Kindred Hearths
Other fires, kept by other hands. We link to these because we have learned from them, been welcomed by them, or simply admire the way they keep their hearths. Inclusion is not endorsement of every word on every page; it is a recommendation that you go and look.
Federations and organisations
- The Pagan Federation
- The long-standing British body for pagans of all paths: advocacy, prison and hospital chaplaincy, interfaith work, the magazine Pagan Dawn, and a district network of local contacts. Their introduction to Witchcraft and Wicca is a model of plain speaking.
- Covenant of the Goddess
- Founded in 1975, one of the oldest and largest Wiccan organisations in North America: a confederation of covens and solitaries with a shared code of ethics, ministerial credentials, local councils and the annual MerryMeet gathering. Our own covenant owes theirs a debt.
- The Doreen Valiente Foundation
- The charity that holds and preserves the collection of the mother of modern witchcraft, puts on exhibitions and talks, and placed the first blue plaque ever awarded to a witch on her Brighton flat. Support them.
- Children of Artemis
- The British Wiccan organisation behind Witchfest, the largest witchcraft festival in the world, and Witchcraft & Wicca magazine. Their local gatherings in pubs and cafés have introduced thousands of solitaries to each other.
Temples, churches and covens
- Temple of Witchcraft
- Christopher Penczak's tradition grown into a religious organisation in Salem, New Hampshire, with a five-level Mystery School in person and online, twelve ministries, and a generous public programme.
- Church of Witchcraft
- A non-denominational religious community for witches of any tradition, with twice-monthly Esbats, public Sabbats and a monthly sermon.
- The Firefly House
- A pan-pagan, radically inclusive community in Washington, DC, rooted in Wicca and open to Druids, Heathens, polytheists, animists and respectful non-pagans. We like their manners.
- Missing Witches
- Risa Dickens and Amy Torok's podcast, books and online coven: pro-science, trans-inclusive, anti-racist, feminist, and full of joy. Proof that a real coven can be made at a distance.
- African American Wiccan Society
- A support community and resource for witches, Wiccans, conjurers and brujas of colour, with courses, a Book of Shadows project and a long history of making room.
Finding a coven or group
- Mandragora Magika
- A free, worldwide coven-finder and network for traditional initiatory Wicca, witchcraft and paganism, listing groups by country, state and tradition, with sensible advice about meeting strangers. Owned and run by witches who charge nothing.
- Modern Witch Movement coven finder
- A listing of covens, temples and schools, with their offerings, from Los Angeles to Glastonbury to Athens.
- Occult World: Pagan and Wiccan groups
- An encyclopaedic directory of pagan and Wiccan organisations past and present, from the Aquarian Tabernacle Church to the Witches League for Public Awareness.
Learning online
- Wicca Living
- Lisa Chamberlain's thorough beginner's site: Wiccan beliefs, the Sabbats, candle, crystal and herbal magic, and a good page on covens, circles and solitaries that we have pointed many newcomers to.
- Witchcraft.com.au
- An Australian introduction to witchcraft, Wicca, history and spellcraft, with a beginner's course and a strong emphasis on respect and ethics.
Brighid's flame
- Solas Bhríde, Kildare
- The Brigidine Sisters' centre in Kildare town, where Brigid's flame was relit in 1993 and burns today. Pilgrims of every faith and none are welcome. If you are ever in Ireland on the first of February, go.
Linking to us
If you keep a hearth of your own and would like to be listed here, write to us with the address and a sentence about what you do. We link to kindred spirits, not to shops, and we check that the fire is actually lit.