Everyone is welcome. We love beginners – no previous experience is needed! Joining the coven is not necessary to participate in coven activities and rituals.

For those who want to explore a Wiccan path in more depth we offer the opportunity to join the coven through dedication. After a period in this path, we offer the opportunity to become an Initiate.

During six to twelve months of study and practice, a prospective dedicant has opportunities to get to know the people in our community, learn about how we understand Wicca and Witchcraft, and engage in our practice by participating in ritual and seasonal celebrations.

Gryphons Moon often has a dedicant study group that meets regularly online for discussion of the topics that dedicants must learn about. Prospective dedicants can also meet individually with a mentor to discuss any or all topics, or request a relevant reading assignment and provide a written response if they prefer.

Topics for dedicant study

• Wicca as a religion of relationship
• Elements
• Wheel of the Year
• Circle and basics of ritual
• Seasons and cycles
• Relationships with deityHistory of Wicca
• Ethics
• Deepening your practice

A dedicant is someone who is ready to dedicate themselves to the practice of Wicca and to this coven as their current community. Dedicants work with their mentor to explore their own practice as well as getting to know the coven; as part of that they do an independent study on a topic of interest to them and then share what they have learned.

When these are complete and the dedicant and coven are in agreement, coven holds a ritual to welcome new dedicants and reaffirm our coven promises to each other. Dedicants are full members of coven, and many people will find that their practice is fulfilled by being a dedicant.

Those who wish to deepen their practice further can engage in initiate studies, which delve further within the self to address one’s own conscious and unconscious influences. Prospective initiates learn how to engage with those influences to create their own magic, spells, and rituals that work for individuals and groups.

Topics for initiate study

• Parts of self
• Shadow
• Cultural contexts
• Energy work
• Embodied religion and the Great Rite as we practice it
• Metaphors and magic
• Ritual craft
• Ethics for initiates
• History and coven history

Initiate studies last at least a year and may be pursued individually with a mentor or in a discussion group as with dedicant studies. Prospective initiates also work on their personal areas of interest or specialization through independent study, and they must either teach a workshop or lead a ritual as part of their work. When these are complete and the initiate and coven are in agreement, coven holds a ritual to welcome new initiates and reaffirm our coven promises to each other.

Initiates who are interested in pursuing a clergy apprenticeship may speak to current clergy to begin that process, which takes 2-3 years and involves hands-on training in coven facilitation and spiritual mentoring.