Amazon.com
The original book that brought Goddess worship to the public eye has marked its 10th anniversary, yet it still remains an integral part of the Wiccan canon. The Spiral Dance leans heavily toward the feminist aspects of Wicca, but Starhawk's comments on the new edition make it clear that she is aware of the growing male presence in witchcraft. However, this edition is not some watered down, politically correct revision of the original. Very little is changed aside from the addition of Starhawk's observations on how the book has weathered its first decade, and what few changes she would make if she were writing it today. Readers interested in learning more about contemporary witchcraft, whether considering Wicca as a way of life or simply desiring to understand this earth-based religion, will find a wealth of information in The Spiral Dance, and will notice that it becomes one of the most frequently consulted books in their Wicca libraries. --Brian Patterson
Book Description
The twentieth anniversary edition of The Spiral Dance celebrates the pivotal role the book has had in bringing Goddess worship to the religious forefront. This bestselling classic is both an unparalleled reference on the practices and philosophies of Witchcraft and a guide to the life–affirming ways in which readers can turn to the Goddess to deepen their sense of personal pride, develop their inner power, and integrate mind, body, and spirit. Starhawk's brilliant, comprehensive overview of the growth, suppression, and modern–day re–emergence of Wicca as a Goddess–worshipping religion has left an indelible mark on the feminist spiritual consciousness.
In a new introduction, Starhawk reveals the ways in which Goddess religion and the practice of ritual have adapted and developed over the last twenty years, and she reflects on the ways in which these changes have influenced and enhanced her original ideas. In the face of an ever–changing world, this invaluable spiritual guidebook is more relevant than ever.
Customer Reviews:
Other Books.......2007-09-03
An interesting look at wicca and neopaganism, with some advice. Despite her superhero name, this is not full of crazy talk and weirdness. It is worth a read of you are interested in that movement, and want to discover what makes them tick, even if you have no interest in being a religious practictioner, or having a religion at all.
Let it be life-changing.......2007-07-14
This book can change your life and empower you to be in direct contact with Spirit. You don't need to buy or join anything, and it's all about how Goddess and God are immanent, directly and immediately present in heart, mind, soul and body. If you've always wanted to be a genuine lover of God/dess, this book can give you some ideas for how to really do it and feel it deeply at all levels. It helped me to find some doorways to spiritual bliss. And it's so free of the "power-over" trip of so many religions. It can really be a blessing.
A Great overview of Wiccan ideology.......2007-06-05
Starhawk's The Spiral Dance ranks among what come closest to "classic wiccan tests". After nearly 30 years it's still relevant, insightful, and full of wisdom (even if it does date itself at a few points.)
The first thing that really struck me about the book was how up-front she was about the ideology of Goddess worship and how it related to modern western ideology. She doesn't try to water it down to make it appeal to more people, she writes what she believes and what her readers need to know. Do her proclamations about saving the environment and liberating people from cultural oppression seem a bit ambitious? Yes, definitely. But that ambition shines throughout the book, though the rituals and spells that have been re-printed and re-interpreted a million times, and makes the book unique and far more than just another book on the same old stuff.
The rituals, visualizations, and other exercises are simple, easy to follow, and printed in a different font so they will stand out if you are trying to reference them later. Everything is explained well and designed to be added upon and customized as practitioners become more experienced.
The 20th anniversary edition includes commentary from the 10th anniversary edition, as well as updated 20th anniversary commentary. The commentary is interesting and has much to offer, but it is my one complaint: the two set of commentary at the back of the book make reading the commentary very disruptive to reading the text. It almost requires reading the book 3 times to get it all as a whole (once for the original, and once for each commentary.) It can be difficult to figure out the best way to take advantage of the commentary without getting too removed from the context.
Overall, it is an excellent book and definitely belongs on the bookshelf of any wiccan or new-age Goddess-worshipper.
