An interesting article about joining any Pagan group by Patti Wigington:
So you think you've found a group or coven that might be the right group for you. Great!
Ideally, a coven will allow you to attend a few open meetings, in which you can observe the goings-on and meet all the members, without intruding upon the secrecy of any oathbound ceremonies or rites. After attending a series of open meetings - usually three, but that varies from group to group - members of the coven will vote on whether or not membership should be offered to you.
Remember, though, there are a few things you should watch out for in any prospective group.
- Members that don't seem to get along with each other. If you have a group of eight people, and four of them are snarking at one another constantly, it may not be a coven you want to be a part of.
- They may be offering you membership in hopes that you'll take sides, and you'll find yourself caught in the middle of a squabble that existed before you even came along. Stay away.
- Covens whose ideas strike you as silly or foolish. You want to be part of a coven, but if you think worshiping a pink sparkly dragon or wearing Star Trek uniforms to Sabbats is goofy, then don't join covens that have those requirements.
- If you don't genuinely believe in the coven's principles, it's not the right group for you, and both you and the other members will gain nothing from your membership.
- Likewise, if the group's requirements include things that make you uncomfortable, like ritual nudity, then this may not be the group for you.
- Find one that more closely aligns with your existing beliefs and comfort level.
- Leaders who are on a power trip. If the High Priestess (HPs) or High Priest (HP) is the only one who knows all the secrets, and is the only one who will EVER be privileged enough to know all the secrets, then they're on a power trip.
- These are the people who like to boss coven members around, they don't let any one member have too much information, and the coven is for their own personal gain.
- Don't bother joining, because you'll be as miserable as everyone else.
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