What do you call a group of witches? | Reference.com What do you call a group of witches? A: Quick Answer A group of witches is known as a coven, and it was suggested throughout the biggest part of the 20th Century that witches in Europe met in covens consisting of 13 witches. In modern times, followers and practitioners of Wicca, who are known as Wiccans, gather in covens in much the same way that Christians gather in congregations. Full Answer According to the Oxford English Dictionary, it is thought that the word "coven" originated in the medieval Scotland around the year 1500, and it was originally used to denote a gathering of any kind. It is a derivative of the Latin "to come together or to gather," which is "convenire." This Latin etymology is also behind the word "convene." The word "coven" was first recorded in use during the trial of a Scottish witch in 1662 — Isobel Gowdie. The term was not commonly applied until 1921, when folklorist Margaret Murray promoted the notion of covens being made up of 13 witches.

Although covens of yesteryear probably met in secret locations due to the continual misunderstanding of those who practice non-traditional religions (a behavior that might get them burned at the stake,) today's witches have the option of joining an online coven. Most internet covens have membership numbers of 100 or less, and many of them are subscription based. Don't Miss the 10 Best-Known Witch Names - EnkiVillage Top 10 Best-Known Witch Names Witchcraft and witches have been around for centuries and can be traced back to when man first discovered fire. They would sit by the flames and come up with all kinds of concoctions. The term “witch” originated from “wicca”, which means “the wise one”, witches are considered to be demonic spirits. A good example is the Apollo priestess, Cassandra, who was responsible for the prediction of the fall of Troy. There is also one that is mention in the Old Testament of the Bible, the Endor witch, against who people are warned. Apart from the legendary witch names, there are those witches that lived among men.

However, it is unclear if they were acting under the orders of the devil or they were simply not understood and treated as outcasts. Top 10 Best-Known Witch Names 1 Circe--Solider-Hater According to Greek mythology, Circe was the daughter of Helios and the goddess of magic other times depicted as a witch or nymph. It is said that she lived on an island known as Aeaea and had a rather strange hobby of drugging and turning sailors into animals along with all those that offended her. This can be done because she was so good at using herbs, portions and a wand or staff. It is said that her father and subjects exiled her after she put an end to her husband’s life. She was also remembered for turning Odysseus men into swine, but Odysseus was not affected because he had been given a magic plant to protect him from her powers. 2 Morgan Le Fay--All for King Arthor With a variety of names including Morgan Le Faye and Morgana, Morgan Le Fay was a powerful witch in the tales of King Author. According to the tales, she tried to bring down the kind Queen Guinevere with magic because the Queen had banished her when she was younger.

Morgana betrayed Sir Lancelot, the queen’s lover and went ahead to frustrate the quests of King Author’s knights. After King Author’s final battle, she reconciled with him and took him back to Avalon. She existed during the middle ages and her fate remains a mystery. 3 Jenny Greenteeth--Pain Bringer Among the famous witches is Jenny Greenteeth. Her name varies in the different parts of England. She goes by Jinny, Jeannie, Ginny or Wicked Jenny. She is said to have had green skin with sharp teeth and long hair. She was a sadist who enjoyed putting both young and old people through pain. In some versions of the tale, it is said that she drowned old and young people for fun, and in others she used to devour her victims. However the purpose of this tale was probably just to scare children from wandering off deep into the rivers when they went out to swim. 4 Hecate--Goddess of Crossroads Hecate is among the witch names that pop up in Greek mythology. She was the daughter of the titan Perses and the goddess of witchcraft and sorcery. To this very day, she is still worshiped by select Greek Polytheists.

It is believed that the jinx concept originated from her. People built shrines of her to avoid the anger of evil spirits and demons in the Greek myths. She is said to appear in threes and is associated with entrance ways, crossroads, light as well as dogs. 5 Moll Dyer--the Curser Moll Dyer lived in the 17th century in Maryland, St. Mary’s County. She was claimed to be an eerie woman who was an outcast and survived through the generosity of strangers. However, she was suspected of witchcraft and was banished from her hut on a cold winter night. She ran off into the woods and disappeared for a few days after which a local boy found her body. She was frozen to a rock. She knelt on it and raised one hand cursing all the men that banished her. On the rock, marks of her knees were left, and it is said that her spirit haunted Maryland for centuries with weird animals and epidemics striking the area. However, there is little evidence supporting her existence. 6 Alice Kyteler--the Widow In the history of Ireland, Dame Alice tops the list of witch names.

