We receive requests from people wanting to study, train and work with our coven. As a general rule, we will not accept any long-distance student, or student by mail/email. The Craft is not something that can be learned easily from reading a book, no matter how well-written the book may be.
Divine inspiration can aid understanding and harmony with nature, but learning the Craft requires personal interaction. There’s an old saying that “one cannot be a witch alone.” While solitary practice is absolutely possible, certain knowledge and techniques need direct teaching from another.
A correspondent once compared this to learning to drive, basic knowledge which can be gained from books, but actual driving skills require hands-on experience. Similarly, Craft training needs face-to-face interaction, akin to behind-the-wheel practice in driver’s education. While we do accept new students, it is only after a thorough period of getting to know each other, including interviews and community interactions.
If you are interested in studying with us, you must live in the Puget Sound region of Washington state and be willing to travel to the Snoqualmie Valley for regular meetings and rituals. We require a face-to-face meeting and attendance at a “meet and greet” event to meet our coven members and possibly members of other covens in our community. This initial meeting will take place in a public location for mutual comfort, where we will introduce ourselves and get to know each other.
There are several reasons for this meeting:
- The meeting provides both you and us a chance to meet to discuss The Craft and what that means to both of us.
- The meeting provides both you and us an opportunity to ask questions of each other.
- The meeting allows us to develop some level of comfort with each other before meeting in a more private environment.
- The meeting is an excellent excuse to eat desserts and drink coffee or other beverages as appropriate.
There are no requirements or hard and fast rules for joining our coven. We are simply looking for people with whom we can work closely toward our spiritual and magical goals.
Our Coven and Study Grove have varying meeting schedules. We may meet several times a month or not at all for extended periods, depending on rituals and individual schedules. If you cannot commit to at least a year from initial contact to initiation, and a year between each initiatory level, we may not be the right group for you.
We do not charge training fees, but members must pay for their materials and contribute to Circles and feasts. We recommend having a stable income and a well-balanced life before starting to learn the Craft.
Please remember – The Craft is not for everyone, and furthermore every person is not a good fit in every Coven. A decision either on our part or on your part not to continue association after meeting and talking together should not be taken personally by either party. Understand that the interview will not be any guarantee of acceptance into the coven or the apprenticeship group. And to restate from elsewhere on this website, while N.E.C.T.W. and Nemed Cuculatii share many things in common with Wicca, we are a Witchcraft tradition, not a Wiccan tradition. If you are seeking a Wicca coven or tradition, we are not the group for you.
If you are interested in pursuing study with us, next, read the essay Wiccan-Pagan Potpourri thoroughly, check our Suggested Reading list, then please email inquiries to study (at) nemedcuculatii (dot) org.
In your email, please include your name (preferred name, whatever name you wish to be called by), age, email address (and optional phone number). Also, please give a general introduction to yourself, what you may have previously read/studied on the subjects of witchcraft, paganism, religion, folklore and history.
Please be aware that at the present time (summer 2024) our apprenticeship program is being updated and rewritten, and we may not be currently offering study at this time.
Questions we may ask of Potential Students
These are the type of questions we may ask (and why) of potential applicants for study in our coven when we meet you. Please do not consider this as asking for students. Please do not just answer these questions and send them to us.
Here is a brief explanation of each question that may be asked of potential apprentices to your Coven:
- What is your time of birth, birth date, and birthplace?
- Purpose: To create an astrological chart for insights into your personality and challenges.
- What is your full name as listed on your birth certificate?
- Purpose: To run a numerological chart and understand the vibrational energy of your name.
- List the books you’ve read and whether you liked them or not, and why.
- Purpose: To gauge your knowledge, interests, and critical thinking skills.
- What is your concept of Deity (God/Goddess, etc.)?
- Purpose: To understand your spiritual beliefs and how they align with the coven’s teachings.
- What is your concept of Spirit?
- Purpose: To see how you perceive the essence of life and unseen forces.
- You will need to travel here at least 4 times a year, possibly more.
- Purpose: Regular travel is necessary for our rituals and practices.
- If asked to take an oath of secrecy, would you do that?
- Purpose: To test your commitment to protecting the coven’s knowledge.
- What do you want to learn?
- Purpose: To understand your goals and align them with the coven’s teachings.
- You will need to choose a primary form of divination (i.e., I Ching, Runes, Tarot).
- Purpose: Essential for your growth and spiritual insight.
- Do you have any food or drink allergies/sensitivities?
- Purpose: To ensure your safety during meetings and rituals.
- What do you think your strengths are?
- Purpose: To identify areas where you can excel in the coven’s work.
- What do you see as your weaknesses?
- Purpose: To support you in areas needing guidance.
- Why do you want to study Witchcraft?
- Purpose: To understand your motivations and dedication to the Tradition.