Covenant of the Goddess logo
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – The Covenant of the Goddess released a Statement on Prejudice and Racism on September 28, 2023. The Covenant of the Goddess (CoG) is one of the largest and oldest Wiccan organizations. The Covenant was founded in 1975 by representatives of many Craft traditions who felt a need for a national organization that could work to secure for Witches and Pagans the same legal rights as those enjoyed by followers of other religions. The Covenant is incorporated as a non-profit religious organization in California, though it has grown to be an international organization.
The Covenant of the Goddess’ Statement on Prejudice and Racism
Within the Covenant of the Goddess (COG), everyone should feel welcome, accepted, and valued in our community. We are committed to creating a safe and inclusive space for all, especially for Pagan People of Color. We are unequivocally anti-racist and we will not be silent. Our Gods will witness our actions.
We recognize that discrimination, prejudice and racism are insidious and pervasive in our society. We do not sit idly by while members of our faith are treated unjustly. We stand in solidarity with all Pagans of Color. We are committed to doing everything we can to combat racism, prejudice, and hate.
To this end, we endeavor to:
Create a Safe and Inclusive Space: We do not judge or discriminate based on race. We commit to fostering a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for all members of our community. We welcome diversity and celebrate each individual’s unique perspectives and experiences in our community.
Educate Ourselves and Others: We acknowledge that racism and prejudice are complex issues requiring a multifaceted approach. We strive to educate ourselves continually and our members on privilege, bias, and systemic oppression. We will use this knowledge to dismantle the structures perpetuating racism within our community and beyond.
Listen to and Amplify Voices of Pagan People of Color: We recognize that the experiences and perspectives of Pagan People of Color are often marginalized and underrepresented within our community. We commit to actively encouraging, amplifying voices, centering experiences, and elevating contributions of Pagan People of Color within CoG.
Take Action Against Racism: We are committed to doing everything we can to combat racism, prejudice, and hate, including partnering with other organizations. We will take action against any member who engages in such behavior including possible revocation of their membership.
We recognize that this is an ongoing process and that more work is always needed. We are committed to this work and are open to feedback, ideas, and suggestions from all members of our community.
We welcome everyone in perfect love and perfect trust.
INDEX, Wash. – In April of 2023 the Aquarian Tabernacle Church (ATC) opened The Accreditation Program of Wicca (APW) to help Wiccan institutions and programs of learning achieve acceptance outside the Wiccan and Pagan community. The hope is that we will come together as a community to take the next step in achieving acceptance of our religious education and our clergy on par with other religions in the United States.
In its mission statement, “The APW strives to bring Wiccan educators together in meeting and creating a network of religious training recognized for its high standards. The APW provides public information which allows students to find legitimate programs of Wiccan religious education. The APW works towards the long-term goal of attaining recognition for Wiccan religious training programs by the U.S. Department of Education.”
Kara D. Williams, the Director of the Accreditation Program of Wicca, sent us the following update:
Wicca is a legally recognized religion and, on paper, is protected by the federal government. Many of us have been in situations where non-pagans have not seen us as legitimate clergy, or even a legitimate religion.
What is Accreditation?
Accreditation creates a quality assurance that each institution meets educational standards. The standards establish education quality expectations that are common across all Wiccans and assess an institution’s ability to meet the needs of 21st-century graduates and the community at large.Accreditation in secular education began over a century ago. The movement started as a public reaction to the extreme differences between educational institutions that initially appeared to be similar. Accrediting bodies were voluntarily organized by educators to develop and implement common standards and procedures to measure educational quality. From its inception, accreditation has been a nongovernmental, completely voluntary, peer group method of identifying educational institutions or programs that meet published standards of quality. A variety of regional, national, and professional accrediting organizations came into being in the early 1900s in response to the public’s demand for reliable indicators of institutional quality.
The APW seeks to begin this process amongst Wiccan schools and programs so that we can become recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and so that we can provide standards by which students and the community can better evaluate programs of study in Wicca.
Accreditation standards with the APW are designed to support the need for institutions to follow different paths and methods of teaching beyond those of traditional campus-based programs or closed coven-based experiences. In other words, these standards have been sourced from Wiccan training as a whole and customized to meet the needs of our religion which differs from other religions’ educational training.
Additionally, by meeting the unique needs of modern students in a growing religion, the student, course and program delivery can expand an institution’s reach beyond that of traditional Wiccan training to a national and international presence.
How does this help the Wiccan Community?
