Why?

[Fairy_Princess]

Why do Dianics ignore male deities?
I can't think of any Pagan religions that are Male Deity only....

[Philosophia]

Why do Dianics ignore male deities?
I can't think of any Pagan religions that are Male Deity only....

I don't think most Dianics ignore them, they just don't incorporate them into their path. That is what they feel comfortable in doing.

[Fairy_Princess]

Why do they hate men?

[Philosophia]

Why do they hate men?

I would say the greatest majority don't hate men. Unfortunately, I've met one who did but that is because of her past experiences (rape and assault). She may have changed now because it was only recent event and I had met her a while ago. However, I would say about 99% of Dianics I have met online and in real life don't hate men.

[Fairy_Princess]

Why is it that most Dianics idea of gender equality is really the idea of female superiority?

I should great an Panic Path and call myself a myn.

[Philosophia]

Why is it that most Dianics idea of gender equality is really the idea of female superiority?

Most? I don't think so. The Dianics I know aren't about female superiority but rather gender equality.

[Fairy_Princess]

Most? I don't think so. The Dianics I know aren't about female superiority but rather gender equality.


Most of the Dianics I have met in real life (a rather alrge group of them in Pittsburgh, PA.) felt "equality" meant degrading men and acting superior. Almost as if they were trying to hard to try and keep up with perceived inequalities that not everyone else was seeing...

[Philosophia]

Most of the Dianics I have met in real life (a rather alrge group of them in Pittsburgh, PA.) felt "equality" meant degrading men and acting superior. Almost as if they were trying to hard to try and keep up with perceived inequalities that not everyone else was seeing...

Other than that one, I've never met a Dianic who degraded men and acted superior. I know some who are in very solid marriages and relationships with men. Others have sons, fathers, etc. that they respect and love deeply. I do know a lot of them, both online and in RL, and, except for that once, I have never come across that attitude.

[EvieLee]

I have to admit, some authors come across as struggling to purge the world of patriarchy. But just because someone has had their beliefs published does not mean they reflect the rest of the community. Some Dianics do hate men and see women as superior. Some don't. Some people believe the their neighbours are planning to butcher them in their sleep with a letter opener. Some don't. I think the cleaver in the kitchen would be much more effective as a murder weapon.

There are as many variations on the Dianic traditions as there are Dianics.

[Fairy_Princess]

TO be fair, I give Mysoginist men an equal amount of shite.

I just can't stand people who so sure of their superiority, it makes my "Heckle Sense" tingle.

[Philosophia]

TO be fair, I give Mysoginist men an equal amount of shite.

I just can't stand people who so sure of their superiority, it makes my "Heckle Sense" tingle.

I agree. _handclapp

[Fairy_Princess]

BTW My original post had a comment no one helped me on:

Are there any, currently being observed/practiced Pagan/Polytheistic paths/religions that are male centered or Male Deity only?

[EvieLee]

I have known a few male pagans devoted to men's mystery traditions. From what I gathered they are similar in principle to women's mystery paths, but obviously for men and their experience.

I've always found it strange how there's not as much public info about men's paths as there are women's. They could be oath bound. Or maybe they're not as prominent in Paganism when religions such as Christianity are rather male-focused.

*shrugs*

[Philosophia]

BTW My original post had a comment no one helped me on:

Are there any, currently being observed/practiced Pagan/Polytheistic paths/religions that are male centered or Male Deity only?

I don't know any paths or traditions that do it, but I do know that there are some Pagans that solely focus on a male deity.

[Snapdragon]

To speak to the original thread question, I don't believe male deities--or male polarity, whatever--is exactly being "ignored" by someone who exclusively worships the sacred feminine. I mean, if someone is gay, does that mean they are "ignoring" people who are straight? If someone is doing one thing and not another, does that mean they are "ignoring" something?

I mean this respectfully, and in the same vein that we discuss the issue of equality in another thread here. The notion of equality tends to be viewed and perhaps to be applied, in a formulaic or mechanical way, as if following a cookbook. My own understanding of the religious impulse is that it is primarily based on feeling--not ideology, theology, or the like. Believing or thinking follows feeling: feeling is first.

So, in my own understanding of Dianic religion, it is fundamentally and first a matter of feeling. For whatever reason, a person is drawn to Her, or to the Many who are female. That is sufficient. And what's wrong with that?

