Rose Ariadne's Chitchcraft Blog

Dear Friends,

The Dianic Wiccan tradition is one of the most misunderstood of all Pagan traditions. With this message, I hope to shed some light on this fascinating path and introduce you to the specific traditions and beliefs from Dianic Wicca.Why do Dianics get such a bad rap? There are many factors that have created a separation between Dianics and other Pagan pathways. Dianics focus solely on the Goddess, the female deity. The beliefs and practices of the groups are grounded in feminist principles and they practice in women-only circles.

These characteristics make sense when you understand that this tradition grew out of the feminist movement. Many of the early feminists were unable to reconcile their activism within the structure of traditional religion, which led to exploration into other spiritual pathways. The early 1970s marked a time where women began sharing their spiritual experiences in conscious-raising groups. This prompted a search for a spirituality that supported social change for women and sustained a woman-centered perspective.

Zsuzanna Budapest was the first to recognize the relationship between Wicca and feminism. Her 1976 book The Feminist Book of Light and Shadows formed what has now become the Dianic tradition.
One of the elements that lead Dianic Wicca to become so controversial was that in the early days a vast majority of Dianic Wiccans were also lesbians. Anyone who claimed themselves as Dianic was assumed to be a lesbian, and felt the shun from homophobic Pagans. Also, many mainstream Pagans hold onto the belief that duality is needed in this religion (male and female deities). Dianic Wiccans run counter to this. Despite a few initial setbacks, Dianic Wiccans are now embraced by the mainstream Pagan movements and vice-versa.

The core beliefs of Dianic Wicca follow the adherence to feminist principles. They believe in female divinity, most often referred to as ‘the Goddess.’ They celebrate the Celtic holy days. Their religion has an underpinning of feminist ideology, including the belief that women’s bodies are sacred, and honoring women’s experiences as authentic. They recognize that the patriarchal society does not accurately reflect a woman’s experience. There is no recognition of male Gods in ritual or elsewhere.

Contrary to what one might think, the Dianic Wiccan tradition does not focus on the Goddess Diana. Dianics believe in focusing on the great Goddess. They are global in their approach to divinity, and recognize the Goddess in all of her forms. They believe that the presence of the Goddess in all cultures unites woman all over the world.

Dianic Wicca has changed over the years and is no longer exclusively lesbian. Also, Dianic Wiccans are encouraged to participate in mixed-gender Pagan groups on certain occasions. For example, a woman might choose to honor the Full Moon with her Dianic circle but attend Summer Solstice with her family in a mixed-gender Pagan group.

While the vast majority of Dianic Wiccans practice in women-only circles, Morgan McFarland of Texas created a mixed-gender Dianic tradition. The McFarland tradition worships both female and male deities.

The oldest and largest Dianic Wiccan group is the Re-formed Congregation of the Goddess - International (RCG -I), which was founded in 1984. It was the first recognized women’s religion in the United States. There are affiliated circles and solitary members around the world.

The Dianic Wiccan tradition represents just one of the diverse and interesting Pagan paths. Hopefully, I’ve demystified this tradition in this message. If you are interested in Dianic Wicca, I encourage you to seek a local group, or contact the RCG-I to get you in touch with a local group.
Brightest Blessing,

Rose Ariadne, Your Warm And Caring “Resident Witch In Charge”

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