1) About the Coven
         a. The Coven of the Darksome Moon (hereafter referred to as “the coven”) is an eclectic Pagan coven                         based in the San Gabriel Valley in Southern California.
         b. The coven was founded on 7/2/2022.
         c. We celebrate queer identity and alternate lifestyles.
         d. We subscribe to the view of Paganism as set out by the “Principles of Wiccan Belief” which was                             compiled in 1974 by the Council of American Witches.
                       i. The coven is not strictly Wiccan in nature, but this document is the most succinct description of                                     the coven’s beliefs.

2) Coven Mission Statement
         a. The coven seeks to:
                 i. Honor deity in all its forms and genders.
                 ii. Recognize and honor the presence of both light and shadow in magickal work.
                iii. Honor the cycles of the sun by celebrating Sabbats and moon the by celebrating Esbats.
                iv. Increase knowledge of magick both within the coven and in the broader community.
                 v. Honor coven members’ cycles of life and rites of passage through ritual.
                vi. Honor each member’s free will and intelligence by not imposing an external set of ethics (law of                            three, Wiccan Rede, etc.) but instead ask each member to think critically about consequences                                before executing a magickal act.

3) Communication
                 a. A coven Discord server is maintained as well as a group text thread.
                 b. It is every coven member's responsibility to make sure that they are receiving notifications                               from the Discord server and group text thread.
                 c. Every coven member should make sure that they are up to date with the information being shared                         on the Discord server and text thread by checking both of them regularly.
                d. Every coven member should make sure that their contact information is up to date on the coven                            roster in Google Drive including phone number, physical address, email address, and dietary                                  preferences/food sensitivities.

4) Coven Secrets
                 a. Any information that is general and likely to be known by an average member of the Pagan                                    community (i.e., the parts of a ritual, what types of spellwork there are, etc.) are acceptable to share                        with people outside the coven.
                 b. However, members are to keep the following content secret if it contains coven-specific                                           information or was crafted specifically for coven use:
                                      i. spellwork
                                     ii. the center of ritual
                                     iii. coven-specific quarter calls, circle castings, and deity evocations
                                     iv. private workshops

                                     v. handouts
                                     vi. coven meetings
                 c. Any items that are given to a student or initiate during initiation or elevation rituals are only to be                           used during rituals and not for mundane use unless otherwise stated.
                 d. This is not an exhaustive list of items to be kept secret. If in doubt ask an elder or don’t disclose the                        information.
                 e. Members must keep the identities of coven members secret unless they are aware that the member                       has disclosed to someone that they are a member of the coven (i.e., mutual friends, significant                               others, etc.)
                                       i. If you are unsure as to whether someone would be comfortable with you disclosing                                                  their status as a member of a coven please ask that person. If in doubt, don’t disclose.

5) Coven Membership and Structure
                 a. Elders
                                       i. The High Officiant and the Maiden are the only coven members allowed access to                                                    coven financial information (treasury and bank). They are also allowed full access to the                                            coven Book of Shadows, all coven records, and other documents.
                                       ii. The High Officiant and the Maiden of the coven are the only members who may jointly                                             agree to dissolve the coven at any time.
                       1. High Officiant/ High Priestess/ High Priest (title can be chosen by the practitioner)
                               a. A person who has assumed leadership of the coven.
                               b. Is over the age of 18 and must have earned the 3 rd degree, preferably by obtaining                                                 training within the coven.
                               c. Is responsible for the creation and update of educational curricula and the structure of                                             education within the coven (i.e., Witchcraft 101 classes, workshops, public and private                                               classes, etc.)
                              d. Will train a maiden/ apprentice of the coven to work alongside her to assist with coven                                            duties and prepare them to be an officiant.
                              e. Will assist in mediating conflicts between coven members after a resolution has been                                              unsuccessfully attempted between the parties.
                               f. Will conduct voting if the coven needs to plan or make a decision.
                    2. Maiden/ Apprentice (title can be chosen by the holder)
                              a. The Maiden is an aide to the High Officiant and shall take their place as needed.
                                          i. The Maiden is treated with the same authority as the High Officiant when acting in                                                    that capacity.

