Group Mind and
the Witches’ Coven

The ancient mystery traditions taught the student that “we are all one,” that all forms of energy are interconnected, and that therefore we are all a part of the great whole sometimes referred to as the divine dance or the collective unconscious. Our society, however, is stuck on individualism—that we are separate from each other, and that our differences are so wide we can never find ultimate peace with each other. Not true. Do you remember the old adage Together we stand—divided we fall? It’s more accurate than you think.

If we begin with the idea of believing that we are all a part of the universal mind (the collective energy of the universe) and that we are never truly “unplugged” from that mind, it puts a whole different twist on reality as we understand it. This would mean that our enemy is a part of us. If they are part of us, then are they an enemy? Heavy stuff, I agree.

What leads us into the idea that we are separate is our individual conscious choices (and we make millions, maybe even billions, of these choices each day). We all work with the same energy, yet we each choose to use it differently. If the choices prevent perfect love and perfect trust, thereby attempting to destroy unity, then they are in error and the collective unconscious will take steps to balance the situation and restore harmony. These choices are based on our emotions, our body chemistry, our goals, what we have learned by past experience, and what we continue to learn. Even when our choices are in error (and we all make bad decisions), we are always connected through Spirit. We are never alone. This universal mind is a storehouse of information to which we all have a key, and that living energy never depletes and never dies.

How do we know that this overall group mind (or collective unconscious) exists? Telepathy, for one: the ability to speak with the deceased (although we haven’t been able to slice and dice this idea with pure science quite yet), remote viewing (used successfully by the U. S. government), and the gift that some of us have to communicate with animals (to name just a few). There is another way of knowing that this collective unconscious exists: we can watch groups of people tied together by like interests or skill (like a soccer team, a science club, a political party, your family, or a clique). When the group is successful and their actions work to restore or hold harmony, they are thinking as one. When they fail, then—whether they know it or not—they are mentally divided by choice: their own. When you hear someone say that a group of people is only as strong as their weakest member, this actually factors down to an occult idea. In this case we’re not talking about physical strength, but mental fortitude. The weakest member is the person who is constantly practicing negative self-talk, engaging in gossip, or who is just an all-around weenie who sabotages the group for the sake of a personal agenda. By choice, this person (or persons) try to refute the unity of the collective unconscious. If this seems confusing, don’t worry about it. After you work magick and ritual for awhile, it will all become clear to you.

To help you understand the idea of the collective unconscious and how groups draw from it, let’s practice two occult exercises.

Group Mind Exercise 1

For the next two days to one week, carry a notebook with you and write down all the different groups you see around you, and your impressions of those groups. Don’t let anyone read your impressions. These are private feelings. If you must, write your ideas in code. Next to the group, write who you think is the strongest and the weakest member of that group, and why you think the group is successful or not. At the end of your experiment, meditate on what you have found. Think about the universal mind. Write down what you have learned from observing with your eyes and what you have discovered in meditation. Keep these notes because we will use them again.

Group Mind Exercise 2

Go back and read the Charge of the Goddess (page 5). Pay particular attention to the words “From me all things are born, and to me all things will return.” What is the Goddess energy telling you? She wants you to know that, in order to be the best you can be, you need to see the big picture before you can make little ones for yourself. She wants you to understand the concept of unity. You are one with every person and animal that lives, and you are one with god/dess already. You don’t have to do any hard work to get there, you just have to remember. You are one with every form of life and energy. Everything (including you) came from the same energy, and everything will return to that energy, regardless of the choices you make (I detect that little bugger called quantum physics here, do you?). How you use this energy is what is important, to yourself and to your community. One person can change the world, yet when these changes occur, the resource is that of the infinite, creative energy, which is the unity of all things. To hammer this point home, the Witches act out this journey through celebrating their eight High Holy Days, and calling them the Wheel of the Year. When they look at the holidays as interconnected, and celebrate each one in its turn, they are acknowledging the magick of birth, death, and rebirth in the lives of everyone (not just the Witches), as well as honoring the total unity of that creative energy that never dies.

