PERFECT LOVE AND PERFECT TRUST IN CONCRETE: OUR DIFFERENCE AND OUR CHALLENGE
The motto "Perfect Love, Perfect Trust" is intertwined with
the very origins of Wicca.
Called by many traditions the "password" without which the
postulant cannot go through the initiatory portals, this expression cannot ever
be confused with an unattainable simple idea, a dreamlike utopia, which not
even represents a single ethical providing guidance to the procedure of the
adepts.
"PLPT" is much more than an advice, a rule or a moral guidance
motto.
"PLPT" is the foundation upon which is based the relationship
between the practitioner and the Old Ones.
Perfect Love and Perfect Trust is the bedrock of TDB.
Far beyond the interpretation of this rule in other aspects of Wicca and
neo-paganism, the vocation of TDB is to make PLPT not just a dream, but a
reality conquered by deep and challenging priestly and human relations.
Historically, the use of this expression recalls that, during the
centuries of great persecution, to initiate another person could mean death. If
the postulant was a spy, the initiator and the coven`s fate would be sealed:
torture and death. Therefore, the Initiation and the initiatory teachings were
made only under PLPT.
We can never forget our origins. We are witches, heirs of a story written
in danger, risks, violence and blood.
Perfect Love and Perfect Trust was what allowed the survival of the
Craft.
But does it matter only under this past perspective? Is PLPT a matter of
death only in the distant past?
No! Today, among us, PLPT also continues to be a matter of life or
death.
How and why?
It's time to realize that the Wiccan priesthood involves many levels.
They are not necessarily better or worse when compared with each other. They are
just different. Initiates choose their level of priesthood and their degree of
commitment to the Craft and the Old Ones by their vocation.
Many Wicca traditions define Coven simply as a "group of people
celebrating together". In this type of tradition, relations within circles
or covens almost boil down to the celebrations themselves and a small level of
intimacy between the members established only in common social criteria. There
isn’t a real involvement in each other's lives. People can belong to the same
circle or coven for years and only know the others superficially. Friendships
are made as in any other social group, the shades remain and the ugly truth is
rarely spoken, especially among people of the same group. The relationship
between members is pretty similar to any other social groups.
Is this wrong? Certainly not, but surely the level of the priesthood of
these people is one, the level of those who opt for merging their lives in
concrete and real PLPT is another, quite different.
TDB REPUDIATES this option of PLPT as simple "unattainable ideal”.
The definition of Coven in TDB is a completely different thing: it is a fusion of lives that implies
necessarily the PLPT in concrete, with the peeling of all shades, a deep dive in ourselves
and in the others', as well the end of social conventions inside the group. In this concept, all
forms of group relationship known before die and are reborn to the Coven method.
This makes our relationship with the Gods deeper, changing its level when
compared to those who are content with more superficial relationships. The
Craft is Life, if our way of living PLPT is more compromised and deeper, so also
is our Craft.
A Circle is a group where the PLPT is grown for that one day (after at
least 3 wheels together) it can properly and consciously make the commitment of
becoming a Coven.
In this type of group PLPT is concretely a matter of life or death.
When one joins our Tradition for training, they must deeply understand that
we're doing an ACCESSION contract - we cannot think of entering a Tradition to
change it, misrepresent it or follow it just when we believe it is appropriate,
ignoring what displeases us.
The truth is that getting into a Tradition has advantages and
disadvantages. Compared to solitary witchcraft, there are rules, requirements,
and things that need to be done. So, of course, there is a loss of freedom
compared to the solitary practice.
OUR PLPT CONTRACT CLAUSES