I have a question about becoming a high priestess. Not that I want to; I’d rather be one of the cats than try to herd them.
See, I was talking to my driver on the way to a doctor’s appointment this morning, and I know her, and she knows I’m pagan. She was talking about how there was a coven in a town nearby, and somehow we got onto the topic of training to be a high priestess.
And she is under the belief that all high priestesses must go without a male’s touch for a year, so they can be purified? Or something? She’s very certain in her belief, which okay, your version is no my version of witch, whatever.
But that seems wrong to me. I mean, men are not the root of all evil, no matter what we might like to joke about.
I would think that you’d want to be a bit balanced. We all have male and female sides to us; why would you deny that?
And she was like, they can’t even shake a man’s hand for a year? What the heck? And I’ve never read anything like this in any book I’ve read, so I’m wondering where this came from? Is it something I’m missing? Or is it possibly just a thing in that coven?
Just wanted to put this out there and get y’all take on the subject. I thought it was odd, but that could just be me.
Interesting…I’ve never heard this before, either. I’m going to do some digging and see what I can find!
I’ve never heard of such a thing.
I would be suspicious, personally. Nature is all about balance. Sex magic is real and energy wise … Men and women complete the circuit.
Maybe it’s just a local rule and one you would have to decide if you were willing to follow.
Thanks! Like I said, I hadn’t heard of this at all! It boggled my mind.
That’s how my mind works! And I don’t get this thing about being clean from sins? Like, for one, sex isn’t a sin in my mind. And for another, I thought most covens steered clear of all that sin talk.
Yeah, I hadn’t planned to go, but now I really don’t think I want to. It seems as if I’ve found a Holy Roller version of witches! LOL!
I think that sounds bizarre! I’m very interested to know what you find out!
It has been a long time since I heard of this. Is your driver’s coven Dianic by any chance? Diana or Athena- based covens used to require celibacy.
I’m thinking along the same lines as what others have said that this must be a belief rooted within the specific tradition/beliefs of that particular coven. Because if not touching a man for a year = purity, then it implies the belief that men = “dirty”, which doesn’t really align with the more common Wiccan-aligned idea of existing in harmony with the God and Goddess, and balance between masculine and feminine energies. It sounds like something that could be part of a very feminine-centered (and anti-masculine) practice 
After all, if it was sex that they wanted to associate with impurity (like how some religious practices require monks to be celibate), then they would just flat out require high priestesses to be celibate, right? Associating sex with men leaves some very large loopholes for sex without men. Seems like a pretty big oversight to me if that was the intention 
I don’t know much about Dianic practice, but from what little I’ve heard, it does seem like they have a strong focus on feminine energy. Perhaps this is the tradition in question.
Always appreciate your well-researched deep dives, Megan! 
Can’t wait to see what you discover!
Yeah, I don’t get it. I’m glad y’all are as confused as I am!
I don’t know; I should have asked. I will, if I remember when I see her again.
Me too, because it’s just odd. As you said, I thought you were supposed to be in balance with both.
@Amethyst @BryWisteria
I understand that if you are a Solitary you cannot become a High Priestess as you have to study and work their way up and also be knowledgeable, spiritually connected with both this world and the spirt one in order to guide in all forms of practice. . Another interesting part is that they are also classed as “Clergy” as they carry out Weddings, etc) it might be that a High Priestess may choose to obtain from intimacy/celibacy. The Deities Diana/Artemis did not associate herself or consort with men. so it could be that the Coven could be as others have said a stronger form of Dianic.
Therefore, I would say that anyone leading a group would be classed as a High Priestess.
With love and light 