                               b. The Maiden assists the High Officiant with decision-making on behalf of the coven.
                               c. The Maiden will offer herself as a mediator if there is a conflict between the High Officiant                                       and another member of the coven.
                    3. Third Degree Members

                                a. A coven member who has initiated in the first degree, elevated to the second degree,                                              completed the tasks to elevate to the third degree, and has shown themselves to be                                                reasonably responsible is considered an elder of the coven and has voting rights when                                            making decisions about the coven.
                                b. A third-degree member has the right to “hive off”. That is, they have a right to create their                                      own coven which is called a “daughter” coven. In this instance, the original coven is called                                      a “mother” coven.
                                c. Third-degree members are welcome to teach Witchcraft 101 classes and mentor new                                                students.
                                d. Third-degree members are welcome to attend all coven events.

           b. Initiates:
                      i. Second-degree Initiates
                                1. A second-degree initiate is an individual who was initiated in the first degree and has                                               completed the necessary tasks to elevate to the second degree.
                                2. A second-degree initiate is eligible to begin working on the tasks required to elevate to                                          third-degree.
                                3. The tasks required to elevate to the third degree are addressed in section 8 titled                                                      “Education”.
                                4. Second-degree members are welcome to all events with the exception of those that are                                          reserved for initiates of the third-degree.
                     ii. First-degree Initiates
                                1. A first-degree initiate is an individual who has completed the necessary tasks to initiate in                                       the coven and has gone through an initiation ritual.
                                2. A first-degree initiate is eligible to begin working on the tasks required to elevate to                                               second-degree.
                                3. The tasks required to elevate to the second degree are addressed in section 8 titled                                                 “Education”.
                                4. First-degree members are welcome to all events with the exception of those that are                                                reserved for initiates of the second or third-degree.
                     iii. Historian
                                1. This role may be maintained by an initiate of any degree.
                                2. The role of the Historian is as follows:
                                        a. Keep track of important dates in the history of the coven (meeting dates, ritual dates,                                               etc.)
                                        b. Take pictures of the altars at each ritual and place the photo and document of the                                                    ritual in the shared Google Drive.
                                        c. (There is a possibility that down the line the Historian will be asked to maintain a                                                         social media presence for the coven.)

                     iv. Scribe
                               1. This role may be maintained by an initiate of any degree.
                               2. The role of the Scribe is as follows:
                                         a. Take notes during coven meetings.
                                         b. Keep track of ritual and meeting attendance
                                         c. Keep track of who officiated which ritual.

                     v. Watcher
                               1. This role may be maintained by an initiate of any degree.
                               2. The role of the Watcher is as follows:
                                         a. Check to make sure that the ritual space is safe. (i.e., no one is going to trip on                                                           anything, there aren’t sprinklers sticking up out of the ground, and
                                             someone isn’t going to step on something unpleasant.

                                         b. Bring to each ritual the fire blanket and fire extinguisher and know how to use them.
                                         c. If in a public space keep an eye out for anyone or anything that might be dangerous                                                 to the coven and report it to an elder of the coven.

         c. Dedicants (i.e., Students)
                      i. A dedicant (or student) is an individual who is committed to completing the tasks required for                                 initiation.
                     ii. The tasks required for initiation are addressed in section 8 titled “Education”.
                     iii. Even though a student might complete all the tasks required for initiation it does not guarantee                              them membership in the coven. Getting a sense of whether the person connects to the people                              and energy of the coven is a major factor in determining whether the dedicant will be a good fit                              for the coven or whether the coven will be a good fit for the dedicant.
                     iv. A dedicant is welcome to attend Sabbats as well as coven workshops while they are a student.
          d. Guests and Congregants:
                      i. Guests and congregants are non-members of the coven who can attend open coven workshops,                           classes, or public rituals. A guest does not need to have a desire to join the coven to attend an                               open coven event.