Dame Alice Kyteler was born in 1280 and was among the first people in Ireland to be accused of witchcraft. She was a noble woman from Hiberno-Norman. She was a rich money-lender, but coincidentally all her husbands would die and leave all their wealth with her. When the 4th husband became ill and his nails started falling off, his children suspected something was amiss considering the fact that he was to sign his will that said all his wealth go to Alice. Dame Alice was put on trial by the church for leading a secret society of heretical sorcerers and charged with relations with an incubus. However, she managed to escape prison every time and left her son and servant to be her scapegoats. She is said to have gone to England where she led a lavish life to her last days. 7 Agnes Waterhouse--Devil's Assistant Topping the England list of witch names is Agnes Waterhouse. The famous witch was also known as Mother Waterhouse. She and other 2 witches were accused of heinous crimes including dillydallying with the devil, murder and causing physical harm by use of their black magic.

Unlike other witches that received judgment from the church, Agnes Waterhouse was the 1st witch to be judged by a secular court. She was sentenced to death by hanging because she showed no remorse for her crimes. She testified that she practiced dark magic and had a cat called Satan that she used as an agent to kill people. She also said that she had been told by the devil that she would eventually face her death by either hanging or burning. However, as she walked to the gallows to be hanged she asked for forgiveness from God. 8 Agnes Sampson--Storm Maker Agnes Sampson is one of the most famous Witch Names in Scotland. She was a midwife to the people of East Lothian and was said to have healing powers. Apparently, she attended a coven that was hosted by Satan in a small church Alud Krik Green, North Berwick in Scotland. The intention for the meeting was to summon a storm that was intended to sink Queen Anne’s Voyage who was the new King James VI’s Danish bride. The voyage was headed from Copenhagen to Scotland, but they never made it as the storm sent to them forced them to take refuge at port Norway.

Upon hearing the news, King James VI went to bring her home, but they were hit by another supernatural storm. However, they got to Scotland safely, and King James VI started a tribunal to execute all the witches that were in that coven. 9 Entjen Gillis--Babykiller Entjen Gillis was a midwife in Netherlands in the 17th century. After being brought to justice during the witch hunts of 1613, she testified that she had killed fetuses of 40 pregnant women, 150 newborn babies as well as their mothers. She also killed her children and husband with witchcraft. It is also said Gillis together with 13 other witches caused diseases and deaths of livestock and elders. She was burnt to death alongside 63 other witches. 10 ​Märet Jonsdotter--Attendor of Witches’ Sabbaths Märet Jonsodotter was born in 1644 and met her death after being burnt alive in 1672. She was among the 1st witches to be accused during “Det Stora Oväsendet”, meaning The Great Noise. This was the beginning of serious witch hunts in Sweden.

It is claimed that she attended Witches’ Sabbaths in Blockula. The first person to accuse her was Gertrud Svendsdotter. At the time, Gertrud was being investigated by a priest because she had been seen leading goats across the water as Moses did in the Bible. Gertrud, whose father had courted Märet, said that it was Märet who introduced her to witchcraft and the devil as well. As the trial went on, Gertrud’s father said that Märet had ridden him as a horse to Blockula. Her sister also said Märet and she used to rid cowa to Blockula. At there they slaughtered the animals and slept with the devil. Since Märet wouldn't confess, she was not convicted at that time. But later on she was burnt alive. ANY IDEAS ABOUT THIS TOPIC? Please Log In or add your name and email to post the comment.

NAME: Coven - Witchcraft Terms and Tools - Witchcraft Witchcraft Terms and Tools - Coven Modern Wiccan coven celebrating a Handfasting ceremony in Avebury, England (2005) (from ) In Wicca and other similar forms of modern Neopagan witchcraft, a coven is a gathering or community of witches, a group of believers who gather together for ceremonies of worship, such as Drawing Down the Moon or celebrating the Sabbats . Other words may also be used, such as clan, grove, sept, touta, cove. The word �coven� (or �covan�) was originally a late medieval (c.1500) Scots word meaning a gathering of any kind, deriving from the Latin root word �convenire� (meaning to come together or to gather). The first recorded use of it being applied to witches, however, came much later, in the 1662 trial of Isobel Gowdie , which described a coven of thirteen members.

