Membership

A Safe Space for All

The Grove is an inclusive group, open to inquiries from all who are sincerely interested in Paganism and British Traditional Wicca. We welcome inquiries from seekers who are dedicated to learning the Craft as it was passed down to us, and who have a heartfelt calling to worship as Pagans or traditional Witches do. 

Traditional Initiatory Wicca Doesn't Charge Money

In keeping with tradition, training in the Craft is free and given with love. There is no cost to join or attend Midlands Grove. There is no cost for training, Initiation, or Elevations in our Grove or Coven. In contrast, many contemporary or eclectic Wiccan groups, organizations, and traditions do charge money (for membership, subscriptions, courses/lessons/tuition, ritual passes, degree applications, etc.)—and there seems to be an uptick in this. However, charging for training, Initiation, or Elevation is prohibited in traditional Wicca. Teachers freely give of their time and skills in order to pass the tradition to the Gatekeepers of tomorrow. Simply put, we do it for love of preserving the Craft. Beyond this, Teachers may charge the wider public for general services such as seminars, tarot readings, weddings, workshops, etc. [To learn more about what is appropriate and what is not, read Si's blog "Money and the Craft."]

Benefits of Grove Membership

• Outer Court Membership in the New York WICA Tradition.

• Grow in knowledge and understanding about Paganism, Wicca, and spirituality. Grow as a spiritual being and a person.

• Enjoy community in a safe spiritual space with like-minded people. Grow new friendships.

• Access to our seasonal events and community all year round. Members always have a place to Circle with fellowship.

• Experience seasonal and full moon celebrations / Sabbat and Esbat rituals.

• Sound magical instruction.

• Expanded Awareness.

• Sense of Connectedness.

• Spiritual rest from worldly burnout: devotion, gratitude, moongazing/stargazing, sunsets, meditation, community.

• Creative rest from worldly burnout: nature, play, music/frequencies, dance, movement.

• Access to various healing and divinatory work through the Outer Court.

• Access to guided, initiatory pathways in the New York WICA Tradition.

• There are no fees.

Membership and Student Responsibilities

Members must be self-sufficient, life-coping adults, 21 years or older. Members are responsible for their own transportation and purchasing their own supplies. 

Student responsibilities include attending Grove rituals, supplemented by home study (to prepare for rituals), and some required reading. During a Grove meeting, students are asked to help set up and decorate the Circle, maintain reverence in the Circle, fully participate in ritual, help clean up after ritual, and cooperate with others. Cell phones are not allowed in the Circle. The responsibility of providing the food and beverages for each meeting rotates between all participants, and all members contribute to the seasonal Circle decorations. Some rituals include a potluck feast afterwards, and everyone is asked to share a seasonal dish. Our Winter Solstice celebration, for example, includes many traditions, such as a Yule feast and thoughtful gift-giving. 

Finally, students are guests in someone's home, and they should treat it that way. Being a responsible guest means showing respect and consideration for your host's home and efforts. This includes arriving on time, helping with clean-up, bringing small occasional gifts, and communicating any special needs or allergies.

Attendance and Withdrawal Policies

Attendance

The Grove typically meets in person one Saturday night per month. This works well with busy schedules. Members are expected to arrive on time and be prepared to do their part. To benefit from the progressive nature of the training and the mystical experience of ritual, regular monthly attendance is strongly encouraged, especially for students who are working towards the next Level or a specific goal (such as admission into the Coven). However, Grove members can attend events as often as they are able, provided they communicate any absences in advance to the Priestess. [Advanced Coven members sometimes attend more than once a month. Greater responsibility in the Craft means greater time commitment.]

For convenience and planning, Grove events are scheduled one year in advance. You can view the ritual schedule by visiting the Events page. Each month, members receive an event notification email with details about the next meeting plus a reminder/confirmation text the day before each meeting. Students need access to the internet and a cell phone to receive email and text notifications. Meetings can vary in length from one and a half hours to four hours, depending on the type of event. A typical meeting lasts as long as the average movie.

Attendance Guidelines

• Respond to event email notifications and text reminders promptly (RSVP).

• Be punctual.

• Notify the Priestess if you are running late.

• Notify the Priestess of absences well in advance.

• Give the Priestess at least 24 hours' notice if canceling. 

• Don't cancel on the day of ritual or at the last minute without a valid emergency reason (illness, transportation issues, hazardous weather, or real emergencies).

• Don't bring extra guests/non-members to events.

Withdrawal

Failure to communicate with the Priestess, inability to follow the attendance guidelines or to meet the positive principles of conduct shared on this site, may result in withdrawal.

