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((Short description|Wiccan ritual))
((refimprove|date=January 2012))
((Wicca|expand=Rites and rituals))
The '''great rite''' is a [[Wicca]]n ritual involving symbolic sexual intercourse with the purpose of drawing energy from the powerful connection between a male and female. Both receive more power.<ref>Wagar, Samuel, "The Wiccan Great Rite — ''Hieros Gamos'' in the Modern West", ''[[Journal of Religion and Popular Culture]]'' (Volume 21, Issue 2, Summer 2009): pages 1-38.</ref> It is an uncommon ritual in a full coven, as it is used when the coven is in need of powerful spiritual intervention.<ref> Budapest, Zsuzsanna Emese. ''The Holy Book of Women's Mysteries''. Berkeley, CA: Wingbow, 1989.</ref> 
Most often it is performed by the [[high priest|high priest and priestess]] of a coven, but other participants can be selected to perform the rite.  

==Symbolic version of the great rite==
In the symbolic version the high priestess plunges the [[athame]], or ritual knife that represents the masculine, into a cup or [[chalice (cup)|chalice]] which represents the feminine.  The chalice is filled with wine and is held by the high priest.  The great rite symbolizes creation in the union of the maiden [[goddess]] with the lover [[god]], and thus is also known as a [[fertility rite]].((cn|date=February 2022))
==Occasions for the great rite==
A variety of ritual occasions call for the great rite to be performed, such as during the festival of [[Beltane]] on or about May 1 in the northern hemisphere and November 1 in the southern hemisphere.<ref>((cite book |last=Morrison |first=Dorothy |title=The Craft: A Witch's Book of Shadows |publisher=[[Llewellyn Worldwide]] |year=2001 |page=153))</ref><ref>((cite book |last=Hume |first=Lynne |title=Witchcraft and Paganism in Australia |location=Melbourne |publisher=[[Melbourne University Press]] |year=1997))</ref>
==See also==
*[[Ganachakra]]
*[[Hieros gamos]]
*[[Liber XV, The Gnostic Mass]]
*[[Sexual ritual]]
*[[Yab-Yum]]

==Notes==
((reflist))

((WiccaandWitchcraft))

[[Category:Wicca]]
[[Category:Wiccan terminology]]
[[Category:Religious sex rituals]]


((Paganism-stub))
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