Even then, the word remained largely unused in English until 1921, when Margaret Murray promoted the idea, now much disputed, that historically all witches across Europe met in groups of thirteen which they called �covens�. The number of witches in a coven may vary, and any meeting of three or more can be considered a coven. Twenty is often considered a rule-of-thumb maximum, although covens of up to sixty are not unheard of. Some covens limit membership to thirteen, possibly in deference to Murray 's theories, and possibly on the grounds that this is the maximum number which can be comfortably accommodated in the traditional 9-foot circle . However, some groups consider that a coven of as many as thirteen can lead to unwieldy group dynamics and an unfair burden on the leadership. A coven usually has one or two leaders, known as the High Priestess and/or High Priest, and each coven is usually autonomous and makes its own decisions (depending on the particular tradition it follows). Some covens are very democratic in their practices; some are very hierarchical, strongly regimented and autocratically run. When a coven grows too large to be manageable, it may split or "hive".

In Wicca , a newly made High Priest or High Priestess (with 3rd Degree ordination) may also leave to start their own coven, and strike off in new directions. Alex Sanders' coven practising "skyclad" (1968) (from ) Many covens (called initiatory covens) require that the leaders initiate new members before they can be considered part of the group or tradition , which usually involves some kind of formal induction ceremony and oath of loyalty after the prospective member has carried out the required level of study (often for the traditional year-and-a-day). Other covens operate on a self-initiation basis, or accept initiates from other groups or traditions . Some covens work in robes, some in modified street clothing, and a few go �skyclad� or naked. Some are �teaching covens� and are happy to take on newcomers; others prefer to keep to the current membership and aim to develop a closer family-type relationship. Some �open covens�, or those with an �inner circle� and �outer circle�, allow interested outsiders to get a taste of coven practice without committing themselves.

Some covens are gender-segregated, although most are open to both sexes and often try to maintain a more or less even balance of male and female members. Many covens also have some system of degrees or ranks based on the level of expertise or experience of the members (although these vary significantly between traditions ). Typical degree divisions might be: Neophyte (a student preparing for basic initiation as a witch); First Degree (a witch who has been initiated, but has not yet undertaken any advanced study); Second Degree (a witch who has an intermediate knowledge of the craft, which in some traditions may also confer priesthood); Third Degree (a witch who has studied the craft in depth, and is capable of teaching others and/or serving as High Priest/High Priestess); Elder (in some traditions , a witch of advanced knowledge and who has been active for a number of years). Akasha: The fifth element, the omnipresent spiritual power that permeates the universe. It is the energy out of which the Elements formed. Amulet: A magickally charged object that deflects specific, usually negative energies. Generally, a protective object. Ankh: An Egyptian hieroglyphic that is widely used as a symbol for life, love, and reincarnation.

It is depicted as a cross with a looped top. When worn or carried, the ankh brings good health, promotes fertility, and strengthens the psychic powers. Asperger: A bundle of fresh herbs or a perforated object used to sprinkle water during or preceding ritual, for purificatory purposes. Athame: "ah-THAW-may". A Wiccan ritual knife. It usually has a double-edged blade and a dark handle. The athame is used to direct personal power during ritual workings. Balefire: A fire lit for magickal purposes, usually outdoors. Balefires are traditional on Yule, Beltane and Midsummer. Bane: That which destroys life, which is poisonous, destructive, evil, dangerous. Beltane: A Wiccan festival celebrated on April 30th or May 1st. Baltane is also known as May Eve, Roodmas. Beltane celebrates the symbolic union, mating or marriage of the Goddess and God, and links in with the approaching summer months. Besom: Broom Bolline: The white-handled knife, used in magick and Wiccan ritual for practical purposes such as cutting herbs.

Book of Shadows: A Wiccan book of rituals, spells and magickal lore. Once hand copied upon initiation, the BOS is now photocopied or typed in some covens. No one "true" BOS exists; all are relevant to their respective users. Censer: A heatproof container in which incense is smoldered. An incense burner. It symbolized the Element of Air. Charge, To: To infuse an object with personal power. "Charging" is an act of Magick. Conscious Mind: The analytical, materially based, rational half or our consciousness. The mind at work when we compute our taxes, theorize or struggle with ideas. Coven: A group of Wiccans, usually initiatory and led by one or two leaders. Craft, The: Wicca. Witchcraft. Folk magick. Deosil: Clockwise, the direction of the Sun's apparent motion in the sky. Divination: The magickal art of discovering the unknown by interpreting random patterns or symbols through the use of tools such as clouds, tarot cards, flames, and smoke.

