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what is a witches coven? How do they work? is there some one in charge? what is the purpose of a coven?

in a a witches coven there is one in charge. she is called the high prestess (how ever you spell it)

The witch's Coven has several purposes, mutual support for defense, sharing ideas, spells, and rituals, socializing, religion in some cases, and teaching the new generation.

There's a witches coven occupying one of the vaults belonging to the ghost tour company I work for. They meet on occasions for various things, and have an experienced coven master whom I met the other day.

LOVE this thread! In some stories a witches coven contains 13 women. That is a full coven. Then I have also read that a full coven needs 4 witches. They have to represent earth, air, fire, and water. They practice magic and what not with each other. And perform rituals with each other. If I was a witch i would be an "earth" witch. Why, I don't know that is just what I was told.

well you could always go to witchescovens.com and you will get alot of links for info

yet from my knowledge there is a High preistess that is the top witch you could say and the covens have meetings and do alot of things just like any other Organizied group. as I said just go to that website and you will see alot of links that can give you info .

Go to www.darkillusions.com

it's an absolutely amazing site about anything and everything you would want to know about the occult ^_^

High priestess (you always need someone in charge), & members supporting each other in times of need. May it be spell, charms or just hugs. Much like any other group of people.

It really depends on if you mean Wicca which is generally quite structured with usually a High Priestess. If it is Dianic it will be all women. if it is Traditional Witchcraft there is someone who is loosely in charge and can be a male or female. It all depends on what the form is and 13 has to do with symbolism in numbers. A coven can really be any number but some feel it has to be a minimum of thirteen. If this was true of course for all if you look into Biblical things you would see that there was Jesus and 12 apostles...together they number 13, a coven. :)

For some good info, go to:

http://www.witchvox.com/

i am a priestess of a wiccan coven. I teach others about the wiccan history and teachings. there are 3 levels 1st degree, all your basics, 2nd degree becomind a priest or priestess, and 3rd degree ebcoming a high priest or priestess

Another good place for information is the witchschool.com They will teach you the basic information for free and you can go further if you so desire.

I have found tht it really depends on whether the coven is wican, pagan, or druid as to who the coven masters or misstresses are. From what i have seen here on Rave some the covens here are almost like the witches covens as well.

not really, i find them to be much different, you have the high priestess and/or high priest then the priestess and/or priest then you have the coven members. its not as much hanging around it more, serious i surpose you could say its kind of hard to explain

I was meaning more so with the leaders of the covens then the coven members but I do understand what you are saying.

lol I wasn't trying to say your wrong hun, i can see what you were getting at, its just not so easy to explain,

Can someone share the selection process? I am curious to know about that, for example, does one recruit or do wiccans come to you wanting to join?

Are they free to leave or is it more contractual where you promise to stay for a certain time, etc?

in my coven you are wlecome to join, we are open but we don't search fpor you its if you want to you will find us. you are welcome to leave if is it just not for you. we don't hold it against you. there is no point to trap someone into something so free

A coven is a combination of 13 or more people who all think alike and have been initiated into the coven by the priest and priestess they are in charge not just one person unless it is a Diana order ( all Woman) they work together to pray to the god and goddess to help them, bless then and to honor them, the purpose of a coven it to be with people who are like you and think the same its always been said : strength in numbers and in this case it is true. as to how they work its a little like a freewill church, a party and a club all rolled up into one with the host and hostess guiding it all . They come to be your mother ,father , brother, sister , lover,your closest friend if you are in it long enough.

We have 13. we come together to celebrate the Esbaths and Sabbaths. We also celebrate the full moon.

It is like one huge family. The energy is raised and that is why eating is necessary afterwards to bring the energy down within ourselves.

yess the person how started the coven is in charg in some i jest depends

same idea as a vampiric coven, just a group of people with same ideals congretating in one place.

To answer the question posted above. I don't know about now, but in old times, if a witch abandoned or left her coven they would kill her.

