In the past 8 years, I've learned a few things about groups and covens and teachers and all the various related issues that I'll sum up for you here. Karen's Advice for Finding a Group ™ will hopefully help you avoid some of the pitfalls I experienced. Note that the issues I'll discuss here, with a little tweaking, can apply to any sort of group you plan to join.
First off, you need to sit down and consider what you're looking for in a group or teacher. Not all are created equal. Do you prefer a small group or a large one? How far are you willing to travel? What sort of Wicca/Witchcraft are you looking for? Do you prefer structure or do you like to keep things informal? Can you afford to pay for classes? How much? Do you want a teacher who interacts with you one on one? Are you looking to initiate into a group or just to gather information? Do you want to be part of a group that's public and open?
It's a lot to think about, I know. But figuring out the answers to these questions will save you a lot of time later as you can filter out groups that don't match most of your criteria. The odds of finding a group that match all of your criteria are slim, so be sure to rank what's most important and concentrate on matching those factors first.
Once you figure out what you're looking for, check the Witchvox listings in your area (see link above) or ask the staff at local Pagan shops. Local email lists or message boards are also a good place to start. Expect that the people you contact will want to have a meeting with you in a public place prior to inviting you to attend ritual or class (unless the groups routinely offer open public ritual or classes). If your point of contact doesn't suggest this, you should. In this day and age, it's downright dangerous to go off to a stranger's home or other private place. A friend introduced me to my coven, so I got to skip the whole "meet in public" step. It is, however, a standard policy of the group to have a public meeting with people who don't have such a connection. This lets both the point of contact and the seeker retain a bit of anonymity (good for folks who are still in the broom closet).
Go To Page: 1 2