Divination contacts the psychic mind by tricking or drowsing the conscious mind through ritual and observation or of manipulation of tools. Divination isn't necessary for those who can easily attain communication with the psychic mind, though they may practice it. Divine Power: The unmanifested, pure energy that exists within the Goddess and God. The life force, the ultimate source of all things. Earth Power: That energy which exists within stones, herbs, flames, wind and other natural objects. It is manifested divine power and can be utilized during magick to create needed change. Elements, The: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. These four essences are the building blocks of the universe. Everything that exists (or that has potential to exist) contains one or more of these energies. The elements hum within us and are also "at large" in the world. They can be utilized to cause change through magick. The four elements formed from the primal essence of power- Akasha. Esbat: A Wiccan ritual, usually occurring on the Full Moon. Evocation: Calling up spirits or other non-physical entities, either to visible appearance or invisible attendance.

Grimoire: A magickal workbook containing ritual information, formulae, magickal properties of natural objects and preparation of ritual equipment. Handfasting: A Wiccan, Pagan or Gypsy wedding. Imbolc: A Wiccan festival celebrated on February 2nd, also known as Candlemas, Feast of Pan and many other names. Imbolc celebrates the first stirrings of spring and recovery of the Goddess from giving birth to the Sun (the God) at Yule. Initiation: A process whereby an individual is introduced or admitted into a group, interest, skill or religion. Initiations may be ritual occasions but can also occur spontaneously. Invocation: An appeal or petition to a higher power (or powers), such as the Goddess and God. A prayer. Invocation is actually a method of establishing conscious ties with those aspects of the Goddess and God that dwell within us. In essence, then, we seemingly cause them to appear or make themselves known by becoming aware of them. Kahuna: A practitioner of the old Hawaiian philosophical, scientific and magickal system. Labrys: A double-headed axe that symbolized the Goddess in ancient Crete, still used by some Wiccans for this same purpose.

The labrys may be placed on or leaned against the left side of the altar. Lughnasadh: A Wiccan festival celebrated on August 1st, also known as August Eve, Lammas. Lughnasadh marks the first harvest, when the fruits of the Earth are cut and stored for the dark winter months, when the God also mysteriously weakens as the days grow shorter. Mabon: On or around September 21st, the autumn equinox, Wiccans celebrate the second harvest. Nature is preparing for winter. Mabon is a vestige of ancient harvest festivals which, in some form or another, were once nearly universal among peoples of the Earth. Magick: The movement of natural energies to create needed change. Energy exists within all things- ourselves, plants, stones, colors, sounds, movements. Magick is the process of rousing or building up this energy, giving it purpose, and releasing it. Magick is a natural, not supernatural, practice, though it is little understood. Magick Circle, The: A sphere constructed of personal power in which Wiccan rituals are usually enacted.

The term refers to the circle that marks the sphere's penetration of the ground, for it extends both above and below it. It is created through visualization and magick. Meditation: Reflection, contemplation, turning inward toward the self or outward toward Deity or nature. A quiet time in which the practitioner may dwell upon particular thoughts or symbols, or allow them to come unbidden. Megalith: A huge stone monument or structure. Stonehedge is perhaps the best-known example of megalithic construction. Menhir: A standing stone probably lifted by early peoples for religious, spiritual or magickal reasons. Midsummer: The summer solstice, usually on or near June 21st, one of the Wiccan festivals and an excellent night for magick. Midsummer marks the point of the year when the Sun is symbolically at the height of its powers, and so too the God. The longest day of the year. Mighty Ones, The: Being, deities or presence's often invoked during Wiccan ceremony to witness or guard the rituals.

The Mighty Ones are thought to be either spiritually evolved beings, once human, or spiritual entities created by or charged by the Goddess and God to protect the Earth and to watch over the four directions. They are sometimes linked with the Elements. Neo-Pagan: Literally, new Pagan. A member, follower or sympathizer of one of the newly formed Pagan religions now spreads throughout the world. All Wiccans are Pagan, but not all Pagans are Wiccan. Old Ones, The: A Wiccan term often used to encompass all aspects of the Goddess and God. Some Wiccans view it as an alternative of The Mighty Ones. Ostara: Occurring at the spring equinox, around March 21st, Ostara marks the beginning of true, astronomical spring, when snow and ice make way for green. As such, it is a fire and fertility festival, celebrating the return of the Sun, and God and the fertility of the Earth (the Goddess). Pagan: From the Latin paganus, country-dweller. Today used as a general term for followers of Wicca and other magickal, shamanistic and polytheistic religions.

