jiastar's Full Review: Starhawk - The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Anci...
Briefly, Wicca is an earth-based, nature oriented religious path. As a rule:
-- the true nature of the Divine is thought to be beyond human comprehension, but in Wicca it is "seen" as being both God and Goddess - 2 halves of a whole, 2 sides of the same coin
-- however, there is a "denomination" within Wicca, called Dianic, in which either only the Goddess is honored, or while both God and Goddess are acknowledged the Goddess is given more "importance"
-- the primary code to live by it "If it harm none, do as you will"
-- belief in both an afterlife and reincarnation (Summerland is what we call the place where we rest and reflect on our life lived before we "start over")
-- the rhythms of Nature are acknowledged, usually with ritual, as seen in the turning of the seasons and the phases of the moon.
The summary
Written by Miriam Simos, under the pseudonym of Starhawk, this book is a guide, a teaching tool, intended for those new to the religious path of Witchcraft.
It explores:
-- a brief "history" of the evolution of Witchcraft as a religion
-- the 8 solar holidays (the beginning and mid-point(peak) of each season)
-- the basics of the faith and of the Wiccan perspective of the Divine
-- working with a coven (traditionally a coven is a group of witches between 3 and 13 in number who worship together)
-- ritual (25 chants/invocations, as well as 11 rituals)
-- meditation and trance (61 different exercises)
-- spellcrafting (18 examples)
The review
Starhawk practices a Dianic tradition of Wicca, specifically that of the Faery tradition originated by Cora and Victor Anderson. She is also a feminist, and this political leaning colors her work.
Even though my practice in Wicca is which uses more of an equal balance between God and Goddess, this is one of my favorite books on my bookshelf. It's dog-eared appearance can attest to how many times I've referred to it over the 13 years I have been practicing Wicca.
What I have especially enjoyed:
-- beautiful poetic ritual language
-- the meditations -- they are truly wonderful
-- the personal stories she shares
I feel that this book makes an excellent read for the beginner:
-- complex ideas are presented simply
-- it covers (and teaches) the importance of mental work and meditation
-- beautiful rituals and poetic religious writings
-- tables which help summarize some of the information presented
It also distinguishes itself from other books on Wicca in that it is full of foot notes (something rarely found in other Wiccan texts) and comes complete with a rich bibliography.
However, it only presents one facet of the religion of Wicca. The way one tradition(think denomination) worships. It does not give a complete picture of this growing faith system. And the reader should keep this in mind.
Should it be the very first book you read on Wicca?
I hate to say it but no. If I had to chose one, the very first book you read should be "The Truth About Witchcraft Today" by Scott Cunningham. A slim text which covers all the basics on what Wicca is and is not all about. If upon reading this you choose to persue it, you can then follow up with other "beginner books" as you choose.
Should I bother buying it at all?
Oh most definitely! This is a valuable work, which belongs on every Wiccan's shelf. If for nothing else than the meditations and trance work. It is truly a must-have!!!
"The Spiral Dance" was originally published in 1979, the copy I am reviewing here is the one in my personal collection which was purchased in the late 1980's)
The influential masterwork that launched the American Goddess movement is now released in a beautiful 20th-anniversary edition. Illustrations.More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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