Greetings all, my question is this as a solitary practitioner, what benefits are there to being in a coven, what could I expect if I were to be a part of one? I meet a few people along my path who often ask about covens, what they entail, what would be required of an individual etc. Thanks for any reply.
I can't speak for everyone, as differing individuals get various things out of covens, but I can tell you what you may get out of it, from my own experiences.
For one, depending on the coven, there is often a very friendly, almost family-like environment. This is very beneficial in that it will provide you with close friends and family, all of whom work towards similar goals and interests. This gives you a bit of networking and lets you get more in-depth in the community.
If you need something, or want help furthering your path- there may be someone in said coven willing to help you out. There may be people with more experience or knowledge than you in that coven, and you can learn quite a bit from said members.
When it comes to the individuals in a coven, many vary in their paths and their practices. This gives you a little bit of exposure to other workings, and may even broaden your own interests and practices. It's a great chance to learn a lot about things you may not be so well-versed in.
As for what a coven entails and what they require, that depends on the coven specifically. It really varies. Best of luck to you. :)
I've been part of a coven for over 20 years including 12 years as the High Priestess of my own coven. Many people mistake covens as being social groups, but they are much more than that. They are in fact closely knit magical families where ties between coven members is that of very close friends or kin. At least that's what a good coven should be like.
Covens come in all shapes and sizes. Some are for men or women only, some for both genders. Some have no designated leaders, some have a system of Degrees and a High Priest and High Priestess. Some teach a specific Tradition, some are more eclectic. Each is unique onto itself.
As to requirements to get into a group...that too will vary a lot. Some will allow anyone to join who is interested. Some require extensive study and training before allowing someone into the group. And some are closed and don't take new members at all.
Covens offer a number of benefits such as:
The opportunity to learn from those with more experience and knowledge.
A structured ritual schedule.
A group of like-minded individuals
The opportunity to raise more energy to larger purposes than you can alone.
A support system to help you when life gets rough
Some Traditions (Such as Gardnerian or Alexandrian) can only be learned if you are part of a proper coven.
Here's a couple of things that I wrote about being in a coven that you might find helpful:
http://www.tangledmoon.org/thoughts_coven.htm
http://www.tangledmoon.org/covenvssolitar.htm
Hope this helps. Let me know if you have more questions.
I find being in a coven gives me a sense of belonging to something bigger than myself, yet I can remain an indivual in my practice. I look forward to coven activities, and have people that will help me like a family does. We are stronger as a coven, which comes in handy when bigger energy is needed for magickal workings. To me, being in a coven means I count, that I am not alone, and that I can contribute to the studies of magick for the new people, as well as learn from those who are more knowledgeable than me.
