Pagans, wiccans, witches: Have you ever particpated in the Great Rite?

Question

Please describe your experience to the extent that you can.

Answer 1

The only experience I'd had with the Great Rite is symbolic...that of dipping a knife, symbolic of the male, into a chalice which symbolizes the female. I've never done the literal Great Rite. For that you really have to be in the way higher degrees, usually in the Gardnerian tradition. And it's usually not something that's talked about casually because it is so sacred and so serious a ritual. It's to be treated with the utmost of reverance so most people are not exactly going to be quick to possible invalidate it by "kissing and telling".

Answer 2

Yes I have. The High Priest plunges the athame (or ritual knife [the male symbol]) into a cup or chalice (the female symbol) that is filled with wine and is held by the High Priestess. The Great Rite symbolizes creation in the union of the Maiden Goddess with the Lover God, and thus is also known as a fertility rite.

Answer 3

Yes. While channelling Aphrodite, I held forth the cauldron and the Priest plunged a flaming (red-hot from the fire) sword within to celebrate the creative power of the union of male and female that the Great Goddess embodies.

PS Not a Wiccan!

Answer 4

No serious Wicca is going to answer that question my friend. That particular ceremony is reserved for the higher degrees of BTW and is a very private matter. (Dipping a knife in the chalice is a commonly used wine consecration...not synonymous with the GR)