Article 1- Statement Of Purpose
Covenhome: This organization shall be known as the Shadow Coven Family which encompasses the covens, kindreds,
and clans:
Coven of the Shadows of Midnight: Run by Lady Chakkraa Morningstar
Elder Kindred of the Nordic Shadows: Run by Lord Grand Master Skald Arickasha Darkstar
Brotherhood of the Wolf: Run By Lord High Theign Wolf Shadow Morningstar
Coven of Our Lord and Lady: Run By Lord Wyne Darkshadow
Our purposes are to:
Live in a manner which honors the Lady and Lord, as well as following the Wiccan Rede and the Nine Virtues of the Aesir.
Support one another within the SCF in our healing, growth, and aspirations.
Hold rituals on the Sabbats and Esbats, and other special occasions, in order to celebrate the seasons, work magick, recognize
rites of passage, and honor the Lady and Lord.
Honor the Earth and all her creatures as sacred, and work to heal and protect the environment within our community, throughout
our nation, and across the world.
Teach wiccan beliefs, norse beliefs, traditional witchcraft as well as traditional skills to members and students, and
sisters and brothers in the Craft and kindred spiritual paths.
Where appropriate, to educate the general public about Wicca, Witchcraft, and other traditions that we observe.
Commitment: All members of the SCF must have fully committed themselves to these purposes in their beliefs, their
activities, and their lives.
Traditions: Our traditions that the SCF honor are:
Shadow: A mixture of Egyptian, Celtic, Faery, Native American, Norse, Green, and Alexandrian.
Shadow Norse: A mixture of Asatru, Odinic, and Skaldi.
Shadow Wolf: A mixture of Japanese, Norse and Native American.
Traditional Wicca
Article 2- Membership
Qualifications: Membership shall be offered to individuals upon recommendation of the High Priestess and/or High
Priest, and consensus of all full members of the SCF. No person shall be denied access to membership on the basis of gender,
race, ethnic background, sexual preference, physical handicap, or age; providing they have attained their majority. Note:
This does not apply to members of our online covens, kindreds, or clans.
Degrees of Participation and Membership: Participants in the programs sponsored by the SCF may include the following:
Guests: Interested parties who may attend all open activities, and SCF-only
activities in the company of SCF member, with the consent of all other SCF members in attendance.
Congregants: Persons who consider themselves Wiccan or Pagan and participate in and support open activities of
the congregation.
Dedicants: Persons who have dedicated themselves to the study the path of Wicca, Witchcraft, or Paganism and who,
with the approval of all active members, are following the prescribed course of study in the SCF. After one year and a day
of participation, a dedicant may be asked state his/her intention to qualify for initiation into the priesthood or to withdraw
from the SCF.
Membership in our covens shall be limited to:
First Degree Duties & Requirements
Be with an SCF Coven, Kindred, or Clan for at least a year and a day.
Attend at least five sabbats during that time.
Attend at least six Full Moon and/or Hecate Web Esbats. (Hecate Web are Dark Moon Esbats. Not all covens, kindreds, or
clans will observe this Esbat. If the coven, kindred, or clan does observe this Esbat, then the requirements will be twice
of what is stated within the SCF Bylaws)
Go though the required classes and lessons.
An elder will be picked to do their initiation ceremony (of opposite sex if possible).
Get approval of the council to be come a full fledged SCF member.
Attend sabbats and meetings on a regular basis.
Sit on the council and have a vote.
Follow rules and ethics of the SCF.
Help set up and clean up for ritual.
When in a SCF situation, you will be addressed by your magical name and address others by their magical names. Also, you
will address the High Priestess as Lady and the High Priest as Lord. This is a sign of respect for the God and Goddess in
all of us.
If duties are not met, then the council will make a decision on what is to be done and the member will abide by that decision.
Second Degree Duties & Requirements:
Be with an SCF Coven, Kindred, or Clan at least a year and a day after their First Degree Initiation.
Attend at least six sabbats during that time.
