Hierarchy

L

Ordo

Seek equality in all your relationships-both intimate and professional. Our patriarchal Western society has not allowed women full freedom and rights. How do you contribute to this? Power belongs to all, not just the wealthy. Justice requires change.

Power plays an ugly game

Of catch and tag, of listen to your betters.

One is stronger and has law,

One ends up in fetters.

Chain you down in laces,

Jail you within your sex.

It is the prettiest prison they say,

Is our power only beauty and the hex?

The pagan path was one in which the interplay between the masculine and the feminine resulted in two equal halves. The onset of a one-god religion (monotheistic) that was masculine in nature created a new paradigm that was heralded by revised laws. Those laws did not bode well for those of the feminine sex, and especially for those who followed the Goddess’s path.

According to the Aradia legend, she did not come here just to teach magic. She was also committed to helping the poor raise themselves up and resist the wealthy. At the time of the creation of this mythos, many were living a hard life under a feudal system that gave them few rights. People could be forced into indentured slavery or put to death by their masters. The Church was not necessarily seen as a kindly, spiritual force but, rather, an institution that owned much property and was bent on increasing its riches whilst expanding its grip on the people.

In this context, Aradia was seen as a kind of Robin Hood, taking from the rich and giving to the poor. There are many stories of her bringing justice to the people and teaching women the power they had in magic. These stories were both comforting and reassuring to those shoved to the bottom of the hierarchy of power.