Dianic Wiccans of the Budapest lineage worship the
Goddess, who they see as containing all goddesses, from all cultures; she is seen as the source of all living things and containing all that is within her. The practice of magic is rooted in the belief that energy or 'life force' can be directed to enact change. However, rituals are often improvised to suit individual or group needs and vary from coven to coven. Some Dianic Wiccans eschew manipulative
spellwork and
hexing because it goes against the
Wiccan Rede. However, many other Dianic witches (notably Budapest) do not consider hexing or binding of those who attack women to be wrong, and actively encourage the binding of
rapists. Like other Wiccans, Dianics may form
covens, attend
festivals, celebrate the eight major
Wiccan holidays, and gather on
Esbats. Some Dianic groups develop rituals specifically to confront gendered personal trauma, such as battery,
rape,
incest, and
partner abuse. In one ethnographic study of such a ritual, women shifted their understanding of power from the hands of their abusers to themselves. It was found that this ritual had improved self-perception in participants in the short-term, and that the results could be sustained with ongoing practice. Dianic Wicca developed from the
Women's Liberation Movement and some covens traditionally compare themselves with
radical feminism. Dianics pride themselves on the inclusion of
lesbian and
bisexual members in their groups and leadership. It is a goal within many covens to explore female sexuality and sensuality outside of male control, and many rituals function to affirm lesbian sexuality, making it a popular tradition for lesbians and bisexuals. Some covens exclusively consist of same-sex oriented women and advocate
lesbian separatism. Ruth Barrett writes, ==History==