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Covens
In the past, Wicca was primarily a secret, initiatory religion. In traditional Wicca, most practitioners were members of covens - groups of Wiccans who met for study, worship and magic. They were sworn to secrecy during their initiations not to reveal other members identities, their magical names, the activities that occurred during a circle or the groups magical or religious rituals. Circle names were given each member but their magical names were kept secret. Your magical name should be kept secret for your own protection. If your enemies were to discover your magical name, they could use it to destroy you through spells and rituals. For instance my circle name is Rowan, but my magical name is known only to myself now, as the Priestess who gave it to me is no longer with us.
Some of these covens were training organizations with varying memberships, while others retained cohesive group identities and rarely allowed new members. This is still true today. But many non-traditional covens now exist. Some are non-initiatory, others self-initiatory.
Covens are usually limited to 13 members, but may have fewer. The number is symbolic of the Lunar months. It is also said that it is because it's the maximum number of persons capable of fitting into the ritual space or magic circle which is at the center of every Wiccan rite.
Most traditional covens are led by a high priestess and high priest. These are generally Wiccans who, after years of Wiccan training and experience have undergone three separate initiations, permitting them to lead a coven and to teach Wicca to others.
Traditional initiation rituals are usually dramatic experiences. If the ceremony is properly enacted, the person undergoing the ritual is profoundly changed emerging with a new identity as a member of the Craft. Such ceremonies are universal, in secret and magical groups. In Wicca, the initiation ritual is designed not only to present the person to the Goddess and God as a Wiccan, but also to expand her or his awareness of other states of consciousness and the reality of nonphysical energies. The initiate may undergo some type of symbolic death, only to be reborn into Wicca. The initiate is then given their circle and magical names and presented with magical tools. Then the presentation the the Goddess and the God is made.
Though many Wiccan initiations are secret, many others have been published and are available for study. The words alone are mere reflections of the magic that is at work during a true initiation.
~Blessed Be~
Rowan
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