Wicca can be practiced alone, as a sacred trust between the Priest/ess and their Gods, in which case the practitioner is referred to as Solitary.  Wicca may also be practiced in a group of two to thirteen individuals, called a coven.  Neither method of practicing Wicca is superior to the other.  Some people choose to worship alone by personal choice, for a variety of reasons.  Solitary practice allows one to practice in a method most appropriate to their preferences, unbound by externally imposed correspondences and rules.  Solitary work also stimulates personal empowerment, as the emphasis is directly upon the person's intimate interaction with Deity, without the need to "go through a middleman," the High Priest and High Priestess of the Coven.  One learns that they have the sole ability and responsibility to change their lives for the better, and are dependent upon only the Gods.  According to many authorities, Wicca originated as a Shamanic tradition, and was never meant to incorporate the idea of laity (those administered to by the clergy).  Each Wiccan Initate must be their own Priest and Priestess.
        Others in Wicca find that they much prefer to work in a group setting.  The support and encouragement of others helps them in achieving their own Great Work, the knowledge of Themselves.  The bringing-together of people of like mind stimulates fertilization of personal seeds of power, by expanding one's views, challenging one's thinking, and increasing one's tolerance for others' practices and beliefs.  Also, the energy generated by a close, working Coven is far greater than that available to the solitary.  Magickal energy generated increases exponentially with the number of like-minded people participating in the working.  In a close Coven where "Group Mind" has formed and solidified, the relationship between practitioners is far closer than family.  There is a depth of love and intimacy seldom seen in this world outside of the Magickal Circle, or the immediate family.  In a close Coven, each member is constantly aware of the general state of each other member;  there exists a strong psychic link that approaches the link between identical twins, or between mother and child.  Finally, one's learning curve is often far greater in a coven setting, as each member learns from each other as well as from their Gods.
        Spiral Winds recognizes the strength and growth possibilities behind both these approaches to Wicca, and so we encourage our students to maintain and even expand their Solitary work, or personal observances, in addition to Coven practice.  The best teacher in the world, in our opinion, is not the one who hands knowledge to the student, but the one who guides the student to their own answers.  This is all the more true for esoteric, mystical or numinous knowledge, which cannot be put into words in the first place.  Thus, the student can bring their personal growth experiences into the group setting for the benefit of all members, as well as their own through feedback and affirmation of similar learning by others.  In essence, Spiral Winds views a Coven as a collection of Wiccan solitaries of like mind who worship, practice and learn with each other.
        Some who are new to the path of Wicca nonselectively seek the first coven they happen upon and turn all their energies to joining, only to find that their experiences are often not what they had expected or intended.  One possible reason for this might be that the group simply was not the right one for the new student.  The "trick" then lies in choosing the group or coven that is in accord with your heart and right for you growth; and this often means first knowing your own heart.  This is where a solid solitary practice is most advantageous.  Don't be afraid to cast your own circles, read several good introductory Wiccan texts (such as those suggested in the Reading List), and begin your own solitary practice in earnest.  Don't worry about doing things wrong;  if it feels like the right thing to do, it probably is.  It is very unlikely for the new student to harm themselves or others by "experimenting," as long as their practice is in accord with their conscience and the Wiccan Rede.  (Of course, this means that you probably shouldn't cast curses or love spells;  please see the Ethics page.)  While you find your own strength and wisdom from the hands of the Goddess and God, you can "shop around" for the right coven for you, if you so wish.  A coven that is right for one person may not be right for another, so take the time to choose carefully and to get the "feel" of the members.  Discover whether their intents, ethics, praxis and philosophy are enough in accord with your own that you can comfortably practice with the group.  Ask a lot of questions of the High Priest and High Priestess, as well as the other members of the group.  No HP or HPS worth their salt will balk at some probing (but polite) questions.  Again, if it doesn't feel "right" to you, it probably isn't right for you.  The most important thing for the new student to remember is the adage that whatever you seek shall be found, in its own time.  Blessed be thy journey.