For a very long time, newcomers have believed that they have to find and join a coven to become Pagan or practice witchcraft. This is completely untrue. In all honesty, the vast majority of Pagans are solitary practitioners. They may connect with local groups from time to time for certain rituals or celebrations, but they practice alone most of the time.

There’s no rule anywhere that says you need a coven. Being part of a coven doesn’t make you a better Pagan or witch, either. It’s a matter of taste whether you want to practice alone or in a group. If you do join a coven, you’ll have to accept and abide by their rules, and every coven is different.

Some find the coven setting to be enriching and empowering, working with others and following traditions that have been used in the past by that group. Others may find such an atmosphere stifling to their spiritual growth, since doing things your own way or incorporating new elements may be frowned upon.

You should do plenty of research before joining a coven to make sure that they are legitimate and that their beliefs and methods feel right to you. In the end, the choice to be solitary or in a coven is totally your own, and you can always change your mind.

*Disclaimer: I no longer practice Paganism, but I’ve left these Pagan Myths articles active because I believe they’re still valuable in helping people to understand Paganism and reduce negative stereotypes.*

Briana Blair

Briana Blair is an author and artisan. She has published more then 30 books and thousands of articles across multiple sites. After practicing Paganism and witchcraft for 25 years, she's now on a journey as an atheist and skeptic. She's eclectic, unpredictable, and always evolving. Facebook - Twitter