When accredited Wiccan education institutions and groups are successful, not only do the students benefit, but this in turn also benefits Wicca. Students can choose the institutions that best meet their needs while being provided assurances that the chosen program has been required to comply with precise and rigorous standards. This is the purpose of all accreditation bodies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Community standards provide all training programs with legitimacy from those seeking to attend them and from other training programs in the community. If a festival coordinator wants to support a program, then having accreditation means the coordinator can be confident that the program was vetted. It’s a legitimate program with no legal issues or unethical practices. They can confidently invite such programs to teach or speak at their festival.When a local Coven approaches a community center or other space to rent it for events, these usually non-pagan businesses can see that their group was vetted. It creates confidence within the non-pagan community and eases the Coven’s hurdles regarding local biases.
Certification programs benefit from accreditation by assuring students that their program meets standards, delivers what they say they will receive, and have ethical business practices. This also translates to other businesses being willing to partner with the program and its leaders.
Seminaries and other higher level education institutions benefit as we seek to achieve U.S. Department of Education acceptance so that our students can apply for federal student loans. Each institution within the APW can be confident of accepting training credits from other APW institutions, knowing that all the programs meet community standards.
What are the goals of this organization?
Our sponsoring body, The Aquarian Tabernacle Church (ATC), has worked for years to be able to offer the APW to the community. It is our hope that others will support this effort so that we can all come together to support clergy training that can be recognized outside of the pagan community. This recognition benefits us all, in education and as clergy in the United States. The ATC has fought for our legal rights since its founding and their support of this next step will hopefully lift us all up.
An important part of what accreditation gives programs, covens and institutions, is a demonstration to various federal and state regulators that accredited institutions are leaders in the field of Wiccan education and strive to prepare clergy and leaders equipped to contribute to the changing community landscape. It also provides the opportunity for APW accredited institutions to lead the change necessary in the field of Wiccan education by offering students the chance to increase their knowledge and skills while meeting their personal and professional responsibilities. It creates an image in the non-pagan world of professionalism and legitimacy.
Do you have news to share with our community? Elevations? Events? Let us know at pcn@wildhunt.org.
The Mabon season is upon us and we must ask again for support from our community.
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Announcements & Upcoming Gatherings:
Open Coven is running the following in-person events in Western North Carolina this Fall and early winter. Open Coven is run by TWH writer Liz Watkin, a fiber artist and educator with an online learning background.
Open Coven provides resources on using fiber art for magick. This includes embroidery and fiber art kits, classes, and online workshops. For more info. visit their website:
- 10/14 – Magick Talisman Class: 2 – 4 pm at Asheville Raven and Crone (640 Merrimon Ave #207, Asheville, NC)
- 10/19 – Pop-Up: 5 – 7 pm at Of Wand and Earth (20 s Main Street, Marshall, NC)
- 11/18 & 11/19 – Pop-up: 11 am – 7 pm at Asheville Raven and Crone (640 Merrimon Ave #207, Asheville, NC)
- 11/25 – Magick Talisman Class: 2 – 4 pm at The Well (3 Louisiana Ave, W.Asheville)
- 12/9 – Tarot Bag Class: 2 – 5 pm at The Well (3 Louisiana Ave, W.Asheville)
- 1/13 – Altar Cloth Class: 1 – 5 pm at The Well (3 Louisiana Ave, W.Asheville)
The Earth-based Spirituality Action Team (EBSAT) will be hosting another meeting on October 9, 2023 at 5PM Pacific. This meeting focuses on Integral Spirituality. Integral spirituality encompasses the whole of one’s life–not just the “religious” overlay of belief and special practice. Valerie will describe integral spiritual practice at Via Lactea, where regenerative agriculture, permaculture, and recovery of ancestral spirituality inform the whole of our lives, and discuss how neo-Pagan traditions may be uniquely poised to offer pathways to spirituality that is authentic, relevant, and appropriate.
The meeting will be hosted on Zoom (link to meeting) and facilitated by a member of our Action Team.
Earthspirit Community announced dates and open registration for Twilight Covening, a continuous 3-day ritual from October 6-9, 2023 that holds and shapes an institute of Earth spirituality and a time to develop our collective wisdom in a shared sacred space as we move into the dark time of the year.
Each year since 1986, members of the EarthSpirit Community gather deep into ourselves and into communion with this time of year and with all of Nature. We explore the depths of a range of spiritual practices, learn new skills together and experience the joy and power of a living community ritual. We invite you to join us.
The rituals include Releasing Fire Ritual on Friday night, Rituals for Dreaming, Healing and Trance on Saturday night, A Visioning Ritual on Sunday night, and Four “Attunements” each day which marks the solar quarters of the day.
