Let’s Talk Witch – Finding Where You Fit In
Everyone wants to fit in, that is no secret. You want to feel like you are a part of something special, and it is the same with this religion. Just as there are several different sanctions of Catholicism and Christianity, there are many different branches of Wicca as well. In fact, it seems that the Wiccan religion is more flexible than even Christianity because Wiccans can make their own groups based on their belief system. Find your Wiccan community, and if you don’t feel like you fit in, just go on your own way, and be a lone wolf. There are a lot of lone wolf Wiccans.
Covens
This is one of the best known types of Wiccan groups. Think of it like the country club for Wiccans. This is a large group of Wiccans that schedule regular meetings, and they often have club dues. Along with having dues, they often have a lot of rules and regulations that you don’t see in a less strict group of Wiccans, but that is because they want their coven to stay on the straight and narrow, and when you have too many witches in one group, then you could have some serious issues if one of them go rogue. You as a part of the coven could get taken down with the rogue. So covens have to be kind of strict to keep things organized.
Covens are also great for beginners because there are rules. It may feel confining to not be able to find your style in the beginning, but you could grow to appreciate having so much help as you are learning. With covens, it is an all hands on deck deal. If one member is not up to par, all members of the coven pitch in to help the weak link. However, within a reasonable amount of time, there are possibilities you may get kicked out if you are in a pretentious coven. It is for the best if you are kicked out of a coven like that. A coven based on pretenses is one that has the most risk of turning to dark magic.
If you feel like a coven could be a good fit for you, you can go online to find one that is near you. There are a lot of online forums for Wiccan covens. This is often how they find new members in their area. If you are interested in it, try it for yourself.
Circles
A circle is a little different than a coven. The main difference is the size. A circle is always five people no matter what. One person for each element. The best part about this is, you can build your own circle pretty easily if you know four other Wiccans. Circles have rules and regulations like a coven, but they are often less strict due to the fact that they do not have the sheer volume that covens have.
Circles are a great way to establish rituals, and learning how to cast spells. If you do not feel like starting your own circle, you can look to see if there is a circle that is needing a new member online. Circles are great because you have people who can help you get to their level, and you don’t have to worry about pretentiousness. You also don’t have to worry about information overload, because there are a lot fewer people who are helping you.
When you are a part of a circle, it can be a great bonding experience as well. Since you don’t have to pay dues to be in a circle, you find yourself making true bonds with the people you are working with. In a coven you are making forced bonds because you paid your money to be there, and you have to drag your butt there at least once a month. More if there is a celebration that month.
With a circle, you don’t have to meet a certain amount of times if you choose not to. Most circles only meet when there is a need, or they feel they need to practice a spell. Needs could be a pollution problem in the area, and needing to cast a protection spell on the trees and the earth. Or it could be a drought, and you need to beg to Mother Goddess to please bring rain. These are some of the needs that circles meet for.
If one of you finds a spell that you think is useful, you may meet several days in a row to practice it until you have it down.
Circles also meet for celebrations, but rather than a whole ordeal where an Elder gets up and speaks about how you should thank the great goddess and horned god that you are able to gather with your brothers and sisters in this time of power and all the other things that Elders drone on about, you can actually be out there using your power. This is one of the best perks of being a part of a circle.
If you feel like you might fit in with a circle, you can either start your own or look for one in your area looking for a new member. You never know, you might find the place that you belong.
Eclectic
This is a group of Wiccans who really don’t have a lot of rules, and are all at multiple different levels. It is great if you do not want to be pressured into having to become great in a short period of time, but the lack of rules and structure can cause a lot of rogues if you are not careful.
Eclectic groups are made up of a lot of different Wiccans, of all different ages. This makes it the most different from covens and circles because with circles, it is generally people around the same age, and with covens, there are groups of ages. And by a certain age, you are expected to be at a certain level. With an eclectic group, you may find a twenty-one-year-old at a level seven, and a forty-year-old at a level two. There is no limit for what level you have to be at what age. You just have to be willing to put in the time, and the effort to become the best you can be. Electic groups are also a little out there when it comes to beliefs. They are like the hippies of the Wiccan world. They have some radical ideas that could change the world, but they are often looked down upon by “civilized” groups such as covens or circles. Because eclectic groups are so different, there is not a lot of information on what they do, but if you want to find out what they do, you could look online for an eclectic forum and learn more about if there is a group in your area taking members
Solitary
Some Wiccans choose to learn the ropes by themselves, rather than let someone else take the reins. This is because they do not want to be steered in the wrong direction due to choosing the wrong group, or because they are just more comfortable being alone.
If you choose to be alone, you have to be good at self-motivating. However, it is a lot easier to learn at your own pace and you don’t have to search for a group.
Wicca for Beginners: A Beginner’s Guide to Mastering Wiccan Beliefs, Rituals, and Magic (Wicca, Wicca Spells, Wicca Books, Wicca Symbols)
Valerie W. Holt
Witches Of The Craft® 