jmercury's review
5.0
A potent mix of poetry, vision, and practical advice. The anniversary edition notes are essential when reading the text today.
zombi's review
5.0
The book is an excellent introduction to what goddess religion (actually what many consider to be a revival of the most ancient religions), Wicca, paganism whatever you want-to-call-it is all about. It does include exercises, rituals, etc. and that might seem a little odd to those who are not ready to embrace the them or are frightened off by words like witchcraft; but the philosophies presented around these exercises make an incredible amount of sense and are most interesting reading. I believe that if you are interested in the ideas behind this (and just some general historic perspective) you can skip over the ritual stuff and read the rest."
This book is an excellent resource; many neo-pagans if you want to call them that consider this a life-shaping or theology-shaping work. I agree. It's very well written and very inclusive.
This book is an excellent resource; many neo-pagans if you want to call them that consider this a life-shaping or theology-shaping work. I agree. It's very well written and very inclusive.
abarnson's review
3.0
Right before I was finished reading it I read some reviews to see if others felt the same way I did. Most did. It was very wordy. She would repeat herself thought out each chapter in different ways. I found myself skimming the information until something caught my attention. It does have some great information on here, exercises, and resource in the back. I will keep it as a reference book for later use.
kellylynnthomas's review
4.0
The first time I read this books, as a 20-year-old running away from Christianity, I wasn't ready. I hadn't reckoned with all my internalized issues around sin, the body, etc. I didn't like how "political" Starhawk was; I thought religion should be separate.
Now, as a 30-something, it strikes me how tame Starhawk's politics actually are in this volume (which is perhaps an effect of changing times as well)--she is mostly concerned with preserving the environment and women's liberation.
Even though this is a Wicca 101 book, it goes deeper into the philosophy of magic and Goddess religion than a lot of other how-to books. For someone like 20-year-old me, that could be a turn off. For something with more of a liberal background or interest in philosophy, that's probably a pro. I personally don't enjoy the little vignettes that start off each chapter, but I understand their purpose. The most valuable things about this book, though, are the exercises and commentary (specifically the 20th anniversary edition). Starhawk points out that Wicca isn't set in stone, it changes and evolves with the times. (For example, she questions the gender binary inherent in much of Wicca as being exclusionary, a point with which I agree.)
I can't overstate the importance of this volume, and every witch should read Starhawk at some point in their journey.
Now, as a 30-something, it strikes me how tame Starhawk's politics actually are in this volume (which is perhaps an effect of changing times as well)--she is mostly concerned with preserving the environment and women's liberation.
Even though this is a Wicca 101 book, it goes deeper into the philosophy of magic and Goddess religion than a lot of other how-to books. For someone like 20-year-old me, that could be a turn off. For something with more of a liberal background or interest in philosophy, that's probably a pro. I personally don't enjoy the little vignettes that start off each chapter, but I understand their purpose. The most valuable things about this book, though, are the exercises and commentary (specifically the 20th anniversary edition). Starhawk points out that Wicca isn't set in stone, it changes and evolves with the times. (For example, she questions the gender binary inherent in much of Wicca as being exclusionary, a point with which I agree.)
I can't overstate the importance of this volume, and every witch should read Starhawk at some point in their journey.
lilliana_blackstar's review
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
I first read this book around 20 years ago, when I was new to the craft and a solitary practitioner. I don't remember if I read the 20th anniversary edition (which would have been new at the time) but I'm pretty sure I didn't read any footnotes that first time through. I found a lot of it hard to relate to back then, as a solitary practitioner and this book is clearly designed for those practicing with a group.
Reading it again now, as an initiated priestx with an active coven, I found so many parts of this book to be more insightful and more useful! There are timeless bits of advice for leaders in spiritual circles.
However, it is worth keeping in mind that this book was originally published in 1979. Reading the footnotes with the 20th anniversary edition helps a LOT- but those notes themselves are now over 20 years old. There are things presented as historical fact which have since been disproven or revealed to be conjecture. And although the notes confront some of this, the language is highly gendered and geared towards female-identifying people.
Mostly I think that we can offer some grace as the book was obviously ahead of its time when written, and still has many useful gems within it, even while some concepts now seem very out of place.
Still a highly valuable book for the modern pagan.
Reading it again now, as an initiated priestx with an active coven, I found so many parts of this book to be more insightful and more useful! There are timeless bits of advice for leaders in spiritual circles.
However, it is worth keeping in mind that this book was originally published in 1979. Reading the footnotes with the 20th anniversary edition helps a LOT- but those notes themselves are now over 20 years old. There are things presented as historical fact which have since been disproven or revealed to be conjecture. And although the notes confront some of this, the language is highly gendered and geared towards female-identifying people.
Mostly I think that we can offer some grace as the book was obviously ahead of its time when written, and still has many useful gems within it, even while some concepts now seem very out of place.
Still a highly valuable book for the modern pagan.
stitchandwitch's review
5.0
Amazing book. Absolutely amazing. One of the best I have ever read on basics of Wicca/Paganism.
dreamofbookspines's review
4.0
I really enjoyed Starhawk's straightforward and thoughtful presentation of Wiccan-style Pagan traditions. Her reflections at the ten and twenty year marks were also a delight. Of course no Pagan book is unproblematic. I wish she had addressed cultural appropriation more thoroughly and that she had thoroughly taken down Z. Budapest's trash attitude towards trans women. But otherwise this was a delightful and easy to read introduction to Paganism that does not bore old witches like me.
choirqueer's review
3.0
It’s a shame this book is nearly incomprehensible outside of an extremely binary gender perception. It has what would otherwise have been such good and important content.