Attend at least nine Full Moon and/or Hecate Web Esbats. (Hecate Web are Dark Moon Esbats. Not all covens, kindreds, or
clans will observe this Esbat. If the coven, kindred, or clan does observe this Esbat, then the requirements will be twice
of what is stated within the SCF Bylaws)
Go through Second Degree class work.
An elder of opposite sex will conduct the ceremony.
Get approval of council to become a second degree.
Act as a Priest/Priestess of SCF.
Write ritual when needed.
Organize rituals.
Preside over council when needed.
Teach others of the First Degree.
Be referred to as an elder.
Meet incoming members for the first time in public.
Be on top of current trends and periodicals/books on paganism.
Serve the Gods in all ways.
Attend sabbats regularly or begin their own coven, kindred, or clan as a daughter coven, kindred, or clan abiding by all
rules set forth for daughter covens, kindreds, or clans.
If duties are not met, then member will have to come before council and abide by their decision.
Third Degree Duties & Requirements:
Be with an SCF Coven, Kindred, or Clan a year and a day past their Second Degree Initiation.
During that time they must attend at least seven sabbats.
Attend at least eleven Full Moon and/or Hecate Web Esbats. (Hecate Web are Dark Moon Esbats. Not all covens, kindreds,
or clans will observe this Esbat. If the coven, kindred, or clan does observe this Esbat, then the requirements will be twice
of what is stated within the SCF Bylaws) They must go through the appropriate class work and training.
Lead ritual for their coven, kindred, or clan whenever needed.
Must get council approval to become a third degree.
Must be (preferably) initiated by an elder of Third Degree status of opposite sex.
Act as a High Priest or High Priestess of SCF.
Set example as an elder of the SCF.
Help with First and Second Degree members (class work, training, mentoring, etc).
May hive off to form a coven, kindred, or clan of their own without being a daughter coven, kindred, or clan. Will become
a sister coven of the SCF.
Be at one with the Gods.
If duties are not met, then the council will make a decision on what is to be done and the member will abide by that decision.
Additional Titles of Recognition: The titles of Mistress of Arts or Master of Arts shall be granted by the SCF
in recognition of special achievement. Members who have attained proficiency in the appropriate field and have been approved
by a committee of all active Second and Third Degree Members may be designated Mistress or Master of:
Divinatory Arts (general, or specializing in Tarot, astrology, scrying, I Ching, runes, lithomancy, dreamcraft, Radiesthesia,
scrying, etc.)
Herbalism (for healing, amulets/talismans, incenses, oils, etc.)
Healing Arts (specializing in herbal healing, nutrition, energy work, aromatherapy, flower remedies, psychic healing, rebirthing,
color therapy, music therapy, stones, or other healing modality)
Familiar Arts (animal magick, totems, Shapeshifting, etc.)
Talismanic Arts ( creating amulets and talismans)
Ritual Toolcraft (the crafting of ritual tools in metal, wood, etc.)
Psychic Skills (specializing in astral travel, telepathy, telempathy, clairvoyance, clairsentience, clairaudience, psychometry,
etc.)
Incantation (words of power, charms, chants, mantras)
Fascination (trancework, meditation, hypnosis)
Bardic Arts (music, storytelling, drama)
Membership Status: After initiation is complete the individual is a Covener. Only Coveners may vote during SCF
meetings. The student must confirm that he/she wants to be dedicated and initiated prior to a final SCF vote. A SCF member
cannot be a member of any other Coven (does not apply to online covens), but all are encouraged to attend other Pagan events.
The Coven, Kindred, or Clan may dismiss any person by a vote that encompasses two-thirds of the council members in attendance
.
Process of Membership: Membership into the SCF is a two-step process: first the individual must be dedicated,
and then she/he must be initiated. Requirements for both are described in Article 2, Section B (A2.B). Maximum amount of Coveners
for each coven, kindred, and/or clan of the SCF will consist of :
Inner Circle (The Shadowsmere) will be 13 members - This will consist
of all First, Second, and Third Degree members of a SCF coven, kindred, or clan and any who are an honorary Elder within said
coven, kindred, or clan.