The unity of all energy (people, place, animals, things, and deity) has been an occult maxim for a very long time, and many famous people in history have tried to explain it to those who would care to listen—Buddha, Confucius, Lao Tze, Muhammad, Dion Fortune, Israel Regardie, and Jesus, to name just a few. Personally, I will never forget Lord Serphant leaning close to me not long after my third-degree initiation, and whispering in my ear, “There is only one secret—we are all one.”

The Modern Coven

What, then, does all this have to do with the coven environment? A coven is a group of Witches who have chosen to work magick, healing, and learning together, and normally acknowledge some type of internal government. Yes, that means they have rules. These rules vary from group to group. Not all Witches work in covens. Some use the word “circle” and others use the word “groves.” A few use the word “church” and have been incorporated under the laws of state and country government (where such laws provide them the freedom of religion). The internal government of a coven, grove, or circle may be loose or very strict—this all depends on who started the group and what they saw as an adequate way to work together. Many Witches work solitary and don’t belong to a group, where others work solitary but join a community Pagan-sponsored function to celebrate the moons (esbats) and High Holy Days (sabbats). Covens who follow the same teachings with an organized system of rules are called a tradition, if and only if the person who began the entire system is dead (as in Gardnerian Wicca). If, however, the original organizer is not deceased, the grouping of covens is called a “clan” (as in my own clan of twenty-eight covens). These covens may not have a central government (as in the case of Gardnerians), although several may communicate with each other for various reasons, or they may have a hearthstone concept where the covens never hive off but remain a part of the original organization (like the Black Forest), governed by a single person (queen/clan head), two people, or a council of elders. Once a single clan becomes too large to be governed properly, some groups allow significant sections to disengage, create their own queen or clan head, yet remain affiliated in the way most members feel is satisfactory. Some may choose to separate from the mother group entirely. What makes the network of covens confusing is that not all of them follow the same rules, and some groups call themselves traditions right from the get-go. To an outsider wading through the buzzwords and the coven behaviors, it is enough to make your eyeballs go wacky in your head; yet this is not unlike other religious groups where one denomination does one thing, but a group five miles away does something different. Certainly there are innumerable Christian denominations. Why would the Craft, the fastest-growing, grass-roots religion in the United States, be any different?

A group mind is a pocket of like-minded individuals that come together in the whole of collective unconsciousness. It is a microcosm of the universal mind that tries, through human effort, to reflect the macrocosm of the collective whole (As above, so below). Each organization, small or large, has a group mind—people who link their thoughts and behaviors together to reach a certain goal. The difference between a cheerleading squad or a football team and the coven is that the magickal people know they are linked to the divine source, and through that “knowing” make a group effort to work with that source for healing, success, and happiness. The cheerleading squad, unless it has a strong and charismatic leader and plenty of individuals who practice positive thinking, does not understand the full impact of unity, and therefore only uses a small portion of the creative mind that links them all together. Your family also has a group mind. You are linked together by blood (DNA, genetics) and possibly living conditions, as well as any family traditions. Covens, then, and sometimes clans are often referred to as “family.” They aren’t necessarily your blood family, but they call themselves brothers and sisters from a spiritual viewpoint—the idea that we are linked together by choice, by practice, and by the ultimate creative energy that everyone shares. This type of grouping is not to be mistaken for a cult, which in this day and age refers to an organization that attempts to wholly destroy individuality and forces people, through a variety of means, to act in a manner that is unfitting to their spiritual path and the constructs of society as a whole.