In the matter of some self-identified Dianics seeming to put down men, etc., it isn't hard to understand this as a reaction. Consider the enormous amount of crap that is laid on women even in our culture, which relative to the world as a whole, is a very tolerant place. The lot of most people on this planet is very hard, and women get the worst of it, more often than not. Being aware of this, it's understandable that some people will react with anger and hostility.

Isn't that what is going on?

My own response to this is simply: love Her, be faithful, and call to Her to come forward into the world--joyous, powerful, and free. That is the healing the world needs, and key in that is the liberation of women.

This is my own, best understanding to this point.

[Lolair]

BTW My original post had a comment no one helped me on:

Are there any, currently being observed/practiced Pagan/Polytheistic paths/religions that are male centered or Male Deity only?
Yes.

I'd tell you but I'd have to kill you...

Seriously though there are some traditions and covens under the 'Traditional Witchcraft' umbrella that focus on male deity only. Mainly because they believe covens a few hundred years ago did so. I'm sure there are also polytheists who belong to a cult of one particular god and do not honour any female consorts or counterparts. I think that there can still be balance if one takes a patron deity of a specific sex as it doesn't necessarily mean that your personal beliefs are one-sided when it comes to gender. Some people are just more comfortable working with feminine energy and vice versa.

[Fairy_Princess]

To speak to the original thread question, I don't believe male deities--or male polarity, whatever--is exactly being "ignored" by someone who exclusively worships the sacred feminine. I mean, if someone is gay, does that mean they are "ignoring" people who are straight? If someone is doing one thing and not another, does that mean they are "ignoring" something?


Often that IS exactly what it means. People often ignore and eschew that which they have little to do with.

[Strawberry Bounce]

It's not ignorong unless male diety is calling out to you and you refuse.

[Fairy_Princess]

How do you know a male deity isn't?

[EvieLee]

I would imagine a divine voice in contradiction (or whatever is applicable) to your current path would be pretty hard to miss.

[Fairy_Princess]

Not if you don't want to hear it... Humans are excellent at self delusion. The first step in being an effective liar is being able to lie to yourself.

[Strawberry Bounce]

Goddesses that I have never payed attention too or been interested in seem to get my attention all the time. I didn't come to pagansim angry at male Gods nor to get away from them. I started out learning about Wicca so I intentially sought out Gods & Goddesses.

[EvieLee]

Not if you don't want to hear it... Humans are excellent at self delusion. The first step in being an effective liar is being able to lie to yourself.

A very good point. Possibly why I'm such a horrible liar - I listen to myself far to much for my own good. :hahugh:

[David19]

There are paths exclusively for men, I don't know them all, but here are a few:

The Minoan Brotherhood (http://www.minoan-brotherhood.org/)

Witchvox article on them (http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usny&c=trads&id=3600)

More info here (http://beaufort.bravepages.com/minbtrad.html)

Phil Hine's article on them (http://www.philhine.org.uk/writings/flsh_minoan.html)

Minoan Brotherhood Yahoo group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MinoanSeekers/)

Temenos Agathod Daemon (http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:8lyH8wtOjhAJ:www.temenosagathodaemon.com/what.html+Minoan+Brotherhood&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=8&gl=uk) - this site is a catched version, as the official one doesn't seem to be working.

Temenos Theotokos (http://www.magus-paganus.com/temenostheotokos.html)

Brotherhood of the Phoenix (http://www.brotherhoodofthephoenix.org/) - seperate organization from the Minoan Brotherhood.

There's also apparantly the Minoan Sisterhood (which is exclusively for women, if anyone's interested).

And there's also Odinism which I think mainly focuses on Odin (obvously!), which I think differs to other Heathens (Odinists tend to focus more on Odin than the other Norse gods, if there are any reading this, please feel free to correct me).

Also, just wanted to state, the Minoan Brotherhood and the Brotherhood of the Phoenix are for gay men.

Pagan Men (http://www.iit.edu/~phillips/personal/contents/guys.html) - list of sites and organizations for Pagan men, some for gay men and others for straight and some for both.

Witchvox article on Pagan men (http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usca&c=holidays&id=8448)

Male Pagan webring (http://members.tripod.com/~theGreen_Man/webring.html)

Then there's 'The Pagan Man: Priests, Warriors, Hunters, and Drummers' by Isaac Bonewits (http://members.tripod.com/~theGreen_Man/webring.html) - could be interesting.