Many participants have found that Twilight Covening provides a model for maintaining an earth-centered practice on a daily basis and is a wonderful opportunity for developing strong and lasting connections with others on a similar path.
They note that Twilight Covening is a demanding physical experience. The schedule is intense, the terrain rugged, the weather unpredictable and the facilities limited in creature comforts.
The Michigan Witches Ball 2023 has announced dates! It will be held on October 28, 2023, at the Ukrainian Cultural Center, Warren, Michigan, USA.
Are you ready to immerse yourself in a world of enchantment and mystery? Look no further than the highly anticipated Michigan Witches Ball, where magic comes alive and dreams become reality. This extraordinary event is not to be missed, as it promises an unforgettable evening filled with spellbinding music, captivating people, and a bewitching atmosphere that will leave you mesmerized.
Step into a Realm of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Prepare to be transported to a realm where witches and wizards roam freely. The Michigan Witches Ball is a celebration of all things mystical and supernatural, where attendees can embrace their inner magic and indulge in an evening of pure enchantment.
Indulge in Delectable Delights
No magical evening would be complete without delectable treats to tantalize your taste buds. The Michigan Witches Ball offers a wide array of culinary delights that are sure to satisfy. Savor mouthwatering food. Indulge in desserts. And of course, no witch’s gathering would be complete without a selection of potions and elixirs to quench your thirst at the open bar.
Dress to Impress in Your Finest Witch Attire
The Michigan Witches Ball is the perfect occasion to unleash your inner witch or warlock. Embrace the opportunity to dress up in your most extravagant and spellbinding attire. From elegant witches’ gowns adorned with intricate lace and velvet to dapper warlock suits complete with top hats and canes, let your imagination run wild.
Meet and Support Michigan Pagan Charities
Be dazzled by the shining stars that are the volunteers who staff Pagans In Need food pantry, Wolf Run Wildlife Spiritual Sanctuary, and the Michigan Pagan Scholarship. Chat with these magical altruists adept at the conjuring of compassion.
Tickets and information about the Michigan Witches Ball are available on their website via Eventbrite
Image via Announcement
Public Samhain Ritual at UMass Amherst Stone Circle- SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2023 AT 5:30 PM. Please join us for a public Pagan ritual at the UMass Amherst Stone Circle in honor of Samhain and the turning of the year/end of the harvest season. All Pagan and Pagan-leaning people are welcome to join us in the common purpose of honoring our ancestors, those who have recently passed and those who have recently been born. This ritual is inclusive of all traditions, paths, perspectives, backgrounds, ages, cultures, gender identities, abilities, experiences, etc. Please consider bringing a photo or two of those who have passed that you would like to honor during our time together.
In the spirit of supporting the larger community, we will be collecting donations at the ritual for our neighbors and are requesting non-perishable food and/or toiletry items. There is no cost to attend the ritual. Food donations are only requested of those who are in a place to be able to donate.
This is an outdoor ritual. Please dress appropriately for the season and weather.
Learn more by visiting our event page on Facebook.
If you have an announcement to share with the community,
send it to
The Wild Hunt at pcn@wildhunt.org
Positively Noteworthy
It’s October, which is already positively noteworthy as the season of the Witch. So, we thought some music to help get us into the mood would be just perfect, “wouldn’t you like to see something strange?”.
Of course, we have to start with Delta Rae’s Dance in the Graveyards
One year ago, the Pagan folk band from Germany, Faun, released Halloween and announced their own label. They wrote “Thank you so much for all your positive comments!! It means the world to us. It was a long road, but we are very happy were we stand now and with this first song being released on our own label “Pagan Folk Records”! Here it is again for us to enjoy.
There’s more spooky to enjoy in Season Of The Witch (From The Motion Picture “Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark”
From their 2011 album, ‘Feel It Break,’ Canadian Darkwave synthpop band, Austra’s Spellwork is perfect for the season.
And, we can’t forget Spanish rock band Broken Peach’s rendition of the classic This is Halloween.
ok, ok… one more from Broken Peach, Tainted Love:
Tarot of the Week by Star Bustamonte
Deck: Modern Witch Tarot Deck, by Lisa Sterle, published by Sterling Ethos.
Card: Queen of Pentacles
The week ahead is likely to include a focus on nurturing and sharing resources in support of those in need who are cherished and loved. Even small acts of kindness can have far-reaching impacts.
Conversely, while tending to others is important, neglecting to be kind to oneself can result in exhaustion and even deprivation.
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