The Nine Covens

The Nine Covens are thought to be the only surviving covens of traditional English witchcraft to have survived to the present day.

Clarification

Not to be confused with a wiccan coven, the learning of these covens form the basis for the modern resurgence in witchcraft and neo-paganism.

Location

They include covens from Essex, Hampshire, Cornwall, Kent, Suffolk and other rural areas of the UK.

Organisation

The high priests or priestess of these covens each forms a member of the Council of hereditary elders, or the coven of nine. Responsible for solving arguments between individual covens and ensuring they work together to preserve some of the secrecy in the craft and also deal with its outside elements and politics. The Nine Covens were re-assembled as a council of elders by George Pickingill in approximately 1840.

Existing covens

Known covens include the Horsa coven in Burly, New Forest, England, as mentioned by Sybil Leek in her books, "Diary of a Witch" and "The Art of Witchcraft".

Membership

Members of these covens included, Aleister Crowley (who was thrown out for mis-use of the craft) Gerald B. Gardner, Doreen Valiente and Sybil Leek, all of whom went on to form their own covens following their modern interpretations of the ancient traditions.

External links

*http://www.controverscial.com/Old%20George%20Pickingill.htm
*http://www.geraldgardner.com/archive/ern/Earth_Religion_News.php
*http://www.ctwp.org/modernwitch.htm