Saturday, March 23, 2013

Women Clergy Robes And The Philosophy Of Balance

By Christi Larsen


While many Christians do not believe that females should lead a religious congregation, there are still women clergy robes in the Wiccan faith. In this particular neo-Pagan spiritual path, the woman as well as the man generally sews their own robe. There are some seamstresses in the Pagan community who do sell more decorative garments, and people frequently run across these merchants at large gatherings of the Pagan community.

A basic religious robe starts out in a t-shaped pattern which is very easy for someone who has no experience to sew. This makes it easy for those newly involved with a Pagan or Wiccan group to create their first robe. In this religion, artistry is encouraged, so often these individuals will add new details as time passes.

The garments worn by a woman are basically the same as that which is worn by a man. These are special clothing created specifically for religious observances, and worn at no other time. In many Pagan or Wiccan groups, there is both a Priest and a Priestess presiding over the ritual, as balance of their energies is regarded as an important element of ritual.

It is the belief of many Wiccans that the entirely patriarchal religions which have been a dominating force are unbalanced at their core. The notion that women are inferior to men is abhorrent to these people, who have a deep understanding that males and females truly need each other. These patriarchies have actually created the war between the sexes.

This does not mean that Pagans traditionally judge or discriminate against those who embrace alternative lifestyles. Quite the opposite is true, in fact, as Pagan Priests and Priestesses will often preside over commitment ceremonies for same-sex couples. Balance simply means recognizing that some energies are inherently male or inherently female.

Much like the yin-hang symbol, Wiccans believe that males have an active creative energy while females have a receptive nurturing energy, but each gender has a seed of the other within. Women have a powerful, active, creative side just as men have a nurturing, feminine side. The idea is to recognize, accept, and balance these energies within the individual.

There are some denominations of Wicca who practice female-only ritual, and the Wiccan community accepts this. Just as with various sects of Christianity, there is an understanding that not everyone approaches things the same way. Unlike Christianity, Wiccans have never engaged with other Wiccans in armed conflict over philosophical differences.

Christianity regard proselytizing as a very important part of their religious practice. Wiccans are actually very offended by this, and they do not share specifics about their spiritual path with the intent to convince someone else to follow them. In Wicca, there is a belief that all religions have their kernel of truth, and all paths are leading to the same place.

In order to wear women clergy robes, she is expected to be seeking wisdom and self empowerment. Christianity has largely destroyed the principle of the divine female, and Wicca seeks to bring this back into the world. Rather than doing this by force of arms, this goal is being sought through love, understanding, and balance.




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