Naturally, Christians have their own peculiar definition of this word. It can be interchanged with Neo-Pagan. Pendulum: A divinatory device consisting of a string attached to a heavy object, such as a quartz crystal, root or ring. The free end of the string is held in the hand, and the elbow steadied against a flat surface, and a question is asked. The movement of the heavy object's swing determines the answer. A rotation indicates yes or positive energy. A back and forth swing signals the opposite. (There are many methods of deciphering the pendulum's movement; use those that work best for you.) It is a tool which contacts the psychic mind. Pentacle: A ritual object (usually a circular piece of wood, metal, clay, etc.) upon which a five-pointed star (Pentagram) is inscribed, painted or engraved. It represents the Element of Earth. The words "pentagram" and "pentacle" are not interchangeable, though they understandably cause some confusion. Personal Power: That energy which sustains our bodies. It ultimately originates from the Goddess and God (or, rather, the power behind Them).

We first absorb it from our biological mothers within the womb and, later, from food, water, the Moon and Sun and other natural objects. We release personal power during stress, exercise, sex, conception and childbirth. Magick is often a movement of personal power for a specific goal. Polarity: The concept of equal, opposite energies. The Eastern yin/yang is a perfect example. Yin is cold; yang is hot. Other examples of polarity: Goddess/God, night/day, Moon/Sun, birth/death, dark/light, and psychic mind/conscious mind. Universal balance. Projective Hand, The: The hand that is normally used for manual activities such as writing, peeling apples and dialing telephones is symbolically thought to be the point at which personal power is sent from the body. In ritual, personal power is visualized as streaming out from the palm or fingers of the hand for various magickal goals. This is also the hand in which tools such as the athame and wands are held. Ambidextrous persons simply choose which hand to utilize for this purpose. Psychic Mind: The subconscious or unconscious mind, in which we receive psychic impulses.

The psychic mind is at work when we sleep, dream and meditate. It is our direct link with the Goddess and God and with the larger, non-physical world around up. Other related terms: Divination is a ritual process that utilizes the Conscious Mind to contact the psychic mind. Intuition is a term used to describe psychic information which unexpectedly reaches the conscious mind. Psychism: The act of being consciously psychic, in which the psychic mind and conscious mind are linked and working in harmony. Ritual consciousness is a form of psychism. Receptive Hand: The left hand in right-handed persons, the reverse for left-handed persons. This is the hand through which energy is received into the body. Reincarnation: The doctrine of rebirth. The process of repeated incarnations in human form to allow evolution of the sexless, ageless soul. Ritual: Ceremony. A specific form of movement, manipulation of objects or inner processes designed to produce desired effects. In religion, ritual is geared toward union with the divine. In magick it produces a specific state of consciousness which allows the magician to move energy toward needed goals. A spell is a magickal ritual.

Ritual Consciousness: A specific, alternate state of awareness necessary to the successful practice of magick. The magician achieves this through the use of visualization and ritual. It denotes a state in which the conscious mind and psychic mind are attuned, in which the magician senses energies, gives them purpose and released them toward the magickal goal. It is a heightening of the senses, an awareness-expansion of the seemingly non-physical world, a linking with nature and with for forces behind all conceptions of Deity. Runes: Stick-like figures, some of which are remnants of the old Teutonic alphabets. Others are pictographs. These symbols are once again widely being used in magick and divination. Sabbat: A Wiccan festival. See Beltane, Imbolc, Lughnasadh, Mabon, Midsummer, Ostara, Samhain and Yule for specific descriptions. Samhain: A Wiccan festival celebrated on October 31st, also known as November Eve, Hallowmas, Halloween, Feast of Souls.

Samhain marks the symbolic death of the Sun God and His passing into the "land of the young," where He awaits rebirth of the Mother Goddess at Yule. This Celtic word is pronounced by Wiccans as: SOW-wen; SEW-wen; SAHM-hain; SAHM-ain; SAV-een and other ways. The first seems to be the one preferred among most Wiccans. Scry, To: To gaze at or into an object (a quartz crystal sphere, pool of water, reflection, a candle flame) to still the conscious mind and to contact the psychic mind. This allows the scryer to become aware of possible events prior to their actual occurrence, as well as of previous or distant, simultaneous events through other than the normally accepted senses. A form of divination. Shaman: A man or woman who has obtained knowledge of the subtler dimensions of the Earth, usually through periods of alternate states of consciousness. Various types of ritual allow the shaman to pierce the veil of the physical world and to experience the realm of energies. This knowledge lends the shaman the power to change her or his world through magick.