In the Craft there is a method used to connect the individual to the group mind that is not designed to override the individual’s personal choices. That connection is called an initiation. The primary focus of an initiation into a group is to link you to that group mind and, through their assistance, remove any psychic blockages to help you prepare the way for increased spirituality. Therefore, you are connecting to the energy of the present group, the energy that members of the group carry with them from past associations within that group, and the energy of members who are deceased that worked within the confines of that group. One’s Craft lineage, then, is a listing of all who have gone before you litanized by the names of the individual(s) who orchestrated your personal initiation rite, and who have orchestrated their initiation rites, and so on. If you leave such a group once you have experienced the initiation ceremony, and do not desire to be connected to the group mind, then you should participate in a separation ritual, or one will be sometimes be done for you by the group after you are gone. The group mind is never to be taken lightly; never underestimate the power of the older groups or their members who have gone through years of training. A skilled high priestess can swing the sword in ritual and cut you from the group mind in less than five minutes, should she deem it necessary, and you will forever believe that you made the choice to leave all on your own. This tells you that there is a difference between a newly formed group and one that has functioned for several years—something that you will want to keep in mind if and when you decide you are ready for group work.

The really tricky thing about any group mind is that it is never stagnant. If a person leaves a group, the group mind will close ranks and change to recover from the loss of energy. Sometimes this is a sad moment and other times everyone in the group heaves a collective sigh of relief. For a moment, think of a group mind like a state. If you live in the state of Texas, you are a member of that state and also a member of the collective whole—the United States. If you leave Texas and move to Montana, you are no longer attached to the Texas group, but you are still a part of the United States. If you leave the United States you are still a part of the world group. You never leave the ultimate collective whole, you just move around within it.

If a person joins a group, then the group mind will expand and try to work this new energy into the whole. If this new energy does not vibrate at the same frequency as the whole, the group mind will expel the new member or the new member will destroy the group mind. If the new member refuses to go, things will get dicey for everyone. It doesn’t matter what kind of group mind we are talking about, the debate club or a coven—harmony will always try to prevail. In the Craft there is a standing joke called “high priestess/priest fever,” which is not so funny at all. This is a person who enters a group with the main focus of being the center of attention, and who will consciously or subconsciously sabotage the group mind in order to rule it. More than one coven has crashed and burned because of such an individual. An entire organization of over two hundred people or more can be ground into the dust through the selfishness or bad behavior of one person who makes a concerted effort to split the clan, hoping to capture the attention he or she needs. Usually this individual has been elevated to a trusted position and the blindsiding effect of his or her antics can literally rock the group’s world. At times such as these, one wonders what happened to perfect love and perfect trust.

The group mind, then, is an ever-changing environment. Although we may recognize and try to cope with the physical reality of someone leaving or joining, we often don’t consciously recognize this change beyond the physical, though our subconscious (which is always hooked up to the collective unconscious) does try to let us know—we just don’t always listen.

The group mind always tries to imitate the unity of the collective unconscious. The problems that arise within any group are in direct relation to choice: When the group as a whole moves away from harmony, or when one or two group members try to upset the harmonious balance already established by the group, there will be an energy flux. If a group gathers together under the banner of negativity (such as a hate group), those within are destined to destruction. However, because the collective unconscious is not affected by time (like we are), this implosion may take longer than we’d like and many innocent people can be affected. Karmically, those who worked in error will pay, but you won’t always see the method of payment as the universe (Spirit, God, the gods and goddesses) decides when and where those dues will be exacted. When you have suffered at the hands of such group activity, it is incredibly hard to have faith that perfect love and perfect peace will prevail because you cannot always be present when justice occurs.

The word coven means an assembly or meeting, and is related to convent and covenant, both speaking of an agreement or pact among people. In a coven the members agree to work together for the welfare of themselves and of the group. They may also agree on general rules, which gods and goddesses will be the patrons of the group, and what types of magick they like to do best. They may agree to learn together, and eventually to teach others. Craft covens are often small, with anywhere from three to thirteen members. Although the number thirteen can have occult significance, the smaller the coven, the tighter the group mind. I can tell you from experience that over thirteen members takes a leader skilled in diplomacy, with undying patience and an incredible amount of time and energy. Because the coven environment can have political pitfalls, many teens (and adults, too) choose to work “in circle”—meaning they simply come together to do magick and ritual, but don’t want all the responsibilities that go along with regular coven work, or to be bothered with group government. There is no pact of behavior, only an agreement of what can (and can’t) be done at any particular sabbat or esbat. In this case, the group mind only has “power” while the magick is in progress. Yes, it could be considered a loose group mind, but then we’re splitting hairs and we don’t need to worry about that at the moment. How do I know this is true? Because as my husband and I travel across the country and visit various areas, we hold what is called a “healing circle.” Every time we do this ritual different people are involved, yet working together in that moment in time they are incredibly powerful and they always get the job done. We share one thing in common: faith.

