Welcome to Gaia! ::

So I was just curious as to what everyone's opinion was on Dianic Wicca. For those who don't know what it is, it's basically the feminist version of Wicca. I've read a book on it by one of the priestesses, and I've also read a book by Zsuzsanna Budapest (who, from what I gather, is basically the lady who came up with idea of Dianic Wicca). I can see it from a few different perspectives myself. If I'm correct, I think I saw somewhere when the crew here was giving the true definition of Wicca, that it is a fertility based religion, and so it basically requires a God and a Goddess. So I could see where some might not consider Dianic Wicca to be a legit form of Wicca because there are literally no Gods allowed what so ever. For a little while I sort of did find it to be somewhat of a joke. It just sort of seemed like a 'no boys allowed' club formed during the time of the feminist movement, but I can also see where the women who made it trully needed it. When you read the story of Budapest, you find how pagan beliefs were in her roots and around her all of her life, and so I can also see that in forming this version of Wicca she was sincere and genuinely wanted to bring strength to other women in a time when they trully needed strength and unity.

So basically I was curious what you all know about Dianic Wicca, what you might think of it, if any of you practice, know someone who does, or where considering practicing. Or any other tidbits you want to add.

I don't have any problems with Dianic Wicca itself, though I have no interest in preacticing it. I like my male deities and see no need to shut them out.

I do have issues with some (but by no means all) of the women who practice it. Because of what it is, it tends to attract femanazi types. I have a friend who went to a pagan gathering to find it mostly populated by "Dianics" who insisted that her sons (who were with her) were inferior simply for being male, and going on about how sad it was that she had only boys. That's not right. And I've met a number of others with the same views.

however like Sang, I've heard that Z. Budapest is fairly cool and I've also known a woman or two who have practiced Dianic Witchcraft in a resonable manner and can rever thier Goddess withough being disfunctional about men. I know one woman who, realizing that while she made easy connections with male deities, she seemed to be "Goddess challenged", joined a Dianic group to find that connection to femanin power and incorporated what she found there into her broader practice.

Overall, not my thing but nothing wrong with it either. It's just unlucky enough to attrack certain nasty but attention grabbing elements. Something I, as a Heathen, better be able to look beyond.