Shamanism: The practice of shamans, usually ritualistic or magickal in nature, sometimes religious. Simple Feast, The: A ritual meal shared with the Goddess and God. Spell: A magickal ritual, usually non-religious in nature and often accompanied by spoken words. Spirits of the Stones, The: The elemental energies naturally inherent at the four directions of the magick circle, personified within the standing stone tradition as the "Spirits of the Stones." They are linked with the Elements. Talisman: An object, such as an amethyst crystal, ritually charged with power to attract a specific force or energy to its bearer. Three Fold Law: The only karmic principal of Celtic Paganism. It states that energy by the witch or magician (or anyone else for that matter), either positive or negative, will return to the sender three times over. Tradition, Wiccan: An organized, structured, specific Wiccan subgroup, usually initiatory, with often-unique ritual practices. Many traditions have their own book of shadows and may or may not recognize members of other traditions as Wiccan. Most traditions are composed of a number of covens as well as solitary practitioners.

Trilithon: A stone arch made from two upright slabs with one lying atop these. Trilithons are featured in Stonehedge as well as the circle visualization in The Standing Stones Book of Shadows. Visualization: The process of forming mental images. Magical visualization consists of forming images of needed goals during ritual. Visualization is also used to direct personal power and natural energies during magick for various purposes, including charging and forming the magick circle. It is a function of the conscious mind. White-Handled Knife: A normal cutting knife, with a sharp blade and white handle. It is used within Wicca to cut herbs and fruits, to slice bread during the simple feast and for other functions. Sometimes called the bolline. Wicca: A contemporary Pagan religion with spiritual roots in Shamanism and the earliest expressions of reverence of nature. Among its major motifs are: reverence for the Goddess and God; reincarnation; magick; ritual observances of the Full Moon, astronomical and agricultural phenomena; spheroid temples, created with personal power, in which rituals occur.

Widdershins: Anti-clockwise motion, usually used in the Northern Hemisphere for negative magickal purposes or for dispersing negative energies or conditions such as disease. Witch: Anciently, a European practitioner of the remnants of pre-Christian folk magick, particularly that relating to herbs, healing, wells, rivers and stones. One who practiced Witchcraft. Later, this term's meaning was deliberately altered to denote demented, dangerous, supernatural beings who practiced destructive magick and who threatened Christianity. This change was a political, monetary and sexist move on the part of organized religion, not a change in the practices of Witches. This later, erroneous meaning is still accepted by many non-Witches. It is also used by some members of Wicca to describe themselves. Witchcraft: The craft of the Witch-magick, especially magick utilizing personal power in conjunction with the energies within stones, herbs, colors and other natural objects. While this may have spiritual overtones, Witchcraft, using this definition, isn't a religion. However, some followers of Wicca use this word to denote their religion.

Yule: Wiccan festivals celebrate on or about December 21st, marking the rebirth of the Sun God from the Earth Goddess. A time of joy and celebration during the miseries of winter. Yule occurs on the winter solstice. Covens, Circles, & Solitary Wicca Practice * Wicca-Spirituality.com What's the point of Covens? Do you really need one to be a Witch? What's the difference between a Coven and a Circle? What about solitary Wicca practice? Especially when a witch is just beginning her journey in Wicca, she may wonder whether she's missing out on something . . . Should she practice solitary? Should she join a group? Just what do those mysterious others do? Do Real Witches Practice Alone Or In Groups? Either. Often both. Witches are not great believers in black-and-white divisions. So there's a lot of fluidity in how Wiccans practice. There are three basic forms for the practice of Wicca: Coven, Circle, and solitary Wicca practice. Much is made in the media - and Christianity - of Wiccan Covens. In contrast, few Witches make any fuss about it.

There are as many ways to practice Wicca as there are Witches. Some people practice with others. These groups can be "closed" or "open." And some people practice on their own. What Are They Anyway? Generally, Covens are Wiccan ritual groups where the membership is fixed. Only those initiated into the group can attend the rituals, and attendance may be mandatory. Each member generally practices on their own as well, coming together to celebrate the Moon and High Holy Days, as well as occasions like blessings and purifications. Wiccans who work in such groups are likely to be very committed to the practice. They may have been formally trained and formally initiated into something like British Traditional Wicca. Such groups are likely to be hierarchical, with degrees of initiation, High Priestesses and High Priests leading the group. In most, new members may join from time to time. This usually involves some kind of initiation, particularly since those who pass on a "tradition" of Wicca tend to work in these closed groups. Those who place a high value on following a tradition often highly value initiations. There can be rules about how many people can be in one group.

