Can men practice Witchcraft? As a straight man, Ive never really seen anything to show that we'd/I'd be welcome.

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See what I mean?
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This post has been edited by DerekThomas: Feb 28 2006, 02:29 AM

Seriously, if you believe that that path is for you, nothing would stop you. I have had a lot teasing, disbelief and misogynistic remarks from men that think being CM is just for them.

If you absolutely love witchcraft and it fits like a glove, you will do it even if the whole world protests, laughs and attacks you for it.

If you cannot take a few bumps from the mundane, you are unlikely to survive some of the other stuff.

So come on, I want to be the first to hear of your achievements (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bigwink.gif)

Men can practice witchcraft and I happen to know many male Wiccans. If you resonate to this path...go for it!
Try http://www.witchvox.com/
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

no you won't turn gay, but you may become more sensitive to things going on around you that you were never aware of before, since you will be seeing with new eyes

remember that the other half to the Goddess is the Hunter (the God/Oak/Stag), and you could always invoke Him!

enjoy,

E.

This post has been edited by esoterica: Feb 28 2006, 10:38 AM

Greetings!
In case that you find that my statements above intimated anything about 'gay' or homosexual activity, they do not! Wicca has absolutely nothing to do with being gay if you are male. Gay males can be Wiccan if they choose. It would be like implying that all Catholics are straight...whatever, you get my drift. The two ideas are mutually exclusive. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

There's also the whole factor that Wicca was formulated by a straight male as well.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/thankyou.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rule.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wizard.gif)

Thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pimp_.gif)

edit:
to sound less arrogant
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This post has been edited by DerekThomas: Mar 1 2006, 05:22 AM

I must admit that if someone were to ask me the physical sex of the practitioner that immediately comes to mind when I think of Witches is: female.

Likewise, what immediately comes to mind when I think of Wizards is: male.

For me, those associations are based upon my offline experience with practitioners.

I honestly know do not know any dudes (and I mean NONE) offline who practice Witchcraft (and/or Wicca). All the people that I know offline who really do practice (not merely study and read the various books about) Witchcraft and Wicca are dudettes.

Likewise: I honestly know do not know any dudettes (and I mean NONE) offline who practice Wizardry. All the people that I know offline who really do practice (not merely study and read the various books about) Wizardry are dudes.

My online experience is entirely different.

This does not mean that I think that no men can be Witches, and that no women can be Wizards, offline. In theory that is possible. However, that theory just does not match my offline experience to date.

This post has been edited by Praxis: Mar 10 2006, 07:09 AM

As a side note to Praxis response above...
As a youth the movement of Wicca was emerging. Before that there were many different ideas floating around about genderbased themes. 'Witches' were historically Female and "Wizards/Warlocks' were considered Male. As the Wiccan movement became more established and various womens rights groups became more vocal, the gender barriers were lowered and both male and females of Wicca were considered Witches. The nomiker 'Warlock' was cast in a negative light... and the term 'Wizard' was used more openly, especially after Tolkiens books made the public splash.
As it stands today, Witches can be both Male AND Female, gender biasing being blurred by the times. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Anyone who are not familiar with a male witch it seems to me must be pretty young. Most men I know that are witches become them when they are well into being adults and get into it for a much different reason so many of the female teens get into it.

You really are going to find it tuff if you have a coven without a male witch. In a coven you need the male energy side to the craft, you need the Priest and the priestess to represent both the Lord and the Lady. I am a 43 year old male witch and am also a FireFighter married grandfather. A large motorcycle riding, fire stomping, spell casting, ordained minister Witch!

Just do it...

This post has been edited by Leanbh: Mar 12 2006, 11:49 PM

Well, that definitely is not the case with me, Leanbh.
My age has nothing to do with it.

I simply have not experienced one male witch offline.

Now, online?
Sure. I have met many males who claim to be witches.

Offline?
Nada. All the people that I have met offline who have practiced witchcraft have been female.

Perhaps that will change one day.
Then again, perhaps not.

Regardless of whether I do, or do not, meet a male witch offline - I can see Derek Thomas brought this issue up. There is something about Witchcraft and Wicca that just does not immediately seem like it is meant for guys. That might be because of how many female authors have been putting books out on it. That might be because of the cheesy little "spell books" that come out there for a while, with ladies on the covers in hip witchy garb, and rituals in them involving bubble baths, etc... That might be because of the tendancy for a while in the 80s to exemplify it as a prime example of "women's spirituality", and in the 90s to emphasize The Goddess moreso than The God, etc... That might be because of a combination of those factors in addition to others - or because of something else entirely.

Hopefully, more male witches will write books that give this pathway a different vibe that does not make it seem like just a "chick thing".

This post has been edited by Praxis: Mar 13 2006, 07:47 AM

[quote name='Praxis' date='Mar 13 2006, 08:08 AM' post='13049']
[quote]

Hopefully, more male witches will write books that give this pathway a different vibe that does not make it seem like just a "chick thing".
[/quote]

Have you been going to any bookstores and looked for male authors? I am really surprised that you are not familiar with authors of the craft that are male! You never read the quinticential book of modern witchcraft, "Complete Book of Witchcraft by Raymond Buckland" AKA "Uncle Buckies Big Blue" Or anything by cunninghamn, heck the modern wiccan movement was started by a man. As a matter of fact Wicca means male and Wicce is female.

