Actually, this article should probably be titled “Wanted: 6′2″, Eyes of Blue, Kick-ass Wiccan Priest with Heart of Gold”.

I realized last night after I finished my most recent Witchvox submission and blog post, Honor The Father, Honor The Sun, in which I am very pro-Priest and pro-pagan-male, that amusingly enough, I am a High Priestess running a tradition and working without a High Priest.  Believe me, this is not my preference.

I’m a Lady-In-Waiting, I like to say.  Somewhere out there is the man who will have the blessing (and sometimes curse) of stepping into my life and into one of the most intimate relationships that exists on this planet:  that of the bond between a High Priestess and a High Priest.  The list of qualifications I have — integrity, balance, humor, wisdom, true dedication to this path, and others — might seem picky.  It is, on purpose.  I have a Tradition that will depend on his example, clergy-in-training that will depend on his guidance, two Elders that walk their talk and will expect no less from him, and a High Priestess (er, that would be me) that takes this path and her work very very seriously who will be yoking herself to his side for the long haul.   Yeah, in light of all that, picky’s good.  I want him to feel at HOME because he blends in with what we’re already doing.  If he’s the right one, he will be.

We actually have had our half-joking/half-not group conversations about conjuring up a 6′2″, eyes of blue, wise-strong-and-awesome High Priest for our group.  I’ve done my overacted sighs of longing, the group has giggled about when they’ll find “Dad” (even though half the coven is older than I am), and we’ve all had a good laugh.  It keeps me sane.  Fortunately, one of the Elders is male and he helps a great deal in those situations where that masculine force is needed, and, like any single mother, I do the best I can and try not to go schizo being Mom and Dad at once.

I’m of differing opinions on different days about the kind of relationship I want with a High Priest.  On some days, I’m reminded of the loving relationship between the High Priest and High Priestess that trained me and how the energy of their intimate marriage bond transferred into the circle work.  Likewise, I have seen so very many marriages between High Priests and High Priestesses split and take the coven out in one fell swoop from the detonation of their relationship.  Which means that on other days, I wonder if the best leadership arrangement is a business one, where we aren’t all crammed together in our daily lives and arguments over who forgot to do the laundry don’t spill over into the next class or ritual gathering time.  There’s pros and cons for both.

As a single mom who’s been doing this gig for a number of years now, and as a High Priestess solo on the highwire of leading a Tradition for an equal number of years, I’m pretty ok with where I’m at.  I’m not on the prowl for someone to hold down my circle or warm my bed… I can do both of those myself, thank you.  But occasionally, there is the longing for companionship, for the magick that is created by the electric attraction and connection of two separate beings in a shared experience.  The longing lasts for a moment or ten, and is soon trumped by common sense and a prayer of surrender to the Lady.

I know he’s out there, Mr. Dream-Priest.  Not necessarily perfect for anyone else but me and the people who will be looking to him.  I don’t really know what our relationship will look like, how our relationship will come about, or when.  And I’m not worried about it.  Every time I’ve asked Her if I should be more pro-active, if it’s “time”, She smiles and says, “Not yet”.

I really like the answer “Not yet”.  It has an underlying meaning of potential, one day to be Yes.  Kind of like when we tell our kids “Maybe” and they relax because they know that’s a Yes with “Be quiet” attached.   *smile*

So, I’ll do the Lady-In-Waiting gig.  I’m cool with that.  I really do believe that there is something that comes with a well-matched team of leadership in our faith.  And when it’s right, it’s worth waiting for.

Photo by Sundari Maa (via Flickr). Photo is of the lid cover for the Chalice Well, Glastonbury.  The symbol on the well is a Vesica Pisces, a symbol of Divine union.