What does a High Priestess do?

Answer 1

As a practicing High Priestess, I can only tell you what it means to me.

I was taught that every woman practitioner following a pagan path is a Priestess, the one who leads them in Ritual is a High Priestess.

When I first found my pagan path, I dedicated myself and started learning, from family members, from my shaman, from mentors, from personal study and from life. I was considered a Priestess when I started preforming Rites and Rituals. As a solitary Witch I started creating and writing spells, rites & rituals of my own. Eventually I was in a position to work with others and as my circle came together I was chosen as High Priestess. With that title came more responsibility, for teaching, organising and mentoring.

Then as that circle expanded members of the group "hived off" and when I moved from the area two more "hives" were created, I now have a fourth circle, here in my new home and can rightly claim the title if Witch Queen. I am still an active High Priestess, and I am still learning all that means.

Answer 2

As a High Priestess for an eclectic pagan Circle of 35 plus members I can give you an idea of what I do.

Daily I

- meditate

- work on the book I am writing

- research any up-coming spells I have in the works

- make myself available to Circle members as they need me

- tend my herbs and garden

- attend the Altar in my study, lighting candles, cleaning, and keeping things tidy.

This in addition to working at my "paying" job, and taking care of my extended family.

Weekly I

- correspond with the members of the Circle, to let them know about up-coming gatherings, Ritual, celebrations, and spells

- write what Rituals, spells etc. are going to be used in the next little while

- plant/harvest simples and needful things according to our requirements and the phases/houses of the moon

- host gatherings both casual (we are a close-knit community) and those related to the Ritual work of the Circle

- teach Magic 101 & Magic 201 to the children and newcomers to our Circle

- spend one afternoon in my magical library, cataloging, researching, re-shelving, and searching for new additions.

When required I

- interview potential new members for the Circle, sometime with the help of my High Priest, at other times on my own

- do maintenance on the physical Circle, ours is out of doors and requires mowing/shoveling, refilling the torches, decorating the Altar, etc.

- make the Tokens to be distributed at each Ritual

- interact with organizers and members of other local, national and international pagan groups

- support and attend the local "Pagan Pride" gathering

and any other things that require my presence.

At the Full Moon I

- hold an Esbatt, open to any and all Circle member

- harvest/complete what herbs, simples and magical works as are needful

- do spell work as planned.

At the New Moon I

- hold an Esbatt open to any and all Circle members

- plant/start what herbs, simples and magical works as are appropriate

- do spell work as planned.

At the Quarters/Cross-quarters (Sabbats) I

- look over the Ritual I have written, and assign parts (speaking and support) to members

- co-ordinate with my High Priest and Squire to be certain everything is in order

- set up the Altar

- make certain the small feast is in order

- have my contribution to the celebratory feast ready

- dress and prepare myself for the ritual

- lead the processional to the Circle

- anoint and bless the members as they enter the Circle (my High Priest shares this duty)

- Create Sacred Space for the Ritual

- invoke the feminine aspect of the deity

- lead the Ritual

- light the Candles of Blessing

- lead any spell work intended as part of the Ritual

- raise and discharge the Cone of Power

- bless and share the Wine (my High Priest blesses and shares the Cakes and our Teacher blesses and shares the tokens)

- acknowledge the feminine aspect of the deity

- ground any remaining energies

- open the Sacred Space

- lead the recessional and start the party.

In some cases (Samhain in particular) I make myself available to scry for any member of the Circle that would like me to work for them.