Traditionally the number is set at 13, or sometimes 9. While not all groups insist on specific numbers, a small group is desirable. Benefits The power of practicing with others this way is the level of intimacy and trust built between the Witches over time. This requires consistency, getting to know the people and how they work. It also requires a small membership. Too many people makes a group cumbersome, and sub-groups tend to form -- which inhibits the communal energy. Provided there is a foundation of respect for all, such a spiritual community can be advantageous for those who go deeply into the soul. Closed groups create a safe environment for authentic self-expression. As the members open their souls in ritual together, a deep intimacy forms and bonds the group. And the most important benefit: with experience together, a group can learn to achieve greater results and deeper connection with the Divine. It’s always true that it’s easier to raise power and to connect spiritually within groups, and that’s as true in Wicca as any other religion. Limitations There are risks in having a closed group, though. One is becoming dogmatic. Everyone reinforces the accepted beliefs and set patterns.

Lacking fresh views - or disdaining them - religious "ruts" can develop. Another hazard is that they seem to set the stage for ego battles and personality cults. This is the downfall of the hierarchical system of the old Wicca. As people jostle for status and power, the group can become an arena for self-aggrandisement. (Which, by the way, is the opposite of spirituality.) Circles A Circle is a (fairly) open gathering of Witches. It differs from a Coven in that the membership is more fluid, and the level of commitment and attendance required of each Witch is generally less. This is not a strict definition. A Circle in the broadest sense is simply a gathering of people in order to practice Wiccan ritual. But with the development women's spirituality and the new Wicca, there came a different kind of ritual group. One for people who want to circle with others, but don't like the rigidity or style of Wicca practiced in Covens. There is no set term for such groups. But they often refer to themselves as Circles, because that's what they gather to do. Why Circles Instead Of Covens?

Some Circles are very loose, meeting only occasionally. Other Circles meet regularly, with different people in attendance each time. This kind of flexibility is important, especially to women with family and other intensive commitments. And for many of these Witches, inclusivity is a vital part of Wicca. For them, the exclusivity, hierarchy, and elitism of traditional Covens is more than distasteful. It's a violation of the philosophy of Wicca. These groups are generally accepting of a wide range of personal beliefs and practices. Within one group, you can have some people who consider it a Coven, others who think of it as a Moon group or Circle, others who don't really have a name for it but value the community of spiritual practice. Some may call themselves Witches, some Wiccans, and some Goddess- worshippers. And no one minds how the others choose to think about it. But they will have a certain common set of beliefs, which they can celebrate together. How Open Is Open? There may still be some limits on how and when new members can join. Each Circle will have its own level of comfort with openness.

There may be certain times or ways new members are welcomed in, or they may have a completely open-door policy. Whatever works for the individuals in the group. These Circles are less likely to emphasise formal initiations, and may welcome new members with little if any ceremony. Benefits Of An Open Circle One benefit is a constant influx of fresh ideas and enthusiasm. There's always a new group ready to take on organizing the next ritual. And questioning the established patterns keeps Wicca alive and grounded in reality. Another benefit is that inclusivity is healing to the individual soul, and the soul of the Earth. Inclusivity is a practice of compassion, and a recognition that there really is no separation between us. Limitations Of An Open Circle When membership is very fluid, it is - at best - difficult to develop the sense of trust and community that enables deep spiritual work to take place. And the group energy has to shift and reweave itself every time the membership changes. This can create a sense of "not going anywhere," as the group energy never gets a chance to gel, and evolve. Without some form of initiation into the group, this problem is intensified. A very informal initiation can make a big difference.

For instance, offering a group blessing of the new Witch to welcome her, and her blessing of the established members. This goes a long way to maintaining group cohesion and a smooth transition. This article continues in Solitary Wicca. Coven Articles: Witchvox Article How to Choose A Good Magickal Name Author: Bronwen Forbes [a WitchVox Sponsor] Posted: June 21st. 2009 Times Viewed: 45,789 There's a standard joke in the Pagan community that, at a gathering, if the loudspeaker were to announce, "Will Raven, Morgan, and Rhiannon please come to registration?" half the attendees would show up, and that the Ravens at least would be split pretty evenly between males and females. Like most good jokes, it has a lot of truth in it. So rule number one of how *not* to choose a good magickal name is: pick one that's already been used to death. Rule number two of how not to choose a good magickal name: pick one that's unpronounceable.

