Novan Practice
Madrona Grove is part of a Novan practice, derived from witch traditions that welcome all earth-based polytheistic magical paths. We consider Witchcraft not as a religion with rules and doctrine but as a craft and a way of life. We celebrate diverse viewpoints and believe in no set dogma. What we have instead is a working approach that meets our needs. Our goal is to provide a safe framework for you to find and explore the one that is yours.
What are some of the commonalities of Novan thought?
The earth is sacred, and magic is everywhere.
We are free to create. We do not claim ancient lineage, nor are we bound by tradition.
Equality and balance of power. Our groves or covens are typically led by a triad of Priestess, Priest, and Priestex, to honor the gender-expansive nature of our world, and to balance power. Working groups tend to regard all members as equals both in the circle and out.
The Fey and Nature. Some Novan groups, such as Madrona Grove, work with the fey. We ask everything aligned with us to aid our magic. We see the fey as the essence of nature and place, the spirits of the dead, friends, and playful guides.
We make our own safety. Novan witches generally don’t banish negative energy from an area before casting a circle. Neither do we guard the circle, as most of us believe no opposing energy can coexist with the energy we bring into it.
Acknowledging disorder. In Novan rites, the Priestex usually casts a first circle widdershins to acknowledge existing chaos.
Spontaneous. Though we repeat rituals occasionally, most are unique to the moment, whether planned or spontaneous. The elements are also usually invoked spontaneously in Novan practice.
Language and other metaphors matter. Like poetry, magic often needs specific, tangible things to stand in for things that aren’t.
Where does the magic come from?
All through history, religions and cults have exploited people's spiritual curiosity, fear, and yearning. Because we're all afraid of the unknown, we hunger for answers we can depend on, and too often are easy marks for those who claim to know the truth. The trouble is, false certainty can be much more dangerous than no certainty at all.
The Novan practice is built on the principle that knowledge in the spiritual realm is not objective, and the answers that matter most are ones you find for yourself. Also, experience has shown that the best answers are not static— they grow and change over time. Novan practice encourages you to rely on personal experience and trust yourself to find a connection of your own to that elusive realm.
You can rely on the appreciation you feel for beauty, on your innate sense of rightness, your intuition, creativity, and generosity, and on the pleasure and joy you experience to find transcendence. The power belongs to you; the magic is entirely yours.
What if I have different Pagan beliefs or I don’t know what I believe?
Novan practice is derived in part from several neopagan traditions and welcomes inspiration from all kinds of other religious practices, but it’s not a tradition, cult, faith or religion itself. It has no secrets, oath-bound rites, arcane knowledge, mysterious incantations, or unbroken roots that stretch back into antiquity. It imposes no dogma, liturgy, hierarchy, or rigid structure. It sits very comfortably with science and empirical skepticism at the breakfast table.
Its deep mysteries are the mysteries of your own life, and our purpose is to help you explore them.