SAME SEX INITIATION — A REVELATION
I just read Katie Gerrard’s article titled “Same Sex Initiation Should Be Valid In Wicca”. In this article Katie shares a point of view summarized in the title of the article, that is seemingly becoming a trend shared by some in the communities of Traditional Wicca. I do however suspect that this is more a case of discussions about it rather than this scenario actually occurring very often in practice. In Alexandrian and Gardnerian Craft, initiations are traditionally done cross gender; male to female and female to male.
Let me start by saying that a first degree initiation in traditional wicca (Gardnerian or Alexandrian) doesn’t require any kind of sexual interaction. It is important also to say that, if any sexual interaction is seen in traditional wicca, is only observed at a higher level and of course between consenting adults, who choose to practice in that specific way.
It is quite understandable why there may be questions and uncertainty regarding this topic from the seeker point of view, as current world dynamics are dealing head on with issues of acceptance, inclusion and recognition. The seeker, not yet having stepped over the threshold of the Circle of Witchcraft, doesn’t know any better in order to make the distinction between social justice and the magical Arts, the mundane and magical ego?
The Craft is not a social institution, neither is it a platform for the easily offended or the social justice warrior. The Craft is a mystery religion, similar to the Eleusinian mysteries of ancient Greece. As an initiate, I have a responsibility to the circle of witchcraft. Therefore, for the seeker reading this, all I can say is the old Caveat emptor - buyer beware. Not all things are as straight cut as it may seem.
The first thing that Katie states in her article is that:
“…our religion is already drowning in unnecessary dogma.”
Basic tenets and principles have always been part of traditional wicca. There are several of these ideas in the Craft, and there are also the Witchcraft Laws. These laws and principles are the defining points in a system and make it coherent, being that a religious system or any other. Traditional Wicca was never a religion of “anything goes”.
As young postulants we all hopefully had an idea about some of the basic tenets within the Craft before we asked for initiation. I knew that I would to have to be skyclad to be initiated. I knew that I was going to be initiated by a woman, and I knew that I would have to work as a Priest in partnership with a Priestess. These aspects of the work are no secret, and they are well known and rather well published.
One of the many things that continue to echo like a broken record through time is the old “Well Alex did it…” scenario.
Alex did many things. Some of them magnificent, some of them quite less so. His work was also an inspiration to all, initiated and non-initiated alike. He practiced many forms of magic and he also made many mistakes - like most of us. Hopefully these would be turned into valuable lessons. There is a well documented case of a botched same sex initiation that Alex gave to a man upon the man’s insistence. The man in question ended up in an institution. This is not to say that this is the usual outcome of same sex initiations, but it serves as a reminder that these forces are very real and very potent. According to his own direct students, Alex was very aware of how polarity in magic works, and that he always recognized and taught that the power flows from male to female and female to male in a witchcraft circle. In fact, several Alexandrian High Priestesses remember that Alex would call them to assist in his circle to perform the initiation of a male candidate when he didn’t have a High Priestess available in the coven at the time. If Alex was regularly performing same sex initiations, as some say, why would he ask several High Priestesses on various occasions, to perform traditional initiations? It is obvious that this was the exception rather than a norm.
Let me make it clear at this point that I am a gay man, married for 11 years to my beautiful husband, and I have also been practicing the Craft for more than 14 years. My sexual orientation does not contribute, nor detract from my circle experience, neither do those of any of the witches involved in a traditional Wiccan initiation. Sexual orientation has NOTHING to do with the polarities between Priest and Priestess in a circle of the Craft. Those who do work polarity regularly, know this to be true. The practice of polarity and more specifically gender polarity has been proven by experience as effective. These are principles of occult law. The exact details regarding this are usually taught in witchcraft circles during the training of the initiated witch. There are many other traditions which are entirely based on same sex initiations and practices. Minoan Brotherhood for instance (although occasionally they do work with the Sisterhood), Dianic Wicca which is built in woman mysteries, or even the Catholic Church.
One of the arguments I see more often is that same sex initiation should be done for the sake of being more acceptable and inclusive of all. We have never been all inclusive. The Craft is and always has been exclusive. It is, by nature of its initiation, exclusive. When ability, potential and vocation are recognized, we do, of course, accept people from various sexual orientations and diverse backgrounds.
Katie says also that:
“Tradition is beautiful. Blind faith, when we can see a better way is not.”