I can't even begin to tell you how many times people with magickal names like Aistiranpaistinfionncoinini have gotten really annoyed with me because I can't pronounce their name. If you must*have a name longer than ten letters, do your friends, fellow coveners and community a favor and allow us to use a nickname. �Aistir� would work for my example. It means, �star� in Irish Gaelic. Now that you know what not to do when picking a magickal name for yourself, what doyou do? First, decide whether or not you really need one, or if your legal first name will work just fine. Back in the 1980s (when I first realized I was Pagan) , most of us had a special name we used in the community. Even though we were on the cusp of the 21st century, we still felt the need to hide our legal identity in order to protect our jobs and our children.

If you have a career, a potential career (if you�re still in school) , children that might be in danger because of where you live or who you�re divorcing, or a work situation that could be jeopardized if people outside the community knew you were Pagan, you might want a magickal name for public community use. Also, many groups and traditions only use their magickal names when they�re in ritual � it�s another way to move them into ritual space, just like putting on robes and lighting the candles do. For these folks, the privilege of knowing and using their ritual name indicates that you are �family� to them. The rest of the Pagan community calls them Lynn or Bob, i.e. their legal names. If you still decide you want a magickal name, it�s best to pick one that a) tells the Pagan world something about you, b) is a reflection of your path, or c) invokes something into you that you feel you lack. A really good magickal name will fill all three criteria. Let me explain. When I joined my first coven, I was required (as were all members) to choose a name from Tolkien�s made-up Elvish language.

I was a theater major at the time, and was intrigued by the comedy-tragedy masks that not only summed up the human condition, but also in the balance implied by the smiling face and the sorrowful face. After some reflection, I chose Nienor Lailaith, which, loosely translated, means �sorrow joy.� I was called �Nienor� in the community for roughly my first year. It definitely told the Pagan world that theater was sacred to me, which was something I wanted everyone to know. The coven I was in used a lot of symbolism from Tolkien�s works, and when I met people and used my Elvish name, there was no question in their minds what coven I was in and what path I was on. Finally, I was twenty-two years old. �Balance� was not in my vocabulary � but I knew it needed to be. I remember thinking that maybe a nice, balanced name like �sorrow joy� would help me learn how to better juggle my schoolwork, home life, and coven responsibilities. As magickal names go, Nienor Lailaith was a pretty good one.

So in case you�ve accidentally or deliberately misplaced your copy of The Silmarillion, how do you pick a good magickal name? Here�s what I did when it was time to retire Nienor and find something else. I took a piece of paper and a pen and started writing down every word or name that I liked from my favorite books -- fiction and non-fiction -- my favorite movies, mythology � Greek, Roman, Celtic, Slavic, Norse, plus plant and tree identification books, baby name books (they�re not known for historical accuracy, but they do have some names you might not otherwise think of) , animals I particularly liked, zodiac correspondences, birds, history� every source I could think of until I had a list of about thirty names. I then started to cross off the ones I liked the least until I had two left. One, not surprisingly, was Bronwen. I liked the sound. I liked the spelling � there are several ways to spell �Bronwen, � more if you want it to look exotic.

I played around with what little I know about numerology and discovered that Bronwen spelled with an �o� and an �e� (as opposed to, say, �Branwyn� or �Bronwinn�) was a one, a number that balanced my birth number very nicely. So, Bronwen it was. (On a side note, I legally changed my first and middle names in 1994. �Bronwen� is now my middle name. You don�t have to go as far as legally changing your name. In fact, considering all the expense and annoyance of changing all one�s legal documents, including driver�s license, social security card, medical insurances cards, etc. I strongly recommend you have at least one major compelling reason to do so. It�s really a pain to do!) Whatever you do, don�t use one of those Pagan name generators on the Internet. They're a joke. They're meant to be funny. They are not for real! You�d think everyone would know that, but I've run into about one too many �Lavender Mermaid of the Sand� who got her �special� name from one of those sites and took it seriously.

In fact, I just now played with the Pagan name generator and got Ariadne Bard Dragonfly. Hmm. I think I�ll stick with Bronwen, thanks. But if Ariadne Bard Dragonfly works for you, feel free to take it! ABOUT...

Question: What is the name for a group of witches?
Answer: Coven