6) Joining the Coven

                     i. The decision to dedicate or initiate any member is up to the discretion of the elders of the coven.
                    ii. When asking to dedicate or initiate into the coven, it is understood that the bylaws have been                                explained, any questions have been addressed and the individual is aware of the commitment                                they are accepting.
                    iii. Anyone looking to dedicate, or initiate will be required to fill out a questionnaire which will be                                 reviewed by the elders of the coven. A vote will be taken. All votes must be unanimous with the                             right of final say and/or veto left to the
      High Officiant.

7) Time Expectation
                    a. The coven will celebrate Sabbats and Esbats (including full moon and some new moon rituals) as                            well as conduct quarterly workshops. The coven will also have semi-regular meetings to discuss                             coven business.
                    b. All members must have the time and energy required to commit to coven responsibilities. Thus,                            all members are expected to attend at least 75% of meetings and functions. Missing more than                              that will cause the member to fall behind.
                                i. If a person has missed more than 25% of coven activities without adequate excuses the                                          High Officiant and Maiden will speak with the individual to determine whether the person is                                    committed to the coven. After the conversation with the member, the High Officiant and                                          Maiden will determine how to best proceed.
                                              1. The following are not considered adequate excuses for missing coven events: 

                                                          a. Not having notifications turned on for the Discord Server or group text                                                                        thread.
                                                          b. Not actively checking the Discord Server or text thread.
                                                          c. Not keeping track of coven events or details regarding coven events (i.e.,                                                                    time or location of the activity and one’s responsibility for the event).
                                                          d. Not having your contact information up to date in the coven roster on                                                                        Google Drive.
                                                          e. Not actively being involved in a discussion regarding choosing dates for                                                                      coven events. (i.e. Not checking one’s work schedule prior to the                                                                                  scheduling of an event. We always ask when people can make it so please                                                                  make sure that you are checking your work schedule to make sure that you                                                                can attend. If you cannot please let us know in advance and we will                                                                              consider a different date.)
                                       ii. Special arrangements can be made for unique and valid circumstances that cause a                                                   member to attend less than 75% of coven events.

8) Education
                      a. Requirements for Initiation
                                       i. The dedicant must fill out a questionnaire explaining their history with Witchcraft as                                                  well as their familiarity with the basics of Witchcraft.
                                       ii. Complete a Witchcraft 101 class that is led by an elder of the coven.
                                      iii. Complete all homework for the Witchcraft 101 class in a timely manner. All homework                                              must be turned in before the initiation ritual.
                                      iv. Follow the codes of conduct and other rules as outlined in the coven bylaws.
                                       v. If a dedicant feels they have adequate training that would exempt them from taking                                                 the Witchcraft 101 class, they can take an equivalency exam that is proctored by a                                                     coven elder to determine whether they can skip the class.
                                                       1. If a student requires accommodations for the exam they should let an elder                                                               know.
                                     vi. Once initiated, a member is not required to elevate to further degrees within the                                                      coven. However, members are required to continue growing in their magickal                                                            education by attending workshops in the coven.

                        b. Requirements for Elevation to the Second Degree
                                     i. Without the assistance of notes, be able to:
                                             1. Explain when the Sabbats fall in the year and their mythological and seasonal                                                             significance.
                                             2. Explain the cycles of the moon and their significance in magick.
                                             3. Explain the traditional witches’ tools and what they are used for.
                                             4. Explain all the parts of a ritual and why we do them.
                                             5. Be able to set up the main altar appropriately.
                                             6. Be able to cleanse, consecrate, and charge an item.
                                             7. Notes can be used for this: Conduct a workshop based on one aspect of the                                                             knowledge that was shared in the quarterly workshops.
                                                             a. More than one student can do the same topic, but they need to take a                                                                        different perspective on it.
                                             8. Pass an oral and practical examination without the assistance of notes.

