typical models of power are hierarchies or ladders that cause oppression and disconnection. Covens, however, are structured in circles or webs: “In a circle, each person’s face can be seen, each person’s voice can be heard and valued. All points on a circle are equidistant from its center: that is its definition and its function—to distribute energy equally.” The coven is not only a sanctuary for kindred outliers, then. It’s also an aspirational paradigm for society at large.
