Maybe you dream of becoming a high priestess in a secretive tradition. Or perhaps you’d just like some more witchy friends. Either way, where’s a baby witch to start? After I awakened to my own identity as “witch” during a shamanic journey, I found the online witchy community Mumbles & Things. Their free tutorial, Witchcraft 101, was a great place to start, but I wanted to create a real-life coven. Here’s how to find your own fellow witches in the flesh!
Where My Witches At? There are plenty of overpriced “moon circles” and online Patreons, but you don’t need to pay for a magical community. At its essence, a coven is just a group of like-minded folks with a shared vision and intention. At first, I thought I didn’t know any other witches. But it turns out most of my friends were already practicing some sort of practical magick, whether they realized it or not. Your friend who’s always talking about manifestation or the one obsessed with sustainability? Coven mates in the making! Once you start expressing your desire for a coven, you might be pleasantly surprised by the response.
Magick, the Gathering. My own coven began as a DIY artist’s retreat with four other artistic women. I reached out with a mysterious email titled “Secret Invitation.” We booked an Airbnb cabin in the woods for a weekend in October and off we went, setting the intention to hold creative space for one another. We built fires, cooked meals, made “witch” crafts like candles and mojo spell bags, practiced yoga, played music, pulled tarot, and on the final morning, performed a spell within a magick circle. Your first gathering could be something similar, or even as simple as an intentional potluck dinner on the next moon phase!
Broom Squad. During our witchy weekend, talk consistently turned to connection with Mother Earth and the rematriation of society. Without initially realizing it, this ecofeminist philosophy was clearly the thing that had brought us together. As you gather your own witchlings, notice the commonalities and any shared visions. We committed to using our various artistic mediums in service to Mother Earth and donned the name the Coven Creative. Naming your group acknowledges the power of the collective entity you are creating—try throwing things out and see what sticks!
It’s Not Just a Phase. Since that magickal weekend, we’ve continued to host regular gatherings—potluck dinners with rotating hostess responsibilities—every new moon and full moon. It’s OK if not everyone makes it or if new folks join. We tend to center our meetups on shared goals. Lately, our single lady coven has been calling in conscious romantic partnership through love spells. Witchy book studies are also great. So grab your friends (you know which ones) and get together this Halloween or on the next full moon. Your very own coven awaits!
ILLUSTRATION BY NIMO JIANG