Very 60's.......2007-03-22
I found this a very informative book on the craft.It has a very 60's feel to it and I found having to go to the back chapters in the book for a more updated opinion on Starhawk's writings to be a tad annoying hence the 4 star score opposed to a 5 star mark.It is more for the Coven orientated student,however as a solitary I still found some invaluable information as a whole.And it also gave me some interesting insight to coven behavior.I would recommend this to other like minded or curious persons.blessed be
In the rivers and the mountains, in the forests and in you, the Goddess is alive and growing..........2006-09-17
Contrary to what other Pagans may have written on this site, I LOVE "The Spiral Dance" precisely because of its political overtones. As an anticapitalist, ecofeminist gay man, I am deeply moved by Starhawk's vision of an earth-based spirituality that honors women, community, the earth, sexuality and the body. Frankly, I am shocked by the outright sexist reviews some people have given of this book, not to mention the widespread denial of the burning times as a patriarchal holocaust against women, gays, and non-Christian people. The eagerness of certain Pagans to minimize the suffering of this period is, to me, a disturbing reflection of the larger culture's willingness to silence the histories and voices of feminist women and other marginalized groups. Furthermore, in at least one review of this book, I detect anti-Semitism, implying that Starhawk can't fully be a Witch if she retains her Jewishness. Such a narrow definition of what constitutes a Pagan denies us the complexities, nuances, individual choices and ancestries that enrich our lives. Need I remind the reader of the many Hebrew Goddesses of the Middle East or the ecological undercurrents, feminism, and social consciousness that informs Jewish tradition (the contradictions of right-wing Zionism aside). Without a doubt, what seperates Starhawk's writings on the Craft from many other Pagan authors is her passion for social justice, ecological sustainability and peace. Personally, I believe that spirituality devoid of concern for other human beings and the earth is nothing more than right-wing, reactionary navel-gazing. Unfortunately, I have met far too many witches who are much more interested in fluffy, woo-woo nonsense like astral projection and past live regression than they are in restoring the land (the living body of the Ancient Mother we supposedly worship). Moreover, as someone who strongly values participatory democracy, egalitarianism and consensus, I really appreciate Starhawk's insights on coven structure and group dynamics. (Coven hierarchies, like corporate hierarchies, do not appeal to me in the least!) Simply put, if you are looking for another New Age book on channeling spirits or casting hexes, then this book is not for you. However, if your idea of magic involves planting seeds in a community garden or marching for peace, then read this book immediately. It just may change your life forever.
Blessed be and tikkun olam.
Customer Reviews:
Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03
An author famous for her neopagan non-fiction work, has come up with a
science fiction novel. A fairly mundane effort, with the interest being
the different approach. A group in San Francisco resist a dictatorial,
technological society and try and do so non-violently, rather than
through war, secret agents or other methods. They try to maintain their
neopagan sort of outlook, unsurprisingly.
Other than that, pretty generic adventure structure, these guys are
obviously Good, almost unbelievably so at times, and the other guys are
Bad, no question.
Ecofeminist Utopia: Standing the Test of Time.......2007-07-13
I read Starhawk's first novel when it was first published (~1993), but had occasion to reread it for current research on the evolution of ecofeminist utopian literature since _Herland_ (Charlotte Perkins Gilman). _The Fifth Sacred Thing_ speaks most clearly to those who live in California, particularly those who live in the San Francisco Bay Area, which is depicted with fine detail in the text. This is, indeed, a utopian society in which the very finest social qualities of character must rise above short-sighted psychological tendencies of human beings. Starhawk insists that we question what we are capable of, how difficult it can be to do the right thing (i.e., what is best for the community rather than what is best for the individual), and to look within ourselves to understand our own strengths and weaknesses. Nevertheless, there is no question what she believes we must all do: Live in right-relationship to Earth/Nature, treat aspects of Nature with full respect and appreciation. The fifth sacred thing is "spirit" and it is this dimension of human beings that Starhawk believes we need to nurture and develop if the future of the Earth is to be healthy and in harmony. Most of the almost 500-page book is a page-turner in which the protagonists are in danger from others and, in some cases, from within. It is fascinating to read this and _Herland_, books which serve as bookends to 20th century ecofeminist utopian thought.
