Sunday, August 07, 2005

Where have all the male Witches gone?


So where are the men in modern Wicca? Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore the company of women...I definitely would not consider myself to be a "man's man". I simply find I'm most at home in the company of women. Being raised by a single mother may have something to do with that. I still wonder, though, why it is that Wicca and Witchcraft attract more women than men. After all, if it weren't for the efforts of men in the 20th century, modern Wicca may well not exist!
Gerald Gardner, Alex Sanders, Robert Cochrane, Evan John Jones, Raymond Buckland, Paul Huson, Stewart Farrar, Gavin Frost, Scott Cunningham, Robin Skelton too name just a few are men who have contributed greatly to the growth of Modern Witchcraft and the movement toward "Goddess Religion" and yet (it seems) men are now less attracted than they once were. In fact, many of the new covens coming out of the 1950s and 60s were mostly men!
I think that the efforts of women like Z. Budapest and Starhawk have contributed greatly to the empowerment of women and the spread of "Goddess Religion" but I think that in the broader movement there has been a loss of the balance that, to me, is one of the central themes of Wicca.
For all one may celebrate the works of Starhawk there seems to be hardly much mention of her own teacher, a man by the name of Victor Anderson--a person who apparently was not always in agreement with her politics!
So again, I wonder where the men are? And particularly the straight men? I mean there are many all women covens--especially where I live, but all men covens, which are much fewer and far between, are usually comprised of gay men...not that I have a problem with this as straight men and gay men should be quite comfortable working together, as straight women and lesbians are certainly comfortable working together. My main concern is that Wiccan and Pagan society, while trying its best to encourage diversity seems to have left the straight male out of this society of diversity. Is this due to an inherent misandry existing in Wicca today? Is it because the straight male is the embodiment of the evil patriarchal paradigm? Or is it merely poor publicity which has left the average straight guy with the sense that there is no place for him in Wicca and Witchcraft?
Hmmm...makes me think I may have to take matters into my own hands and host an information meeting for men who are interested in Wicca, but perhaps don't bother to pursue it because they feel it is for women only...I pray to Lady and Lord that the balance be restored!
Blessed Be!

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am a female Witch who belongs to a small British Traditional coven in Toronto. I just wanted to let you know that there are some straight male Witches around (2 of the 4 people in our group are)...
Perhaps might differentiate between Traditional Witchcraft (of the type espoused by Gardner, Sanders et al) and eclectic wicca, which over the years has taken on a more "Goddess-oriented" flavour.
I think perhaps that many women who are attracted to a role in "priesthood" often get involved in Wicca due to the misogyny prevalent in other religions. Men often have to have an attraction to Wicca in and of itself and a recognition of God/dess before getting into Wicca.
Speaking as a female, The God is very important to me spiritually, just as The Goddess is. We must strive for balance in all things!
Blessed Be!
~B. Blackthorn

Anonymous said...

I'm a male witch, one of very few.Reason for that, atleast in my area is we who are different are dubbed as geeks and nerds. I'm not gay nor do I wear any type of clothing that isn't in so called style.I'm just a guy witch who aint big and not the best looking dude on the block. I wear glasses and also for that I'm dubbed a geek.Yes, even by the female witches of my area. Many of the past male witches I've known have gotten out of the craft or just got out of the publics eyes just to get away from the so called nerd catagory. Pretty sad huh? Well, no matter how long I spend my life single or judged a geek, I'll remain a witch. It's my choice and no one has the right to make me chose otherwise. Freedom to all and to all their own.

Anonymous said...

How come noone ever takes into consideration what society has done too the modern witch. yeah prosecution has been there since the beginning but, isn't that the case with everything. Most things that do not have opposition aren't really worth striving for. That is even evident in more than just Wicca. Balance is a good thing too have, just remember we cannot have movement without outside influence. Those that do have the force, lack the know-how or the means or both, to do so.

Unknown said...

i am a male who has been involved in the craft for several years...i was initiated into a nowak (free association) back in the 90's...i have preferred to remain a solitary these days directly due to the misandry i have encountered from many so called witches...especially the dianic and the isis oriented females...anyways...i am evolving into a heretic...which i see as something more than what is traditional...i have done away with my BOS and such things as any material tools...these days i simply use my will...but back to the subject...it is because many female witches see males as less than and other and that is why there is such a dearth of males in wicca...

Anonymous said...

Ravandoon
I am a male witch and straight, I would call my self a Alpha male, but even so can be in touch with the goddess also. I am in a small coven in the United States and there are several Male witches in it, what is hard to find is any one who will (when not in the Light of the moon) will admit that they are a witch . Finding one male or female that is willing to sit have tea (or coffee in the US) and share ideas is very hard. I think of myself as Traditional but have no problem talking to any other form of the craft. I to wander where all the warrors for the cause have went

Anonymous said...

