Covenant of the Goddess

  • The Beginning

    The Beginning

    In the 1970s California saw an increase in Pagan, Occult, and Witch activities. Groups began intermingling and sharing ideas. Some of these groups included the Council of Earth Religions, the Council of Themis, the Central Valley Wicca, and the Church of Aphrodite.
  • The Founding

    The Founding

    On March 1st, 1975 forty representatives from different sects of witchcraft met in Caerdderwen, Oakland, United States to discuss the planning of a possible Covenant after the failure of many previous attempts at starting one.
  • The First Grand Council Meeting

    The First Grand Council Meeting

    The first official meeting of the Covenant of the Goddess was held on June 22nd, 1975. It is held in Coeden Brith, Northern California, United States convened by Gwydion Pendderwen and Alison Harlow. At this meeting, Alison Harlow became the first National Officer. This also happened to be the summer solstice which is when the CoG Charter and Bylaws were signed.
  • Recognition

    Recognition

    On Halloween of 1975 the CoG was incorporated as a religious organization in California.
  • The Publication of The Spiral Dance

    The Publication of The Spiral Dance

    The publication of this book played an important role in the popularization of Goddess worship.
  • Solitary Witches

    Solitary Witches

    The CoG allows solitary witches to join the organization. Previously they only allowed established covens to join.
  • The First MerryMeet Festival

    The First MerryMeet Festival

    The MerryMeet is an annual festival that serves as the CoG's annual business meeting that is required by California law. It also allows members to meet with one another and participate in rituals and workshops.
  • First Witchcraft Group to Work With the FBI

    First Witchcraft Group to Work With the FBI

    The CoG becomes the first witchcraft group to collaborate with the FBI to make a guide on Witchcraft for police use.
  • New York Accepts Pagan Witches as Clergy

    New York Accepts Pagan Witches as Clergy

    The state of New York now provides Clergy credentials to elders and ministers within the CoG.
  • First Witch Becomes a Member of Interfaith Council

    First Witch Becomes a Member of Interfaith Council

    Donald Frew, a witch from CoG, becomes the first witch to be a member of the Berkeley Area Interfaith Council.
  • Working With the Military

    Working With the Military

    The CoG begins working with Wiccan military officers to help further the education of witchcraft.
  • Centennial of the Parliament of the World's Religions

    Centennial of the Parliament of the World's Religions

    The CoG further solidifies its place as a religion by attending this event in Chicago, Illinois and making many contributions.
  • Unitarian Universalist Association

    Unitarian Universalist Association

    Pagan music and readings were added to the "Singing the Living Tradition"hymnal.
  • Reclaiming Tradition

    Reclaiming Tradition

    Reclaiming Tradition was a set of principles created after the release of the movie "The Craft" which furthered the stigma surrounding witches.
  • The First Winter Witches Ball

    The First Winter Witches Ball

    Southern California Local Council organized the first Winter Witches Ball which was held in Culver City.
  • Pentacles Allowed on Tomb Stones

    Pentacles Allowed on Tomb Stones

    The George W. Bush administration finally allowed pentacles to be allowed on military memorials as a form of religious expression.
  • Environmental Statement

    Environmental Statement

    The CoG formally adopts an environmental statement for their organization.
  • Virtual Moon School's

    Virtual Moon School's

    The CoG Starts holding online classes for followers to continue their learning during quarantine.
  • Virtual Psychic Faire

    Virtual Psychic Faire

    The CoG continues its virtual outreach throughout the pandemic by holding more events online.