List on amazon for 'Pagan Men' (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/002-5672985-7892020?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Pagan+Men) - might be useful for some things.

Hope this has helped you out :).

[Toby Stimpson]

There are paths exclusively for men, I don't know them all, but here are a few:

The Minoan Brotherhood (http://www.minoan-brotherhood.org/)

Witchvox article on them (http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usny&c=trads&id=3600)

More info here (http://beaufort.bravepages.com/minbtrad.html)

Phil Hine's article on them (http://www.philhine.org.uk/writings/flsh_minoan.html)

Minoan Brotherhood Yahoo group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MinoanSeekers/)

Temenos Agathod Daemon (http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:8lyH8wtOjhAJ:www.temenosagathodaemon.com/what.html+Minoan+Brotherhood&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=8&gl=uk) - this site is a catched version, as the official one doesn't seem to be working.

Temenos Theotokos (http://www.magus-paganus.com/temenostheotokos.html)

Brotherhood of the Phoenix (http://www.brotherhoodofthephoenix.org/) - seperate organization from the Minoan Brotherhood.

There's also apparantly the Minoan Sisterhood (which is exclusively for women, if anyone's interested).

And there's also Odinism which I think mainly focuses on Odin (obvously!), which I think differs to other Heathens (Odinists tend to focus more on Odin than the other Norse gods, if there are any reading this, please feel free to correct me).

Also, just wanted to state, the Minoan Brotherhood and the Brotherhood of the Phoenix are for gay men.

Pagan Men (http://www.iit.edu/~phillips/personal/contents/guys.html) - list of sites and organizations for Pagan men, some for gay men and others for straight and some for both.

Witchvox article on Pagan men (http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usca&c=holidays&id=8448)

Male Pagan webring (http://members.tripod.com/~theGreen_Man/webring.html)

Then there's 'The Pagan Man: Priests, Warriors, Hunters, and Drummers' by Isaac Bonewits (http://members.tripod.com/~theGreen_Man/webring.html) - could be interesting.

List on amazon for 'Pagan Men' (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/002-5672985-7892020?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Pagan+Men) - might be useful for some things.

Hope this has helped you out :).

WOAH, this is a goood list... I love Phil Hine btw, very intelligent guy.

Thankyou David!

[Jayble]

Often that IS exactly what it means. People often ignore and eschew that which they have little to do with.

Which is exactly what your comments in this thread are doing.

For me in private practice I devote time and energy to the God, but in group practice I devote time and energy to the Goddess. This does not make me strictly Dianic, but it mean that I prefer to work in a circle of women only. There seems to be a shared experience among women that creates an almost instant bond. There is also a certain amount of comfort in self healing with women that I don't have around men. Every person in my circle is married, and my husband is also much more at ease with me being in an all female circle than he would be if it were a mixed group.

A lot of times the things you perceive from the outside are filtered through a lens of misconception. People walk their paths of spirituality for many reasons and a lot of these reasons are highly complex or stunningly simple. I have yet to find one that is what I thought it should be from an outside view.

[akewa]

Ok I can clear some of this up and clarify some of the bad raps.

One I know many Dianic and Goddess worshipers for I have been one for 20+ years. Two I have also know many in PA as I lived there for 4 years. Three I know of many male only groups of wicca and witchcraft started by gay men and some that are not gay.

Ok most Dianics/Goddess worshipers are not men haters. We do have those but they are in the minority not the majority. Many years ago the Dianics were mostly lesbians and many had gone threw abuse from some men. Dianic practice helped these women strenghten themselves and not be victims. Today Dianic and Goddess worship has moved far away from the nucuelus and grown world wide. Most now are married women like myself. Who find working with the female Dieties fits them better. We do not do it out of hate or mistrust.

Now many of the books were written by those women that are lesbians so will have a strong slant that way. The books are still good and now we have even more written by women that are married. Some sources are not even geered to Dianics but to Goddess Worship like the Fellowship of Isis. They are another resource to explore for Goddess and Dianic material.

Now on the men only groups. PLEASE men have always had there own groups. Look at the Masons, Elks, Lions and ect. True these are not just religious but many to contain religious ceremony. Now we also have many many wiccan male only groups. I had a friend in FL that started his and they met weekly. Some are still part of a multi group and some are not. The men only groups are not as well publishized as the women only groups. People do not think it is wrong for there to be a male only group just women only. Makes you think Huh.

Goddess Bless all