New Group Ideas

[Ceallach]

Hi all! I am starting a local pagan group and our first meeting is coming up. This isn't really the forming of a coven, persay, more of a group of like minded people getting together to study and such. If it happens to progress into a coven-like status, fine. Does anyone have any ideas on what should be done at a meeting like this? I was thinking of just getting an idea of what everyone else wants, what they study, how long they've been studying... so on and so on.

Suggestions are very welcome!

[tensen]

The first meeting? I'd say, just get together and chat... about books, movies, music, whatnot? Get a good feel for people's tastes in things. Although centered mostly amongst mythology, fantasy novels, pagan books, those sorts of things.

[Rain Gnosis]

Actually Ceallach I think you've already got it - I would essentially focus on the people in the group, what they've studied, what they can share, what they hope to gain, and a little personal info like where they live, what they do, etc. If you haven't already you might check out Amber K's CovenCraft - while it's good for covens it's also great for any group such as open circles etc. It has lots of ideas in it and info.

[Lunacie]

I am part of a new study group. Sunday evening was our third meeting. The first two meetings were for getting to know each other and talk about experiences and such. We decided to begin with the basics of shielding and learning to use energy. I hope to help teach sensing illness and blockages and how to send energy to help at some point. I'm enjoying learning new techniques and getting all these new perspectives. I hope you have a wonderful group and learn much.

[crystal autumnwind]

I've never belonged to a coven, but I was able to participate in a study group once before I moved. Basically, they met once a week for a class. Each week a different member would teach the class something they were proficient at. I went to a rune one. The guy teaching it, told us some history, some meanings, how to use them, etc. Then we learned how to make our own out of clay. It was a lot of fun!

They never considered themselves a coven. Just a group of pagans learning about each other. There were people from all different traditions in the group.

I still occaisionally keep in touch with the group. They've grown so big that they've moved beyond just classes. Now they have monthly guided meditations, bi-monthly craft nights, open circles for sabbats, plus weekly get togethers at different coffee shops just to talk. I wish I could find another group like that!

Good luck getting yours off the ground!

[Jenett]

Let me heartily second the recommendation for Amber K's _Covencraft_ - she's got a lot of good information, both about group organization things you may want to think about, and ideas for what groups might want to do together.

I agree that starting with some ideas about what everyone's interested in is a good place to start. In my working group, we had everyone list what they were interested in privately (so people wouldn't get swayed by other people's ideas) and then talked about our lists.

In our case, we had several interests that all of us were reasonably interested in - and a bunch that interested one or two of us (out of four people), but which could be accomodated in other ways, sometimes (use of music, playing with some specific concepts, etc.) Having the lists help us focus where we wanted to start working.

Finding out if there are people who are willing to teach (and what their background is and if that's a reasonable thing for them to teach) is also a good thing, I think.

[Ben Trismegistus]

Here's something you can do in addition to all of the other good suggestions. My coven is reading one book a month -- each of us submitted the title of one pagan-related book that we wanted to read, and the titles were placed in a hat and randomly assigned to a month in the coming year. So each month, we all read the same book and then discuss it (we formed our book group over e-mail, to leave face-to-face circle time for ritual work, but you may choose to discuss them in circle).

Because we have such an eclectic mix of people in our coven, the book list is fascinating -- everything from Inanna: Queen of Heaven and Earth to Starhawk to the poetry of Rumi to Triumph of the Moon (my suggestion) to Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth, and all sorts of other cool stuff. I highly recommend this as a fun way to study as a group.

[Ceallach]

Thanks all for the great ideas. I will actually be making use of some of them. Especially Ben's idea of a book discussion. I think that is an awesome idea. I already have several ideas of my own. I have already gotten confirmation of five people, so that's a start!

Thanks again everyone!