I've been a practitioner of "solitary witchcraft" for over twenty years. Like many, that path included a period of time where I was more a "reader" than a "do-er." In the early 90s, this meant reading Starhawk, Adler, Buckland, and whatever else was available at the local New Age head shop.
While most of the books I read at that time were fascinating, their focus on coven activities to be a bit problematic. For openers, I was still at that "I'm not sure I'm ready to not be a Christian" phase. Even when one gets past that phase, the "broom closet" is very attractive for many of us. Seeking out a group at that time was never on my agenda, yet these authors often implied (if not directly stated) that you couldn't grow as a Wiccan if you didn't join a coven.
Then along came Scott Cunningham with a very novel concept in his book Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner (WGSP for short). Now there was a respected author in the at-large Wiccan/Pagan community who was telling folks like me it was OK to "be Wiccan" but not be part of a coven. I discovered this book around 1993, and it's been an important foundation in the Craft for me.
Cunningham's book starts with what is an important basic premise for me: you can be "Wiccan" without being part of a coven or established "tradition." His background on the Craft and its basic premises is good reading for anyone desiring to learn more about Wicca. In fact, if I were to start a coven, I'd tell those desiring initiation to read the "Theory" section of this book and get back with me after they're into it a bit.
In that spirit, I'd like to kick off some discussions about what it means to be "Wiccan" or a "Witch." I'll be coming at the topic from Cunningham's perspective, obviously. There are many of you who approach this from other angles, and I encourage you to share your thoughts in comments to diaries or by writing a diary or two yourself.
One thing I've learned over time is that the word "Wicca" is often more a lightning rod than a basis for discussion. In on-line forums, there are many "Wiccans" who reject Cunningham's thesis that one can be a "solitary" as strongly as Scott argues that it is possible. Back when I was on LiveJournal a lot, I began to identify myself as a "solitary practitioner of witchcraft," avoiding identifying myself as a Wiccan. This would calm down the more vocal (and often quite obnoxious) coven-based folks who had no respect for my path. Other than that change in terminology/identification, I'm pretty much a "Cunningham solitary."
Just as WGSP is divided into two main sections, "Theory" and "Practice," the pros and cons of the solitary path also break down on those lines.
In terms of "theory," the modern solitary witch has a multitude of resources upon which to draw. Whats more important than the bounty of foundational material on the Craft are the various websites and on-line fora out there where someone new to Wicca can ask questions and get involved in discussions that never took place outside the formal coven prior to the growth of the Internet.
Once the seeker reads a book or two on the basics of the Craft, it's possible for her to synergize the thoughts and teachings of those authors and form a "personal tradition." Sometimes those who develop a personal tradition encounter like-minded Wiccans. This is how many an "eclectic coven" is formed.
Gone are the days of the "secrets" of Wicca. If it makes some trad-Wicca folks happy to believe they have some sort of secret that the rest of us don't know, I'm good with it. What's out in the street is solid information. If it's incomplete in the eyes of closed circles, I guess I'll have to live with incomplete.
Avoiding Teh Dramah of group work and activity is another advantage of the solitary seeker. Putting aside the very real threat of "teachers" and "masters" who are more interested in sexual exploitation of young women, there's always the potential for personality conflicts when you put people in a group. The dynamics of a coven can be challenging; it's not a democracy. Those who chafe against authority won't find a good comfort level in such a group.
Topping the list of "cons" to working solitary is the impact of rituals. Ritual and raising power are the one place where the solitary is clearly at a disadvantage. Whomever was first to say "there's strength in numbers" wasn't kidding. A circle cast and supported by a coven will raise a lot more power than a lone individual. Singing/chanting, dancing, and other activities are often more fun in a group. As one who hates to eat alone, breaking bread to ground after ritual is always more enjoyable with others.
Does that mean solitary rituals are ineffective? No indeed! If the drama levels inside a coven are too high, all the advantages of group work go out the window. Certainly it's easier for a single individual to focus intent. If half the coven are mentally going off on tangents, you might be better off doing specific workings alone.
I'm curious to see what thoughts the community has on the subject of solitary practice, but I'd like to lay down a basic ground rule for comments on this diary: Please don't thread-hijack. If you're not Wiccan, or you don't have thoughts on the practice of witchcraft, take a pass on this diary.