The Fifth Sacred Thing.......2007-06-03
In "The Fifth Sacred Thing" enormously popular Pagan author, Starhawk explores two possible futures. San Francisco is an oasis of spirituality, peace, and ecology, where poverty and hatred are non-existent. Southern California , by contrast is a nightmare society, with an oppression state religion where women are sold as property, children are bred for sex, and residents must steal water to survive. When these two cultures clash, the non-violent northerners must decide how to defend without compromising their values or integrity.
The basis of the novel is non-violent activism teamed with Pagan practice. Starhawk co-founded the Reclaiming Collective and in many ways the novel is a reflection of life if concepts were applied. It is both a story of political exploration as it is an innovative novel that explores love, magick, and the interconnectedness of all beings. The characters face real problems and the concepts of non-violence and magickal practice are challenged.
Moving, philosophical, and intriguing, "The Fifth Sacred Thing" is a story of triumph and hope. Starhawk weaves together rich characters and anarchist-ecofeminist ideology into a unique Pagan fantasy. It is a novel that challenges the dominant paradigm and urges us to evaluate what we hold sacred. Although sometimes unrealistic; Starhawk successfully creates a novel addressing important issues and inspires a vision of community, spirituality, and sustainability.
courtesy of Copper-Moon.com
Review of the fifth sacred thing.......2007-05-13
This book is a powerful story that is especially essential if you live in the Bay Area. I didn't put this book down. I could see the world she painted visually in my imagination. It gave me a more magical veiw point on the world.
I recomend this book to anyone with an open heart and a kindred spirit.
A powerful imagining of our way out of a very possible future.......2007-04-18
I read this book a few years ago and have since given a few copies away to friends. It is hard to categorize. It feels like it fits some science-fiction conventions, but it steadfastly (and radically) imagines a future where humanity isn't tied to more and more technology but master the inner and communal technologies (or ways of knowing) that allow for a real sustainable way of living. Some of the technologies she presents for an ecologically balanced urban future are staggering and made me want to see it put forth in a movie.
Unlike most science fiction that lazily imagines more machines doing the work of living, Starhawk has presented a future where humans more fully embody themselves and live in communion with nature. It's a staggering work. Her imagining of bee knowledge was intriguing to imagine and the mind-bending reality of dealing with the diverse cast of characters presented another teachable moment for me.
I will only add that the first chapter was the hardest. They also betray her freshman hand at writing fiction. But stick with it and the book will seriously reward you with some thought-provoking future-visioning.
Amazon.com
The 20th-century reclamation of Goddess traditions has evolved from a small counterculture revolution of the mid-1900s to the birthright of an entire generation of children and young teenagers. However, the parents--who were adults when they first turned to paganism--are discovering that raising children in a pagan tradition can prove difficult amidst the near void of resources to assist them in teaching this way of life. Relying on age-old learning methods, such as songs and storytelling, Circle Round fills this void with techniques that are truly rooted in traditions. This priceless resource offers guidelines for helping children discover the different facets of the Goddess tradition--from altars to sabbats--and suggests recipes, creative projects, and other activities resuscitating the values of family in our latchkey society. --Brian Patterson
Book Description
In our rushed, stressed society, it's sometimes difficult to spend meaningful time as a family. Now Starhawk, Diane Baker, and Anne Hill offer new ways to foster a sense of togetherness through celebrations that honor the sacredness of life and our Mother Earth.
Goddess tradition embraces the wheel of life, the never-ending cycle of birth, growth, love, fulfillment, and death. Each turn of the wheel is presented here, in eight holidays spanning the changing seasons, in rites of passage for life transitions, and in the elements of fire, air, water, earth, and spirit.
