It is usually, although not always, the time when one takes a leadership role in a coven, preparatory to "hiving" or establishing an independent coven. Second Degree recognizes further training and commitment within Blue Star beyond that of the first degree. Someone who has attained their first degree is referred to as a priest, priestess, or simply "initiate." After this rite of passage, the person is referred to as a "Neophyte."įirst Degree Initiation is the ritual through which someone enters the clergy within Blue Star. Neophyte differs from the other ranks in being seen as a preparation for priesthood, as opposed to an end in and of itself. Neophyte marks an intermediary step between dedication and initiation, and indicates both a level of facility with Blue Star practice and theory, and a willingness to take on increased responsibility within the tradition. Those who have been through this ceremony are referred to as "Dedicants."
Many parts of the standard Blue Star liturgy, such as quarter calls, may be sung instead of spoken.īlue Star is unusual for having a five-part rank system, as opposed to the three-degree system of most initiatory Wiccan traditions.ĭedication is the first rite of passage within the Blue Star tradition, and indicates a commitment to a Pagan spirituality generally and a loose commitment to the tradition specifically. The Blue Star tradition's theology allows for enough flexibility to allow polytheists, pantheists and monotheists to participate in the tradition, and rituals can involve prayer or invocation to Wiccan deities, the gods and goddesses of Pagan peoples, or deified abstractions. The positioning and handling of the ritual tools on the altar is given special attention within the tradition. Blue Star rituals typically have a round altar in the centre of the circle of participants. Blue Star and the Feri tradition are the only two large traditions of witchcraft to feature a septegram prominently in their symbolism. Other hallmarks include the use of music in their ritual and liturgy (arguably unusual amongst traditional Wiccans), the importance placed upon a ritual feast, the use of a septegram as a symbol rather than a pentagram, and initiatory tattooing. There is no self-initiation in Blue Star.īlue Star practitioners are known primarily for their emphasis on community service as a means to celebrate the gods and protect the interests of the contemporary Pagan community. Periodic convocations are referred to as "family gatherings."īlue Star remains a predominantly initiatory coven-based tradition in the model of the Gardnerian or Alexandrian traditions, but a number of "solitary" practitioners exist, typically with a form of long-distance relationship with an established group. In 1998, the tradition was introduced in Canada by Devyn Christopher Gillette of BarleyMoon Coven.īlue Star has undergone many changes over the years having a widespread, diverse, and autonomous covens and groves, with a decentralized hierarchy, it is a living tradition. In 1997, the Guild of the Swan Weavers introduced Blue Star in England. In 1991, members of StarFire Coven introduced the tradition in Ireland. Some group names have used references to stars (Nova Grove, for example, or Polaris Coven), but are simply the name that inspires members (Compass Rose, SummerOak, Serenity, or Braided Stream). Klein published The Flowering Rod: Men, Sex and Spirituality in 1993, also through Delphi Press.Įarly covens included "blue" or "star" in their names (for example, Raven Star and Wolf Star), but the practice waned.
In 1992, Katz (as Tzipora Klein) published Celebrating Life: Rites of Passage For All Ages through Delphi Press. From the years 1988 through 1992, the duo toured the US and that tour facilitated the spread of the tradition throughout the United States, as the couple helped to found new covens while on the road.
Their marriage ended in 1983 when Tzipora became involved with Kenny Klein and released "Moon Hooves in the Sand ," which contained Blue Star liturgical music that inspired the duo to perform as folk musicians. Tzipora Katz, joined the coven in 1977 while with Frank Dufner and was the original HPS. In 1980, on its membership application to the Covenant of the Goddess, the coven is described as practicing "Great American Nontraditional Collective Eclectic Wicca." Early hives from the original coven spread throughout the New York metropolitan area. The " Coven of the Blue Star", established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1975 by Frank Dufner, gave birth to both the name and the original membership of what would eventually become the Blue Star tradition.
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