Lesbian Rituals and Dianic Tradition

SUMMARY

In her article, “Lesbian Rituals and Dianic Tradition,” Dianic priestess Ruth Rhiannon Barrett, provides a herstorical perspective of the feminist Dianic Wiccan Goddess tradition and its contributions to lesbian culture. The article describes the cosmology of this Goddess-centered and women-identified magical denomination, and the figure of the Goddess Diana as a symbol of women free from patriarchal influences. Barrett's position is that lesbians can heal from, and challenge, internalized and externalized homophobia by creating and sharing in rituals that celebrate significant passages in their lives. Barrett discusses the personal and political importance of ritual-making as a way to honoring and valuing lesbian lives, otherwise invisible in the dominant culture. Drawing upon 30 years of experience, Barrett provides examples from a spectrum of rituals that have been created: coming out, preparing to enter the circle of mothers, and honoring women's conscious choice not to have children.

Key Words:

• Ritual
• lesbian
• Dianic tradition
• feminist spirituality