Covens & Solitary Witches

 by Robin Baker

Covens and Degrees
Throughout History there have been individual, or Solitary Witches. But the majority of Witches work in groups, known as covens. The coven is a small group; usually no more than a dozen. The traditional size is thirteen, though there is absolutely no reason why that particular number should be adhered to. One of the things that governs the number of people in the coven is the size of the Circle in which they hold their rituals. By tradition, again, this is nine feet in diameter, so it can at once be seen that the number of people who can comfortably fit in its confines will be limited. To arrive at the ideal size, all should stand in a Circle facing inward and hold hand. Then move slowly outward, with arms outstretched, until your arms are extended as far as possible. The Circle should then be of a size that will just comfortably contain you all. What is important is that such a Circle will contain the group comfortably, without fear of breaking the boundaries even when dancing round, yet also will not have any excess space.
A coven is a small, close knit group. In fact, the members of your coven frequently become closer to you than the members of your own family, hence the Craft is often referred to as a ‘family religion’. For this reason, you should choose your fellow Witches carefully. It is not enough that you all have an interest in the Old Religion. You must be thoroughly compatible; completely comfortable and at ease with one another. To get to this point usually takes time and for this reason you should not rush to form a coven.
Hierarchy and Priesthood
In many traditions, there are degree systems—systems of advancement through promotion—and in these it is impossible to be a leader without being of the requisite degree. 
In most degree systems you are initiated into the First Degree. Let us look at the Gardnerian tradition as a typical example. There, in the First Degree, you participate in the rituals as part of the ‘chorus’, as it were, and learn from your Elders. You must remain in that degree for at least a year and a day. When take to the Second Degree you can then be more active in the rituals. For example, a female Gardnerian of the Second Degree can even cast the Circle for the High Priestess. She cannot, however, initiate anyone. After at least a year and a day there, it is possible to then be taken to the Third Degree, if found ready. As a Third Degree Witch a Gardnerian female can break away and form a new coven if she so desires. She would then run that coven, initiating whomever she wished, with no interference from her original High Priestess. Covens, you see, are autonomous. Of course, the Third Degree Witch does not have to break away and start afresh. Many of that rank are quite content to stay in the original coven, where they are regarded as Elders.
A non-Witch (someone not initiated) is referred to as a Cowan. Generally, Cowan’s cannot attend Circles, though some traditions do have allowances for such visitors. I personally think Cowan’s should be able to sit in at the religious rites (not the working of magick however). What better way to learn of the true spirit of the Old Religion and to determine whether or not it is the path sought? It also, incidentally, is excellent public relations, helping to straighten out popular misconceptions.
Once initiated, you are a Witch and priest or priestess. The Craft is a religion of priesthood, which is how it is possible for Solitaries to conduct their own rites. Everyone initiated is a Witch, but in none of the major traditions is the word used as a title.
Covensteads and Covendoms
The name given to the home of the coven (the place where it always, or most often meets) is the covenstead. Within the covenstead, of course, is found the temple. The covendom traditionally extends for one league (approximately three miles) in all directions from the covenstead. This is the area where, traditionally, the covens Witches live. You should refer to your own coven meeting place as the covenstead. 
Book of Rituals
The Craft was originally a purely oral tradition—nothing was ever written down; all was passed on by word of mouth. But with the start of the persecutions, Witches and covens had to go into hiding and consequently started to lose touch with one another. So that the rituals would not be lost, the Witches began to write them down—not everything; just the basic rituals. Since they were having to meet in secret—‘in the shadows,’ as it were—the book in which the rites were kept became known as the Book Of Shadows. It is still called that today.
In recent years it has become common for all Witches to have a Book of Shadows, with everything contained therein. 
Many Witches like to make their own book from scratch, using parchment for the pages and binding the finished product in tooled leather, or even between carved wooden cover. Putting together such a book can be a labor of love and certainly gives plenty of scope for free artistic expression. 
Your book should reflect you. The book is to be used; the rituals to be read in the Circle. Do not make the writing so elaborate that, in the flickering candlelight, you cannot read what is written!
Solitary Witches
Back in the “old days” of the Craft, there were many Witches who lived at a far distance from any village or even from any other people at all. Yet these were still Witches. The still worshiped the old gods and still worked their own magick. That, I feel, was as it should have been….and as it still should be. Just because you do not live anywhere near a coven; just because you do not know of anyone else with similar interests; just because you are an individualist who does not care to join with others…. These are not reasons why you should not be a Witch. So let us look at Solitary Wicca.
As a Solitary, you do everything yourself. You can write your own rituals, just for you. But you can also adopt and adapt coven ones. 