~ Joining the Grove indicates your acceptance of the membership guidelines mentioned on this site.~

Applying to the Grove

Midlands Grove is currently accepting student applications. The Grove will consider applications from seekers who live in Aiken, SC or Aiken County or who can travel to Aiken. To join, you must live in—or be willing to travel to—Aiken, SC. Please read the Application Guidelines (below) before applying. They will help you determine if membership in a Wiccan Outer Court is right for you. If you cannot attend Saturday night meetings (at least one Saturday night/month), please apply to another group. 

Because the intention is to create a safe, loving, and dedicated training environment, the Priestess selects students very carefully, but applications and inquiries are always welcome. The Priestess teaches in person, in an experiential apprenticeship format, and students learn by participating and doing. In the Craft, there is no substitute for working one-on-one with a teacher or with a group in-person. 

How to Apply

To apply for membership, please send an email to midlandscraft"at"proton.me, introduce yourself to the High Priestess, and request the Membership Application. Return the completed application via email. Make sure to read the Application Guidelines (below) before applying.

If you are interested in the Grove, paganism, or British Traditional Wicca, but want more information, please email a letter of inquiry and introduce yourself.[1]  If you decide to apply later, you need to request the Membership Application, complete it, and return it via email. 

When writing to the Grove, we ask that you use polite email etiquette. Please send a letter that is readable and not garbled. Text-style messages with no greeting or signature will not receive a reply. If the sender doesn't clearly identify themself or say "thank you" when asking for assistance, we will not respond. Additionally, please read the website before emailing. The information on our site will answer most questions. The Grove takes the time to help every seeker who sends a sincere letter, and we respond to all polite inquiries. For convenience, our contact information is also available on the Contact page. 

All applications are vetted via preliminary email correspondence which may lead to an interview in a public setting or via Zoom. This may be followed by an invitation to attend a Grove event as a guest. Sometimes, the High Priestess invites an applicant to two events as a guest before deciding. If compatibility is evident, the blend sympathetic, and all parties believe that a good match has been made, the applicant will be accepted as a member and student. 

This path and this group are not for everybody, but if you fall within these guidelines then Midlands Grove might be for you!

Application Guidelines: 

• You are at least 21 years of age.

• You are not currently involved in a divorce, lawsuit, or major life trauma such as bankruptcy, accident, illness, or death in the family. (Do not make contact if your life is currently in chaos. Your first priority is self-care.)

• You hold no prejudices against a person's race, gender, or sexuality.

• You are self-sufficient. You have a legal source of income that allows you to purchase your own supplies, gas for transportation, food and beverages to share at meetings, etc.

• You are ready to commit to this spiritual path and have one to two Saturday nights a month to meet.

• You are not an active member in another Coven, pagan group, or Wiccan tradition.

• You do not join groups expecting to alter its system, tradition, language, or philosophy.

• You are a life-coping adult. You are not diagnosed with any untreated debilitating emotional or psychological disorders. (Wellness-focused self-care with a therapist also does not apply. Keep in mind that while Covens are supportive, they are not support groups or a replacement for therapy.)

• You seek structure in your spiritual life, but you can also be spontaneous and inventive.

• You have at least some basic knowledge of subjects related to Witchcraft and Paganism (i.e., you have read at least three books about contemporary Paganism, Wicca, or Witchcraft. (Because it is often not easy for beginners to discern where to start, we have a suggested newcomer reading list below.[2])

• You have recently experienced a heartfelt calling to worship as Witches or Pagans do.

• You live in Aiken, SC or in Aiken County or you are willing to travel to Aiken.

• You have a means of personal transportation to get to and from meetings without relying on anyone else.

• You feel that money and religion do not mix.

• You are not allergic to incense; otherwise, you take medication for your allergies.

• You enjoy good wine in moderation.

• You are looking for: sound magical instruction, like-minded people, fun, potentially lifelong friendships, testing yourself and growing as a spiritual being and a person.

"Witchcraft is, and was, not...for everyone. Unless you have an attraction to the occult, a sense of wonder, a feeling that you can slip for a few minutes out of the world into the world of faery, it is of no use to you." ~ Gerald Gardner.

[1] If you are networking to find a group, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Responsible group leaders are willing to answer questions. Please email us if you have a question after reading the website.

[2] Principles of Paganism by Vivanne Crowley, Wheel of the Year: Living the Magical Life and Ancient Ways: Reclaiming Pagan Traditions by Pauline and Dan Campanelli, A Witch Alone: Thirteen Moons to Master Natural Magic by Marian Green, Earth, Water, Fire & Air: Essential Ways of Connecting to Spirit by Cait Johnson, Pagan Ways Tarot (Cards and Guidebook) by Anna Franklin.