Where are all our Wiccan men?

When Wicca first started in the 1950's in Britain, women were present, but many covens had an equal or greater number of men. To this day, some scoff that it may have been a plot by its proponent, Gerald Gardner, to drink and look at beautiful young women during rituals. Here in the Pacific Northwest, however, the demographics have changed. British Traditional Wicca still requires that men be a part of a working coven for initiations and specific rituals, however the ratio of men to women is startlingly small. So large is the problem that some High Priests travel from coven to coven, acting out their role several times every holy day.

There are still pretty ladies and feasts for men to enjoy, but what may have changed is the perception of women's empowerment. The word for a male witch is a "witch," not a wizard or warlock, and the High Priestess and Queen of the circle calls the shots. It takes a very powerful man, indeed, to be able to relinquish that level of control. But does it begin before the social issues come into play? Are men simply not called to worship female deities?

Local public outer courts sport a more even ratio. Although women still outnumber men, there are men who are interested in seeking Wicca, and who are comfortable showing their faces in groups that acknowledge the divine feminine. The difference, therefore, may be the teaching style, which is traditionally done male to female and female to male. Once local men move towards initiation and training, the power dynamic may cause a disconnect or a poor fit for teachers and students. Thinking that it may be Wicca that is wrong, and not the teacher, perhaps men often move on and away from Wicca before initiation. Thus, local teachers must be mindful to empower men by explaining the traditional order early on, and male seekers must be especially persistent to try several potential teachers before giving up the search.