I was a solitary for about a year and a half and my friend & I have been practicing together for about a year. We both would prefer to be in a coven, however, it is very difficult to find one in our area and it is even more difficult to find other people whom you can trust! She and I have been friends for six years now and I love to practice the craft with her because we are both so comfortable with eachother!
Cear, Shillington PA

Hi,
My name is Moon Warrior ,I think both are important .Blessed Be!
tophat3@earthlink.net

There is a distinction between being solitary and working alone. To work alone is simply that there is not a coven available that suits you. To be Solitary is to decide against ever joining a group. A good coven is wonderful. We are like diamonds rubing against each other polishing our skills extending our knowledge and deapening our faith. We help and challange each other to grow. There are things that a person cannot do for themselves Initiation is one of them. Training in psychism and ritual compresses ten years of solitiary work into six months. Reality checks by elders and other members help keep us ballanced and out of fantasy worlds. A necessary ability for a coven member is enough integrity to yeild to the group without being the lesser for it.
Ken Ra

I practice as a solitary but would also like the experience of working with a coven. Unfortunately,the town I live in is so small I don't think I coud round up 13 people without making a visit to the cemetary!!!! Only kidding of course,but trying to find a working coven when you are from a small town is kind of rough. I know some other solitaries but that's how they want to stay. Once in a while one or two of us will get together to do something but not often.
Bright Blessings~ TGM

I am a solitary witch mainly because I don't know of anyone else who lives close to me to create a coven. But that's alright because I am able to learn and discover the way of the Goddess on my own. After many years of being forced to be part of a "traditional" religion, I'm better of and more at peace with myself this way. Blessed Be.
Bloodsong

For me its solitary for I can't find a coven. I've not actually worked a big spell yet. Maybe small chants, using stones, drinking 'tea'. But circle stuff, not yet. Actually, I think I would prefer solitary even if I had the choice. Too self conscious..

Anyway, I'm not even sure what to call myself. I like the word Witch, but I've received certain rather unpleasant comments; even some from fellow magick practitioners. Apparently some people are very hung-up on labels like Wicca, Witch and Pagan. Anyone out there care to help me out in case I make another social faux pas?
Windsong Firecat

Merry we meet! I am new to the craft, just over six months. From my limited experience, I would say that both forms of practice are the ideal. For the most part, my studying and practice is done alone. I do, however, have a group that includes my sister, a dear friend, and a newer, but still close friend. I do not feel at all uncomfortable practicing with these witches, and I do find that we can accomplish some amazing manifestations together. We are talking about formally becoming a coven, but I am hesitation for fear that it will change our group dynamics. I worry that once we each take formal roles within the coven, that someone will be bound to start "power-tripping". Has anyone had personal experience with this sort of situation? Anyway, I would say that both solitary and group activities benefit the craft.
Blessed Be...Diandra

Merry Meet, I have been a solitary for a year and some days now and I much prefer it that way. I have always felt that religion is a very personal thing and I don't need anyone elses opinions to distract me as I learn. I don't mind networking with others to compare ideas and things, so if you'd like to email me feel free and BLESSED BE.
CBogdanowi@aol.com

I have been a solitary since I pledged myself five years ago. However, this year, my husband and I went to Salem for Samhain and were honored to observe the circle celebrated by Lauri Cabot and the Temple of the Nine Wells. I left New England filled with an inner peace that I can never remember experiencing in my current life. Although I am not sure whether or not I would like to belong to a coven, I enjoyed the fellowship of the circle very much.
Branwen

I'm undecided. Coven's are so secretive you can hardly find one (which is my dilema). I am a fledgeling whose been left flailing by herself. My fiance got me interested, then we split up and I don't know where to go to next.
PhoenixWulf@webtv.net

As to the question of "coven or solitary"............. By the nature of my being and in the deepest corners of my heart I am a witch. Witchcraft is my way of life. If I am among Wiccans, I am Wiccan. Around Druids I am Druid. But my religion is a personal part of my life and a part of who I am. Therefore I am solitary for all of my days but always capable of sharing my wine.
Papa Crow

I prefer solitary. The first time I decided that Wicca was the right religion for me, I told a few friends. And they wanted to join me and start a coven. I thought, "great, a coven, that'll be good for my spiritual advancing." It turned out they only wanted to be like the girls in the movie "The Craft" and acccually had no real beliefs in wicca or any of it. They ruined everything we started, and i had to quit and start over again just fix what they did. I have since dropped them, and they don't know that I've been a wiccan ever since.
CrueIty9@aol.com

