Rose Ariadne's Chitchcraft Blog

Dear Friends,

As soon as I knew that this path was for me, I immediately wanted to be a part of a group. It’s a common thing for the Pagan “newbie” to seek out others to learn from and practice with. There is so much that has been hidden throughout the years regarding witchcraft, that for a long time learning from others was the only way to go. Thanks to the freedom of the press, there are now volumes upon volumes of related books to draw knowledge from. However, a lot of people, myself included, feel that finding a group (or starting one!) is an important step in developing magickally.

That isn’t to say that the solitary witch is out of luck! There is a lot of good that can come out of practicing by yourself. You can really get to know your own personal energy, and your tastes and preferences when it comes to rituals. However, there is something powerful about completing a ritual with a large group of people. It’s a sense of belonging that comes with knowing that you are among friends, and you are all creating energy together.

While looking for Pagan fellowship is an easy task, finding a group isn’t always. The Internet does give today’s seekers an advantage that I didn’t have 20 some odd years ago…however, covens don’t normally advertise blatantly online. It takes a while to find people in your community, especially if there is a lot of religious persecution in your part of world.

Many times, unfortunately, a seeker is not satisfied with what they find. Each Pagan group has its own flavor and focus. It might not match up with your magickal and personal goals, and that’s okay. There are two options at this point; keep exploring and searching, or start your own group.

What?! I can hear you say. My own group!! It’s entirely possible, no matter what you may be thinking. You may find that there are others in your local area who are dissatisfied with the other group options. Maybe you all live far away from the nearest coven or meeting place. Or maybe you are interested in one particular aspect of the craft that is not represented in your local area.

Starting your own group can be an exhilarating adventure. You’ll first need to decide what type of group you’d like to form. You can form a study group where you and your fellow members research topics and discuss what you’ve found. This is a good option if you are a newbie and know others who are new to the path as well. You can get other people’s perspectives on different topics and educate yourself on many aspects of the craft.

Social groups can also be fun. A social Pagan group mainly gets together to hang out. Ritual work is done sometimes, but the main intent is to get to know others in your faith. The good thing about social groups is that all members don’t have to following the same path. This results in a rich and dynamic group atmosphere that is flavored by the different paths of Paganism.

Starting a local group doesn’t have to be intimidating if you decide on one of the previous types of groups. Study groups and social groups require much less planning and dedication than a traditional coven. Eventually, if it is acceptable to all, your group can make the transformation to a working coven. However, there is a lot of benefit from having a study group or social group.

Newbies can successfully run Pagan groups, because I’ve seen it in action! Sometimes a good study group of interesting newcomers can do a whole lot more discovery than a coven full of older Pagans. It all depends on their thirst for knowledge and dedication to learning. So if you aren’t finding what you are looking for in your area, there might be others out there who are just as dissatisfied. Take on the challenge of leading an informal Pagan group, and you can all learn and grow together.

Many blessings,

Rose Ariadne

Your Warm And Caring "Resident Witch In Charge"