Question for Witches/Wiccans/like minds etc.....?

Question

How many of you prefer Covens versus solitary?

What types of experiences have you had in Covens?

Answer 1

I prefer Solitary for practice but like the Coven type structure for the 8 SAbbats. I couldn't imagine doing every bit of magick though with any group of people. So for me, my Esbats and my Magick are private things... but Sabbats are celebrations to be had with other people. (like a Coven)

Answer 2

I was a solitary for many years before being a member of a coven. Personally, I prefer a coven, but it's important to remember that even when you are a member of a coven, you are still practicing a lot as a solitary.

The benefits of being a member of a coven are numerous. You learn from your coven mates, you learn through teaching your coven mates, you benefit from the additional power raised in circle, more possibilities exist for rituals when you have more than one person. I also think that it is far easier for your practice to stagnate when you don't have meetings and circles to attend. I find the benefits of solitary work such as the freedom to perform ritual in any way I choose and study what I choose are still available to be as a coven member.

Many people talk about the drama of the coven, but this is only a problem in bad covens, not good covens. Covens with good leadership will deal with issues as they arise and do not allow one person to hold a coven hostage. I've been a coven leader for several years now and while one person occasionally needs more attention and support from time to time, it's the coven leader's job to make sure peace and harmony is maintained in the coven or the coven supports no one. I will say that I would choose to be a solitary over a member of a bad coven. And unfortunately it is true that bad covens exist.

Answer 3

As I've been taught, being in a coven means belonging to an initiatory group where the members are intimately connected spiritually and have bond of friendship and love forged from long experience in working with each other and knowing each other. It is definitely not for everyone, and not just anybody can join any coven -- the trick is finding a coven that is (a) looking for members and (b) which you suit, and which suits you.

I have worked solitary for most of my fourteen years as a Wiccan, and have just now found a group of like-minded individuals who I'm going to be working closely with for the next year or so to see if our group has what it takes to become a coven. If we succeed, and my experiences aren't oathbound, I might try answering this question again at the end of that time.

Answer 4

When I was Wiccan I did both solitary and coven worship and magic. I found that my energies and workings were best done solitary. Worship and fellowship was best done in a coven.

Pros and cons to both. People can be jerks, good people, givers, takers - Wiccans aren't exempt. You get more than four people together and they will be problems eventually over something, it's human nature. I've seen groups fold because mostly over personality differences and life problems.

I've also seen some awesome things accomplished by solitaries and by groups.

When a coven is clicking well together, the religious experiences and learning can be incredible.

Answer 5

been solitary and in a coven for many years of my study.

I think the solitary experience is good PROVIDED you are actually trying to learn and experience. That time helps a person become solid in their own beliefs and fosters a sense of independence.

The coven experience is a wonderful one - one person described my coven to be like crawling into a warm lap. It is a spiritual bond between like minded individuals who look out for each others' spiritual well being.

I keep hearing of covens that only meet on the moons, or the sabbats, and the members don't really know each other. What sort of a coven is this? In my coven, we are close friends, like family - we see each other several times a week (casually) and when we celebrate, we do it with coven, kin, family and friends.

Answer 6

Under the right circumstances, I'd love a coven. (Nothin says lovin like somethin from the coven.) But as things stand I prefer to be solitary with a loose knit band of Pagans to call my friends. We get together socially, on holidays, for baby blessings etc. It works. We're too different to form a coven. As my husband says, "Organizing Pagans is like herding cats".

Answer 7

There are pros and cons for both.

Covens: You get to work in a group, you're actively engaged, you follow a specific tradition.

Solitary: You carve your own path, work at your own pace, and don't allow yourself to be restricted by only following one tradition.

Personally, I only have experience working alone. I'm underage so I can't join a coven- I'm also not completely sure if I should rush into joining one before I explore a bit more.

Answer 8

The only problem with covens is the fact that you are unlikely to be able to find a group of people that all agree with the same views, since Wicca varies so widely. Covens are a nice thought, if you can find one that "fits" you but this isn't an easy task...well, at least not in my part of the country ;)

Answer 9

I have never belonged to a coven, however I have tried to practice with friends before and found I wasn't really able to open up and use my energies as well. I can practice with my best friend (of 20 years) but that's about it, so I think I'll just stick to solitary.

Answer 10

I worked with a group for a couple of years, and it was a great experience. The energy raised by a group is completely different from the energy raised as an individual.

The trade-off is that with any gathering of people you are going to run into conflicts of some sort (theological, political, etc.), so I prefer to be solitary and honor the God and Goddess in my own way.