I believe that all are 'The Hidden Children' and we are given "FREE WILL" in each lifetime to make our own choices as to if we will follow 'The Path'! To me The Old Religion is the only Spiritual Path for me and it is a Personal Path between myself and The Old Ones.No one walks my Path with me except The Old Ones! Others who come to me walk their own Path which for a time may parallel mine but there will be a time in the future when each of us will no longer 'touch' but that is to be expected! Certainly 'Book Knowledge' is important BUT 'One-On-One Experience' can not be equaled ! It has been written of The Womens' Mysteries - "What man may not know nor woman tell!" I have never seen anything in 'Book' form dealing with the Womens Mysteries ! Likewise,I have never met a High Priestess that was qualified to teach The Male Mysteries ! I have followed The Path since 1972, and spent time as a Solitaire and a High Priest of Covens. Our Tradition which now has 7 Covens and Solitaires in the states of Washington, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Georgia and New Jersey is based on the belief of..." The Old Religion Through New Rituals ". We believe that all Traditions have something to offer and as the old saying goes.."If it feels good, use it !" I believe that one must experience both Solitaire and Coven exposure and then follow..."One's Own Free Will !"
Blessed Be !

The Donjon of MoonRose
Ruling Elder and Sage
The American Tradition of The Craft

Merry Met,
I am a Solitare and I prefer it over Covens for many reasons. 1 is that in any large group of people there's bound to be someone who just want's power, is doing it for thrills or whatever. The second reason is a Coven is structure. I feel that Wicca is a religion that you make up as you go along. Worshipping whatever God/ess you choose your way. I am a Solitary also because I am in High School in a small town in NY. The people here want to be witchs for the shock value. If there are any Witchs in the Laurens Area though, I would be happy if you would e-mail me.
Blessed Be,
Morgaine Fey

I think that both offer advantages and have faults.I have been a practicing wiccan for four years now and for the most part solitary. I find myself wondering sometimes why there is so few pagan/ wiccan covens that offer help and knowledge without requiring all of the members to participate fully. The ideal coven to me would provide for both typs of wiccans - those who want all of the ceremony and group work and those that simply might need some advice or teaching without further involvment. The coven also should recognize that its members beliefs and interpretations might differ and should try to accomadate those differences ( such as a coven performing both Druid ceremonies and Egyptian magic ). Perhaps this is too much to ask for. As of now I am still looking for a coven or circle that could recognize my individuality and still provide friendship and help in magic that could use more than one person. Any out there in the Boston area? Blessed be!
Aviondah@aol.com

Merry Meet! I'm a solitary working and I prefere to stay this way. I think it's almost impossible to find enough people for a coven harmonizing together. There will always be some desturbing energies between a group of more than three or four people. Most people are too different, even if they belong in the same things. As I already told I'm solitary but I have some sisters around here sharing my opinion. So be try to be good solitaries only celebrating the feasts of the Goddess together. And that's good the way it is. We also talk about our work, exchange experiences and knowledge and we're sisters.
It would be great to hear from other solitary witches!
Blessed be!
Tilia Ulversdottir

I have been a solitary for as long as I have followed the path. At one point I considered joining a coven, but I found that the masks that they chose for the God & Goddess where not ones that worked for me. I suppose that I would consider myself an eclectic in that I have taken pieces of many different traditions & woven them into something that works for me. I think that is the true magick of being a solitary, I am creating my own mysteries that are truer to what I believe rather than following in the steps of one who says it must be done their way...that smacks to much of 'organized religion'.
LaughingRaven

covens

i say covens because some people need the emotional support and as long as they dont get into a coven where some guy or girl is claming to be alister crawlys new reincarnation then normally they are a good thing. i just ask that people who are interested in joining a coven check it out first and look for people who are off in the head and people who like to control others. if you find these things then DUH simply dont join that coven. spend the time and find one that suits your own personal belifes
shade

Having been both I must vote Solitary. You can raise more energy in a coven but the drawback is that when bound by an oath you are linked on a karmic level. This means that when someone in the group is not following the right path you will also receive the karmic backlash. As a solitary you are accountable for your own actions only and can still enjoy fellowship in a circle which is not the binding contract that a coven is. Lastly I would say in closing that I made some friends in coven that I would not have wanted to miss and saw some things I may not otherwise have seen; but the price was steep and I doubt I will enter into that type of binding again in this lifetime.
annette-d@email.msn.com