                                                              a. If a member requires accommodations for the exam they should let an                                                                        elder know.

                                   ii. There is no required timeline for elevation from the first degree to the second degree                                               (i.e. a year and a day) but the member must fully and competently complete all elevation                                         tasks to be considered for elevation. If a person does not demonstrate adequate                                                       knowledge or proficiency with the tasks they may be asked to study further or redo                                                   certain assignments that may lengthen the time between elevations.

               c. Requirements for Elevation to the Third Degree
                                  i. Compose and perform three rituals: (initiates can enlist the help of other coven members                                         to play various roles but must write original material i.e., quarter calls and releases,                                                  evocation and thanking deities, etc.)
                                                    1. An esbat (full-moon ritual)
                                                    2. A sabbat (seasonal ritual)
                                                    3. A third ritual of your choice
                                                             a. The ritual can be a rite-of-passage ritual, a healing ritual, a bereavement                                                                      ritual, a ritual exploring a certain deity or magickal working, etc.

                                 ii. Research a topic of your choice, then:

                                                 a. Write a 10-page paper on your topic.
                                                 b. Conduct a 15-minute presentation about your paper.

                                 iii. There is no required timeline for elevation from the second degree to the third degree                                           (i.e. a year and a day) but the member must fully and competently complete all elevation                                         tasks to be considered for elevation. If a person does not demonstrate adequate                                                       knowledge or or proficiency with the tasks they may be asked to study further or redo                                               certain assignments that may lengthen the time between elevations.

                 d. After Attaining the Third Degree
                                   i. A post-third-degree member can do the following:
                                                   1. Teach Witchcraft 101 classes.
                                                   2. Develop and teach workshops.
                                                   3. Take on a dedicant and/or first-degree student to mentor.
                                                   4. Write and run rituals without the pre-approval of the other elders.
                                                   5. Have voting rights when making decisions about the coven.
                                                   6. “Hive-off” and form their own coven.
                                                   7. Have total access to the coven Book of Shadows.
                                                   8. Assist the elders and coven in other ways that are needed.
                                                   9. A post-third-degree member is asked to be able to compose and perform a                                                               ritual with little to no notice.

                e. Tassle Program
                          i. Details to be determined.

9) Leaving the Coven
                         a. Any member of the coven may leave at any time; however, the member must give appropriate                              notice so that a ritual can be conducted to remove any psychic links between the departing                                    member and the remaining coven members.

                         b. If a member leaves the coven, they need to return any supplies owned by the coven back to                                  the coven and all correspondence in the locked areas of Discord will be disallowed. The                                          member will continue to remain bound by all vows of secrecy and oaths taken.
                        c. If a member needs to take a leave of absence, the usual actions that take place when a                                            member leaves the coven occur. (See section 7, subsection B) The length of time of the leave of                              absence can be negotiated between the member and the elders.