Outer Circle (The Shadow Walk) will be 13 members - This is the training
circle for dedicants of any SCF coven, kindred, or clan; non-SCF members, and those learning Wicca/The Craft 101.
The total number of members for each SCF coven, kindred, or clan is 26, which is a double coven, kindred, or clan. (For
members who are primarily a part of the online covens kindreds, or clans, this rule does not apply.) If the coven, kindred,
or clan also has a online coven, kindred, or clan; they may have has many online members they wish.
Branched-off Covens, Kindreds, & Clans: Any member of the SCF
who has been a member for more than 3 years and/or has been a Third Degree for more than 2 years may wish to found his/her
own coven, kindred, or clan in one of our traditions. A request should be made to the Scribe and will be voted on by the SCF
Council at the next council meeting. A majority vote is required to pass. As a founder, the individual takes over as High
Priestess and/or High Priest of the new coven, kindred or clan for at least the first year. The Book of Shadows should be
copied and taken by this member. The new coven, kindred or clan can name itself and add the following: "of The Shadow Tradition";
“of The Shadow Norse Tradition”; or “of The Shadow Wolf Tradition”. While they may use the same BOS,
they may adopt their own Bylaws as an autonomous coven. kindred, or clan.
Training Covens, Kindreds, & Clans: These covens, kindreds, and clans are for members of the SCF who live
outside the state of their home chapter. They may establish a training coven, kindred, or clan in their particular tradition
in the area they live in. The covener who will be classified as leader of this training coven, kindred, or clan must be at
least in their Second Degree studies.
Online Covens, Kindreds, & Clans: Members of online covens, kindreds, or clans that live outside the state
and more than 300 miles of their home chapter, do not have to attend any rites and/or rituals given by their home chapter
unless they choose to. They can belong to any other organization. They must provide information to the Book of Shadows on
the Outer Circle forum site at www.shadowwalk.talkthis.com and to help teach others.
Article III-Administration and Operation
SCF Council: This body shall handle the ordinary business of the SCF.
Membership: The SCF Council shall consist of all full members of the SCF. Dedicants may be invited to attend and
participate in Council meetings as well.
Scope: The Council shall discuss all matters of:
Program planning and activities
Dedication, initiation, and membership generally
Finance and budget
Outreach, networking, and affiliations
Facilitation: The High Priestess shall ordinarily chair meetings of the Council. Where she is absent, or chooses
to delegate this responsibility, the High Priest shall chair the meeting.
Method of Operation: The SCF Council shall make decisions by consensus. When consensus cannot be reached, the
Council may refer the decisions to the High Priestess (or in her absence, the High Priest) who shall consider all that has
been discussed and make the decision.
Meetings: The Shadow Council shall meet once every three months to designate ritual leaders for all rituals taking
place in the following quarter and the SCF Council shall meet monthly or as called by any SCF member. Any new rituals
suggested may be used and asked for inclusion in the Book of Shadows at this time. New rituals may be presented to the SCF
Council prior to, or after, any required ritual as well.
Shadow Council: A Shadow Council meeting shall consist of the active elders and SCF officers, or three quarters
of the active elders and SCF officers.
Offices and Duties: The following offices shall be filled by the Shadow Council whenever a vacancy occurs:
High Priestess: The High Priestess is the spiritual mother of the coven, an example to her coveners of the Goddess
incarnate. Her duties include (but are not limited to) the following:
To teach the insights and skills of the Craft to the coven, oversee the teaching program, so that each member grows in
wisdom, love and power.
To lead the coven in ritual magick and celebration or to serve as a guide and resource to other coveners who may do so.
To know and guide the emotional, social, and psychic dynamics of the coven, kindred, or clan, so that a healthy balance
of power and flow of energy is maintained.
To counsel coveners in their personal challenges or refer them to resources that may help them.
