The problem is, of course, that any group practice is going to draw on the most accessible symbol set, so as to extend to the largest group of folk.
Since polarity of some kind (liminality as expressed as a "tool," if you will) is a core part of most traditional witchcraft practice, one of the most common ones is that of gender.
Which isn't to say that you're expected to use that in your own personal practice, of course, any more than if you end up with a group that is part of a trad they expect you to use that symbol set in your personal practice.
That's the problem with trad practice, of course. It's orthopraxic, rather than orthodoxic. Instead of "you must believe this, but express that however you want," it's "practice like this, but bring your own beliefs."
I do know a number of British Traditional covens (all Alexandrians) in the area you moved to - my home coven is descended from the covens there, and I've attended the occasional Alexandrian Tea held in Connecticut.
I don't mind saying - as a gay man, I was very hesitant about dealing with assumed polarity in my practice. Of course, finding a large number of other queer folk in the Alexandrians helped me wrap my own experience around it in a meaningful fashion. Obviously, I'm not saying that's going to be automatically the case for everyone; everyone has their own experience.
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Date: 2008-08-01 06:32 pm (UTC)Since polarity of some kind (liminality as expressed as a "tool," if you will) is a core part of most traditional witchcraft practice, one of the most common ones is that of gender.
Which isn't to say that you're expected to use that in your own personal practice, of course, any more than if you end up with a group that is part of a trad they expect you to use that symbol set in your personal practice.
That's the problem with trad practice, of course. It's orthopraxic, rather than orthodoxic. Instead of "you must believe this, but express that however you want," it's "practice like this, but bring your own beliefs."
I do know a number of British Traditional covens (all Alexandrians) in the area you moved to - my home coven is descended from the covens there, and I've attended the occasional Alexandrian Tea held in Connecticut.
I don't mind saying - as a gay man, I was very hesitant about dealing with assumed polarity in my practice. Of course, finding a large number of other queer folk in the Alexandrians helped me wrap my own experience around it in a meaningful fashion. Obviously, I'm not saying that's going to be automatically the case for everyone; everyone has their own experience.
Just something to think on, though.
Regards,
Joseph