I prefer to be a solitary. I want to learn and develop and create at my own pace. I don't wish to be led by someone. Within a coven, I feel, that you are led a specific direction rather than taught to go your own direction. For some people a structured way of learning may be what is needed, but for others, myself included, solitary is the way to go and the way of life we lead!
-aka-
rain eaglewolf

I've been practicing the craft for 6mo. now , from a beginners point of view a coven could missdirect you, so the first year and a day is all important. But although i have 6 mo. to go, I long for the interaction of a coven. to talk with others of my beliefs and insights. So I the coven has the most to offer in bringing us all together.
Brightest blessings to all
Vann

i'm a solitary (mainly because i'm in a cathoilc house and i'm not accepted even by my family.) the only people (pagans) that i know are on here and one friend who is more of an "on the road to the path" type.. i'd like to find a circle (not a coven) to discus things with but if i ever had a coven i would probably have to form it myself as my belifes are sooooooooo different to most..
skiewing@hotmail.com

I feel that it would be interesting to be in a Coven for the sake that you would learn more but you also need to work alone.I would like to join a Coven but I like being solitary in some ways.
Kate

I prefer being solitary because I haven't found any persons of my like in this area that truly understand Wicca. Most are "into it" for the shock value and the outrageous "costumes" they can adorn. Any true Wiccans in my area?
shawnpenwell@prodigy.net

Solitary.

I have several reasons for being a solitary witch.

1) In Belgium, there aren't that much witches, so the number of covens is rather limited and the few there are, are hard to find.

2) Magick is inside you, inside your mind. Whatever you do with it, is personal and therefor I prefere to use my own rituals. Why should I join a coven if the only rituals I use are my own?

3) I am an introvert person, I'm more comfortable on my own. When I work with other people, soner or later I need time to be alone.

Nachtschaduw< (Dutch for Nightshadow)

I prefer a coven or circle, because there's more energy and it's more fun. -- MeccaStar@aol.com

I'm a 19 year old solitary, and I've been a solitary for my whole experience on this path (5 years) Which do I prefer?

I think that there will be time in everyone's life when working with others is more effective. I adore being solitary, and I think that when your starting out it's ideal. It took me a long, hard time to form my own opinions about the Lord and Lady, and my connections with Them, and I think that it's important to find your own beliefs without other influences. Working with others is wonderful, and I will admit, I am hungering for contact. It all depends on how you feel, really, and what you prefer. There's nothing like a large group of people coming together to celebrate the holidays, though. :) Blessed be!
phrogge@mail.kersur.net

Coven or Solitaire...hmmmm, that is a tough one. Since I see a lot of misguided solitaire's, I think I 'll say coven. I have been both, and I am still both. I see the need for coven training, though. Unfortunately, there are so many people out there who claim to be this or claim to be that, I don't have time to wade through the cr*p looking for the sincere people who speak the truth. If you have the chance to join a coven, make sure the HPS&HP are who they claim to be. Don't be afraid to do background checks, if they have nothing to hide, they won't mind. If you choose to be Solitaire then remember, we all learn at different paces. Read as much as you can. It is a hard choice, but I am voting for coven.
Beannachtai,
Willowhawk

I am a solitary pagan which I enjoy because it in my controll what to do for a certain ritual.I do think the covens are power with more than one.I been practiceing about 10 yrs.I belive you can do both.
Maat

I am a solitary practitioner and think that this is the best for me...I do feel that as a solitary I sometimes miss out on other's ideas and practices and wish that there was a way to remain as I am while still having a network of others from which to draw information and ideas. Where I am in both Geographic location and in my personal life does not allow me to join a coven, however I don't think that I would even if there were one available to me...I enjoy my special times by myself and think that were I to join with an existing group I would not be able to relinquish my autonomy and that in itself would defeat the purpose of my beliefs and desires.
KEIHANNA@aol.com

It is always desireable to "practice solitary" even if one is in a group-just as Christians are expected to pray every day, even if they go to church on Sunday!! Group practice can be joyful, powerful, magic, but daily prayer and meditation, small rituals, the attention paid to life's details is the basis of spirituality! Blessed be, Louise

I like being a Solitary wiccan ecclectic.I do go to public rituals. Some day that special group I would be happy to join. I am a egyptian, wicca ecclectic and I work Solitary.I am a member and Priestess of the Fellowship of Isis.I serve the Goddess Isis, Maat and Hathor. I use these Goddess in my wicca circle. I did my own Self-Dedication to become a Wiccan as of Feb 4th of 2 years ago.
Goddess Blessed,
Hathor