I am a male witch and pratice on my one, I would like very much to meet and or know of other's in my area, (Toronto), if interested, I can be contacted by email, stubbs@vvssys.net.

Anonymous said...

First I feel there's two types that fall under the banner "wiccan/witchcraft"

One type is a modern form evolved from people confused with monotheist religions and also a feminist thing to empower modern women.

Then there's the ancient ways where something quite out of our realm is passed down to people from their parents/grandparents.

In the second type I mentioned you will find plenty of males,if you can find them This type is a way of life, a culture bred in you, not brought up like, not educated into you or something you aspire too, you just are.These people keep to themselves ,one they get persecuted by society and communities even though those persecuting dont realise why most of the time. They have strong misgivings with modern wicca and to a norm clash with those who aspire through textbook knowledge to be a "witch" or for some agenda(no mater how appropriate).

Thus you dont find them, thus you wont find me.

Anonymous said...

hellow im a warlock (male witch)
there isnt as many male witches because we dont walk around wearing black cloths etc.
we keep it to our sealf, atleast i do because my black magic is so strong i've nearly killed ppl just buy taking there aura. and i d hex, and spells...know im making a sperit broom... anyways if anyone has a question, coment, are want to talk "about anything" just message me at (amadeyon_jourdan@yaoo.com)
i am all so a veary strong physic.

Anonymous said...

I am a male witch from Central America who finds himself alone in his path. There are neither male nor female witches here...as far as I can tell at least. I find it sad that many men have not embraced the path of a witch and hope that one day there will be balance, as there was for our ancestors. Blessed Be and may ye all be blessed.

Anonymous said...

i am a male witch in the United States. Im glad to say there are a lot of male witches where i live and most of us support each other and more and more are joining us each year.

mara said...

i really hope you reply, i am a young girl of 11 but almost everyone i know thinks i have an old soul and if you were to look at me i'd believe you'd think I'm 13. My brother died three years ago on Jan 18 when i was eight since then i have had a weird feeling like... well that he was something special i know believe he was a witch. (I apologize i don't know how to correctly spell the male witch word) i just transferred schools and there is a boy who says he is a wicken? (male witch...right) i believe him and have a little crush on him. my question is can you become a witch? i think i am already a little different due to the visions i saw when i was little and the things i can see in the dark my brother dealt with dark magic when he was young making scary things appear (but i never saw them because of the 16 year difference) i don't tell strangers about this EVER I am taking a huge leap of hope in you so i do truly wish you would reply

mara

Warlock said...

Hey, I’m a straigth male witch in the Netherlands. And there is no other witch exept my girlfriend, but she only wants to practices divination: tarot and other stuff like that. While I have the power to see the future with my dreams and by will I can let people do things.

Anonymous said...

I am a gay male witch, however the majority of my own coven is primarily heterosexual males. the steriotype that only women can be witches is absolutely absurd. the aspect of the God and Goddess falls short, on the ignorant and self important society we live in. the majority of people only wish to see the ideal stereotype, and not do the proper research. for these reasons most men in todays world just do not know the facts.

Scathatch said...

I am a straight male witch and I and have questioned this myself. First we must look at the fact why many have joined craft from the homosexual male community and the women, of America. Christianity is the answer. As a straight male we don't have as many drives to escape Christianity. Our drives tend to be a logic based drive at universal truth. I've been blessed to have worked for 18 years with my teacher a gay male and have gone back and forth with him on this issue. Yes we are rare, but remember it was he who layed the sword at her feet and humbeley gave his power to her.

so mote it be

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Anonymous said...

i don't think they exist.

Joseph Swiftraven Schropshier said...

I am a male witch and do would not consider myself a warlock nor am I gay.I am a construction worker in Montana state that wears Carhartts and logging boots on the job..just your everyday Montanan I would suppose.To me a witch can look like anyone,dress like anyone,and appear to be anyone..it would be a mistake to assume that any witch has any stereotypical dress code and/or appearance.
Light blessings!
J. Swiftraven Schropshier

Nicola said...

Im really interested in wicca i just got a book called the wicca hand book can you help me out

Unknown said...

Wicca is not witchcraft.Wicca is a religion witchcraft is not.there were no wiccans in salem because Wicca is neopagan meaning new.

Unknown said...

The way a witch dresses is just like anyone else,they wear what they like.if that's all black is just as okay as hawian print,lol

Unknown said...

Warlock means oath breaker one that goes against its coven.a male witch is a sorcerer or just ....a witch