Pagan Religions in Five Minutes - Suzanne Owen
40. Do Pagans Practise Ritual Sex?
Pagan Religions in Five Minutes - Suzanne Owen
Angela Puca [+]
Leeds Trinity University
Angela Puca, PhD (2021), is an independent religious studies scholar and university lecturer. She is bridging the gap between academia and the general public with her social media project Angela’s Symposium, where she disseminates peer-reviewed research to a wide audience engagingly. She’s the author of the forthcoming Italian Witchcraft and Shamanism, to be published by Brill, and coeditor of Pagan Religions in Five Minutes for Equinox Publishing Ltd.
Description
There is a complex relationship between ritual sex and contemporary Paganism. While ancient cults incorporated sexuality, its widespread practice in Pagan societies is questionable. The role of ritual sex in Paganism's traditions depends on individual beliefs. In Wicca, the Great Rite symbolises the union of God and Goddess and may involve sexual activity between committed partners. However, ritual sex remains a private, personal choice rather than a universally accepted practice.