Rosewicket Wicca Coven

I'll put this here ot make it easier for those looking for covens in their area. It is important that you don't post 'Are there any covens in ____?', as we either won't know or may not be able to say if the coven is not accepting members or still secret.

To Find a Coven In Your Area

To find a coven in your area, try the local group listings at witchvox.com (select your country or state).

Or meetup.com, and search for Wiccan or Pagan groups in your area.

Also read, How to Find the Coven That's Right for You, article by Patti Wigington, About.com Guide

How Can I Find a Local Group To Join?, same author as above

NOTE:

Before joining or attending a circle be sure you understand how the ritual will work, what you are expected to bring or wear, if someone may come with you, and how long it will last. Do not bring children or pets without clear invitation. Many covens host open circles for non-coven members to attend, so you can scout it out. You should expect that before you officially join, or be a part of the "inner circle" that, no matter how long you have studied, you will be taught for roughly a year and a day (this many vary), as a temporary member or part of an "outer circle".

If You Wish to Start a Coven:

This can be difficult, as you will have to do a lot of research and networking. Please begin by reading the following books and articles, and many more like them. These also may be of use to you if you are looking to join a coven that is still developing.

The Witches Coven, by Edain McCoy

So You Think You Want to be a Coven Leader? , Article by Bronwen Forbes

Joining a Coven or Other Pagan Group -- Red Flags to Avoid , Same author as Above

Coven Governance: Which Style is Right for You?, Same Author as Above

Before You Join A Wiccan or Pagan Coven, article by Patti Wigington, About.com Guide

Warning Signs In Prospective Covens, by same author as above

Covens vs. Solitary Practice, same author as above

Before Joining Any Coven...., same author as above

For Teenagers

As a teen, you will have many complications. You cannot legally be initiated into a coven by adults in the united states and many other countries - this is to prevent abuse and you NEED to respect this rule. There are stories of people being taken advantage of in covens (physically, sexually, verbally, psychologically, financially, ect) even when the victium is an adult. People know religion is a good way to manipulate innocent people, so please respect the laws in yoru area, they are in your best interest.

That said, since you probably cannot join an adult coven (though there are acceptions), you may have to practice with your peers. Be careful, many times teen covens are run without having a clear idea of what they really are. Ask questions, be clear and leave no stone unturned. If you are turned away for being careful, you don't want to join. Please read the above books and articles anyway, as they are still relevent to teens. This one is good as well:

Teen Covens: Pros and Cons, Article by Celeste

99% of the time, for teenagers, you want a Study Circle, not a Coven. A circle is an open place for socializing, celebrating, exchanging books and knowledge, discussing, and manybe even magic. Covens do basically the same thing expect they expect much more work from you and have a clear heirarchy, often they are not as flexible. With a Pagan Circle or Youth group, your meetings can be fairly slack and you can gather for all sorts of things. Circles are basically gatherings of friends to talk about or experience a common interest - they are perfectly legal and most often safe. Covens however may be unsafe, and even if they aren't, unhappy parents can sue teen coven leaders in they want to.

I'm going to share my own experience with being in a coven, if that's alright...

It's difficult.  Especially as a teen, because you have subtle jealous and power-play going on in the group at times.  I've gotten in fights with my HP before, and while we usually get over them quickly, they do cause a rift in the 'perfect love and perfect trust' that is necessary in a magic circle. 

It's hard to get together as well, organizing events and planning rituals can be a hassel if you don't have communication with each other a lot.  Suddenly you have all these different ritual styles and formats that each member uses and you have to blend them together...it can get a bit messy.

Also, if you join a coven with advanced members, they can end up leaving you in the dust and not actually training you.  This can be extremely frustrating, especially when your covenmates talk about everything they're doing magically and you still feel like a beginner.

It's also a very serious commitment.  Initiation is a life-chaning event, because it binds you to your coven.  You're connected with the people, their thoughts and emotions, their needs, joys, and pains.  If your friendship with them dies, it will be a long, drawn-out, painful process.  I highly recommend Study Circles instead, finding the people who are dedicated, and then possible forming a coven once you're ready, informed, and dedicated.

Thank you, Meniskos, I think your experience will be valuable for many of the people here hoping to find covens. It's a lot of work just to be involved, let alone start or run a coven. It's not all tree-hugging and waving wands.

I have also heard that many covens ask members to actively participate in community service and such. So people should be aware that covens take lots of time and work - much of it outside covens themselves.

I DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Faeris, I feel that I should state, given what you have said before, that if you can't join a coven because of your boyfriend, starting one is hardly a solution. It is very time and energy consuming to be part of a coven at all, and starting one will require years of experience and studying, preferably from another coven, and it will take up collossol amounts of time out of your personal life and free time (and your not-so-free-time). Of curse it's up to you in the end.

Faeris, let me say, it can consume your life.  In a rewarding, hard-work kind of consuming, and also in the way that you wished you had decided to do anything else with your life.  I'd also recommend reading 'Covencraft' by Amber K.

ok. thatnk yoiu and i stil want to be in a coven but i might start one but not for may years to come because i'm still growing myself.

yes im using witchvox to find people in my area its hard and hopefuly i will be able to get guidence of one and maybe the future will be brighter for my area, maybe as she has practiced for a long time mayb she will choose to start her own mayb not, but im saying (maybe) because i understand its very time consuming, and jobs and family are hard enough,to handle on a daily basis, time will tell. let fate decide.

I love the witchvox listing system - even though I'm not keen on any of the Teen covens in my area, there are some good groups and ongoing events that I have found as of recent. Discussions and study groups can be just as valuable.

eemm... does anybody ow of any covens in sheerness, isle of sheppey. im hoping there is a i am unable to travel long distances and i wish to share my experiances with others.

Fred, the links in the first post will display covens and groups in your area if they are registered. If not, try asking local new age shops.

Witchvox is a really good site, unfortunately theres not alot of listing for ireland theres no teen covens listed and theres only a few adult covens (who dont take teen members for legal reasons of course) but its only one more year until im 18 i can wait and grow more in the next year which will benefit alot, i think id prefer waiting for an experienced coven then joining a teen one.

I agree, MoonAlphena, I'm in the same boat. I love being a solitary witch, but I would like to experience a loose eclectic coven of sorts one day - something with enough cultural mixing that my beliefs would be accpted (not something in a lot of strict Wiccan covens), and enough slack to still let  me appreciate working magic and worship alone. But alas, all the teen groups in my state seem unhappy to have me ask about them. Simple questions like 'how flexible are meeting times', 'do others have the chance to teach besides just the HP and HPs', 'is there any history of conflict or witch wars' ect. Things any person should be able to ask for comfort or safety reasons - and I'm always dropped like a rock or shouted away. Perhaps it's better to wait a year or two until I can find a large adult group that's more accepting (and less power hungry). In the meantime, I think there are some wonders better revealed to me alone.

I fully agree with you Chi, the teen covens in your area seem extremely, well for lack of a better term stupid, everyone has a right to ask questions about a group their about to join for personal security and just to get to know what the group is like, i find it very strange that they wouldn't answer your questions, which would in my case anyway, turn me away from joining a group of witches, because to me it would signal that there was something off about the group. I love being a solitary witch, it gives me a chance to figure things out for myself and find my own way of doing things, I would love to join a coven eventually to, to learn from others, but I'm not so sure I would like that all that much either, because it was the strict dogma of catholocism (going to church ect) that turned me away from that path, if for example the coven were extremely strict about things like having to attend every circle or ritual, i'm not sure if it would be alright with me, I guess I'll find out when im older

My friend was a high Priestess and it literally ruled her life, she no longer follows Wicca sadly because of some troubling experiences. Being part of a group is never easy, especially as there is always a bit of a fight for power!  I enjoy being a solitary as whilst I follow Wicca, it's not all that I am. I have so much that I am passionate about that I wouldn't want to devote all of my time to one thing personally. I understand why people join covens, I just don't think it's a good thing for everybody.

How could I start a study circle amoung my schoolmates ?? I have a few friends interested and one who is wiccan. And I now know a good amount of knowledge.

Well, if you want it to be open to your whole school, I suppose you could start a Pagan or Alternative Spirituality club, but I personally would not take that approach. If you want to start a study circle, I would suggest meeting up with them and discussing how you want to run it (after doing soem research), then hold meetings and gradually introduce new members.

I wonder, is it ok if you start a group with only you and three other people and that's all. I mean you all being friends and the same then you decide you can do all of the chosen rituals etc. It would be like a mini coven with no head and still it would work. i tried it and actually worked pretty well minus the HP and all. So is this idea of a friend coven with few people and all a good thing or not?

I think it all depends on how you organize things, respect each other, and manage conflicts or issues. I do believe it can work, but it takes lots of effort and dedication. I have often heard that a coven can be no less then three people, so in that regard I suppose you could officially call it a coven. as to whether or not it works out depends on the people and their intentions.

So if it was a coven then how do you elect HP's and all or is it that even a good idea, because I don't like the power struggle aspect of most covens.