To speak for the coven, kindred, or clan before other Pagan groups and the community, always placing the best interests
of the Lady, the Lord, and the Craft first.
To see that the coven’s, kindred’s, or clan’s programs are well organized and administered by guiding
and inspiring the officers of the coven, kindred, or clan.
High Priest: The High Priest, as chief representative of the God incarnate, has similar responsibilities to those
of the High Priestess in many ways. The High Priest assists the High Priestess as the leader of the coven, being an example
to his coveners of the God incarnate. His duties include (but are not limited to) the following:
To teach the insights and skills of the Craft to the coven, kindred, or clan, oversee the teaching program, so that each
member grows in wisdom, love and power.
To lead the coven, kindred, or clan in ritual magick and celebration or to serve as a guide and resource to other coveners
who may do so.
To support the High Priestess in guiding the emotional, social, and psychic dynamics of the coven, kindred, or clan, so
that a healthy balance of power and flow of energy is maintained.
To counsel coveners in their personal challenges or refer them to resources that may help them.
When requested by the High Priestess, to speak for the coven, kindred, or clan before other Pagan groups and the community,
always placing the best interests of the Lady, the Lord, and the Craft first.
To see that the coven’s, kindred’s, clan’s programs are well organized and administered by guiding and
inspiring the officers of the coven, kindred, or clan.
To support the High Priestess with the strength of his hands, the wisdom of his counsel, and the love of his heart, in
all that she may do for the honor of the Lady and the Lord.
Maiden: If the High Priestess is the spiritual mother of the coven, kindred, or clan, and the Mother-Goddess incarnate,
then the Maiden is the Young Goddess who works at her side to gain knowledge and wisdom so that she may one day fill that
role. The specific duties of the Maiden may include the following:
To receive additional training to prepare her for the office of High Priestess, especially in the following areas:
Ritual design and leadership
Teaching
Counseling
Group process
Administration
Advanced magick
To serve as an example to the rest of the coven, kindred, or clan in her participation, learning, appearance, and ethics.
To be a resource to the coven, kindred, or clan especially in her knowledge of the lore, mythology, attributes, and aspects
of the Goddess.
To take special care that the temple be appropriately decorated, attractive and well supplied with necessities (candles,
incense, altar cloths in various colors, etc). She may enlist the energy of the Dedicants to help her in this.
To assist the High Priestess in ritual and projects designed to strengthen and harmonize the coven, kindred, or clan community.
To act as High Priestess when the High Priestess is absent, or occasionally as a training experience.
Summoner: The Summoner is responsible for communication of accurate and timely information to coveners and is
the chief assistant to the High Priest. He must be well-organized, a good communicator, and extremely dependable. In addition,
he must be very accessible to coven, kindred, or clan members. His duties are as follows:
To keep in his possession an up-to-date list of coven, kindred, or clan members, their residential addresses, their email
address and their telephone numbers, and a schedule of the coven, kindred, or clan program a year in advanced or as far ahead
as is known.
To disseminate this information to coveners and notify them of the changes in the coven, kindred, or clan membership or
program.
To provide all coveners with information necessary for full participation in the program (i.e., the location of events,
what tools or apparel are appropriate, or whether a potluck is to be held).
To serve as courier to other covens or Pagan organizations when requested by the High Priestess.
To serve as an example to the rest of the coven, kindred, or clan in his participation, learning, appearance, and
ethics.
To be a resource to the coven, kindred, or clan especially in his knowledge of the lore, mythology, attributes, and aspects
of the God.
To receive additional training to prepare him for the office of High Priest, especially in the following areas:
Ritual design and leadership
Teaching
Counseling
Group process
Administration
Advanced magick
To assist the High Priest in ritual and projects designed to strengthen and harmonize the coven, kindred, or clan community.
To act as High Priest when the High Priest is absent, or occasionally as a training experience.
Bard: Collect songs and chants; teaches and leads the coven, kindred, or clan in music, and provides accompaniment;
collects lore and legends; preserves and passes on the old lore, coven, kindred, or clan history, and its traditions as well
as keeping a songbook for all the music of the coven, kindred, or clan.
