The Role of the High Priestess and High Priest

The High Priestess and High Priest are the earthly representation of the Gods and should therefore reflect the virtues of the Gods. The High Priestess, as representative of the Goddess, should recognize that youth is necessary to the representative of the Goddess and should retire in favor of a younger woman, should the Coven so decide in Council; and the High Priest shall support her as the representative of the God. The High Priestess shall choose whom she will, if he have sufficient rank*, to be her High Priest.

As representative of the Gods, the High Priestess and High Priest are the spiritual leaders of the Coven and it is under their authority that the Coven is maintained and managed, with the aid of the Council of Elders. It is under this authority that the High Priestess and High Priest shall rule the Coven with compassion and love.

The Coven is the spiritual family of an initiate and it is the responsibility of the High Priestess and High Priest, as spiritual leaders, to ensure that chaos is kept to a minimum and that order and disciple is maintained.

The qualities of the High Priestess and High Priest should be the same qualities that reflect the virtues of the Gods. These virtues are those of compassion and love, forgiveness and wisdom, and mirth and reverence. The Coven should decide in Council whom is qualified to rule and this should be given considerable thought, for not all are qualified to rule. The High Priestess and High Priest should be an adept in the beliefs and practices of the Craft and in the Art Magickal.


* In Traditional British Witchcraft, only a Third Degree Initiate can claim and rule a Coven and the High Priestess is referred to as “Lady” or “My Lady”, but the High Priest is never referred to as “Lord” or “My Lord”.