Path: shell.portal.com!shell.portal.com!not-for-mail From: tyagi@houseofkaos.abyss.com (nagasiva) Newsgroups: alt.magick.tantra,alt.religion.sexuality,alt.wicca Subject: Re: Sacrifice and Sex in Ritual (was Re: Coven question) Followup-To: alt.magick.tyagi,alt.religion.wicca,alt.pagan.magick,alt.pagan,alt.magick.tantra,alt.religion.sexuality,alt.wicca Date: 10 Jun 1996 11:18:55 -0700 Organization: Portal Communications (shell) Lines: 65 Sender: tyagi@shell.portal.com Message-ID: <4phouf$4rq@jobe.shell.portal.com> References: <4p53sm$7p6@blackice.winternet.com> <4pc166$2g2@news1.t1.usa.pipeline.com> Reply-To: tyagi@houseofkaos.abyss.com (nagasiva) NNTP-Posting-Host: jobe.shell.portal.com Xref: shell.portal.com alt.magick.tantra:1847 alt.religion.sexuality:12863 kaliyuga 49960610 ren358@nyc.pipeline.com(wren): |>Why do some covens practice animal sacrifices and sex-related activities? I figure the former must be due to associations with African diaspora, though I am unsure how widespread this is in any case. Most Neopagans appear to be white middle-class Americans or Europeans and some of these are quite eclectic. Sex is a natural human motivator. There is no getting rid of it, and in Wicca it is a particular focus (many covens not only enact ritual symbolism surrounding coupling -- and often hetero mythos -- but some will go as far as to strongly value initiation conferred in this way (sexually). There is a stigma attached to the sexual connection which popularly implies some degree of magical conferment or 'initiation'. Some turn this into an indulgence into their own pleasure, at times openly (while others whole- heartedly dispute the whole notion of initiation), yet it is too difficult to determine except in some cases involving coercion and children. |>What are the differences between the covens? Does it have to do with the |>type of magick practiced? Like Egyptian or Celtic? Great question. Way big one. What people call a 'coven' likely varies based on whether they've learned from books, from people, organizations, or the internet. Traditional styles certainly vary. As do themes and divinity composition. wizard@primenet.com (Wizard): |I know of absolutely no coven that performse any sort of animal sacrifice. |If there is such a group it would be denounced by the entire Wiccan |community. Isn't this rather extreme? I recommend that this be reconsidered. What if the sacrifice was to be part of a feast later? What if the adept was going to prepare this meal hirself? There are many gods who enjoyed and continue to enjoy blood sacrifices. |Some covens have rituals which include sex because the Craft is a |fertility religion and sexuality is the basis for fertility. If you are |comfortable with that (after you reach the legal age of being an adult), |fine. It happens prior to that also, though likely not too much more often than in the surrounding population. Occasionally a minor will be involved, but nobody presses charges and the parents either never knew or trusted their child's judgement (at least that's how it happened with me, though not in the Neopagan community ;>). |Many, if not most covens. however, do not use actual sexual activity in |their rites. If you find any covens that imply that you must have sex with |a member or try to intimidate you ("If you were really into it you'd have |sex with me") then you should leave them alone and get away. They are |frauds. With this I agree strongly. tyagi@houseofkaos.abyss.com lorax