The Coven of the WildWood was initiated at the Parting of the Veils (Samhain) 2006 and was begun by four dynamic male Witches: Eilan (previously known as Dobhair), Artu, Anaseidr and Jafar. Before relocating to Brisbane from Toowoomba in 2006, Eilan began networking with other young pagans including Artu, Anaseidr and Jafar. From this small gathering came the beautiful coven now known as WildWood.

The name WildWood itself was divinely-inspired and was received in a vision when the Green Man (Patron God of the Coven of the WildWood) appeared to Eilan in flame. Prior to this, the gathering had considered naming the coven The Sacred Grove of Avalon or The Greening. It was clear during this time that the coven intended to work for powerful change within the worlds and to call up the energies of the WildWood – the sacred heartland of the Witch – to Initiate these transformations. When Samhain finally came, the veils were parted, and the Coven of the WildWood was blessed and brought before the Gods…

The Coven of the WildWood is essentially a dynamic and progressive group of young (and now, young at heart) dedicated Witches and empowered people who seek to commune with the ancient powers and the vibrant power-forms/forces that dwell within and without. Nature is our great teacher and we honour a variety of deities (being polytheistic) as well as our patron Gods and Goddesses (The Weaver, The Green Man, The Crescent-Crowned Goddess and the Stag-Horned God).

WildWood is not a Wiccan Coven. We have developed our own tradition through many path workings and meditations. The Witches of WildWood have the opportunity to progress within the coven from the Outer Court to the Inner Court. The Outer Court symbolises the lesser mysteries and the Inner Court the greater mysteries, in terms of experience, devotion and growth. All Outer Court Members and the general public are welcome to attend our Full Moon Esbat circles. Outer Court members who wish to learn more about the ways of the Craft and of WildWood may be invited by the Inner Court to attend teaching "study" circles between Esbats. New Moons are held privately by the Inner Court in order to provide time to discuss the goings on of the coven. Some Sabbats are open to the Outer Court and to the general public, however if there is a Dedication, the ritual will be closed.

The Inner and Outer Courts are explained in a more in depth manner here.

On the WildWood Tradition of Witchcraft

By Eilan (Gede Parma), Co-Founder and Priest of the WildWood

Witchcraft, as Witches of the WildWood, live it, is a shamanic, eco-conscious, magickal spirituality. It can also be described as an ecstasy-driven, earth-based mystery tradition. Ecstasy-driven because we seek altered states of consciousness to experience the ‘Other’ realities. Through this one’s identity is absorbed into and becomes synonymous with the All that is Nature. Earth-based because this biosphere is our point of origin - the common denominator; our foundation as home. By attuning to the natural rhythms and cycles we come to wholeness as children of the Great Mother. Mystery tradition because as Witches we walk between the worlds and we know how true and powerful the Mystery is that makes it possible for us to do so. Mystery is intrinsic, underlying quintessence and is said by some to be a Goddess - a Paradox. The beauty and rhythm which is synchronicity and Magick is sometimes called the Wyrd in the WildWood.

The WildWood Tradition was officially brought into being at Imbolc (August) 2008 with the first coven branching of the Anthesterion Circle from the original Mother Coven, Coven of the WildWood. With the initiation of the second coven the tradition was perpetuated, and thus carried through. The original coven was founded at Samhain (April) 2006. The WildWood Tradition derives its namesake from our devotion to the WildWood which we know both as an astral realm and as the green, raw pockets of pure Nature that still exists on this planet - and the union of the two.

Covens are organised into inner and outer courts. The inner court comprises of Dedicants, Initiates and the Priesthood. The outer court consists of Aspirants, Children of the WildWood (WildKin) and anyone at all who attends coven open circles (outer-court members). A brief description of each ‘state of being’ follows:

Priest/ess - An initiated Witch of the inner court. A Priest/ess is devoted to the mysteries of the Sacred Four and the WildWood and serves his/her community as such. Generally initiation occurs after a year and a day of dedication; six months of which is committed to intensive weekly Priest-training.

Initiate - An initiated Witch of the inner court. Most initiates seek priesthood.

Dedicant - A dedicated Witch of the inner court. A Dedicant is empowered to lead and facilitiate WildWood rites. Dedication occurs after a period of aspiration, which can be as little as 3 months.

Aspirant - An affirmed member of the outer court and one who aspires to dedication into the inner court. Aspiration occurs after an individual officially decides the WildWood is for him/her.

Child of the WildWood (WildKin) - A member of the outer court who is perceived by the inner court to be an integral part of the coven’s group-soul. A ritual is performed to formally identify an individual as such.

Outer-Court Member - Anyone who attends a WildWood open circle is considered a member off the outer court. When new people are present a short welcoming ceremony is performed.

The reverence and celebration at WildWood circles is devoted to the Gods and Old Ones of the WildWood, known collectively as the Sacred Four. The Sacred Four are the Weaver, the Green Man, the Crescent-Crowned Goddess and the Stag-Horned God. They are also invoked in that order. The latter two have secret names known only to the inner court. Their mysteries of the cycles of life, death and rebirth are at the heart our tradition’s mythos.

The Weaver is the midnight lady who spins the silver thread of Wyrd through the Web of Life. She is our sovereign mother and the grandmother of space. Her gifts are knowledge of one’s fate and wisdom itself.

The Green Man is the face of the Weaver’s mystery. He is the green blood of Nature and the stalker of shadows. The Green Man is the Old One of the Earth whose bones are its skeleton. His gifts are connection to Nature and insights derived thereof.

The Crescent-Crowned Goddess is a lunar and stellar being who governs the psychic tides and thus all Witchcraft. She is also the Goddess of dreaming and a walker between the worlds. The moon is her symbol and her gifts are the Sight, intuition and the ability to move between worlds.

The Stag-Horned God is one of the old hunter deities and governs the realms of death and rebirth through sacrifice. He is the Lord of the Dance of Life and a friend to all wild things. He brings us to ecstatic states of liberation from ego and mundane constraints. His gifts to us are ecstasy and true intimacy with the wild things of Nature.

The WildWood Tradition is an auto-chthonic tradition in that it has naturally developed over the years. Pagan traditions derive from Nature and seek not to impose ‘civilisation’ on it. We are inspired by the WildWood and its mysteries reflected through the Sacred Four. Various magickal techniques, chants and other liturgies come directly from the Gods, usually by means of trance and drawing down. Other aspects of the tradition are creative additions of our own, but we seek to stay within the Anglo, Celtic and Mediterranean cultures which have always influenced our spirituality.

We celebrate in sacred space (however defined) the eight sabbats of the NeoPagan Wheel of the Year and both new and full moons. We always acknowledge the WildWood and our rituals usually (if not always) include meditation, trance, the raising and releasing of power, the blessing of offerings and feasting. It is needless to say that our tradition is not Wiccan, though we bear no animosity towards the religion.

Those seeking an entry-point into the WildWood should contact the priesthood through an appropriate channel. At this point in time we only have two covens worldwide - one based in Brisbane (QLD), Australia and another in Oxfordshire, England (UK). In the conceivable future several more covens will be established in Australia and perhaps Europe.

Contact Information

--- Coven of the WildWood ---

E-mail - covenofthewildwood@hotmail.com

Website - www.members.optusnet.com.au/wildwoodcoven

--- The Anthesterion Circle ---

E-mail - anthesterion.circle@googlemail.com

Website - www.myspace.com/theanthesterioncircle