Blog Update

Hello, readers of Mystical Pagan

Please feel free to browse around and look over the many posts that can be found here. I hope you find them useful.

Blessings...
Ma'iingan

Pinned Post

How to Become a Witch/Wiccan

It is often asked where one should start when they've discovered this wonderful system. First of all, when you ask this question, does...

Friday, February 12, 2016

Do Witches Have Priests or Clergy?

This question is largely dependent. The answer can be both yes and no.

For the answer to be yes, the clergy would be a part of a group of Witches, known as a coven. Covens generally (but not always) consist of about 13 people all agreeing on the kind of practice they want to participate in. Covens are typically seen as Wiccan, but there are certainly non-Wiccan covens out there, especially within more traditional aspects of Wicca, such as Trad Witchcraft, Fam-Trad Witchcraft, British Traditional Witchcraft, Dedicatory Religious Witchcraft, etc. As long as there is a group led by experienced and trained practitioners, they could use the term "Coven". They gather during certain periods of the month and year for spiritual observances or study. Beginners to this group would be considered novices and would take on the label "initiate". The initiate would then work their way up over years through the ranks of the coven, eventually reaching the title of "Priest" or "Priestess". How long this takes could depend, but it could take up to 10 years of dedicated study. Priests and Priestesses then would lead the coven in rituals. But there are more responsibilities for these leaders than just conducting rituals. Like other clergy of other religions, they are also counselors for the group, conflict-resolution officers, advisers, organizers for charity work, etc.

For the answer to be no, generally these practitioners have no group or coven to work with and work solitary (or on their own), usually by choice, though some solitaries are so because they live so remotely they have little choice but to be solitary. Solitary practitioners have no clergy as they tend to be their own Priest/Priestess, though with no formal training. Normally, though, because of this reason solitaries don't label themselves "Priest/Priestess" as this term would mistake the individual as being a part of a larger group. Of course, like everything, there are exceptions to every rule, and there are some out there who will call themselves "Priest" or "Priestess" of their own rite, but usually these titles are reserved for group workers.

So as you can see, it could be a bit confusing when asking whether or not Witches have their own clergy. Depending on who you ask, the answer could be yes or no.


No comments:

Post a Comment