Sometimes you can't find an existing coven that meets your needs. Or you may have belonged to a coven, but over time things have changed and it's time to try something else. If you don't wish to be solitary, you might consider forming your own coven.

Organizing a coven is kind of like baking. You need the right ingredients and timing to make everything turn out well. This isn't a social club, it's a spiritually mindful group and establishing it should be done with sincerity. Sometimes people form covens for the wrong reasons (for instance, to show off to friends or weird out the parental units). Do some preliminary soul-searching — you really need to know yourself and be honest about your intentions.

Getting Down to Details

If you determined this is the right move for you, decide how many people you want to be involved. Thirteen is the traditional number of witches in a coven, but you don't have to follow that custom. Set a reasonable limit on membership. Quantity is less important than quality — in fact, a large quantity may diminish quality.

Next, ask yourself what kind of coven you want. Do you intend to focus on a specific magickal tradition? Do you want your group to be religious or secular? Do you want a rotating leadership or one defined leader? How will you choose the leader(s)? In other words, consider all the factors that will define and flesh out your group. These parameters will make it easier for others to decide whether your coven is right for them.

Here are some other issues to consider:

• What will the correct line of authority be?

• Will your coven work with magick for magick's sake, or will you be integrating religious aspects into your Craft?

• Where will your coven meet?

• Will you have requirements about how many meetings a year a person must attend to remain a member?

• Will you have study requirements?

• Will your members participate in activities together outside the coven setting?

• Do you plan to keep a Book of Shadows for your group (and if so, how and where will it be maintained)?

• Will you need to have specific tools or regalia for your coven meetings?

• What seasonal festivals will you observe?

• What other types of gatherings do you want to make available to your members (for instance, to respond to a member's personal needs)?

• What types of members' personal problems should the coven avoid getting involved in?

• How will someone attain the role of priest or priestess in your group?

• Who will make the decisions? Will you run your coven democratically, or will the leader's word be the final authority in every matter?

After these details have been ironed out, politely approach those individuals you think would be interested. Talk over the type of coven you envision and listen carefully to the way each person responds. It's okay for them to ask questions. If they don't, you should be worried. Nonetheless, somewhere at the bottom line, their vision of the group has to mesh with yours, or there are going to be problems.

Moving Forward

Once you've found a core group, the next stage is the “shake 'n' bake” period. Consider instituting a time period (for example, a year and a day) before anyone is considered a full, formal member of the coven (and before they are initiated into that group). This trial period gives everyone a chance to see if the relationship between the members is going to work. It also allows time to learn the skills necessary for working magick together. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is a good coven!

During this growing stage, try out a variety of rituals, spells, and meditations together, taking notes about each event. Find out what sensual cues work best for everyone. Note what goes really wrong, and what goes really right. By reviewing these notes regularly, you will begin to see the spiritual pattern you effectively use to build energy as a cohesive group.

At the end of the trial period, everyone should sit down and powwow. Discuss your accomplishments. Talk about what has and has not worked. Ask each person if he or she would like to continue in a more formalized manner. If the answer is yes, great! If not, separate as friends and spiritual helpmates. Just because you're not working magick together doesn't mean your other interactions will end.

Those who decide to move forward now have an even greater task ahead, that of keeping things going. Establish a line of authority and really start organizing. And, of course, it's time to start formally meeting as a coven.