In addition tobeing a symbol of religious dedication, these talismans are often blessed bythe coven back home and felt to carry the coven's protective and healingenergy. Most Wiccans meet with a coven, a small group ofpeople. Each coven is autonomous. Most are headed by a High Priestess, oftenwith the assistance of a High Priest. Some are headed by a High Priestess orHigh Priest without a partner, and some regard themselves as a gathering ofequals.
Covens can be of mixed gender, or all female or male, depending onthe preferences of the members.
Every initiate is considered to be apriestess or priest. Most covens are small. Thirteen is the traditionalmaximum number of members, although not an absolute limit. At that sizecovens form a close bond, so Wiccans in the military are likely to maintaina strong affiliation with their covens back home. A typical difference would be that moretraditional groups would tend to follow a set liturgy, whereas eclecticgroups would emphasize immediate inspiration in worship.