My Coven Sage and I have, for the past few years, been invited by faculty at IUPUI to speak to their various classes on religion about Paganism. These have been classes from Women in Religion to Intro classes. These amazing professors have also brought these same classes to Novices rituals at Indianapolis Pagan Pride Day. Beyond the rituals we've done for those events, talking to the students in those classes after ritual has been at the top of my list for things to do that day. If the general public is ever going to understand that the conceptions they usually have about what it means to be Pagan or a Witch are really misconceptions, having conversations outside our Pagan communities is important (if you are in a position to do so).
*** Spoiler alert! - there ain't no Satan up in here. K? K.
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| The only Satan I reference, courtesy of South Park. |
I myself am an ordained High Priestess of Novices of the Old Ways and a Priestess of Hekate. I am one of three in the entire Novices family. Another gentleman there at this recent event is an ordained Reverend, the term that his organization uses for their Priests and Priestesses. When I've looked back on this event, or when I was describing it to some who hadn't been there, a term that was used by someone that is not ordained or initiated kept coming to mind - "Fancy Titles". It's stuck out to me, like things do when I need to pay attention to them.
While I can't say exactly how the person who used this term meant it, as it could have simply been a statement to acknowledge that they haven't been or chosen to be ordained or initiated at this point in time, it's my reflection on this term that I've been finding myself thinking about since.
Questions I've been asking myself go something like this:
* When others hear a title like Reverend or High Priestess, are they picturing or assuming a role that others give service to, or one that gives service to others?
* Is it understood that, in the majority of cases, those called Reverend, HPs or HP (the initials meaning High Priestess or High Priest) have gone through rigorous training to attain such a title?
* Are High Priestesses and Priests even necessary?
* What does it even mean to hold the title of High Priestess?
Over the next few days I'll be writing about these thoughts I've had in regards to these questions in separate posts...because I tend to be long winded. ;)
At an IUPUI Women in Religion class we visited last spring, the Professor asked the students to write down some questions for my Sage and I, which they prepared and brought for me to pick through.
One student asked, "Don't you think it's a bit selfish to call yourself a High Priestess?"
I had to address that question. First, this was a Women in Religion class, so the idea of selfishness in regards to a woman active in her "religion" kinda blew me away. Second, it was quite clear that there was zero understanding of the function of a High Priestess, or at least a healthy one.
I say healthy because I've known very abusive women who've called themselves "High Priestess". Currently, there is a well-known California group called CAYA Coven dealing with the accusations of abuse by many people spanning a timeframe of many years in regards to their former leadership. On a personal level, my first HPs was extremely abusive not only to me, but to every other member of the coven. I can think of at least seven others who went through a lot of trauma and abuse at her hands. She was not trained in any way, through any program. Instead, she gave herself the title after considering herself as well-read and experienced as individuals whom she knew that had been properly initiated.
It doesn't work that way.
So, as I explained to this class, selfishness is the last thing a properly functioning High Priestess is being. While there may be a ritual crown, there is no throne on which to perch and receive accolades. There is no chaise lounge on which to be fed my favorite Starbucks coffee drink nor anyone offering to fan me continuously in humid weather or bring me blankets when its cold. I do wish that I could get a neck rub now and then, but I typically would need to go pay a massage therapist just like everyone else, fan myself and put on a coat. The kids at Starbucks already know my drink when I walk in, so there's that.
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| "Marc, go get me a Starbucks. Julius, use a bit more massage oil, would you dear?" |
The role of a High Priestess, especially in Novices, is a role of service not only to her coven, if in fact she chooses to lead one, but her community. While we might be deity-centered in our practice, we are just as service oriented. Finding a way to serve one's community is actually part of the training process.
I sat down late last year and wrote out my job description, which I later shared with my coven. Here it is below.
Priestess Job Description
Ritual duties
- Planning and executing 8 Sabbat rituals, with ritual teams throughout the year. Assisted by Sage.
- Coordinating ritual teams. Assisted by Stewards.
- Coordination of ritual planning meetings.
- Planning and executing 10 coven meetings throughout the year providing teaching material and ritual.
- Creating social media invites for all public events.
Support duties
- Being available for individual coven members to assist and support through spiritual matters.
- Being available as a source of knowledge and information, and to help conveners find answers and assistance when I don't I have the knowledge or answers they need.
- Mediation for conveners if problems arise on an interpersonal basis. Assisted by Sage.
- Consistently checking in with Group Mind to determine coven needs, direction, issues, etc.
- Planning yearly Coven Retreats.
Community Support Duties
- Finding suggested donation recipients for fundraising to help support community needs.
- The Church Within, Fletcher Place, Standing Rock, BLM, Don’t Sleep, etc.
- Attending wider Pagan and Interfaith outreach events and meetings that look to both strengthen community relationships and effectively support change.
Personal Growth
- Continuing Education opportunities for both personal magical growth and knowledge, and coven growth and knowledge.
- Maintaining relationships with up line for support and guidance.
- Being conscientious of the need for non-Priestess personal time.
- Maintaining Dark Time
- Family time
** List may alter at any time.
“Office Hours “ - Sunday evenings, 6-9pm; Friday evenings 6-9pm.
When I originally wrote this down, I was surprised at the length of it. That said, it doesn't include the two Indiana Department of Corrections circles I lead and the responsibilities to more than two dozen men and women in those circles.
Having been given (yes, given, and I'll explain that in another post) the title of High Priestess gets you in the trenches of service to others. It gets you dirty, makes you tired, brings amazing blessings and challenges. It lifts you up and it breaks your heart. All these things I know well.
High Priestess. It sounds so pretty. It might even have a wow-factor to it, if its a new term for someone. A "Fancy Title"? Maybe it isn't so fancy when you really break down and examine what it means.
*Next time - Fancy Titles, Part II - The Training Of A High Priestess
