Part two of our Seeking 102 chat!

So, you’ve found a coven and had a successful first meeting... Now what?

What exactly is a decentralised collective? How are things decided if there is no central authority: no kings, queens, witch popes, or even witch CEOs? How is decentralisation maintained? Today’s podcast has come to you thanks to James’ big, delicious brain being left unattended during a long drive.

What work do BTW covens actually do? What types of coven are there within traditional Wicca, and what’s the difference between how members are treated and what is expected? And if coven autonomy is a thing, does that mean there is no crossover between groups and the work they do? We tackle all these questions and more in the first episode of season 4, and - more importantly - we all took part in some uncomfortable role play situations from a coven leadership book from 1998.

In our long-awaited 7th episode of season 3 we address the topic of magical names and personas. Magical names are pervasive in witchcraft communities, and the tradition of taking a new name when embarking on a new practice or new time of life is well known. We discuss why witches sometimes choose new names and how that choice can have an impact on one's craft. 

Episode 6 of season 3 discusses self-actualization in witchcraft. We explore the importance of self-actualization in religious movements and how the “Work” of the craft can be related to this idea. The episode ends with some practices listeners can consider in their own paths to self-actualization.   Mentioned: Her Hidden Children: The Rise of Wicca and Paganism in America (Pagan Studies Series) by Chas S. Clifton Your Dark Side: How to turn your inner negativity into positive energy: Transform Your Inner Negativity into Positive Energy by Vivianne Crowley and Christopher Crowley

Is a personal practice necessary if we’re a member of a coven? What if we’re not in a coven - how important is it then? What do we do when we hit a slump, and how can we mitigate getting to that point in the first place?

In this episode we discuss some Do’s and Don’ts for Seekers and Initiates who are visiting covensteads they are unfamiliar with or open rituals. We also discuss etiquette around expectations and the (now oft repeated) 5Cs of effective communication. References: Traditional Wicca: A Seeker’s Guide - Thorn Mooney

(CW: mental illness) This episode we tackled a much-requested topic: mental health and the craft. How does one manage mental illness and Wicca? How much should a seeker divulge about mental health when approaching a coven? What about priesthood and coven leaders?

We dug deeper into the topics of healing and hexing - pins, poppets, pleasure and pain - this month: the roles they play (or not) in traditional Wicca, a smattering of history and lore, and some tried and true methods, too!

ail, and Welcome, everyone, to Season 3 of Circle Talk 4 Witches - it feels good to be back! We kick off Season 3 by revisiting a core component of Traditional Wicca - Covens. We’ve touched upon the topic of covens before (Season 1 Episodes 6, 7, and 11), though in this episode, we want to talk more about leading a coven and coven mechanics. We address a bit of “how” to start a coven, a lot of “why” one might start a coven, some of the “yikes!” that comes along with running a coven and how to mitigate them, and touch briefly upon why a sturdy table is staple to the practice of the Wica 😛! Grab a cuppa, sit back, relax, and enjoy! Welcome to Season 3. References: Kate West’s The Real Witches’ Coven Thea Sabin’s A Teaching Handbook for Wiccans and Pagans: Practical Guidance for Sharing Your Path Starhawk’s Spiral Dance Thorn Mooney’s Traditional Wicca: A Seeker’s Guide. Llewellyn Publications, 2018. Alexandrian Wicca Seekers and Initiates (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/groups/278933458939644/ Gardnerian Wicca Seekers and Initiates (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/groups/gardnerianseekers/ British Traditional Wicca (Discord): https://discord.gg/rrXEJHA Mandragora Magika (not vouched): https://mandragoramagika.com/ Reddit CovenFinder (not vouched): https://www.reddit.com/r/CovenFinder/ Notes: The 5Cs of effective communication: Be clear Be concise Be compelling Be curious Be compassionate

We went fast and loose for our season 2 finale, taking turns answering some questions and ponderings sent in by listeners. We had a nice time: starting cults, initiating our beds, discussing the sexiness of elders, and learning the definition of “hot take”. References: The Power of Ritual by Casper ter Kuile

Happy equinox! This bumper episode is a discussion of initiation: why do we make such a big deal about it, anyway? We also look at the different types of initiation, what you might find or expect, after effects and more.References:Alex Sanders, King of the Witches - June Johns (warning: shenanigans ahead) The Witches’ Bible - Janet and Stewart Farrar Traditional Wicca: A Seeker’s Guide - Thorn Mooney High Magic’s Aid - Gerald Gardner

For our belated August cross-quarter episode we are continuing to explore different ways of doing “magic”. In this episode we discussed various means of creating and implementing your own spells.  There are several external resources referenced, especially an article by Jenya T. Beachy, originally published in the author’s patheos blog “Dirt Hearth Witch” in 2015: Making It So: Seven Steps to Effective Spells. Other references include: The Witch’s Path: Advancing your Craft at Every Level by Thorn Mooney Website: Astrology.com/tr Six Ways: Approaches & Entries for Practical Magic by Aidan Wachter

We're back! For our return we discuss the ethics of Alexandrian Witchcraft and witchcraft in general. Not only do we take on the question of “The Rule of Three” and “Harm None” but we also discuss subjective and objective ethical questions and whether there are any universal ethical considerations in Alexandrian Witchcraft. The discussion is more interesting than the description, so check it out!

In this month’s episode we discuss the idea of Traditional Wicca as a “Living Tradition,” one that is continually evolving through time and practices while still remaining true to its core as an Initiatory, ritual-based practice. Our views on this are in contrast to some other Initiates, an expected and welcome consequence of coven autonomy. Room for differences is one of the things that makes Alexandrian Witchcraft so fantastic and vibrant.   References: Witches' Way: Principles, Ritual and Beliefs of Modern Witchcraft - Stewart and Janet Farrar Wicca Covens - Judy Harrow

Join us as we continue our exploration of magic and ritual associated with the sabbats. In this episode we discuss the Great Rite, both symbolic and literal. We consider conventional and stereotypical understandings of this Rite and attempt to explain how the energy of the Great Rite is for everyone and how its meaning goes far beyond the obvious.   Resources: Witch's Bible: A Complete Witch's Handbook Transformative Witchcraft by Jason Mankey High Magic's Aid by Gerald Gardner All Acts of Love & Pleasure: Inclusive Wicca by Yvonne Aburrow Fertility and the Pagan Revival - Jack Chanek

Episode 26 is a continuation of our discussion started in episode 24. We dive into the idea of a coven “setting” and why that is important, before launching into an exploration of egregore in Wicca: what is it? Is there more than one egregore? Can egregores be changed? Why do they matter, anyway? To find out, break out the Brasso, slice up the tomato bread, and dig in to our newest episode…

Hail, and welcome, everyone, to episode 25 - “Equini” (even though we know it’s ‘equinoxes’ 😛) Sabbat Special and Meditation. In this episode, we discuss the practices of meditation and how they relate to the equinoxes. How do we practise meditation? It is just as simple as sitting still in the lotus position? Are there other ways to practise meditation? How does a regular meditation practice benefit a coven? Listen in as we discuss a variety of techniques that we use personally and in our coven work.   References, Notes, and Links: Jason Miller’s books Qabalah for Wiccans, by Jack Chanek Lemon Visualisation Keys to Perception, by Ivo Dominguez Trance-Portation, by Diana Paxson Wiccan Life podcasts by Lusete (for guided visualisations)

In this episode we begin to discuss practices in our circles including effective ritual triggers and skyclad practice. We ran out of time in our discussion so look forward to part two where we'll discuss how different practices impact the coven egregore.