Why train with a lineaged coven?
In a world where information is only a click away, why train with a closed initiatory group such as the Coven of the Laughing Magpie?
The mass market paperback boom of the 1990’s, and the ability to self publish with ease following soon after, there are a flood of book on the subject of wicca, leaving many seekers feeling that joining an outer circle training coven is unnecessary.
Gardnerian Wicca vs wicca
Many of the books coming out of the Llewellyn publication boom were predicated on the work of Gardnerian initiates keen to share their experience and understanding of the tradition they were part of. Bound by oaths, these books often obscured truths about the tradition, or changed them to make the tradition more palatable to the cultural sensibilities of the time. Even in the 1990’s, authors were still engaging in these practices and as a result a whole other form of wicca was born. Initiates will often differentiate between these two understandings through the use of capital letters, though this is not to say that there is no value in the information contained within wiccan books. The reality, however, is that there are numerous and substantial differences between Gardnerian Wicca and wicca, and it is only by engaging with a lineaged coven that these can be explored.
By engaging with a lineaged coven such as Coven of the Laughing Magpie you can speak to people with a first hand experience of a closed tradition to:
- explore your understanding of wicca and Paganism, within a Gardnerian frame
- discuss common misconceptions about this tradition
- share your thoughts and experiences with other like minded seekers and initiates
- find out if this tradition is right for you
Can I train with you?
To ensure our coven maintains a healthy rhythm and dedicated focus for our members, we operate on a two years on, one year off training cycle.
Because of this cycle, we are not currently running an active training group.
However, we are always keen to hear from sincere seekers! While our formal training group is taking a pause, we encourage anyone interested in learning more about us to get in touch and connect with our community.
Getting to Know Us & Joining the Waiting List
Joining a coven is a deeply personal journey, and finding the right group is just as important for you as it is for us. Training together requires time, mutual trust, and shared values.
Before any formal training begins, we like to spend time getting to know potential seekers—and giving you the chance to get to know us, ask questions, and decide if Gardnerian Wicca and our coven dynamic feel right for you.
Getting to Know Us & Joining the Waiting List
The best way to start this process is through our public moot The Ravens Rest.
Attending our moot allows you to:
- Meet members of the coven in an informal, relaxed environment.
- Engage in open discussions about Paganism, magic, and Craft practice.
- Assess whether our group’s ethos and atmosphere align with what you are looking for.
If, through getting to know each other at the moot, we both feel that our coven is a good fit, we can place you on our waiting list for when our next training cycle opens.
Interested in training with us?
