Some covens use their “council of elders” in the decision-making process, or to enlighten those who have reason to complain. These rules prescribe the method by which problems are to be resolved.

And only you can determine exactly what to reveal.) PROBLEMS WITHIN THE COVEN: It is up to you to decide whether it is important for you to discuss your religion and religious practices with others. (The individual practitioner of Wicca can certainly create a “secret” tradition. Certain rules threaten the infidel with divine punishment if he breaks the oath. Traditional obligation to keep secret what is reserved for the eyes and ears of initiates of the same tradition. Several prescriptions also define other functions of office within the coven. Several rules define the different degrees of initiation and describe the composition of the “council of elders” (usually made up of the adepts who have risen to the higher degrees and act as guides and advisors to the members of the covens who come to them), or that of other similar subgroups within the group. In addition, they often deal with the average length of the services. These rules usually detail the duties of the high priestess and high priest. TRADITIONAL RULES OF WICCA APPLICABLE TO THE COVEN COVEN ORGANIZATION AND HIERARCHY: The second part deals with the laws that offer interesting possibilities for application for the solitary Wicca. The first details the laws that relate specifically to coven practices, which are of lesser importance to individual practitioners of Wicca. The following is a two-part analysis of the traditional laws of Wicca. All of these Wiccan precepts are based on this essential concept: Hurt no one.Įxamining these laws and reading some examples (presented at the end of this chapter) should provide all the material needed to adapt or write a set of rules for use in your tradition. There are several other variations, and some covens create a set of rules for their members to follow. (See Doreen Valiente’s book, “Witchcraft For Tomorrow,” a fascinating study of the likely origins of these precepts.) Published in various forms, the most famous of these systems comes from what we now call Gardnerian Wicca. Wicca has not one, but several such sets of rules. These precepts often reflect the true nature of the religion, which can hardly be defined by the behavior of most of its representatives. Almost all religious organizations establish a set of rules or a code of conduct for their adherents.

Living wicca