Question for Raymond

david hobbs · Question for Raymond

What makes a new coven work?

What advice can you give to someone who has attended many and organised nil!!!!!

Raymond

Ok, first of all I have to admit I'm not really a "coven-y" person. I have always preffered to work solitary.
However I have attended covens over the years and in most cases it ended in tears.
Right now I just meet with like minded friends usually at the sabbats and we avoid all the trappings of being a coven.

Firstly you would have to decide what type of coven you want. There are many different types but all of them usually break down into one of two types: Traditional or Modern.

In a traditional coven there is a High Priest and a High Priestess (usually a couple in a relationship) these two will always be High Priest (HP for short) and High Prirstess (HPS) until they decide to step down.
If and when they do step down they will appoint the new HP and HPS to take their place.
Traditional covens usually have a perfect balance of male/female members and usually they are paired off as a 'working couple' whether or not they are in a personal relationship.
In a traditional coven the HPS is at the top of the tree. She can listen to other coven members and be advised by the HP but ultimately decisions made for the coven will rest with her.
Traditional covens can work very well so long as everybody involved agrees to play by the rules.
The downside to a traditional coven is very often the power eventually goes to the HPS's head and she can become very egotistical.

A modern coven on the other hand is much more democratic. The HP and the HPS are usually voted into position by all coven members.
They hold this post for a year and a day and then they are either re-elected or somebody else is elected in.
Decisions for the coven are also decided upon by all members.

As with all things there are positives and negatives to both options.

My best advice if you are thinking of starting a coven Mr. Hobbs is to take your time choosing members and don't rush into anything.
The worst thing in any coven is if the members don't 'gel'.
The smallest amount of resentment of animosity between members will fester and ultimately lead to the destruction of the group.
It's not easy to find a group of people who all like each other.

Also, decide what kind of coven you will be, will you follow a Wiccan path with strict rules or will you be more of an ecclectic pagan group?

It involves a lot of work and planning and if I be of any help at all please feel free to just ask.

david hobbs

Thank you for the advice Raymond.

I think I like the idea of the modern coven because there is less chance of stagnation.

It may start as a a coven of four people only, and if that works it will grow from there.
I am a great believer in looking at the signs so we shall see.

Raymond

Good for you Mr. Hobbs.
Don't forget, if there's anything I can help with please just let me know.

david hobbs

Thank you Raymond I appreciate that.

I shall see what happens and you shall be the first to know.

Raymond

What type of coven are you planning on Mr. Hobbs? A traditional Wiccan one, a general based Witchcraft one or a more seasonal celebration pagan group?

david hobbs

I think a celebration of the seasons would be a good starting point.

Raymond

Yes that's probably best. Start off smalland see where it leads.

Ian

seasonal coven sounds like a good idea.

david hobbs

Tonight I dowsed the field closest to the farm house for a suitable site to build our circle.
The strongest indication placed us close to two oak trees. We have marked the centre point, and the outer edge and soon two stones will be placed in position. The stones were discovered on the land when two barns were being built, and are genuine standing stones.
We need more stones but I am a believer that if it is meant to be they will turn up.
It won't be ready for the solstice but there is no rush.

Raymond

Sounds very good. I may just have to invite myself down for the opening ceremony.
Who is involved in this coven with you? Is the current Mrs. Hobbs on board?

david hobbs

Magi is more into paganism than I am really. Anne of course and her husband Brian. It's now a matter of inviting who ever feels right. Raymond you would be very welcome.

We are going to keep it simple to begin with and basically Anne wants to celebrate what the ancestors would have. By ancestors I think she means BC so I guess it would be ruled by the Moon and Sun.

We don't want to stick rigidly to the ideas of others but of course they make a good base to begin with.

Raymond

A very good book you should try and get your paws on is 'Ancient Ways' by Pauline Campanelli (ISBN: 0-87542-090-7).

Thanks for the invite by the way. I would love to come and see this circle you are creating and hopefully there will be some kind of official opening to bless it and welcome in the old ones and the elements.

I'd like to bring some people with me if that's okay (mostly because I don't drive) but some friends of mine would love to be part of this too.

Run it by your fellow coveners and see if they wouldn't mind a few of us decending and we'll have to arrange a date for this.

Actrually, sometime around the solstice would be perfect to open and bless a new circle.