Time: Evening meetings (including Full Moons) - 8.00 pm start. Coveners to arrive on time. Arrangements for late entry will depend on the venue. Wednesday night meetings to close by 10.30 at the latest (to facilitate babysitting arrangements, etc.)

Place: Where available, the coven prefers to have a home base (north of the river) where regular meetings can be held (Presently Yokine). Venues for rituals and other special events to be decided by the coven as needed. We acknowledge the energy expended by the one who makes their place available for meetings.

Robes: Coveners will wear earth coloured (green and brown shades) robes. These are to be worn at every meeting. New members are expected to have their own robes.

Tools: Each member is asked to contribute some sacred object or tool to the Coven. The tools are kept in the special box which belongs to the coven for this purpose.
 
 

Meeting Facilitation: Every meeting will be facilitated, including those scheduled for 'spontaneous happenings'. (Unfacilitated discussion runs the risk of descending into unconscious group power dynamics.) To avoid habitual patterns of embracing or avoiding this role, facilitators for evening meetings will be designated in advance for each quarter. The facilitator has the responsibility to arrange a swap with someone else if unable to attend for their meeting. A facilitation skills training meeting will be included during the Positiva pathway. (Also see Notes for EarthDreaming Facilitators)

Emotional Vibes : The meeting facilitator is responsible for ensuring that vibes-watching occurs (self or another or group). The vibes watcher role helps direct group attention to any emotional "vibes" (eg. unspoken feelings) arising during the course of the meeting, which may need to be addressed by the group. This includes being an advocate for any group member who is in apparent distress and not feeling able to speak. The presence of a nominated vibes watcher does not preclude other coven members from addressing either of these situations if they become aware of them.

Conflict Resolution: Every coven member has a duty to the coven to do what they can to address conflict when it arises. Emotional conflict or problems can be addressed at coven meetings (by sharing them during a regular check-in or a quarterly pathway debriefing), or outside coven meetings (by addressing them directly with the other parties involved or through mediation).

Conflict resolution rituals are used to address issues which, for whatever reason, cannot be resolved through either mediation or a simple sharing round. Notes on facilitating conflict resolution to be on a card in the coven box, for ready reference.

(Everyone needs to make an effort not to slip into venting their feelings through malicious gossip outside of meetings, because it is often easier than addressing the source of the emotional distress but more destructive.)

Emotional Clearinghouse ritual: Any coven member may invoke the Clearinghouse at any time. The group must then decide whether to proceed with the ritual on the spot, or postpone it until the following meeting. The person who called the Clearinghouse has first option on choosing a facilitator. If you are emotionally hot on any issue related to the coven, you should disqualify yourself from facilitation. Every Emotional Clearinghouse must also have a Vibeswatcher.

** Existing emotional clearinghouse & problem solving rituals need refinement**

Coven Visibility: Members are not to divulge who comprises the Coven to non-members. Each member needs to decide for herself or himself who they wish to let know. Members should not talk about specific activities of the coven to non-members, but only mention generalities. The level of openness to partners and other intimate folk of members is recognised as being a special case, and each person does what they feel right and needed to maintain healthy partner relationships whilst still respecting the trust and safety of fellow members.
 
 

Decision making: Whereever possible we will follow existing tradition, unless we are making a conscious choice to change one or more aspects of our EarthDreaming tradition. Decision-making is based on a consensus process. Having aired their concerns, any coven member has the 'right to pass' on activities which they do not feel able to participate in. The right to block consensus should only be used if the integrity of the tradition is seen to be at stake. All coven members will be given notice of decision-making meetings. Anyone who is away or sick during a decision-making process is expected to live with whatever decisions are made in their absence. However, they can either make arrangements in advance to pass on their input, or phone in during the process.

Attendance: In terms of relative priority, the following events to be considered as being mandatory (or as close to it as we get in EarthDreaming): scheduled planning meetings, Welcomings, Coven Closing ritual, Solar Festivals. (These are activities during which the absence of any coven member is more strongly felt, and has more significant consequences for the group as a whole). Whilst they are not mandatory, it is important for coven members to attend the Water Festivals and the Full Moons to gain the full experience of the tradition. Those who are holding the three Ancestor Spirits should make all efforts to attend all six seasonal festivals.