Well, I was planning to post something grand here, but instead i have to agree with the majority ... no sense in repeating it all again.

same here but i do have one response to the above..I dont think they kill ya any more if ya leave..lol

Here again, I throw my 2 cents into an already filled bucket LOL

Modern covens are witches in numbers of 3 to 13. They practice together, can band together to heal a fallen member, or do good works for the community. They ususally work their rites on the sabbats and Esbats (full moon) and sometimes on the new moon as well. (My temple meets on new moos and full, depending on which Path they embrace)

In most covens, the High Priest and High Priestess are looked at equally (unless the coven is Dianic) and share the responsibility of leading the coven.

Most modern covens have a degree system. It can be different for every coven. Many tend to stick with a 3 tiered system, but there are many of a more ceremonial sort that divide these into specialiaztions, or Disciplines.

In my Temple group there are 2 paths, the Path of Ecstacy and the Path of Pain (for more info, email me at: ladyneferai@priest.com) and these pats are diveded into first "discipline" then further into specific "specializations".

As High Priestess, it s my responsibility to be a guide to my congregation as they learn and grow in their faith. Each person is, of course, responsible for his or her actions, but ultamately, I too am responsible since it is my example they follow.

It is clear, that if you ask 15 pagans the same question, you will get 20 different answers. The fact that our beliefs can be customized to fit our needs is what draws many to paganism in the first place.

Again, just my 2 cents.

Lady Neferai

I love this post.. I really didn't have anything else to add that isn't already here but i wanted to say that.

I image that a witches coven would be a place that witches could come together and perform spells combining their magik making the spells become even stronger.

Like every group or committee there is always one person in charge. Generally the person with the most experience/skills.

Well I have belong to a coven it is an expansion to your family. There is High Preistess and HIgh Presit. We meet for all of the High and Lower Sabbats, such as
Yule - Ostara Litha Mabon Imbolc Beltane Lammas and my favorite Samhain.

But we also meet for full moon Rituals as well, more often during the warmer months. We hold drives for Pagan Pride day, which was today. All proceeds go to the local food pantries and shelters.

But there are still many that are solitary not associated with a coven, as I was for a long time.

A coven would be like most groups clubs etc even like VR itself. People with similar interests thoughts and other stuff get together and pop there you have it.

i heard alot about coven settings. and they are different in each. but it bassically set on surporting each other in the coven. i am a solitary witch myself, have been for years. but follow the basic laws of wicca. the down side of solitary is i can only muster so much pwer for spells where as a group coven can combine energy to make spells that much more powerful. that is one upside to covens. and shareing knowlege. :)

I agree Robin. I see the advantages of belonging to a Coven, even though I am also solitary. Sharing knowledge and raising power would be much easier in groups.

A group within a group.

some covens have a library, one member has everyoes colections of books and every one shares them and borrows them like a normal library system. it is an advantage of a coven

Well just like with any other religion it is aplce where you all gather togethr to celebrate < i have belong to a coven for a very very very long time . we have a high preist and preistess, a treasurer. We get together for rituals for the major holidays ad cross holidays and for ful moon rituals as well, Aklways with a feast. They are my extended family. I trust them all 100%

i want to one day be the high priestess of a coven, i was in a coven but, people moved away or didn't take it seriously

For comparisons sake I'd have to figure it's somewhat like a vampire Coven.


A gathering of 2 or more witches for mutual benefit or protection.

it is different to a vampire coven, a wiccan coven is more a group of friends brought together for similar reasons, where a vampire coven is seen more as a family.

That's debateable. A witches Coven can be made of family members.

i have been in my coven for 2 years now.. we get together for major Sabbats and minor Sabbats feast and be merry and share spells and rituals.. excuse my spelling here..they are my extended family i love them all..

a witches coven has to have order so there are of course titles given to the worthy with each title giving them a certain amount of control and respect within the coven

Well I have been in my coven for many years, and i am feeling a need to take a walkabout if you may. Time to spread my wings for a lil while and explore, NOt that I would ever truely leave them but in life sometimes you just must go where your spirit flows too

The first record of a coven comes from Scotland in the 17th century and it states they should have 13 members