Questions About Covenant of the River
Is Covenant of the River going away?
Covenant of the River is a strong group of dedicated people who have been meeting in various places for the past 17 years. We ARE NOT GOING AWAY!. The only thing changing is where we will be holding our activities after early September 2024. The Council and the Board remain dedicated to bringing you Sabbat Celebrations, chances to socialize, and, eventually, everything you have come to rely on us for. The only change is where we meet! After leaving 901 E Swallow we plan to meet in parks, coffee shops, the homes of members, restaurants, etc. For a short period of time we may not meet every week while we try to get organized. So please keep checking the website and you can contact Council anytime. We are already planning our future Sabbat celebrations and rituals and you can know that these are a high priority! Rivers flow and move and there is nothing to fear. Change can inspire us to new things.
How do I join?
Go to the page “Join Covenant” and fill out the questions. Most of the form is confidential between you and Council. To prevent bots, your appliication will be looked at by Council and then we will let you know when you are an active member.
Do I have to join to attend activities? No. Joining is optional but will give Council your contact information and will make certain areas of the website more accessible.
Do I have to be a Pagan or Wiccan or specific kind of Pagan? Do I have to go through any kind of initiation? No. If you have a positive path you are welcome. If you are a seeker, you are also welcome. We are a relaxed group and do not have initiations.
Is this a “coven”? No. We do not require our members to adhear to certain beliefs. We have chosen the word “Covenant” to describe our group and the support we give each other.
For years I have practiced alone. I am afraid I won’t know what to do or that I will look stupid. If I want to participate will you help me? We will help anyone who needs help with ritual writing or understanding the basics of Covenant. But please know, there is no “wrong” way to do something at Covenant. We support each other and enjoy seeing how others do rituals and finding out what they believe. We learn from each other. You may have something to share that none of us have seen before and that’s a very good thing. Do not be scared. You are a gift to our community.
Do I have to give money or pay for events? You are not required to donate or make payments unless we are all going to a location where there is an expense to go there. Donations sustain the Hall, the Sanctuary, and our supplies so we certainly appreciate any donation. But donations are not expected or required. If you would like to donate, there is a link to our PayPal at the bottom of every web page.
I don’t like Facebook. Do I have to use it? We do post announcements on Facebook but most of these same announcements can be found on the Calendar of our website. Facebook is a good way to get to know others in the group but is not required.
Questions about using the Website
Why is my picture a drop? The default icon for new users and those who don’t want to post an image is a drop of water. It is symbolic of the idea that we are all drops of water in the River.
How do I use the avi I want? When you first log in and go to Members, find your own listing. There will be a camera over your drop. Click on it and click Upload Photo. You can return to the drop by deleting the photo.
How do I create a profile? After you log in, find the menu item “Members”. This will take you to a page showing other members. Find your own listing and click on “Edit Profile.” You can also click on the “gear” if you are already in your profile.
None of the fields are required. You can leave any or all of them blank. These fields, if you choose to fill them in, are the only fields visible to other members.
Once you update, you will see other fields such as your name, phone number and email. Those are from your Registration Form and are visible only to you and to Council.
I want to have a profile but I don’t want to share my contact information or certain parts of my personal information. You are in control of how much information you want to share with other members. See “How do I create a Profile?” for more information
How do I put a picture in the space behind my avi? While in Edit for your profile there will be a plus sign in the space. Click it and choose Upload a Picture. Please note that this field is pretty specific about the size of photo it will accept. It must be 1000 pixels wide, minimum. If you try to use a very large image it will ask you to crop it which may not work for you. Keep trying.
How do I find out more about other members? If you are a member, you can see other members on the website. Each person chooses how much information to put online. If you want to know more, please contact them in person at events.
Why does Council need my email and phone number? This helps us contact people about changes and with some reminders. It is also good if we have any questions. We will not give the information out without your permission and will direct anyone who inquires about you, to speak to you in person at our events.