Sacred Texts Index Previous Next
Internet Book of Shadows, (Various Authors), [1999], at sacred-texts.com
Polarity and Single Sex Covens
By: Marios
M> Here's my latest question for theological debate:
M> Given the emphasis on male/female polarity within the
M> structure of Craft mythology, can a group that is entire
M> same sex gay or lesbian legitimately claim to be
M> practicing Wicca? Or is it something else pagan, that
M> is not Wicca? Please give reasons for your answer...
M> I've found this to be a really sticky one.
In a word, "YES". Try this on for size:
1. Craft as an immenentalist religion, recognizes the "fact" that
individuals contain both "male" and "female" parts. Polarity work
takes advantage of this situation. After all, we recognize solitaires
as practicing Wicca, so we have already accepted that polarity work
may involve only one person. As a logical extension of this:
2. Given that polarity work includes immanent "male" and "female"
components, we must assume that a group situation will take advantage
of this fact in their workings. But, since polarity work may take
place within an individual, the actual genders of the group are
unimportant. However:
3. While it can be argued that polarity work is possible, and off
necessity, takes place in same sex groups, can we state that they are
practicing Wicca? That must depend on how one defines Wicca.
Personaly, I would say "Yes", however, the central mysteries of the
Craft can be interpreted as demanding a heterosexual couple.
4. I suspect that certain rituals (e.g. the Great Rite) can easily be
reworked from their current, heterosexist, form. However, if
"practicing Wicca" is defined by a strict adherance to the LITURGY of
Gardnerian derivation, then a same sex coven cannot be practicing the
TOTALITY of Wicca (or certain of its main rituals). They may, on the
other paw, be defined as practicing PART of Wicca.
946