Ivy over at Pagan Blog Prompts posted this last week. And since most of the answers were solitary...at least now, I figured I'd offer an opposite view of things.
Please forgive me if this prompt has been done, but coven
vs. solitary practice is something I have always been interested in. I
practice in a coven myself, but spent a many good years doing my own
thing as a solitary, so I have felt first have the benefits and
drawbacks of both situations.
How do you all feel? Do you practice in a group or solitary? Which do
you prefer? If you chose one over the other, why do you feel that way?
If you are a coven member, would you ever go back to being solitary? If
you practice alone, would you ever join a group? Just something to think
over. :)
I look forward to reading your thoughts!!
1. Do you practice in a group or solitary? Currently, I'm an initiated member into a coven (Wiccan).
2. Which do
you prefer? It depends. Right now I enjoy having the group around me for ritual and occasional courses. I needed a little more structure than I usually do on my own. Since I'm a wife, and mom of two little ones, plus I work full time I don't have the forethought or diligence to put my own religious/spiritual path in the forefront. Especially since the Hubs is Christian, I don't have another pagan around to remind me..."hey the wheel is turning. We need to do a ritual." Or "Hey, isn't it a full moon?" (Though the Goddess has kindly helped me with the later issue.)
3. If you chose one over the other, why do you feel that way? See above answer. Plus the nice thing about my group is that I can learn about various topics....or not. I'm not pigeon-holed into one specific viewpoint. Sure we have the typical Neophyte year where we learn the ways of the coven, but after that, we can branch out into whatever area we would like to go. We just need to take back what we learn to the group.
4. If you are a coven member, would you ever go back to being solitary? It would depend on a lot of factors. Since my group doesn't require constant attendance at things once you're initiated, I'm much less likely to leave. That said, it would take a lot (of issues, personality clashes, drama, etc.) for me to leave the group.
I tried many other things before, a social pagan group (which was and is fun, but too far away to attend a lot of things) other online forums, even a local group, but nothing really clicked before this current group I'm in. In fact, I probably wouldn't have considered (or even found) them if it wasn't that two new friends were third degrees in the coven. I think knowing someone inside the group helps with drawing people into the fold, if you will.
