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The Basics of Gay Paganism
Author:
Posted: April 5th. 1999
Times Viewed: 30,053
There are literally thousands of gay and lesbian witches out there, and they offer not only a unique perspective, but a unique energy as well. As a gay witch, I have taken a long journey, on a sometimes curved and twisted path, to find my identity as a gay witch. Currently, I am aware of a few gay covens, and even fewer publications aimed at the gay wiccan audience. This poses a few challenges, and sometimes, obstacles.
The first thing one is faced with as a gay witch is finding information on rituals, energy balancing, etc., if one is a solitary practitioner or in a gay coven consisting of all members being of the same sex. There is sparse information out there, but it does exist. You just have to do a little creative research. I have found references to gay witches in books by Sybil Leek, Laurie Cabot, and a few others. Also, a simple search of the web can provide many links to other gay pagans with homepages. I would also remind the reader that many of the ancient tales of the gods/goddesses make reference to certain deities having gay/lesbian encounters themselves. If one does the research, one can find information.
The next hurdle to jump is the fact that, while the majority of witches openly accept gay practitioners, there are still some who do not. Likewise, there are some traditions that, when strictly adhered to, insist that balancing the energies of the coven requires a male-female-male-female kind of arrangement. It has been my experience, through trial and error, that gay men and lesbians generally embody a near balance of masculine/feminine energy within themselves. If one can master the art of willfully using those energies, of the appropriate type, at the appropriate time, one need not worry so much about the balancing of energies. It is this very aspect of gay witches that makes them somewhat unique. Having the ability to invoke the masculine and/or feminine energies in ritual with such ease can create some powerful magick. Many of us are naturally adept in so many areas; tarot, counseling, psychic arts, healing, etc. Witchcraft by its very nature promotes tolerance of those whom society would deem "different". It allows us to rejoice in our differences, and to use those individual differences to strengthen ourselves, and to likewise strengthen others. "Strength in diversity" is not just a catchy slogan... it holds great truth!
Now, the issue of "coming out" vs. "coming out of the broom closet" is an interesting one. In my case, announcing to the world that I am gay seemed much more traumatic an experience than announcing to the world that I am a witch. I found this interesting, being that I live in a relatively small town in North Carolina, smack in the middle of the Bible Belt, and having a Baptist preacher for a father did not make these announcements any easier, either. Whether you stay in either closet or neither is purely a personal decision... BUT already there are movements afoot that would make it illegal to practice WitchCraft... and in states like my own, intimacy with a consenting adult partner of the same sex is a felony. We cannot preserve our rights as witches or as gays without being "out". This is where the old axiom "Out of sight, out of mind" comes into play. There truly is strength in numbers. Yes, being out of either closet can open you up to verbal attack. Sometimes, shameful as it is, it can open you up to other forms of attack as well. But, as another old saying goes, "Sometimes you have to go out on a limb to get to the fruit of the tree." If we take no risks, we make no progress... in fact, we regress. History upholds the fact that any group of people or segment of society that suffers discrimination makes no progress toward ending that discrimination UNLESS that group or segment ceases to remain quiet. If you want to educate your friends, family, or town about WitchCraft or being gay, you can't do it by hiding. If you are out of either closet, then to step out of the other closet becomes easier. If you need help, there are many of like mind that would help you.
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