A witchcraft coven is a group of individuals who practice witchcraft and share similar beliefs and practices. The word "coven" is derived from the Latin word "convenire," meaning "to come together." Coven members often gather to perform rituals, celebrate festivals, and engage in spellcasting and divination. Traditionally, covens have existed for centuries and are commonly associated with Wicca, a modern pagan religion. However, not all witches identify as Wiccans, and covens can be found among practitioners of various magical traditions and paths. Coven members typically meet regularly, often during full moon or other significant dates, to honor the cycles of nature and tap into the natural energies for magical purposes.

Brownie the Elf: Meet the Cleveland Browns' new old mascot

File: Cleveland Browns mascot Brownie the Elf waves to the fans during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Bills 19-16. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

CLEVELAND - The Cleveland Browns, one of the NFL’s oldest and most storied franchises, are famous for having the only logo-less helmet. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have a mascot.

Brownie the Elf is getting renewed attention this season after fans voted put him front and center on their home field. A giant version of the old mascot has replaced the Browns helmet on the FirstEnergy Stadium midfield turf.

If you don’t live in Northeast Ohio, you may be unfamiliar with Brownie. But the character actually dates back to the team’s debut in 1946; he was used in ads and media guides for years as the Browns won title after title. Legendary coach Paul Brown even toyed with the idea of adding him to the team’s helmets, but never did.

After Art Modell bought the team in 1961, he began to phase out the mascot. When he moved the team to Baltimore in 1995, the team’s legacy – and Brownie – remained in Cleveland, ready for a rebirth.

Brownie has been used more frequently in Browns merchandise and marketing materials in recent years, and has sometimes walked the sideline as a mascot. But this may be the first time a national football audience has seen him in decades.

"Brownie has been around for a long time," offered JW Johnson, Browns executive vice president and partner. "I think people enjoy him, and we haven't really showcased him as much as we'd like to."

The version on the field looks a little tougher and more aggressive than the more familiar smiling version that the team traditionally featured.

The new-look logo and field will debut during this weekend’s home opener. The Browns, who held off a furious comeback by the Panthers in Week 1, will host the Jets at 1 p.m.

This story was reported from Tampa, Fla.

The new Cleveland Browns logo has a ridiculous number of hidden meanings

A good logo design for a sports team needs to accomplish a lot. It has to be simple enough to work across an array of merchandise, it needs to convey a team's history and, ideally it should please fans. Somehow the new Cleveland Browns logo has achieved that while packing in a whole kennel full of hidden references.

Keeping fans happy is often the most difficult thing to achieve with sports team logos, as we've seen in numerous controversies in recent years. The NFL's Cleveland Browns aimed to overcome that by letting fans choose their new canine logo. The fans in the Dawg Pound have spoken, and they've opted for a design with close to a dozen hidden references that might go unnoticed among those not familiar with the American football team. Can you spot them all? (Also see our piece on the best sports logos for more inspiration).

The Cleveland Browns held a contest in the offseason inviting fans to choose a new dog logo for the team (it had to be a dog in reference to the 'Dawg Pound' bleachers section at the team's First Energy Stadium). After a knockout-style contest that lasted a couple of months, the winner emerged as a bullmastiff created by graphic designer Houston Mark.

Mark delivered on the brief with his tough-looking dog (sorry, dawg) in the team colours, but he also packed in a whole host of hidden Easter eggs that fans might not even have noticed when they were voting for the design. The details reference things as diverse as the Browns' home state of Ohio, the team's stadium, the sport of American football itself and even rock n' roll. Yep, it's one deep dawg! Can you spot all eight (or ten) hidden references below?

The Cleveland Browns' winning dawg logo contains eight (or ten) hidden references (Image credit: Cleveland Browns)

Here's the list of the eight abstract symbols hidden in the design:

1) The state of Ohio the shape of the orange part of the dog's right ear (on the left as we see it).