Circle Round is rich with songs, rituals, craft and cooking projects, and read-aloud stories, as well as suggestions for how you can create your own unique family traditions. Here are just some of the ways to make each event in the cycle of life more special:
Mark Summer Solstice by making sweet-smelling herb pillows for good dreams
Send a teenager off to college with the Leaving Behind and Carrying With rituals
Comfort an injured child with the Tree of Life meditation
Commemorate a loved one by planting or donating a tree
As a one-of-a-kind resource for people of many faiths and beliefs,
Circle Round will be a beloved companion in your home for years to come.
Customer Reviews:
We use this book often.......2007-08-17
This is one of my all time favorite books. It has wonderful ideas for crafts, rituals, recipes and stories to share with your children. We use this book at all the 8 sabbats, and there are quite a few recipes we use even more often.
I found that there is also a CD with all the songs on it too. Which is a great addition to this book. :)
One thing we love to do, the idea from this book, is to "clean" the house with the cycle of the moon. My 3 year old loves to bless the house with sage!
Heather mama of 5
A very unique book!.......2007-07-27
I just finished this book and was really pleased with it. I do have some different views and opinions than the authors, however they warned me that I might in the introduction. The ideas about explaining the Goddess and Wicca to toddlers, as well as they activities they included really inspired me. The one part of the book I wouldn't go over with my daughter was the 14 year old boy explaining how to be a good lover. Well, maybe I would after all, and share with her why I don't believe 14 year olds should be sexually active. This isn't the be all end all book, it's a jumping off place. And really, isn't that what a book about including children in Wicca should be?
Marvelous book!.......2007-07-01
My daughter (age 9) and I have benefited greatly from the info in this book. It is written for the parent who wants to teach their child the old ways. It is FULL of examples of how to explain traditions, goddesses, rituals, etc. to a young child, and in a language the child can understand. Every pagan parent should have this book!
A Circle Round is Great!.......2007-05-17
bought this book to read and learn with my son. I am currently taking a class that involves this book to help your children and you better understand the Goddess. It has several different perspectives from other families on how they all relate to the Goddess.
This is very informative and a definate read for all who would love to learn and share this with their children (of all ages)
Brightest Blessings!
The best pagan reference book EVER!!.......2007-03-10
This book is used so frequently it is getting worn. It is the perfect thing for coming up with ideas on how to celebrate the sabbats with children. I use it to come up with ideas for adults as well. Whether it be stories, crafts, recipes, or information it has it all. Whether a parent or not, it's a must for the earth-based spiritually minded people. Well worth the money spent.
Amazon.com
Starhawk and Hilary Valentine, renowned leaders in the Wicca movement, use the transformative fairy tale of The Twelve Wild Swans to teach an advanced class on magic. More significantly, this is an introduction to a mature level of Wicca called "reclaiming," a model of witchcraft that blends magic, personal growth, and activism. The book begins with the first chapter of the fairy tale, in which a foolish queen wishes to exchange her 12 sons for a daughter. An old woman "dressed all in black" overhears the queen and makes the wish come true, granting the queen a daughter but turning her sons into wild swans.
From here the coauthors launch into a back-and-forth structure of telling the story and then stopping to show how it applies to a witch's initiation and transformation. For example, we all must leave the castle in order to heal our past. We all must spend some time wandering in the wilderness before finding our true home, and we all must conquer some form of "wicked vows" before we can reach full maturity. These are wise leaders and strong guides, well worth following on this life-altering fairy tale. --Tara West
Book Description
The long-awaited continuation of the bestselling classic The Spiral Dance
Customer Reviews:
A fantastic journey through the recesses of your mind..........2007-04-01
This book is sometimes painful, often challenging, and occasionally glorious.
My Reclaiming community based an elements course around this book, and we based each class on the exploration of an element, as outlined in 12 Wild Swans. Starhawk artfully guides the reader through Self, gently unearthing those secret desires and wicked vows we make to ourselves. The book explains each step of the somewhat well known fairy tale as a step we, like Rose, can take. Her activities provided are thoughtful and introspective, and the stories, while occasionally quite activist, appropriate to the material and empathy inducing.
