CovenCraft 2nd ed
Amazon

CovenCraft:
The Essential Guide for Covens, Circles, Groves, and Other Pagan Groups

We wrote the first edition after decades of experience in various covens, and creating our own coven. When we started in the Craft, there was barely anything on coven organization, dynamics, and leadership. After making half the possible mistakes in the known universe, we had a lot to share. We are still active in our coven… do we still make mistakes there? Absolutely. We’re dealing with human beings, who can be ornery, unpredictable, and persnickety (love that word), and so are we. The book was really, really useful, but it was written pretty much pre-internet, so we updated it in 2021. We hope you like it!

In the second edition of the ultimate coven guide, Amber K and Azrael guide you through the workings of covens from Altars to Zoning. In 29 thorough chapters and 55 comprehensive appendices, they share with you their vast coven know-how, with plenty of veteran insights and straight-up advice on:

  • Finding or organizing a coven
  • Tools and supplies
  • Finances and incorporation
  • Coven offices
  • New members
  • The coven calendar
  • Pagan ritual
  • The sabbats and esbats
  • Training and initiation
  • Group dynamics
  • Counseling
  • Elders and youth
  • Serving a congregation
  • Networking and affiliation
  • Covens in the community
  • The life cycle of the coven

Some say that leading a coven is like herding cats, or marmots.

Whether you’re searching for fresh ways to meet those challenges or you’re thinking about joining your first magical group, consult this friendly, knowledgeable companion for guidance.

A Few Reviews

The Greatest Book a Coven Can Have!

This book is the best thing I have ever bought! I’ve had this book for years, and never realized the true value of it until recently. I started reading it on an off chance it might help me through a few of the problems my coven and I are facing. BOY HOWDY! All of our issues combined and more are talked about, and solutions are presented in a positive and empowering fashion. What a FIND! This book teaches teachers how to teach more effectively, and witches in covens how to be better coveners. All without any pushiness, and completely realistic and clear. No vague or amorphous information. Any coven out there has GOT to have this book! It’s totally DYNAMITE!

Amber K’s Greatest Contribution

This is probably Amber K’s greatest contribution to the world of Paganism, and one which I highly recommend. Any HP/s who is even thinking of forming a coven of her/his own will experience a tremendous eye-opening concerning the duties and responsibilities in forming and maintaining a true working Coven/stead. It is concisely written so that anyone can easily understand the excellent advice it offers… Also included is a good description of the actual Covenstead itself, and details how far from other covens you should base yourself so as to not begin a petty rivalry among the local Pagan community. This is a valuable asset to My library, and a purchase I’ve never regretted.

It’s THAT GOOD

Wonderful, very thorough book on starting and running a coven. If that’s something that interests you, absolutely buy this book. Don’t just borrow it from the library, there’s too much you’ll want to reference later if you do decide to start or take leadership in a coven. About a third to half of this book will probably either get typed up with revisions or photocopied by me. It’s THAT GOOD. Plus, Amber K’s humor is witty, spot-on, and wonderfully self-aware.
— Goodreads

Invaluable Reference Source

This book is an invaluable reference source for any Pagan/Wiccan in regards to running or understanding how covens work. It’s also an invaluable source for the non-pagan in understanding what Wicca/Paganism is. Amber K is probably the most knowledgeable and professional of the High Priestesses that I’ve ever had the pleasure to communicate with and work with and I feel no library should be without this book or no pagan/wiccan should be without reading it. I’m proud to say that there is none other book that I hold in such high importance or regard of all the pagan materials. This book is a must have book. Thank you Amber for putting this book out.

THE How-To Guide for Covens

This is the one book you should own if you are in a group or thinking of starting your own circle. These two ladies cover just about every aspect of circle life imaginable and their writing style is so readable and understandable. This is a book we highly recommend!!!

Lots of Things You Wouldn’t Think Of

The coven I belong to, and helped found fell apart recently, leaving us with three members, one of whom is currently on a Sabbatical. I wish I had read this book BEFORE my friend and I had started our group! I’m currently going through the book page-by-page and when I’m finished the other active member will do the same. Then we’ll start to look for more members.

NEVER, NEVER, start a Witch’s coven without first reading this book!

Particularly helpful is the section on Coven Offices and By-laws. Also the section of problem personalities is quite enlightening, having encountered the Adoring Accolate and the Drama Addict in two of our former members.

Damn Helpful

CovenCraft is like a cookbook, full of the practical details of running a coven, and when I say full – I mean *full*. A vein of humour runs throughout the suggestions on every aspect of running a coven – Amber K is like… the Martha Stewart on running a coven (but without the jailtime). That’s good, really it is. She’s scary organised, and will make every aspect of it easier for you, because that’s the voice of experience talking, and every minute detail is being laid out… Damn helpful.

AND FINALLY: Do Not Plan on “Reading” This Book

This is a book which will stimulate discussions. It is a source of varied approaches to the Craft. There are no dogmatic statements here. There are differing ideas and ways of thinking, which Amber has encountered and developed over the years of her involvement in the Craft.

Like a lot of books I have been seeing lately, this one gets into areas and ways of thinking that many will not agree with. That is all right. The purpose of this book is to serve as a resource for the growth of both Pagan individuals and Pagan organizations.

Do not plan on “reading” this book. It is a book to be studied and discussed. This is a book for all prospective High Priestesses and High Priests, as well as for everyone who is considering joining a coven.

One of Amber’s special talents, and something that I can really appreciate, is drawing material from “outside” sources. So many Pagan books only make references to other Pagan authors and writings. We, as a community, can learn a lot from mainstream organizations and studies. Amber avails herself of works relating to leadership techniques that work in the business world; studies in the field of psychology; as well as ideas which work for
ministers in mainstream religions.

Her book is extremely well-balanced. It doesn’t paint a picture which is all light and rosy, nor does it present a heavily negative view. Nor does it shy away from either of these points of view. The price is low enough that it should be in the library of every Pagan and/or Wiccan who is considering working with, or setting up, a group. It would only slightly less helpful for someone who is solitary and plans to stay that way. After all, plans do change, and this book is a wonderful resource.
–Mike Gleason, The Arcane Archive