The Greenhaven Tradition, and Fieldhaven Coven, came into existence in central Illinois for a variety of reasons and purposes. The most important among these include:
to practice a Pagan lifestyle and activities;
to provide an environment for the teaching and learning of Pagan principles and magical practices;
to foster and encourage research into magical theory;
and simply for the opportunity to socialize and have fun with other people of similar mindsets.
We are also committed to the celebration of life and its mysteries by observing the sabbats and esbats; in developing means of ethically utilizing magic for personal growth and everyday needs; and in expanding our own knowledge and activities regarding ecological and sociological issues.
We are, individually and collectively, Eclectic within reason. Our personal experiences and group ritual structure draw from a vast and divergent array of systems, cultures, and contexts. However, we take care to avoid invoking any directly conflicting concepts during a specific event and, to a lesser extent, in the overall membership of the group.
Currently we are open to new members as well as networking with other Pagans and like-minded people. Our primary focus is central Illinois; most of our current or past members live near Charleston, Mattoon, or Effingham. However, anything within reasonable daytrip distance is a possibility, and we have an affiliate member from out of state.
Outreach
If this sounds appealing to you, we recommend that you start by browsing this website to learn more. See "About Us" for an introduction to our tradition and ideals, or "Our Voices" for personal experiences and perspectives. "Activities" will lead you to samples of our classes and rituals. "Writing" offers a selection of articles, poetry, and other materials of general Pagan interest. Use the menu bar at the top of the page for navigation; the tabs pull down to reveal topical sections and content subpages. There is also a sitemap for an overview of all the contents.
If you're interested in networking with Illinois Pagans, feel free to get in touch. You can email us: greenhaventradition (at) yahoo (dot) com Our most "out of the broom closet" member is Elizabeth Barrette, active on LiveJournal and elsewhere as Ysabetwordsmith; her Pagan credentials include publication in various Llewellyn annuals since 2001, plus the how-to book Composing Magic. Local folks might also like to check out the Witch's Honor email list, which is not a coven but is a networking resource for Illinois Pagans (plus Pagan-friendly folks and spiritual seekers) in general. Not-so-local folks may prefer WitchVox, which offers a variety of content and networking options, including search functions to find stuff near you.
Disclaimers
Please note that all images on this site come from Creative Commons via the Weebly search function, rather than photos of our actual covenstead or members. The Weebly buildware theoretically allows photo uploads, but that doesn't actually work on my computer. Hail Eris, all hail Discordia.
Links to commercial/retail sites are for informational purposes only, and are neither endorsements from the Greenhaven Tradition/Fieldhaven Coven for the products represented or service providers, nor does the Tradition/Coven receive any revenues or exchanges of service for clicking on those links or from purchases made when following them.
The contents of this site are presented for enlightenment and inspiration, and are designed for a mature and sensible audience. Please take appropriate health and safety precautions when cooking, conducting a ritual, working magic, interacting with people, and other activities.
Our anticipated audience for this website consists of those who are already following non-mainstream paths, seeking to connect with others nearby who share those interests; honest seekers of accurate information on what the "others" believe; and any curious, considerate souls who aren't afraid of diversity. We expect people to interact with us and each other in a mature, civil, and responsible manner. We are neither interested in converting anyone away from their current practices, nor in being converted to what someone else considers to be "the one True Path." As such, we aim to interact politely with those who fall within the above parameters; we are not inclined to engage in arguments over any aspect of beliefs. We will freely utilize the 'delete' key on any inbound e-mail or comments from those who choose not to respect such considerations.
Below are some places we have promoted our website.
