Footnotes
(1) Some have claimed that this is a reflection of cultic acts that are
known to have been practiced in some parts of Greece, during fertility
festivals. This, we don't plan on doing ourselves, but one can see the
magical reasoning behind the cross-dressing. Children are born of the
mingling of man and women, so by symbolically taking on some of that
which represents the other gender, one symbolizes the mingling of that
which brings forth children. Thus, the bearded Aphrodite.
This, we are tolerant of, as an outside practice, but it is displeasing
to us, aesthetically, so it will not be part of our practices here.
One should point out that others would argue that classical scholars
are often too eager to see magical explanations, where everyday arguments
will suffice. Lovers, after making love, have often been known to do
things precisely because they are silly and unexpected.
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(2) "What about among Traditionalists?", is the obvious question. The
obvious answer is that many will be defectors from Neo-Paganism, and will
bring some of the problems of that community with them. Also, many of
these attitudes were already present, before Neo-Paganism saw its early
1990s vogue. Neo-Paganism merely strengthened them.
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