many things that can put you off.......don't make any commitment however. If you feel after the first meeting that they are a bunch of sheep being lead by a twit, your probably right.

If it doesn't work out, don't feel to bad. I'm sure at least 90% of this type of group will not fit with everybody.

[aura]

id never let a new member of a coven feel the way u have!
id have them sit in and chill outon there frist meet,even all my members like to sit back and enjoy the witchy rite from afar.
id not test them i may ask a few questions on what they know.
i run a coven and atm we are at a part becuase we have so much going on but keep in tabs.
they dont address me as a high priestess as i say we are all our own.
i am simply the mumi of the group though i am the youngest.

sounds like shes taken things to far and the whole things gone to her head.
you should make your own coven ^^

[prettyfull]

With this coven I spoke with her on the phone and our one meeting was to take the test. I had a migraine and told her so but it did not seem to matter.

Now with this other group we meet face to face and three of us talked for over an hour. I asked them questions and they asked me questions. Then they discussed if they wanted me to join. I was invited and things have been fine. I will stick with them for now.

I really do have a strong desire to join a more traditional coven and will wait for one to come along.

I am glad that one group is gone from my life. Though she gifted me with some candles and incense *though i told her I don't use the stick due to my asthma* I don't want so I will cleanse it and give it away. Unless someone has better ideas. She said to keep it, but it feels negative to me.

[redbolt]

I have a friend that has been pretty much trying to drag me to her coven. It seems that since she borrowed a couple books from me not even a year ago, she somehow thinks shes more knowledgable and powerful than myself - whatever.

Not only did I feel a negative vibe when she kept begging me, but recently she left that coven for another one because she was tired of the "High Priestess's" bull.

I can't press the matter on her enough that no pile of books can make up for personal experiences, because "the book says this". Seems that she thinks shes some almighty being all because I lent her a couple books.

I guess I just feel offended when someone tries to act as if they are better than you just because they read books, or their "pagan" friend told them so. This is what has pushed me away from seeking a coven - most act like everything has to be "in the book". I have concidered starting a study group amongst friends to have discussion, rather than argue about who is mighty over the other.

[Ebony]

Ew. Sounds like your coven search has not been a good experience. Makes me glad I practice alone, although I would like to have face to face contact with others to discuss and share ideas. To me a coven is equivalent to a church; too many rules and too many people thinking they are mightier than the rest.

Good luck finding what you are searching for. I will ask the guides to help you find your path.

[Avaros]

Sorry to hear of this,
Unfortunately in my area it seems that any sort of Coven is completely non-existant, as it is a very, Christian enviroment.

Good luck, I hope you find what you seek.

[Goth]

Your experiences just reminded me of the reasons I don't like joining 'real-life' organisations and groups...except on the net, of course. When you join a group on the net, if you don't like it you can leave with the click of a button. In real-life, it's so much harder to do that.

[prettyfull]

Well I have held off trying to find a coven at this moment. Life seems to have taken me in the direction of taking care of children and trying to find a way to survive school. As for that person and her coven, she still running it and leaves me alone. That makes me very happy. I do hope I find a coven soon. It would be nice to meet up with like mind here in the nonvirtual world.

[earthbound]

i have started my own coven as witches in wicklow are quit hidden and i was finding trouble to find a coven to join so like i said i started my own i do not think that i know everything but i am the high preist although i dont look at myself that way ,just as someone who directs what happens. If anyone here would give me tips on running my coven please!!! and by the way were a coven or"covenent" of boys as our girl dicided to live a solitry life so please !!!

[createholly]

Wow, you don't really want to hear about something like this, but I feel like a lot of the young practitioners are doing things the same way. I think in some ways we're sliding back into the power struggle secrecy thing. At least in most of the covens I have tried out. I've been asked to call someone High (insert title) without knowing them or their qualifications. Or I have visited in covens where no one seems to know exactly what is going on. This makes scared of what comes next for those of us who are seeking out our paths in more communal forms instead of staying solitary. Sometimes I think I would like to start my own coven but I realized I want to create a learning place. I think that's what we really need, not so many factions but a sort of basic knowledge. Maybe I''m just idealistic :]

[watershield]

I think your right CH. My experience has been that most covens are started by younger people, who's primary education has been obtained from reading a handful of paperbacks and the Internet. After just a few months or so, the feel the need to be part of a larger group (for many reasons) and set off to form their own little goddess worship ra ra club.

What I have found is that a very large percentage of people who have been around for a number of years and have gained a reasonable amount of experience and understanding are solitaries.

In fact, a coven should be a place where idea's can be exchanged and explored without fear of criticism. Where people with different back grounds and paths can share their knowledge and learn from others.
Very much like what we have right here in this forum

[marisol]

I don't believe at this time I would want to be in a coven, I've been solitary too long I guess.
I don't easily trust people or what some might say.

[sapphirerain]

I recently joined a class in order to make local contacts. It is a wonderful, amazing group of women I have found. Each week we have a different "teacher" from a long existing coven. It is my sincere hope that some of us attending will remain in contact after the classes end. The things that have transpired in this class have already amazed me. I have always practiced as a solitary but the power that can be raised in a trusting environment is truly magickal!