Apparently I'm not doing the 'right' 'rites'

[Medusa]

Re: Apparently I'm not doing the 'right' 'rites'

I'm sorry. It sometimes takes time to find the right site. I've come and gone to many of them. One day I'm there. The next thing I'm just gone. Not even giving it a backward glance.

[Serria]

Re: Apparently I'm not doing the 'right' 'rites'

I haven't. I enjoy sharing my opinion on that site, and I've started tying up the loose ends. I'll find another site where I can hopefully help young practitioners. The reason I was there was because most Wiccans don't take teens seriously. They did the same to me when I was starting, but I proved them wrong with my dedication to the faith I love. I had started out being the more open one on this site, and giving the newbies some information that they can use to decide if this is right for them. That's probably what they don't like, but I'll find another way to help the new practitioners, even if they don't stick with Wicca.

[Jembru]

Re: Apparently I'm not doing the 'right' 'rites'

Then leave. Leave without explanation or backward glance - and make sure you aren't leaving any traces for her to follow if you can. If she is getting under your skin you both need a break. It will do you good, Serria, trust me!

This. These people are toxic. They don't have your spiritual growth at heart. They don't speak for the core values of Wicca. There unfortunately are some people within Traditional groups who have lost their way and gone off on power trips. I met a guy online once, with a similar arrogance to what you're describing; he was from the States, and unfortunately, there was a time over there when you could literally queue up at a convention and have Raymond Buckland initiate you.. which meant Gardnerian lineage for any watered down or whakey coven you wished to start up.. I later discovered that even within those groups with proper training, you get power trips. You shouldn't, because the training is designed to make you better than that, but somehow it's happening.

You simply don't need that crap. She and people like her are one of the reasons why so many people start off in wicca before tiptoeing away from 'all that crap'. Sure, it's often just not for them, but there are those for whom it could have been for, had they been lucky enough to meet the right kind of wiccan, at the right time. Don't let her poison wicca for you.

[Serria]

Re: Apparently I'm not doing the 'right' 'rites'

Ok, thank you

[anunitu]

Re: Apparently I'm not doing the 'right' 'rites'

And welcome to the human condition...People are at times very hard to understand,and also friends sometimes make themselves into enemy's or they were always that way,but hide it from you at first. People,can't live with them,can't find a decent place to hide the bodies....

[Tylluan Penry]

Re: Apparently I'm not doing the 'right' 'rites'

That's the thing, she's not a troll. She's someone I always supported and agreed with on this site. Even if I didn't agree with the Traditional Wiccan views she had, I was still supportive. However, when I say one thing, just one damn thing, she turns into a crazy, narrow-minded, ......UGHH!!!

Then leave. Leave without explanation or backward glance - and make sure you aren't leaving any traces for her to follow if you can. If she is getting under your skin you both need a break. It will do you good, Serria, trust me!

[Serria]

Re: Apparently I'm not doing the 'right' 'rites'

That's the thing, she's not a troll. She's someone I always supported and agreed with on this site. Even if I didn't agree with the Traditional Wiccan views she had, I was still supportive. However, when I say one thing, just one damn thing, she turns into a crazy, narrow-minded, ......UGHH!!!

[anunitu]

Re: Apparently I'm not doing the 'right' 'rites'

Got a troll do you,well here we only have trolls in story books..(Well usually,but the good thing here is we got MO to handle trolls)

[Serria]

Re: Apparently I'm not doing the 'right' 'rites'

Just an update. I may have to leave the site I was on because this person is just following my posts and harassing me about everything. I'm just so angry and I hate her for being able to get under my skin like this.

[anunitu]

Re: Apparently I'm not doing the 'right' 'rites'

Knocks on Duce's door....Have you heard the good news????(hands full of pamphlets)

[Medusa]

Re: Apparently I'm not doing the 'right' 'rites'

I saw Wicker Man. I know what you guys are up to!


