Online Covens

[scorpio7]

What do you all think of online/cyber covens? How would one go about finding one to join? Starting one?

[juliaki]

I personally have never seen one that works. I've seen lots that end up with online bullying and sometimes face-to-face abuse and threats. Most often they fall apart within a year or two.

You really don't get more training through an online coven than you would get reading web pages by yourself. There's also not that support network that really is the backbone of an in-person coven. (I mean, if you're in a car accident and your "covenmate" is 3000 miles away, what are they going to do for you at the hospital?) As far as rituals go, online rituals seem flat and energetically dead to me and overall a waste of time....I'd rather practice alone than suffer through another online ritual!

Also, there's no real good way to build trust with the people who are supposed to be your brothers and sisters, because you never know if they're even the people they say they are. The potential for abuse is huge.

If you're looking for one, however, I'd suggest searching through Google.

[Brigid Rowan]

Well, Ive never been in a coven, online or off. There is only one person I feel that has a similer enough personality and belief system to me that we could have "perfect trust" together. She and I approach the level of love and trust I think a true coven needs...I cant imagine, however, finding 11 more like her! Lol...

So as far as an online coven goes, I think such an entity would feel less than whole to me...touch and contact are a real bonding thing, and a coven should be bonded. Online witch/magic support is one thing, a coven is another. Its like the differance between marriage and casual friendship.

But thats just me, for whatever its worth. :p

[Ivy Artemisia]

I ran an online coven for about 3 or 4 years. I ran it like a IRL coven, with weekly chats, online classes, a 2 court system, participation requirements, etc. We had online circles for sabbats, and took turns each month writing a full moon ritual which each member would perform. We had study sessions, we'd have themes. It was really interested and fun.

I had never does group work before, and none of the covens near me were open, so I had decided to start my own onilne group- I read many books on Covencrafting to become educated on groups and their dynamics. If you plan on starting one, this should be your first step.

We were very small because of this- most people looking for an online coven were looking for things that they couldn't find in a IRL coven- a whole lot of flexibility, no participation requrements, etc. Looking at most online covens, they were just yahoogroups, msn groups, E-groups of some sort. Anyone who wanted to could join, and it was just like a set of forums.

If you look really hard, you might be able to find an online coven that runs tself like a IRL coven. It may be difficult, though (Things could have changed, this was 4 years ago or so) . If you are just looking for a bunch of people getting together to share their knowledge... you might have a better experience sticking to MW.

If you want to, you can PM with any questions.

[mtpathy]

What do you all think of online/cyber covens? How would one go about finding one to join? Starting one?

i think that there a huge joke..

[BeachWitch]

One of the cornerstones of a Coven is the study. One of the benefits of study in a RL coven is the peer pressure to get the lessons completed on time and full of substance.

Sankofa Pride was active for 5 years and produced 3 3rd Degree Witches, with 2 going on to produce new Covens. What made the Coven successful as well as notorious was the requirement that lessons be completed and turned in on time. I watched more than a handful of individuals fall away from Sankofa due to he requirement.

Interestingly enough, those same individuals turned to On-Line covens and eventually fell away from the faith all together.

I think the reason On-Line Covens are not a practical form of application is due to the requirement of leading ritual as part of the path to advancement in the religion/faith. The nature of the on line coven does not allow the practitioner the ability to lead ritual as is proscribed by the founders of Wicca/Witchcraft.

A good use for on line covens maybe for advanced study. If a practitioner has studied with a RL Coven for 2 or 3 years and is 2nd or 3rd Degree, it could be a very lovely way to keep abreast of study. It would be understood that degrees could not be granted as part of the study, unless of course the group is able to meet in reality.

[Toby Stimpson]

I think as a longstanding group theyre foolish.

I think that as a place of reference, then yes.

See an online coven is much different than a message board, becasue those who come to message boards often have lives outside of the internet that they draw their experiences from. I don't see how an online coven can have the same benefits as a real life group... when you are basically sitting watching a computer screen.

I think that online groups can be a great way to meet pen pals or friends... but ultimatly people have to switch thew computer off... and go outside.

[Lupabitch]

It can be successfully done, but it takes a lot of work. Lisa McSherry wrote The Virtual Pagan and Magickal Connections based heavily on her successful experiences for over a decade with two different cybercovens. This included not just study and discussion, but also regular ritual work and training.

[patch]

Online groups? Sure.
Online COVENS? Hellz no.
Assuming you are talking about covens in a wiccan context:
What about initiations?
The mysteries?
Lineage proof?

[Toby Stimpson]

Online groups? Sure.
Online COVENS? Hellz no.
Assuming you are talking about covens in a wiccan context:
What about initiations?
The mysteries?
Lineage proof?

assuming people care about lineage proof...

[patch]

assuming people care about lineage proof...
I'd want to be sure the mysteries I'm learning are the wiccan ones, and the rituals I'm doing are wiccan.
And the names given to my deities are wiccan. xD

[mtpathy]

One of the cornerstones of a Coven is the study. One of the benefits of study in a RL coven is the peer pressure to get the lessons completed on time and full of substance.

Sankofa Pride was active for 5 years and produced 3 3rd Degree Witches, with 2 going on to produce new Covens. What made the Coven successful as well as notorious was the requirement that lessons be completed and turned in on time. I watched more than a handful of individuals fall away from Sankofa due to he requirement.

Interestingly enough, those same individuals turned to On-Line covens and eventually fell away from the faith all together.

I think the reason On-Line Covens are not a practical form of application is due to the requirement of leading ritual as part of the path to advancement in the religion/faith. The nature of the on line coven does not allow the practitioner the ability to lead ritual as is proscribed by the founders of Wicca/Witchcraft.

A good use for on line covens maybe for advanced study. If a practitioner has studied with a RL Coven for 2 or 3 years and is 2nd or 3rd Degree, it could be a very lovely way to keep abreast of study. It would be understood that degrees could not be granted as part of the study, unless of course the group is able to meet in reality.

people dont want to work for knowledge, they expect to join a group/coven/forum/online coven and have it happily handed to them.
imo it seems like alot of covens are taking in way to many new members that have no experience at all and are training them, this imo is a huge mistake and is the reason why so many covens are being lead astray, and failing alltogether.
i have had exactly 3 emails within 5yrs from different people asking me to teach them how i work with aura reading and empathy, only one has taken the initiative upon herself and has found her own way of using it sucessfuly, the rest just gave excuses till i dismissed them.

[Mesektet]

I have been apart of a distanced coven for the last few years, though it came to that way by necessity rather than choice. First we started working together when we all lived near each other in one town. Then over time we had to move apart, but the energy, fthe connection we all shared in this strange inter-path group has held up over time and distances. If you find people that you connect with, especially on a level that you are willing to work with and trust them, why should the concept of digital connectivity stop one from maintaining and cultivating that connection.

[BeachWitch]

I have been apart of a distanced coven for the last few years, though it came to that way by necessity rather than choice. First we started working together when we all lived near each other in one town. Then over time we had to move apart, but the energy, fthe connection we all shared in this strange inter-path group has held up over time and distances. If you find people that you connect with, especially on a level that you are willing to work with and trust them, why should the concept of digital connectivity stop one from maintaining and cultivating that connection.

In my opinion, this does not qualify as an on line coven. First, the group worked together off line for a significant period and practiced ritual together. Second, the energy excange that can only happen in face to face situations was present for enough time to build the "perfect love and perfect trust" that is so important to successful covens.

[Mesektet]

I was unaware of the definitive constraints that the concept of an "Online Coven" was encased in.