Absences: Coven members who will not be attending one or more meetings or festivals (for whatever reasons - sickness, holidays, time out) are expected to inform the coven as early as possible. When a coven member takes a period of 'time-out' they need to be clear and explicit about how much or little contact they are wanting during this time.

Personal symbols: In order to maintain continuity of connection, each coven member is asked to supply a personal symbol to be kept in the coven box. This will serve as an energetic link to that person, and be used to invoke their presence whenever they are not able to be physically present. The personal symbol will be returned to its owner if and when he or she chooses to leave the coven.

New Members: Visitors are welcome to evening meetings during the "Open" period which runs from the Spring Equinox to the Coven Closing ritual (ie. October - November). Full Moon rituals during this time are only open to current members of the coven.

Visitors are expected to attend at least three meetings, and have an in depth discussion about our coven and tradition (including these groundrules) with at least one existing member of the coven, prior to making the decision to join the coven. Visitors who decide not to join be will be asked to keep confidential who exactly is in the coven.

We will spend a part of the Spring Equinox ritual preparing ourselves for the fact that the coven will be open again soon.

Family Circle: The family circle associated with EarthDreaming coven is called RainbowSong Family Circle. It was established to meet the need to extend our tradition to our families and friends. Children are especially welcome.

Water Festivals: Flowering Earth, Dry Earth and Coming of the Rain are 'open' festivals. Family and friends of coven members are welcome. The nature and extent of any more 'public' advertising to be decided by the coven on a case by case basis as the tradition matures.

Tradition & Mentoring

EarthDreaming Lore: A 'master file' of all material which describes and defines the EarthDreaming Tradition of pagan worship will be established. This includes a book of stories, songs, etc. This material is made available to new coven members at their Welcoming. The Vision and Wisdom Keepers are responsible for managing changes or additions to this master file.

Vision Keeper: This person is chosen by the coven and the tradition, and has a special responsibility to ensure that we do not loose sight of the vision which originally gave birth to EarthDreaming and which continues to guide our evolution as a tradition. S/he is our eye on the far horizon, keeping us focussed on where it is all leading. Staying open to the vision is a collective responsibility which we all share. We have concluded that the vision will choose its own channels through which to express new stories, rituals and other inspirations.

Wisdom keeper: This person is chosen by the coven and the tradition and has a special responsibility to help us to keep track of what has been tried before and the lessons learned from past experiences. S/he is our memory of where we have come from and how much we have already grown. Eventually this role will be part of the work of the EarthDreaming Elders.

Ancestor Spirits: Three coven members will undertake to hold Snake, Frog and Magpie respectively, for a full year beginning at the annual Revisioning.

Induction & Mentoring: New coven members are expected to complete a personalised mentoring programme, designed by themselves in conjunction with an EarthDreaming mentor, in accordance with the Induction mentoring guidelines. Further development of magical and ritual skills is available through mentoring in the magical pathway. See seperate Mentoring Guidelines.

Appointment of Mentors: Once a year, prior to the Spring Equinox, the coven will review which of its members are ready and available to function as mentors. No one is to put forward their own name. Mentors will be recognised by popular acclaim. No-one is required to mentor (although it is expected that long term members of the coven will make themselves available to pass on the tradition at some future point). Mentors for the coming cycle will be ritually empowered at the Spring Equinox.

Allocation of Mentors: Available mentors will be shared out amongst incoming coven members by drawing lots at the meeting prior to the coven closing ritual. Further mentoring in the Magical Pathway is by mutual arrangement.
 

Full Moons: For Drawing Down rituals, a Moon Priest/ess will be decided upon by drawing lots from amongst those who are ready and available during the month prior to the ritual. The Moon Priestess chooses an Earth Priest/ess to assist her. The Moon Priestess may wear whatever she likes. Eventually we would like to have a coven necklace and/or cloak for this purpose.

Record Keeping: A record book is kept in the coven box to record coven planning and feedback from coven rituals.

Revisioning : Once a year, early in the Creativa quarter, the coven will plan a weekend away together to spend time renewing our vision and focus for the coming cycle, review the groundrules and any other planning and decision making which arises from this.