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In common with certain other traditions of Witchcraft, Vicia
initiation has a sexual component.
This may occur during the ritual itself (Full Rite) or be
postponed (Intentions of the Heart). Either form of initiation
into our tradition is equally valid, and both are understood
as a marriage to the Goddess and the Gods.
It is important to note that Full Rite initiation is only
for consenting adults.
Furthermore, sex with your initiator or teacher should NEVER
be a requirement for training or initiation.
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| We are a sex positive tradition,
but you must know the heart of the one you approach.
No one must ever be approached with force or
poor intent. |
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~ Victor
Anderson, 2001
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Cora Anderson, from Fifty Years in the Feri Tradition:
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The Craft as we know it has a code of honor and sexual
morality that is as tough and demanding as the Bushido
of Japan and of Shinto, which it strongly resembles and
in many important ways is identical to. This code is in
no way puritanical, ascetic or anti-sexual.
At the risk of shocking the self-righteous it is time
to speak honestly but briefly about our initiation. ...
[U]ntil quite recently the priest of the coven initiated
the female candidate by giving her the secret names of
God and her consort at orgasm during sexual intercourse.
If the woman was bonded with another, her lover had sex
with her after which the priest did give her the names.
If she preferred not to have sex with the priest, she
was initiated by a ritual we call the Intentions of the
Heart. After this ceremony her first act of love was honored
as part of her initiation. If her lover was not of the
Craft, he was treated as an honored guest even if not
allowed to witness our secret rites.
There are some important differences in the way the
priestess initiates. ... Here I must draw the veil,
but I insist that our rites are beautiful, reverent and
truly spiritual as we define that word. If would-be Feri
initiates cannot handle this, then they should go to another
tradition or risk madness. Victor and I have witnessed
many tragic failures of this kind.
Above excerpt copyright © 1994 by Victor
E. Anderson. All rights reserved.
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| In initiation you literally marry the Goddess,
her dual consort and the Gods, whether you are
male or female. |
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~ Cora
Anderson, 1994
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Victor Anderson, from a conversation with
SoulFire transcribed 9/7/1998:
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We do not consider sex an “aspect” of something.
It’s not just important because it’s something
on the side; it’s just what it is. And it is not
unlawful to have sex to initiate somebody. But it must
be that person’s choice. If you don’t have love
for that person, and they don’t have love for you,
what’s the use? We have a saying among the Apache
Indians, “A woman in your arms but not in your heart
is like looking at yourself in a mirror while sleeping
on a bed of rocks."
This is one thing that I wish I could make clear to people.
Full rite initiation has to be an act of love just as
if you’re marrying somebody or going with them. It’s
got to be somebody you care enough about. ... It’s
no different and no more shameful than for people to be
sexually active before they get married. But they must
be with the right person, and a right time, and a right
place for a relationship. We do not throw ourselves around.
It’s not because we consider sex as something rotten
or something wrong. It’s because we consider it so
important, because that’s how the Goddess created
the universe. When the big bang came, that was a sexual
orgasm just as truly as when we have one. The same feeling.
But if you are doing this for other purposes and you already
have a lover, or if you wish to wait, we have the Intentions
of the Heart. Because that’s what counts.
Portions of the above exerpt were published in
The Heart of the Initiate and are copyright
© 2010 by Victor E. Anderson. All rights reserved.
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One handy evaluation tool when considering any group
or teacher is Isaac Bonewits's famed Cult Danger Evaluation
Frame. Although designed for groups, it can also be useful in
evaluating individuals. Click HERE to view the frame.
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