As a general student of witchcraft (mostly Celtic and Norse with other pantheistic studies), my research into the aspects of sex magic has given me the impression that one must be initiated into such practices by an experienced practitioner instead of 'experimenting' on one's own. Like every other aspect of witchcraft, you have to be absolutely certain with what you're working with, what you're trying to achieve, and where you're going with it. Otherwise, you're just making a big holy mess in your own life on mental, spiritual, and emotional levels.

Personally, I do not know of any groups that had practiced the Great Rite or any sexual magic - but then, it was nobody else's business to know, it was just between the two people involved. Myself, I was never advanced enough to even ask.

Now that I'm a solitary witch, I don't have the experience or interest to pursue the matter. I'll let those with more experience to do as they will. less

That is a truly limiting way of thinking about magic and Wiccan practice put out there by those who wish to make this remain a "mystery" religion. The fact is that sex magic is a fundamental part of Wiccan philosophy and it takes no special initiation though a bit of training might help. You're Monad won't let you screw up your life on anything but a physical level so you're pretty safe as far as it goes. For any magic to be effective you need to know clearly what you want, how you want to achieve the results and whether any part of the exercize would harm someone (including yourself). Now this is Wiccan philosophy and since it is possible to use witchcraft and not be a Wiccan I'll add that the only difference might be the 'harm none' clause...or it might not be. There might be different thoughts on the ethical practice of witchcraft for different Pagan paths though in my 20+ years of experience the only difference seems to be the ritual acoutrements and structure.

As Wiccans we follow the Law of Attraction tweaked to mesh with our unique practices and we don't require ANY ritual objects or initiations. This is coloquuially known as kitchen or hedge witchery. There is room for high ritual and many covens practice their own form of it at different times during the year. The solitary can indeed use high ritual with little or no harm to themselves, a simple desire to remain positive is all that's needed.

We don't generally conjure or abjure spirits onto the physical plane so there is usually no need for elaborate protections. It is very hard to mess with your spiritual path as your higher soul is usually unavailable to the 'average' practitioner because they haven't yet learned to contact and speak meaningfully to it. This then is the goal of any Wiccan (I cannot speak to other faiths) and leads to a deepening of connection with Deity, our higher soul being that spark of divinity that lies within us. The Monad is where She is within us according to the Charge of the Goddess.

Sex is the most powerful and primal energy we have at our disposal. During orgasm we are as close to uor Monad as we can be without effort. Rituals involving menstrual blood for instance, and any substance so intimately connected to fertility, are very powerful and fairly straight forward. Magic at it's heart is a fairly simple process to explain though it gives lifetimes of study possibility.

Sex plays a good part in my ritual practice and religious life. Wicca is a fertility religion and sex is sacred in our lives. So much so that we even profess that 'All acts of love and pleasure are sacred to Her'. When I am in a prayerful mood and sex is offered I see it as a religious experience as deep and meaningful as any Sabbat or Esbat. The energy generated and available can be used in many ways and can also be regrounded in an offering to the Gods for the well being of the planet.

Ummm I am advanced enough to be able to tell you that the "Great Rite" is a fertility ritual wherein the chalice, which represents Her, is united with the sacred blade, which represents Him. It is a reenactment of the sacred union that created all that is and rarely, if ever, involves actual humans engaging in sex acts. I have seen groups that do, in fact, use sex during the Great Rite to raise energy for some great coven working but it isn't forced nor is it common. Most groups are content to allow the representation. It is a powerful rite and one that is at the heart of any coven ritual, or solitary should they decide. It shouldn't be shrouded in mystery...it IS mystery and therefore needs no further magical thinking.

Sex magic can be taught and there have been some over the years that have tried to mask their fantasies by claiming that 'only a witch can make a witch' and that the practice needs to be sexual...those people have been shunned by most ethical groups and their thinking decried as unethical. Sex magic is loving, powerful and can be performed solo, making it available to everyone! less