Great rite
In today's world, Great rite has become a topic of great relevance and interest to a wide variety of people. Whether due to its impact on society, its relevance in the professional field or its role in history, Great rite has captured the attention of individuals of all ages and backgrounds. As time progresses, the importance of understanding and deeply analyzing everything related to Great rite becomes evident, since its influence transcends borders and encompasses multiple aspects of daily life. In this article, we will dive into the world of Great rite to explore its various facets and discover its true impact on the world today.
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The great rite is a Wiccan ritual involving symbolic sexual intercourse with the purpose of drawing energy from the powerful connection between a male and female. Both receive more power.[1] It is an uncommon ritual in a full coven, as it is used when the coven is in need of powerful spiritual intervention.[2] Most often it is performed by the high priest and priestess of a coven, but other participants can be selected to perform the rite.
Symbolic version of the great rite
In the symbolic version the high priestess plunges the athame, or ritual knife that represents the masculine, into a cup or chalice which represents the feminine. The chalice is filled with wine and is held by the high priest. The great rite symbolizes creation in the union of the maiden goddess with the lover god, and thus is also known as a fertility rite.[citation needed]
Occasions for the great rite
A variety of ritual occasions call for the great rite to be performed, such as during the festival of Beltane on or about May 1 in the northern hemisphere and November 1 in the southern hemisphere.[3][4]
See also
- Ganachakra
- Hieros gamos
- Liber XV, The Gnostic Mass
- Sexual ritual
- Yab-Yum
- Black mass
- Witches' Sabbath
Notes
- ^ Wagar, Samuel, "The Wiccan Great Rite — Hieros Gamos in the Modern West", Journal of Religion and Popular Culture (Volume 21, Issue 2, Summer 2009): pages 1-38.
- ^ Budapest, Zsuzsanna Emese. The Holy Book of Women's Mysteries. Berkeley, CA: Wingbow, 1989.
- ^ Morrison, Dorothy (2001). The Craft: A Witch's Book of Shadows. Llewellyn Worldwide. p. 153.
- ^ Hume, Lynne (1997). Witchcraft and Paganism in Australia. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press.
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