10) General Conduct and Expectations of Members
                        a. Regardless of title or status, all coven members are bound by these rules. These rules may be                                 changed only by the elders of the coven.
                                   i. No person shall be denied access to membership based on gender identity, race, ethnic                                         background, sexual orientation, disability, or age. Individuals under the age of 18 will                                               need parental consent as well as a documented meeting between the parents and elders                                         of the coven before joining.
                                  ii. Members are expected to treat each other with respect and consideration during all                                                coven gatherings. Failure to do so will result in consequences up to and including                                                   dismissal from the coven. In addition to the usual actions that take place when a member l                                       leaves the coven (see section 7, subsection B), the former member will lose their degree(s)                                       and any other standing they have gained during their time in the coven.
                                iii. Members are to behave in a responsible way in public, understanding that they are a                                               representation of the coven as well as the Pagan community in general.
                                iv. No member is to share with people outside of the coven details of the workings,                                                      meetings, rituals, etc. of the coven. This also applies to the identity of coven members, as                                        not all members may be open about their path.
                                 v. All members are to show up for meetings, sabbats, esbats, etc. on time with required                                               materials and be prepared to work.
                                vi. Members found to be intoxicated and disruptive during any coven function will be asked                                        to leave and put on a probation period where they will be banned from any coven                                                    functions. During this probation period, the elders will decide how to proceed and what                                          consequences would be most appropriate.
                               vii. Members who transgress any rule more than three times will be asked to leave the coven                                        permanently. If a person is asked to leave the usual actions that take place when a                                                    member leaves the coven occur. (See section 7, subsection B) Re-admittance may be                                                considered on a case-by-case basis after a period of time.
                             viii. Since we are an eclectic coven, we will use the umbrella terms of “Goddess”, “God”, and                                      “Deity” while in circle. This is to be inclusive of all personal deities and genders.
                               ix. Separating personal issues from coven time is a must. This is not to say the coven cannot                                          be a safe place and a support system. This means finding an appropriate time and place                                          for addressing your personal issues.
                                x. You must have reliable transportation. If transportation is not available, you will be                                                    expected to have a plan to get to and from functions. If this becomes an issue, it will be                                            addressed.
                                xi. If you are unsure about Paganism as a spiritual path for you, please wait until you have                                            figured it out on your own before approaching us. We are a group that seeks to move                                              forward, and we cannot do that if you are not ready.

                              xii. You must be in good mental standing in general. If you have been prescribed medication                                        to manage your mental health, we ask that you be medication compliant and manage your                                      mental health issue. If you are currently battling addiction, we ask that you come back                                              once you are in active recovery.
                            xiii. Coven events are mainly held at members’ homes, so members and students may be asked                                     to contribute in some way to the event (i.e., bringing food or drinks for a potluck,                                                       contributing with setting up and taking down the altar, helping to clean up.) It is also                                                 that all coven members shall respect the home and property of the person hosting. Please                                       check with the owner of the home if they have pets or other people that living in the home                                     and need certain considerations to be made.

11) Conflicts Within the Coven
                         a. If a member of the coven has a conflict with another member the person should bring it to the                              member in a respectful and assertive way to try to resolve it between them.
                         b. If the member is not receptive to the attempt to resolve the conflict, then the person can ask                                   for an elder to mediate the discussion.
                         c. If for any reason a member becomes incompatible with the others, it is up to the elders to take                              appropriate actions to rectify the problem or ask the individual to leave. If a person is asked to                               leave the usual actions that take place when a member leaves the coven occur. (See section 7,                                 subsection B) Re-admittance may be considered on a case-by-case basis after a period.
                                           i. Every effort will be made to rectify the problem before the member is dismissed.

12) Money and Dues
                          a. Member dues ($5/month) are due at the Esbat every month.
                          b. All dues will be given to an elder of the coven or sent via approved means (Zelle, Venmo,                                        PayPal, etc.).
                          c. The elders understand that money can be tight, but we set the price at $5 with respect to that.                                 $5 a month from each person allows the coven to purchase needed supplies, handouts, i                                         initiation and elevation gifts, etc. as well as putting money aside for larger coven purchases,                                     or coven trips.

13) Dissolution of the Coven
                           a. Elders are the only members able to dissolve the coven.
                           b. Coven tools, books, and other items will be absorbed by those who purchased them unless it                                 was paid for with coven money. In that case, they will be distributed, starting with the elders                                   first.
                          c. If the coven dissolves, coven funds will be distributed in as fair a manner as possible.                                               Consideration and priority will be given to the amount of time each member has been with the                               coven, the amount of money they have contributed over that time, and their rank in the coven.                              The elders will decide who is to receive funds and who will not, as well as how much they are to                              receive.
                         d. If a member leaves the Coven or is asked to leave before the dissolution of the coven, no f                                     funds  will be returned to them.

Last updated 8/20/2023