The Craft is not a faith based religion, but one of experience. Is this statement implying that same sex initiation is the better way? If so, my question is — why? What would be the magical or occult reason to implement same sex initiation? Is this done to accommodate those who cannot, or for some bizarre reason, will not work with the opposite sex? Is it to make them or their experience more comfortable? And if they cannot or will not work with the opposite sex, why do they want to be part of and initiated in traditional Wicca - a fertility cult - to start with?
What are they ACTUALLY there for?
Reading the most recent book by Philip Heselton titled “In search of the New Forest Coven’ published by Phoenix Flames Publishing this year, I came across a quote in page 57, about Ernie Mason. Philip Heselton says that:
“My interest in Ernie Mason was not because of his great powers and knowledge but because he belonged to a family which I strongly suspect as being part of the group who, in 1939, initiated Gerald Gardner into Witchcraft.”
Ernie or ‘Old Ernie’ family was well know to be witchcraft practitioners for generations. In a quote about Ernie, voiced by Bill Wakefield, Bill mentions that Ernie passed the power to a woman in the 50s. Bill, remembering this says:
“It had to be a woman and she in turn would have to find a man to teach it all to … It wasn’t knowledge he passed on. It was power. An energy that had to [be] passed man to woman, woman to man.”
This is not Gardner. In fact Ernie Mason does predate Gardner in his family magical knowledge and practice. I cannot help but wonder why recognition would be more of a valid reason than proven old witchcraft practice? Quite frankly, if I was a seeker I would be very worried to see experienced initiates demanding that occult principles be ignored in favor of nonconformity.
From the comments I see that there are some concerns that sexually abused persons might be triggered by these ceremonies and to avoid that, a same sex initiation might be the solution. Persons, who suffered these types of trauma, must seek professional help before asking for initiation. It would be harmful to initiate such a person into the mysteries until sufficient counseling and healing has taken place.
Katie says that:
“Gardner clearly said mothers could initiate sons and father’s initiate daughters. He even said a woman could strap on a sword and play the role of the High Priest at any point. This suggests Same Sex Initiation can happen if it’s a woman initiating another woman.”
Perhaps more clarity is needed, as the examples given above do not concern same sex initiation. What Katie doesn’t mention is the real reason why these directives are in place, which doesn’t suggest at all that same sex initiation is an accepted norm. Quite the opposite. This statement is misleading and taken out of context. Every initiated witch knows that this can only be implemented when the exception is truly exceptional, which is in times of great distress and if no one of the Priesthood was able to initiate.
It is quite apparent that some do want to implement same sex initiations but are afraid that they might be ostracized by other initiates or that their performed same sex initiations will not be recognized in the wider community.
If recognition is where the problem lies, why not start another tradition where same sex initiation is the norm and recognized, regardless of sexual preference and or circumstance? Why would a person continue in a Tradition that is obviously not fitting their own views or personal aims, if all you are doing is using the name of the tradition as a banner of power or as a means to legitimize yourself with no recognition of it’s inner workings?
Katie could have been more specific and perhaps present us with some actual reasons, based on experience and occult law, as to why same sex initiation is in fact needed and perhaps “a better way”. How much change of core witchcraft ritual needs to be done for us to lose sight of what the Craft is? The initiation rite is the beginning, the start, and it will set the tone for what lies beyond.
At the end of this discussion the conclusions are obvious.
- Covens are autonomous and they will choose to do as they see fit, some will decide that same sex initiation is acceptable.
- Covens are autonomous and some will choose to maintain tradition and do cross-gender initiations based on magical principles and occult laws.
- Initiates will decide for themselves as there is, as always, no central authority.
- Some in the Craft will insist that same sex initiations are just not witchcraft as we know it.
- Some will just carry on with their Craft, and not give a damn about whatever anyone else is saying.
The biggest issue here seems to be the lack of understanding of the occult dynamics involved with cross-gender initiation. However, it seems most do not wish to know, or perhaps frankly, no longer care about the magical and occult aspects, gleefully sacrificing these principles to be more socially acceptable and politically correct. This is not new, neither is it revolutionary. It has been a continuing trend in the Craft for quite some time. Be that as it may, we will continue to work in the way we work — with the responsibility expected of an initiate.
Perhaps the old truth of only caring about what is going on in your own circle is the only response, trusting that those who have eyes will see and those who have ears will hear, and experience will yield the results.
