coven
noun

- a group or meeting of witches

- a collection of individuals with similar interests or activities

Oxford Languages, Merriam-Webster

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WORD ORIGIN

The word “coven” is believed to have originated in Middle English, from the word covent, which referred to a gathering or assembly. This, in turn, derived from the Old French word covent or convent, meaning a group of people coming together, and is related to the Latin term convenire, meaning “to come together” (from con- “together” and venire “to come”).

The term coven began to be specifically associated with a gathering of witches around the 17th century, particularly during the period of witch trials and heightened fear of witchcraft. It was thought that witches gathered in groups of thirteen, known as covens, to practice their rituals in secret.

This meaning has persisted into modern English, where “coven” now typically denotes a group or assembly of witches, or a small band of individuals with similar interests or activities.
 
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THE ANCIENT ART OF FEAR

On Halloween night, as children parade in costumes and jack-o'-lanterns flicker on porches, humans across cultures engage in a remarkable ritual: the voluntary pursuit of fear.

Unlike our ancestors, who faced genuine threats from predators and harsh environments, we now seek out artificial frights through haunted houses, horror movies, and spooky stories. This deliberate confrontation with fear in a controlled setting may serve the useful purpose of strengthening our ability to face real-world challenges.

Studies in psychology show that experiencing fear in safe environments can help individuals develop emotional resilience. This exposure allows people to practice regulating their responses to intense emotions, leading to greater control over reactions in stressful real-world situations.

Across cultures, humans have long engaged in rituals involving fear, such as coming-of-age ceremonies or tribal rites, which often feature simulated threats. Anthropologists suggest that these rituals foster group cohesion and help individuals mentally prepare for real dangers.

Research by Steven F. Maier and colleagues* suggests that facing controlled fear activates the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for planning and decision-making. This can help individuals practice overcoming their instinctual fight-or-flight response, strengthening their psychological resilience.

In choosing to be afraid, we may actually be learning how to be brave.

Happy Halloween!

Helga & Paul Smith

*Steven F. Maier, et al. 'Behavioral control, the medial prefrontal cortex, and resilience' Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience.

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SYNONYMS

a band/gathering/nest/ring of witches, assembly, band, bat brigade, bevy, black circle (order), body, brood, bunch, cabal, cauldron club, cell, circle, clan, clique, club, colony, commune, community, company, conclave, congregation, coterie, council, COVEN, crew, cult, dark alliance (circle), devil's circle, enchantresses' assembly, faction, fellowship, flock, fold, fraternity, gang, gathering, group, guild, hex hub, hive, horde, huddle, in-crowd, inner circle, klatch, league, lodge, magic circle, magical alliance, midnight assembly (circle), ministry of magic, mob, moonlight circle, mystic band (circle, fellowship), nest, network, occult circle, order, pack, posse, ring, sabbat circle, secret circle (meeting), sect, sister circle, sisterhood, society, sorcerers' guild, sorority, spell-weavers' circle, spellcaster society, swarm, tribe, troupe, wiccan circle (fellowship), witch circle (club, ring), witches meeting (assembly, circle, congress, council, grove, league, meeting), witchgroup, witching circle, witching hour assembly, witchy sisterhood

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

"Hollywood often portrays a COVEN as sinister, but in ancient times, they were simply women sharing knowledge."

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