The Solitary has a small, “compact” Circle. There is no need for the large, coven-size Circle when you are working alone. One just large enough for you and the altar is all you need…. Probably five feet in diameter would be sufficient. When Erecting the Temple, you would still walk all around this Circle to ‘draw’ it with your athame, and to sprinkle and cense it, but for addressing the four quarters you need only turn and face the directions, from your place behind the altar. When working magick, it is easier to build up power in a smaller Circle and it is generally a ‘cosier’ feeling.
The Solitary uses only what she or he feels is needed. You probably will not need as many tools as a coven uses. You may decide to use no more than your athame and a censer. It is up to you; you have only yourself to please. 
Examine as many traditions as you are able. See what tools they use and why then decide on which ones you need. You will find traditions that use broomsticks, ankhs, wands, tridents, etc. You may even decide to add something that no one else uses—the PectiWita, for example, use a ritual staff, which is not found elsewhere. Do not add something just for the sake of having it, or just to be different. Use something because you need to use it; because you feel more comfortable with that particular tool than with another or than without it at all.
The Solitary can hold a ritual whenever she or he feels like it. A coven meets for the Sabbats and Esbats. The dates for the Esbats are fixed at the most convenient times for the majority of members. As a Solitary, you can have an Esbat whenever you feel like it. You can have Esbats three or four days in a row, or go from New Moon to Full Moon without one at all. It is up to you and how you feel. If there is a sudden emergency—perhaps a healing that needs to be done—you can get into it right away. You do not have to desperately try to contact others before you can get to work.
A Solitary has only her or his own power to draw on. When working magick, a coven generates a lot of power. Working together, the total power of the whole far exceeds the sum of the parts. The Solitary can do no more than use the power she or he has. This is a fact and should be accepted. It is one of the few drawbacks to being a Solitary. But this does not mean that nothing can be done! Far from it. Many Solitaries do a great deal of excellent work, drawing only on their own resources. A good parallel might be seen in boast-racing, or sculling, where you have teams of eight oarsmen, four, two, or single rowers. All propel their craft equally well. The only difference is the greater speeds attained by the boasts with the increased numbers of oarsmen.
A Solitary has only her or his own knowledge and specialty. In a coven there is an accumulation of talents. One Witch might specialize in healing, another in astrology, one in herbalism, another in tarot reading. One might be an excellent toolmaker, another a great calligraphist; one a winemaker and/or seamstress, and another a psychic and psychometrist. 
As stated, the Solitary has only her or his own knowledge available. This, the, is another disadvantage but, again, one that must be accepted. There is certainly no reason why, as a Solitary, you should not be in touch with others (Wiccans and non-Wiccans) who are astrologer, tarot readers, herbalists, etc and to call upon them for help and advice when needed. It is just that you do not have them readily at hand there in the Circle with you, available at all times.
A Solitary can change with her or his moods. A Gardnerian coven rigidly follows the Gardnerian rites. A Welsh Keltic coven rigidly follows the Welsh-Keltic rites. A Dianic coven rigidly follows the Dianic rites. This all goes without saying. Even an eclectic coven will generally settle into rites, from whatever sources, with which it feels comfortable, and will stay with them. But the Solitary is free (freer even than most eclectics, if only by virtue of having only herself or himself to please) to do whatever she or he likes… to experiment, to change, to adopt and adapt. She or he can do elaborate, ceremonial rites one day, and simple, plain, ingenuous rites the next. She or he can do Gardnerian-oriented rituals one time, Welsh-Keltic the next, and Dianic the next. There is tremendous freedom for the Solitary, which I urge you to enjoy to the utmost. Experiment. Try different types and styles of rituals. Find those that are exactly right for you.
A Solitary ritual can be the barest minimum of words and actions. You can enjoy a true economy of ritual, if you so desire. 
The Solitary is one. This can be both an advantage (chiefly so, I feel) and a disadvantage. An example of the latter: if a Witch happens to have a very short temper and has been badly used by someone, she or he might possibly be driven by thoughts of revenge. The Solitary might be tempted to overlook the Wiccan Rede, rationalizing her or his thoughts and feelings in some way. Unless she or he can get all of the other coven members, however, including the priest or priestess, to feel the same way that she or he does, the Witch can do nothing she or he might later regret. Far more likely is that the coven would calm her or him and bring the problem into perspective. The Solitary, on the other hand, does not have this “safety catch.” She or he must, therefore, be constantly on guard and always carefully and closely examine the situation before working any magick, giving special thought to the Wiccan Rede.
But, on the other side of the coin, the Solitary does not have to make any compromises in anything she or he does. The Solitary is one with herself or himself and is automatically attuned, with no disharmony or distraction.
So the Solitary Witch is indeed a reality. Do not let anyone tell you that, because you do not belong to a coven and because you were not initiated by someone (who was initiated by someone who was, in turn, initiated by someone…. And so on), you are not a true Witch. Tell them to read their history (and ask them to initiated the very first Witch). You are a Witch and so you are in the fine tradition of Witchcraft. May the gods be with you.