*runs to the shelter of my safe Satanism.

[Serria]

Re: Apparently I'm not doing the 'right' 'rites'

scary? ...

*Roar*! Haha

[thalassa]

Re: Apparently I'm not doing the 'right' 'rites'

I don't think this is really about whether one is Wicca/Catholic/Druid whatever. It's about power. It's about feeling oneself above someone else even though, by rights, there is no way of measuring status.
It's about saying 'I know something you don't know' with a smug grin on someone's face.
So my advice is just sod 'em. If you're happy with what you're doing, don't allow another person to make you feel it's wrong. Probably they're NOT all that happy with their path, and a bit jealous that you're happier than them.

This is pretty much my opinion of the person Serria encountered...but...with that being said, on the topic of the GR, there's a whole lot that can be said...

http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/glos...Great_Rite.htm

The above is a safe for work description of what the Great Rite is Serria. As a Solitary, you won't be performing any variation of it that I'm aware of so meeting the requirements to is sort of a moot point. Even the symbolic version is a two person deal.

A NSFW (at least on a work network), but really excellent essay on the Great Rite--both its history and the actual rite and the experience of it can be found at hermetic.com/crowley/other/the-wiccan-great-rite-heiros-gamos.html (at least I think that is the right link--I can't get the page at work, so I copied the link from my phone).


But yeah, you can't do the Great Rite per se, but there are solo analogs one can do.

Ok. Personally, I just don't like the idea of a high priest and/or priestess. I don't like the idea of someone being more important or above anybody else.

again, that's just my opinion.

What Jem said...An HP/HPS isn't more important or above anyone in a good coven. They are just the furthest trained folks--a coven can have more than one HP/HPS. HP/HPS just means 3rd degree, and the 3rd degree mysteries of traditional, covened Wicca, generally include the GR (and usually the real one). Because they are 3rd degree, they are allowed to "hive off" and form a new coven and train new folks. Also, to *do* the real GR, in the coven I was in, you had to be a 3rd degree, because those are the people that have had the training and experience and spiritual development to experience the spiritual possession that occurs in the GR. The GR is pretty much the ultimate ritual in Wicca for a number of reasons, from the amount of energy produced for spiritual workings, to the religious excstacy bit. To see the real GR, you had to be 2nd degree, mostly because the coven was large enough that it was awkward otherwise, and it was something that was done only at the 2nd degree initiation and certain sabbats.

I'm aware of the symbolic version but don't they still have two participants? One holding the chalice and the other using the Athame. Is there an existing work-around to that?

I have to agree that I don't know how I could carry out the great rite in token as a solitary (and the great rite actual would be quite a feat!), so it never made it into my solitary practice. I don't think it made much difference to the significance of my rites though. There are a lot of differences between group and solitary work, but I never felt one was better than the other (and when it came to spells, I often found working alone was a lot more effective...).

I've seen it done with one person...you just put the chalice on the altar, and tweak the symbolism a bit...

Its not really the same though...tbh, the symbolic GR isn't really the GR either. Its like the difference between grape juice and a nice Italian wine.

[anunitu]

Re: Apparently I'm not doing the 'right' 'rites'

Thing is,at least in my understanding of spiritual nature,the idea of the spiritual is to make you happy and content in this cruel world. To find a place of joy and laughter,even as the tragedy of the material world swirls all about. Your "Away" place to rest and re-energize your spirit.

[Tylluan Penry]

Re: Apparently I'm not doing the 'right' 'rites'

I don't think this is really about whether one is Wicca/Catholic/Druid whatever. It's about power. It's about feeling oneself above someone else even though, by rights, there is no way of measuring status.
It's about saying 'I know something you don't know' with a smug grin on someone's face.
So my advice is just sod 'em. If you're happy with what you're doing, don't allow another person to make you feel it's wrong. Probably they're NOT all that happy with their path, and a bit jealous that you're happier than them.