Our Practices
Tangled Woods Covens generally meet about three times per month for worship, celebration, ritual, magick, meditation, learning, fellowship, and the pursuit of the mysteries. This schedule does not include Sage Grove classes and any public events hosted by the coven. Esbat gatherings are held on the full moons and dark moons, and sabbat gatherings are held on the 8 sabbats on the Wheel of the Year. During the four months in the year when there are no sabbats, a coven's Elder Grove members will hold their quarterly planning meeting to plan the events and discuss coven matters for the upcoming months.
Though there are some specific Tangled Woods rituals that are passed from coven to coven, and certain nights in the year when all Tangled Woods covens will perform the same oathbound rituals, the meeting to meeting activities of each coven are largely left up to the coven members themselves. Each coven will determine their own routine for sharing the meeting planning responsibilities, but usually Inner and Elder Grove members will each have the opportunity to plan events and write rituals.
Every effort is made to work out coven schedules so that meetings can be held on the actual evenings of the full moons, dark moons, and sabbats. As we are a tradition of Green Witchcraft, if weather and outdoor accommodations permit, esbat and sabbat activities often take place outside. Below are a few examples of activities that a coven might take part in at each type of gathering...
Though there are some specific Tangled Woods rituals that are passed from coven to coven, and certain nights in the year when all Tangled Woods covens will perform the same oathbound rituals, the meeting to meeting activities of each coven are largely left up to the coven members themselves. Each coven will determine their own routine for sharing the meeting planning responsibilities, but usually Inner and Elder Grove members will each have the opportunity to plan events and write rituals.
Every effort is made to work out coven schedules so that meetings can be held on the actual evenings of the full moons, dark moons, and sabbats. As we are a tradition of Green Witchcraft, if weather and outdoor accommodations permit, esbat and sabbat activities often take place outside. Below are a few examples of activities that a coven might take part in at each type of gathering...
Sabbat Gatherings
Tangled Woods covens gather to celebrate the 8 sabbats on the Pagan Wheel of the Year. Typically, these gatherings will be full of more activities than the usual esbat meeting, so they will often start earlier and run longer than a full or dark moon meeting. On these holidays, no magick or "work" is performed. These days are reserved for celebration of the season and reverence of the Gods. Coven members will dress in a fashion that is appropriate to the sabbat or to the theme of the ritual. The coven members will usually honor the sabbat by casting the circle, performing a ritual appropriate to the current point on the Wheel, and making an offering to the Gods. While in the circle, the coven may also take part in a meditation to attune them with the current season, or they may raise energy in celebration of the day with dance, chant, drumming, song, etc.
Families of coven members are typically invited to attend sabbat gatherings, as we very much see them as a time to spend with family. However, it is at the coven's discretion whether or not family and other guests will actually take part in the activities within the circle. Whether they join in the circle or not, other activities, such as games or craft projects that are appropriate to the current sabbat, will usually be planned for everyone to take part in. A large potluck feast of season or sabbat appropriate foods is also a Tangled Woods staple at any sabbat.
Families of coven members are typically invited to attend sabbat gatherings, as we very much see them as a time to spend with family. However, it is at the coven's discretion whether or not family and other guests will actually take part in the activities within the circle. Whether they join in the circle or not, other activities, such as games or craft projects that are appropriate to the current sabbat, will usually be planned for everyone to take part in. A large potluck feast of season or sabbat appropriate foods is also a Tangled Woods staple at any sabbat.
Full Moon Esbats
On the full moon, Witches of the Tangled Woods strive for workings that fall on the "light" end of the spectrum. Coveners wear robes of white, and the circle is cast deosil. The activities planned may be a full moon ritual, a healing, a blessing, a spell or magickal working of some kind, a guided meditation to tap into full moon energy or any of the other energies associated with it, energy raising activities, Drawing Down the Moon, etc. Spell work for gain or attraction would be appropriate, such as a love spell, a prosperity spell, a fertility spell, etc. The coven may bless a new baby, do a healing working for a coven members' parent, do a group bonding workshop that focuses on sensing and directing the group's energy, or perform a ritual that helps them connect with the lighter aspects of the Gods. The list of possible activities is endless, but in our effort to maintain a balance of light and dark, we do strive to reserve full moons for workings of a lighter nature.
Dark Moon Esbats
Dark moons are reserved for workings on the darker end of the spectrum...again, in an effort to maintain the balance of light and dark. On dark moons, Tangled Woods members wear robes of black, and covens cast the circle widdershins. Activities within the circle can be anything that is appropriate for the dark moon's primal, recessive, diminishing, and darker energy. These activities may include dark moon appropriate rituals, spell working that repels, banishes, or protects, trance work or journeying, deep internal meditations and pathworking, anything that touches on our primal natures, etc. On the dark moon, a coven might banish an unwanted entity from a member's home, do a reflection spell that sends unwanted negative energy back to its sender, do a drumming circle and totem animal dance, communicate with the spirits of the dead, or do an astral journey to confront the shadow self. Again, the list of appropriate activities could go on and on, but the workings on the dark moon serve to balance those done on the full moon. The term "dark" should be put into the appropriate context to fully understand what is likely to occur at a Tangled Woods dark moon esbat. Those who imagine animal sacrifice and black masses would be severely mistaken!!! When we use the term "dark," we simply use it to refer to those aspects of the self and of nature that many others tend to be uncomfortable with and shy away from.
Elder Grove Quarterly Meetings
During the months of January, April, July, and November, when there are no sabbats on the Wheel of the Year, Elder Grove members of each Tangled Woods coven hold quarterly planning meetings. At these meetings, they discuss ways to resolve any issues currently facing their coven, ideas for the direction they feel their coven should take, which Outer Grove members should be considered for initiation, how the current Sage Grove students are progressing, etc. They also take this time to review the upcoming meeting schedule for the next few months and set a tentative plan of activities. These quarterly planning meetings are an opportunity for the coven's Elder Grove members to connect with one another as a group each quarter, and are invaluable when it comes to the planning of smooth functioning of the coven's activities.
bravenet.com