Earlier I mentioned that the group mind is not stagnant. It will evolve or disintegrate as is needed by the group members and the collective unconscious. If you are a history buff (or even forced to read history for school), you’ll notice that certain groups of people rise (or fall) in history as their energies are needed. Although we may say, “Gee, weren’t we lucky that so-and-so was involved,” in essence, so-and-so was called to be there by the collective unconscious. That person had the choice of whether or not to become involved. Had they not, the collective mind would have called someone else into service. Why does the collective unconscious choose a particular individual? To ensure that ultimate harmony will prevail. Why does the collective unconscious (god/dess) have to do this? Because humans create the circumstances they deal with by thought, choice, and free will.

Most covens do not accept members under the age of eighteen or twenty-one for several reasons. First, many are looking for a specific level of maturity because every time they bring a new member into a magickal group, the group mind changes. If that group mind is not prepared to deal with teen or early adult energy, it can and might disrupt the group mind. There is also the question of the laws of the state in which the coven is operating and how your parents feel about your participation in a magickal group. This doesn’t mean that being a teen is bad. There are also covens operating that require a specific level of pre-training, or self-study. If you haven’t studied in advance, you may not be permitted to join the coven. Others require that you have hearth and home, meaning a stable job and a secure place to live. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist or live in a mansion. In this case the leader is looking for personal stability and the assurance that you will have the necessary time to study. Some will not admit an individual who is going through a personal crisis, such as a divorce, until that individual has given the necessary time required to that challenge and can now turn their sights on something new and exciting. Others will not take college students or newlyweds because the demand for their personal time might become too strenuous for the student.

When in a crisis or going through a major life change, one cannot focus on several issues at the same time—something has to take precedence. As you should not be forced to choose between your spirituality and your income (college, as an example), several teachers will suggest that you wait until a more appropriate time in your life to begin. Many covens now have application forms that are prerequisites for entry. Some people feel that this type of exclusiveness is a bad thing. Yet, if your group has been running well for three years, and you are mindful of the impact of how a person’s energy can change the group, you may make your choice to exclude someone to protect the group and the person who has made an application. In many magickal groups, the candidate must serve a year and a day before entrance is granted and the ceremony of connection is solidified. This gives both sides a chance to bow out if one or the other feels this is not the right situation for them.

Even if no new members are admitted and no one leaves the group mind, changes will continue to occur for a variety of reasons, including personal growth and our missions in life. Most magickal groups last less than three years; at the most, five. A few go beyond fifteen, and even less make it to twenty. Some groups totally remake themselves, with only a handful of the original members still involved, past that twenty-year mark, and there are some where the name has continued but the original founder is long gone and the group mind has morphed into something completely different. If you are a teen, you are familiar with the short life span of the group mind. You are in middle school and involved in those activities for a finite period of time. High school is the same thing. In college you may remain an alumni, but once you are no longer active at the core of the group, you may lose interest or only pay your dues for the networking the group might provide at a later date.

Finally, various covens have different goals. Some are purely for socialization, others focus on training in general or training for what is called the priesthood (which includes both women and men). Those who focus on the priesthood are usually structured and require that you devote four years or more to training within the organization.

If you are interested in forming a coven with your friends or are looking to join a coven, it is important that you write down what you desire from this relationship with your magickal peers and how you plan to fit that group mind into your lifestyle. My best suggestion is that before you make any decisions, you read the book Coven Craft by Amber K. This excellent book discusses the joys, pitfalls, and various structures you can choose when forming your own coven. I also have a section on Tradition Guidelines in my book To Light a Sacred Flame.