We offer our tradition’s rituals and teachings as open source and for free. If you decide to become an initiate of an Open Source Alexandrian coven, we expect, when a coven is active, that you will be an active member. This includes attending rituals as much as possible, participating in circles (chanting, drumming, calling quarters, etc.), and doing the work required for each degree/initiation. While we don’t have set candidate periods or strict requirements for attendance, we do expect members to interact with the rest of the coven through face to face meetings, online, and with the public during our public events as much as they are able.

We do not expect any payment for initiations or teachings. We have seen that some teachers who charge their students will string them along for extended periods of time. These students will pay to get through the process, but in reality, they usually get to a point where they should have been initiated twice over. It is our belief that when candidate is ready for initiation, they should be initiated.

Typically, when a student is ready for initiation, there is a philosophical and psychic shift that occurs, which, if the teacher is paying attention, is obvious. This shift usually happens after some sort of spiritual ordeal or test. This is not a written or oral exam. It is typically a magickal or life event that changes the perceptions of the student. These ordeals are not easy, or even something that is fully understood to be an ordeal at the time. Sometimes they can be radically life changing, even to the extent of realizing that this path is not for them. It is something that can happen in minutes, or something that can effect the student for years. Also, initiation can help move a student forward, if the teacher recognizes that a student has the dedication and ability. Sometimes, the power of initiation can bring out a student’s abilities just because they have been recognized of being worthy of it, and the granting of power in the initiation is the ordeal that is needed. (This isn’t a very common pathway, but it can be necessary in some cases.)

We generally encourage members, when they feel they are ready, to ask for initiation. However, we do, from time to time, offer it to those who we feel are ready, or at least, strongly encourage them to ask for it!

We acknowledge that all people have different talents and strengths, and will allow for the student to utilize the tradition in a way that works for their own particular skill set and knowledge. Many books will have definitions of what the requirements of a witch should be, but not everyone can do astral travel, or enjoys working with herbs, or can do possessory work, etc. We believe that everyone can and should contribute from their own experiences. We consider this a tradition in evolution, and if new ideas are not brought into the tradition, it will stagnate and die. There are many examples of this in the world, and it is better that we learn from them and adapt rather than follow their example.