2) An American football: the shape of the dog's nose.

3) East End Zone: the collar tag features a stadium outline that also features a 'C' for Cleveland, and a white area that symbolises the East End Zone at the Browns' stadium, where the Dawg Pound originated. hold on, that's references in one.

6) Guitar Pick: Also in the dog's collar, this was included in reference to Cleveland's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

7) Spikes: The spikes on the collar aren't just spikes. There are eight of them to represent the number of championships the Cleveland Browns have won.

8) Guardian Bridge: The space below the dog's jowls forms an outline of Cleveland's Hope Memorial Bridge.

9) Helmet stripe. The white centre stripe is a reference to the Brown's helmets.

10) Pound helmet. The shape to the right of that is apparently a reference to the maskless helmet shell that Browns fans are known for wearing in the Dawg Pound.

Struggling to see all the references? On Twitter, The Browns provided a handy visual guide that gives a tour of the design.

The Cleveland Browns dog logo will function as a secondary design to support their main logo, which is an orange football helmet, completing an identity that's also seen the return of Brownie The Elf as the NFL team's midfield logo.

Browns executive vice president JW Johnson said in a statement: "We are so excited to unveil a new dawg logo that perfectly encapsulates who we are as a franchise and as a city. Our fans have been asking us for a new dawg logo for quite some time, so it made perfect sense for them to select the logo themselves and decide how they want our team to be represented – and they made a great choice."

For more sporting logo action, see our sports logo battles: Denver Nuggets vs Miami Heat and Golden Knights vs Panthers. And make sure you've not missed the Minnesota Wild logo optical illusion from the NHL.

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Cleveland Browns Logo: A History

When you huddle up the conversation on the gridiron of American football, it’s impossible not to toss the Cleveland Browns into the mix. And what’s a team without its battle colors, its flag, its emblematic heart? That’s where the Cleveland Browns logo trots in, not just as a visual entity, but as a banner under which fans rally with a fervor as fiery as the hottest tailgate grill. So, in the true spirit of the game, let’s dive helmet-first into the storied past, vibrant present, and the unwritten yet highly anticipated future of the iconic Browns logo.

Coven members typically meet regularly, often during full moon or other significant dates, to honor the cycles of nature and tap into the natural energies for magical purposes. These meetings are conducted in a sacred space, which can be indoors or outdoors, and may involve rituals, meditation, chanting, dancing, or other forms of spiritual or magical work. The structure and organization of a coven can vary depending on the tradition or personal preferences of its members.

Tracing the Origins of the Cleveland Browns Logo

The Browns sprung into the sports scene back in 1946, during a post-war melting pot of energy and ambition. But wait, their first logos? Those were like the first rounds at a high-class bar – just enough to pique your interest. From the get-go, the influence of Paul Brown, the original owner and coach who lent his surname to the team, shaped everything—the playbook, the culture, and yep, the branding decisions too.

Some covens have a dedicated leader, called a High Priestess or High Priest, who organizes and leads rituals, while others operate in a more egalitarian manner, with shared responsibilities and decision-making. The formation of a coven often involves a process of initiation, where prospective members undergo training and rituals to demonstrate their commitment and dedication to the craft. Covens also provide a supportive and nurturing environment for practitioners to learn and deepen their magical skills, as well as receive guidance and mentorship from more experienced members. In addition to their magical and spiritual practices, covens also serve as a social community, providing a sense of belonging and connection for its members. They often foster a sense of sisterhood or brotherhood, where members support and uplift one another, both in their magical endeavors and in various aspects of life. It is important to note that witchcraft covens operate within their own unique set of beliefs, ethics, and practices. While some may adhere to a specific tradition or follow a code of conduct, others may have more flexible or eclectic approaches. Each coven strives to create an inclusive and respectful environment for all members, promoting personal growth and the exploration of one's own spiritual path within the community..

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Witchcraft Covens and the Connection to Nature and the Elements