Witches' Hive
The Coven of the IFTAS
By Marlon Toledo Lacsamana, OSAe, LL and Triszjhkha Flores
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARLON TOLEDO LACSAMANA, OSAE, LL
PUBLISHED: DECEMBER 2009

	Share |

The ground we walk on, the water we drink, the breeze outside our window, the heat of the sun… these are a few things that surround us that we hardly ever notice. But to practitioners of the belief of Wiccan, believing these is a different agenda. (This was of seeing) may be coming on a little too strong, but this is the truth that we have come across to learn by living the Wiccan life.  There are many things that can be said about this way of living, but it is not for everyone to hear or to read. But we will share to you our craft in a manner which we can explain to you what you seek to know, without us breaking an oath to keep secrecy of things that is not to be said.

From the Lavender Lands, and the space in between,  
From the cracks in the world, in the order of things,  
We summon the Queer Ones, the fount of our love,  
To rise from below and descend from above,  
To bridge now the gap that exists in our hearts,  
To heal the pain that has torn us apart.

Most members of Iftas came across this path through friends – and it is not as hard as it looks in the movies, though it isn’t as easy to handle either. We are part of a coven called IFTAS – a name that, in itself, has no significance to many.  It came from the Arabic word “ifta,” which means light, but being part of it, one would learn and see the meaning within our circle.

Iftas was formed by three friends (in June 1999), who were walking through the Mariposan path of witchcraft – (one) gay and lesbians who shared more than just the Wiccan belief, but also the need to help people who are said to be different in our society, the ones some would call third-gender/sex, or now, simply, the LGBT community.  

Join in the struggle endured for so long,
That we now might taste of the water of life,
And be free from the curse that has caused us such strife.
Let us remember our power and place
Of our home from the stars, in the sweet ones embrace,
To reclaim now the ancient blessing once given,
From the Goddess of Earth, the Goddess of Heaven. 

Yes, Iftas is a Witches’ Hive of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders, with three covens under it (Iftaj is based in Cubao-Makati area, Iftal is based in Manila and western Quezon City area, and Iftan based in Bulacan-Fairview area) following the Mariposan path (Queer path) of witchcraft that embraces most of the existing paths, but with a QUEER twist. We not only practice the craft, but also the group actively promotes LGBT and pagan rights most especially in the Philippines, and that is our priority.

We are open to all sexual orientations and gender identities, but our path glorifies the achievements of the LGBT community. Beyond the world of the LGBT wherein we are known to be smart, professional and happy go lucky people, we let our members see the truth and the pain of being who we are in our society, and that has to change.

For ours is the wisdom of moon and of earth,
We stand at the gate between death and of birth.
As the fathers of beauty, as the mothers of souls,
We are healers of spirit, and we walk between worlds. 

The craft that we practice is not as hard as (those that can be surmised from) movies, and it is not as extravagant either. There are: no flying broomsticks, no magical walls that open up, nor do our wands produce lights or mists. And these are a few challenges that we have to understand.

Magick is not the same as what we have seen or of how we grew up understanding it to be; it is not an escape; it is not a solution; and most especially, it is not there to harm. Magick may sound so good in the ear, but it is not always as good as when you live by it – there had been many difficulties that we have encountered, intangible things such as fear, sickness, doubt, power hunger, selfishness, and so much more.

	1 | 2