Yes the emphasis has been on the Goddess, its hard not to blame people for doing this considering modern religion has always made God seem male. Its a combination of the backlash effect and the fact that the mother earth is so important to our craft. Look at how the Coven is supposed to be. It needs that male priest, the male projective energy. Men are more projective and women more reseptive, this is why the male role in witchcraft is important.

Leanbh, I have seen some books on Witchcraft and Wicca by male authors. That is why I indicated that I hoped more male authors would write books. So your surprise about me not being familiar with male authors who are Witches or Wiccan matches my surprise that you did not realize I am familiar with such authors based upon what I wrote.

I've met a number of male witches offline, although probably only 1/4 wiccans that I know are male. I've heard different statistics concerning gender ratio from different sources. I agree that men tend to get involved in it at a later age than women on the average-- at least in my experience.

I know many male wiccans as well.... it never says anywhere that Wicca is for wemon only. I think it would be wrong to restrics men or wemon from any religion.

According to my teacher, who has been in wicca for 30 or 35 years, the ratio of men to women has changed radically since he started. Actually he has said that in the 60s and before, there were more men than women, or at least that it what his teachers had mentioned to him. Its thrird hand but sounds right. In the 70s, the balance changed. It is likely that the balance will change again.

I'd dare to call myself Wiccan, although not stereotypical Wiccan.

I'd also dare to call myself a straight male, although not the stereotypical straight male.

I know others like me... they're in my coven. Which as of right now is pretty much 50/50 men/women. Another stereotype beaten into submission. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/black eye.gif)

Just do what feels right, (IMG:style_emoticons/default/censored.gif) the stereotypes...

This post has been edited by Beltaine: Mar 23 2006, 01:23 PM

I'm in a coven also The gender ratios have varied but now we are almost 50-50. But I'm the only straight male in the group. I rather enjoyed it recently because I got picked to demonstrate the five fold kiss with all the women when we went over the calling down the moon recently. ;-))

You certainly get around dont you? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/diablo.gif)

HISTORY (in part) wicca was created by a (striaght) man named gerald gardener and though the original form of wicca was more witchly orientated the "new forms of wicca" (though the old form is only about 60 now) can be practiced without the involement of witchcraft in any manner i suggest though you really look into wicca before you make a decision many MANY wiccans do not know wicca and at the mention of the third degree initiation (if they knew about it) they would not want to be wiccan but i do resepect the true form of wicca it is a combination of CM and witchcraft witch i think is interesting


May your Higher Self Lead you

A man invented Wicca. Many of the best authors on witchcraft are also men... I dont see any reason not to be a witch if you want to be one.

Skinwalker

Greetings,

I have to agree with most of the other replies. The male role is quite important in Wicca.More so in the Coven setting,IMO. As a solitare, it dont matter. Follow what your heart tells you to.

Also yes, there are quite a few male authors out there, Buckland,Cunnigham,Raven Grimassi,Gavin Frost (who along with his wife Yvonne,runs The School of Wicca), A.J. Drew has writtem a few books. i am sure there a several more...i just cant think of them right now...lol.

Joe

The simple answer would be yes. As previously posted you can read that it was invented by a man. A former mason as a matter of fact. That is where the whole "so mote it be" quote came from. Masons say that at the end of prayers to which I can personnly vouch..

However.. in the 80s and 90s Wicca in its present form was hijacked by the feminist movement and others that were seeking an alternative to Christianity which was not sympathetic to certain lifestyles. So be ready for ceremonies that will invoke only the goddess and not the god in wicca. You will be required to feel your femine side a little more than you may be comfortable with. However, if you can withstand that, along with all the other slings and arrows of life then by all means go ahead.

Salutations!

Speaking of male wiccans, I was just checking out the band Godsmack's website and forums. While there I read that the lead singer, Sully Erna, was a practicing wiccan and they even have a sub- forum titled "Wicca/ Religion/ Spirituality".

just thought that was interesting

G.L.B.

Gerald Gardner. Raymond Buckland. Scott Cunningham. Raven Grimassi. Alex Sanders. These are just a few male witches. Famous and well known male witches. This doesn't mention the men of covens and the elders of traditions. Raymond Buckland and Alex Sanders weren't gay and had female counterparts as high priestesses. (Forgive me for talking about Buckland in the past tense, he is still alive).

And don't forget that Doreen Valiente had a heavy influence on Gardner when he was creating Wicca.

YES, I am a Male Wiccan, but i have met the Goddess-nazis. I fyou know what i mean. You just have to take the position that their awareness is not where it should be and that they are not real Wiccans anyway i.e. they have no idea what Wicca is really about.

That was one of my biggest concerns in beginning my study of witchcraft, to which my teacher told me about the difference between the system that is witchcraft and the religion that is wicca. As it stands today, I call my self a witch, trying to reclaim the word from the stereotyping, but not a wiccan. I think the allure of a "female dominant or oriented" religion is attractive to a lot of women, young mostly but also some in the older categories, who have come from a life filled with predominately christian ideas or male superiority. That's from personal experience. You have to realize we are riding on a load of prejudices that have been around for a while. It'll take time getting over them.

Yes of course men can be Wiccans. Gerald Gardner was a man.
In reality its a dualistic religion. Like Yin & Yang

well some girl named liz told me yesterday that i am wiccan...and i was reallly confused...but yeah...