Coven

A coven or covan /kʌvən/ usually refers to a gathering of witches.

The word "coven" remained largely unused in English until 1921 when Margaret Murray promoted the idea, now much disputed, that all witches across Europe met in groups of thirteen which they called "covens".

Neopaganism

In Wicca and other similar forms of modern neopagan witchcraft, such as Stregheria and Feri, a coven is a gathering or community of witches, much like a congregation in Christian parlance. It is composed of a group of believers who gather together for ceremonies of worship such as Drawing Down the Moon, or celebrating the Sabbats. The number of persons involved may vary. Although thirteen is considered ideal (probably in deference to Murray's theories), any group of at least three can be a coven. A group of two is usually called a "working couple" (regardless of their sexes). Within the community, many believe that a coven larger than thirteen is unwieldy, citing unwieldy group dynamics and an unfair burden on the leadership. When a coven has grown too large to be manageable, it may split, or "hive". In Wicca this may also occur when a newly made High Priest or High Priestess, also called 3rd Degree ordination, leaves to start their own coven. Wiccan covens are usually jointly led by a High Priestess and a High Priest, though some are led by only one or the other. In more recent forms of neopagan witchcraft, covens are sometimes run as democracies with a rotating leadership.

Coven (film)

Coven is a 1997 black and white direct-to-video horror short film directed by Mark Borchardt. The making of the film was documented in the 1999 award-winning independent film American Movie. It was shot with local talent around Milwaukee.

Sales and distribution

Coven was largely funded by Mark's uncle Bill Borchardt's savings with the understanding that Mark must sell 3,000 copies in order for Bill to make his money back. However, Bill died shortly after the release of Coven. Bill, along with Mark and an assortment of friends and neighbors, star in the film. The movie was sold through his website www.northwestproductions.com (now defunct). By 2004, Borchardt sold 5,100 copies of "Coven" at $14.95.

Plot summary

The film introduces Mike (Borchardt) as a writer struggling with a lack of artistic productivity. To deal with the pressures he feels from within and without, he escalates his abuse of alcohol. One day when faced with overwhelming deadlines, he takes a large quantity of pills with alcohol resulting in an overdose and hospitalization. When Steve (Tom Schimmels) takes notice of Mike's increasing volatility and isolation, he confronts the defensive writer. Steve shows genuine concern for his friend's self-destructive behavior and intervenes. The film suggests by lack of others at the intervention that Steve may be the only friend Mike has left. Steve suggests a support group with whom he has been affiliated and after gaining some perspective, Mike joins them. After becoming a part of the group, he comes to realize that the group has a deeper occult agenda and use extreme, sometimes supernatural, tactics to "help" new members remain clean and sober.

Coven (disambiguation)

A coven or covan is a gathering of witches:

It may also refer to:

See also

Portrait (Lynda Carter album)

Portrait is the first album by the American actress Lynda Carter. It was released in 1978 on vinyl LP, 8-track and cassette as well as a limited edition picture LP. Carter co-wrote three of the songs: "Want to Get Beside You," "Fantasy Man" and "Toto (Don't It Feel Like Paradise)". The album also included the cover songs "She's Always a Woman" by Billy Joel and "Just One Look" by Doris Troy. Promotional singles were released for "All Night Song" and "Toto (Don't It Feel Like Paradise)."

Two of the songs were featured in and performed by Carter's character, Diana Prince in the 1979 Wonder Woman episode, "Amazon Hot Wax": "Want to Get Beside You" and "Toto (Don't It Feel Like Paradise)". The latter song makes mention of several elements from the Wizard of Oz stories, and quotes dialogue from the 1939 film.

Portrait was issued on CD by Wounded Bird Records in 2013 with two previously unreleased bonus tracks.

Carter did not release another album for over 30 years due to being a semiprofessional singer. Her second album, At Last, is a jazz and blues standards album and was released in June 2009.

Songs from the Deep Forest

Songs from the Deep Forest is an album by Northern Ireland based artist Duke Special. In May 2006 it was released as a limited edition set of six 7" vinyl discs and then re-released as a single CD in October of the same year. It has been nominated for a 2007 Meteor Music Award for best Irish album, and for the 2007 Choice Music Prize.

On October 1st 2007, a special 2-disc edition was released which included the new song Our Love Goes Deeper Than This which featured Neil Hannon and Romeo Stodart. A bonus second disc was included in this edition and includes songs from the live BBC performance recorded in Belfast.

Track listing

Single Disc

The album has twelve tracks:

Portrait (The Walker Brothers album)

Portrait is the second album by the American pop group The Walker Brothers. Released in 1966 the album was their most successful and reached number three on the UK Albums Chart. The group's musical accompaniment was directed by Ivor Raymonde and Reg Guest and produced by John Franz. Receiving good to mixed reviews the album was first released in both Mono and Stereo LP formats in August 1966. The album was later released on CD having been remastered and expanded in 1998. The sleeve notes were written by Keith Altham with photography by Dezo Hoffman.

Portrait was not released in the USA. In its place Smash Records compiled The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore as the group's second album. This alternate version substituted the majority of the album's tracks A-Sides, B-Sides and tracks from their first EP leaving only "Just For A Thrill", "Old Folks", "People Get Ready" and "Take It Like a Man".

Reception

Portrait received good to mixed reviews from the majority of critics. Richie Unterberger writing for Allmusic recommends the album for serious fans only as the majority of the best tracks are on the compilation After the Lights Go Out. "Like some other pop/rock LPs of its time, it suffered from an apparent strategy to appeal to a wider demographic than those that typically bought pop/rock records, adding a cover of Louis Armstrong's "Just for a Thrill," the moldy standard "Old Folks," and the pedestrian white-boy soul workout on Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready." Unterberger is also positive regarding "In My Room" which he describes as "dramatic" and "No Sad Songs for Me" which he calls "melodramatic" and "the best tune that doesn't show up on the After the Lights Go Out compilation".