Scribe: The Scribe is responsible for the written records of the coven, kindred, or clan and most correspondence.
They must be clear and accurate in written communications; word-processing and computer skills are very useful. The Scribe’s
duties are:
To keep the Coven Book of Shadows, Kindred Book of Yggdrasil, and/or Clan Scrolls of Theign including all rituals and other
new material devised by the coven, kindred, or clan (though may be in the form of a File of Shadows or a Diskette of Shadows).
To keep a record of attendance at classes and rituals, initiation dates, and other individual covener information.
To keep minutes of coven, kindred, or clan business meetings.
To handle most routine correspondence for the coven, kindred, or clan.
To take charge of the coven, kindred, or clan library, unless a separate Archivist is appointed for this purpose.
Pursewarden: In charge of SCF funds and bank accounts, if applicable.
Brotherhood of the Wolf (SCF Security Force): They are responsible for the immediate safety and security of members
at coven, kindred, or clan events and, in coordination with the High Priest, for the long-term
safety and defense of the coven, kindred, or clan. The ideal Wolven is self-assured,
calm, strong, foresighted, and quick-thinking. They must always work
toward peace and harmony with the community, but be instantly prepared to deal with violence if it is unavoidable. Protection
of the coven, kindred, or clan with minimal or no damage to the assailant is the goal. Their duties are:
To be knowledgeable about laws regarding religious freedom, freedom of assembly, trespass, citizen’s arrest, and
related matters.
To develop contacts and resources within law enforcement agencies and organizations devoted to the defense of religious
freedom, civil liberties and Pagan rights.
To become skilled in conflict resolution, magickal/psychic self-defense, and some form of defensive martial arts.
To share his/her knowledge and skills with other coveners and help them learn self-defense techniques.
To maintain security at coven, kindred, or clan events. When indoors: checking locks, closing curtains, setting wards,
etc.
When outdoors: finding safe places for events, setting wards, posting sentries if need be, etc.
To have contingency plans ready for possible emergency situations, at each coven, kindred, or clan event and for long-range
situations, and train and rehearse coveners in them.
To keep track of organizations, proposed laws, individuals or trends that may threaten the coven, kindred, or clan; or
the Craft as a whole, and keep coveners informed of these.
Thorigan: Head of security for all rituals and SCF meetings. The Thorigan carries these items as symbols of office:
In Private (Temple):
Helmet (Helm)- horned to represent the god
Sword-
a broadsword or claymore
Shield- metal with the coven, kindred, or
clan symbol on the front
In Public:
Patch- that bears the symbol of the Thorigan.
Silver Band- this will be on the right wrist representing the sword that is carried.
High Theign & Theign (Thain): This position is part guard, part watchman and part sergeant at arms. The Theign
carries these items as symbols of office:
In Private (Temple): Note: The High Theign carries a spear, sword, shield, helm, and horn.
Spear- 6ft long with metal head.
Shield – wooden or leather cover (some are studded) 2 ft diameter.
Horn – is blown to bring people together.
In Public: The High Theign wears all three bracelets and patches
Patch- that bears the symbol of the Theign (Thain).
Copper Band- this will be on the left wrist representing the spear
that is carried.
Guardians: Warriors under the command of the Theign and Thorigan. Their symbols of rank are a spear and a shield.
Herald: In charge of organizing any special events (open circles, trips, etc) that are open to non-SCF members.
Archivist: Will maintain the SCF Library and keep a scrapbook of all SCF activities.
Teachers: Term limits should not be needed; all SCF members are expected to serve a position appointed to them
based on preference and availability. (All SCF members are expected to teach and will be assigned students based on convenience.)
Guidelines for Conduct: All dedicants and members shall be guided in their conduct by The Wiccan Rede, The Law
of Return, The Rules of Conduct, The Nine Virtues of the Aesir, and by the Goddess and God within each person.
Article IV- Meetings and Attendance
