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The Coven
Compact
- Ethics Code. All members of the coven are
to abide by the honor code of the group.
- Operating Expenses. There are no dues or
charges for any members of the coven or students. When money is needed
all members must pitch in to help with the expenses. Exceptions will be
made for those who cannot afford to help with money at that time.
- Religious Tradition. There is no specific
tradition in this coven. All nature-based religions are accepted and
welcomed. However, everyone should respect the other member’s religious
feelings, expressions, and traditions. Good criticism is fine as long as
it isn’t destructive. This includes no bashing of the mainstream
religions as well.
- Meetings Schedule. The coven members will
meet every week on Saturday or Sunday for meetings, rituals, exercises, and etc.
There are also open circles for all who wish to join in on the
merriment. Also if it is possible coven members will meet on all eight
Sabbats. The 2-month event schedule is as follows:
2-month Schedule Order
1.
Inner Circle
Ritual
a.
Rituals,
meditations, exercises, and/or spells.
2.
Teaching
Lesson
a.
General
lessons of paganism, magick, divination, and etc.
3.
Crafts &
Activities
a.
Pagan and
nature oriented crafts and activities.
4.
Inner Circle
Study Session
a.
Study time so to have time
for personal or group studies. (Priestess training, degree
studies, clergy studies, and etc.)
5.
Open Circle
Ritual
a.
Rituals,
meditations, exercises, and/or spells.
6.
Inner Circle
Social Activities
a.
Members meet
up for socializing.
7.
Pagan
Discussions
a.
Event in which
topics are discussed.
8.
End of Period
Meeting
a.
Inner circle
plans for the next schedule.
- Attire. Dress for coven meetings can be
casual clothing; however, jewelry should represent religion symbols or
nature. No watches are allowed within any circles as the circle is a
place of sacred space that is the line between this world and the
others. Formal ritual wear may be asked to be worn during certain rites,
but is rare.
- Meeting Sites. The coven groups will meet
at various sites. Votes will be taken to choose the place of the next
meeting. Nominations can be made by any member. Majority wins. In the
case that the meeting place is in a private home all members must show
respect for personal property and the neighbor’s feelings. Any
disregard toward the home owner or his or her neighbors is unacceptable
and those responsible will be asked to leave.
- Ritual Responsibilities. Responsibilities
for ritual participation are divided equally throughout the members of
the coven members. Members will be expected to volunteer for bringing
items that are needed. The coven leader, however, is always in charge of
the ritual tools for circles. Members will vote for anything no one can
agree on. Attendance is as follows:
- Outer (open) circle: people may come & go as they
please.
- Inner circle: attendance is expected except when
it is impossible. Phone calls must be made.
- The Coven Structure. By vote Iris Moon is
the main leader of both the inner and outer circle groups. However,
rotations can and will be made upon request, vote, and etc to any one
who wishes. There are no degrees within the coven as of now, but this
may be voted on at a later date if brought up. Students,
however, are only allowed to open circles. Also there is no limit to the
number of members in each of the circles.
- Leadership Duties. Each leader must come up
with rituals, create exercise plans, pass out preview of next meeting,
and etc. They of course must act like a role model by acting fair,
nonjudgmental, keeping the peace, and etc. In English a leader must act
like a leader.
- Coven Officers. There will be no set
officers. Leader must carry out most of the jobs that could be done by
others, however, occasional votes or volunteers for responsibilities
will be listed.
- Officer Duties. N/A (Keep tools clean &
safe, make sure all that is needed is present, call around to make sure
meetings are still in order, and etc.)
- Coven Degrees. As of now there are no
degrees. Will be voted on at a later date.
- Coven Teacher Duties. Teachers are to plan
the exercises for students, create a schedule, host study discussions,
and any other necessary measures. Each student will advance into the
coven once they have been declared ready if that is there wish and they
are approved by the coven members. The student must pass a verbal
or written test in order to be initiated. Students are only allowed to
join in open circles until they are official members of the inner
circle.
- Inner & Outer Circles. The leader, Iris
Moon, will organize both the outer and inner circles, unless a decision
of rotation had been arranged. Only after a member from the outer circle
has been initiated into the actual coven may they join the inner circle.
Inner circle: The actual coven and it's
initiated members.
Outer circle: The circle that includes those
that are not members, just interested, and/or students. It refers to
open to public events.
- Affiliations/Networking. The coven will
attempt to share information and activities with other groups of pagans
& craft folk. Networking with other pagan groups and craft folk will be
done when and if possible.
- Magickal Requests. All magickal requests
from members and nonmembers will be voted on to see if they are deemed
worthy of our magickal efforts. Members personal requests are, of
course, more welcome to the circle. All persons must fill out a request
form in order for the vote of the coven members.
- Joining Students. Students are welcome
under any means of finding the coven group. However, they must be truly
willing to learn. Each student will be assigned a teacher or a mentor if
they wish to learn on their own with the coven's help.
- Pre-Initiates. People who have already been
initiated by other covens or have performed self-initiations are
accepted but must pass a verbal or written test & participate in at
least one open circle before being allowed to join the inner circle.
After wards they may be initiated into the group. No specific traditions
are required. All pre-initiates that have not been associated with the
coven will be put on a probation period for 3 months in which if they
watched carefully as the coven does not want to initiate a member to
later regret. If during the 3 month period the member does anything to
disrupt the peace of the coven or brake anything in the coven compact,
honor code, or other agreements sworn to they will be considered
no member of the coven and their coven initiation will be erased from
records.
- Minors & Guests. Minors may be allowed to
join under the conditions that they have their parents or guardians sign
a paper stating they are allowed to participate. Parents may sit in at
open circles or sit down with the members for an explanation of how the
coven functions. Guests are allowed to join any outer circles that they
wish to attend. Also small children too young to help are not allowed
for the place of meeting may not be childproof and/or they may be
disruptive to the circle activities.
- Coven Decisions. All coven decisions will
be made by a majority vote of members.
- Substance Rules. Illegal substances are
banned. If a member is caught doing illegal drugs near circle grounds
banishment may be issued. Cigarettes are allowed, but must not be smoked
nearby, as other members may not approve. Also alcohol is not allowed on
site.
- Group Privacy & Security. Secrets of
members will be kept unless the member has stated that they do not mind.
There is no secret toward the actual coven except when it comes to the
secret rituals, traditions, and practices within the inner circle.
- Banishment. Majority vote will decide
whether a member should be banished once the problem has been brought up
to the leader. Banishment will be brought about because of threats of
health and/or lives of members, destruction of the circle group, or any
other reason that seems fit. The same goes for those of the outer
circle.
- Inactivement. This can be voluntary or
involuntary depending on the situation. In cases of voluntary
inactivement it may be because of work schedules, school exams, vacation
time, injury, or they just need some time away from the coven. The
member then decides the date of re-activement as they are the one who
choose to go inactive. If involuntary the coven votes on how long the
member must stay inactive before applying for re-activement and is
generally like banishment only the member didn't do anything too bad as
to be completely kicked out.
- Conflict. If a conflict arises between a
few people a mediator will be used to solve the problem. If the conflict
arises between the coven as a whole a meditation session may be issued
with a discussion session.
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