The Point of Initiatory Secrecy

One of the hallmarks of traditional Wicca is that initiates take an oath of secrecy: There are certain things they agree not to discuss with non-initiates. But why? From the outside, this can feel like a snobbish and exclusionary practice. In this video, I talk through some of the motivations for magical secrecy, not as a way of keeping people out, but as a way of protecting the sacred nature of a shared and ineffable experience.
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[@MelieneGardner]

Definitely agree! Something that you touched on but that seekers should keep in mind is that *sometimes* the secrecy is also to protect the seeker's own experience they might have if they do go through initiation. To explain every detail of something ahead of that experience is to potentially steal the "magic" from the experience (as you said). If, for a completely random hypothetical example, the steps involved were to 1. jump into a warm pool at the stroke of midnight 2. touch an oak tree 3. pet a cat and finally 4. kiss someone you love on the lips - you don't want to know every detail ahead of time or else your focus is on the steps and not the experience. Of course, your potential initiator would ask questions to get to know you ahead of time for issues you might have (an allergy to cats so maybe you should pet a dog instead, issues with swimming so the pool needs to be shallow, etc), but they wouldn't go into *why* they are asking these questions. Otherwise, the only things running through your head are "now I jump in the pool.... now I'm touching the tree.... now I'm petting the cat... now I'm kissing my loved one" instead of "Oh - this water is so warm and nice! How awesome this is under the stars in the dark! How have I never gotten how rough and wondrous this bark is! Oh, the cat is so soft and warm! How good it is to share this with someone I love!"

[@YvonneAburrow]

What a lovely analogy 😍

[@YvonneAburrow]

There’s a Tolkien quote that’s particularly apposite here: “To seek for the meaning is to cut open the ball in search of its bounce.” - J. R. R. Tolkien One of my pet peeves is people who want to stop and discuss the ritual in the middle of a ritual. It breaks the mystery in the same way that you describe here. Great video 👍

[@hexenmoon2737]

Well put. Please take care & try to have some fun.

[@TarotandWitchery]

To dare, to know, to will to be silent....

[@pigmentcingle]

Great video , as usual ! I`m not Gardenrian so I wont comment on that, but regarding ritual or even meditation.I like to use the analogy of swimming. No matter how many books you read about swimming and the different techniques of swimming there are, you cant really understand it until you get into the water and experience it for yourself

[@bhagavansatanicparamahansa1568]

You don't lose the magic when you take it apart. It is the understanding of the structure within that allows your magic to truly soar.

[@jessacatmomma6813]

It's pretty coherent to me!

[@empressonthethrone]

With social media I think the secrecy being imperative in today's world. However, everyone wants to feel as though they're "in the know" and are the "cool kids". We are definitely seeing the effects of blabbering lol. I kind of understand why folks used to gatekeep back in the day. Not to sound cliche but, with great power comes great responsibility lol.

[@fierceandpretty1365]

You have a great way of explaining so many hard topics that makes them easier to understand. That was also my favourite part of your Qabalah for Wiccans book. As a non English native speaker this is often a struggle, when I lack the words to express what is in my head.

[@bhagavansatanicparamahansa1568]

Also, hey buddy wanna be a vampire?