Perhaps it was the timing, but this book stimulated a great deal of introspection and change in me. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to dive headfirst into the recesses of their mind, and figure out what exactly mucks about back there.
Enjoy!
Sorry.......2005-12-14
If you're looking for a metaphysical interpretation of a fairy tale, go straight to Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Estes or Iron John by Robert Bly. Both will leave you with the feeling that you have been respected as a reader, that you have come closer to understanding yourself, and that a folk tale can contain great truths. On the other hand this book by Starhawk was, for me, almost impossible to read at all. Her witchier-than-thou attitude put together with her total self-righteousness, boring hateful feminism, and relentless telling and retelling and retelling of one thin little story is just awful. Sorry I can't agree with the other reviewers.
A serious book review.......2005-10-26
I like to start this review with a quote from Scott Cunningham's book Living Wicca, " Books can lift spirits, heal our wounds, steel our courage and strengthen our religious resolve.... Books are a great source of wisdom... Books aren't foolproof. Some books contain virtually no accurate information. Many readers are apt to believe anything in print. 'After all they say 'its in this book right here. That proves it's true.' Unfortunately, nearly anyone can write a book and even have it publish. Does this ensure that its contents are true?... Listen to your intuition. In other words feel free to pick and choose among the published... textbooks to decide what feels right... Books are tools to be used mark them with pencil or bookmarks". I like this quote because I have read several Books from which even though most I have found very helpful or that had some helpful information from time to time I have read a book and found that I disagree with the writer. However there are times that despite this I have found some tiny bits of good info. This book is one of those books. I came across this book when looking for A spiral dance which had been recommended to me for my daughter. 12 wild swans popped up on amazon's suggested reading. Though I haven't read a Spiral Dance I went a head and grabbed 12 wild swans since it had such good reviews, for me to read.
This book has a lot of info that I disagree with, info that I found great and helpful. There were times I was very disappointed as I felt her motivations as an activist sometimes were to strong and disrupted the flow of the book.
The Book's has good info like that on "a wicked vow", how to deal with anger, both within and directed at you. Also finding your shadow self.
However her opinions on dreams I strongly disagree with as a Dream interpreter and reader. Furthermore she makes a statement about no "real witch" uses certain terms, such as unconscience, which she claims Freud used yet there is NO definition for this in the dictionary and what she defines is the sub-conscience which is the term I think she meant. Since I do use Sub-conscience is she saying I am not a real witch or Wiccan? Perhaps she should have said no one in her tradition uses it and why. I have no problem using sub-conscience and conscience and in my opinion to say they do not exist is like saying that frontal vision and peripheral vision doesn't exist, as it is my opinion that the sub-conscience is for our mind like the peripheral vision.
She goes from giving advice that is logical and sensible in the section on nettles to writing about things in a way that is not factual.
She writes Why as witches we must sometimes endure the sting and it begins very well. Her info on plant allies and our ancestors and their knowledge of plants is excellent and very factual.
Getting to know your plant allies is thoroughly enjoyable. Her view on respecting all living things was beautifully written and then she makes a false statement. In her attempt to use an example how we must endure pain she lists Yoga. Continuing her false statement by saying we have to endure bumps, bruises and discomfort. WHAT?!?! This is NOT yoga. We do not teach bruising the body or "Bruising egos" but loving the body and letting go of the ego. One problem with those new to yoga is they have been programmed with the no pain no gain and this is not yoga. Pain and discomfort is not yoga. On the contrary we are taught to listen to the body and avoid pain and discomfort. For her to use yoga and list it in the way she did showed her ignorance about yoga. It also lost the point she was trying to make. If you are interested in yoga or wish to verify this fact I suggest finding books or classes with a certified Yogi.
Her section on Silence takes another view than is in Scot Cullingham's book Living Wicca and is a good read for comparing views on silence. Some of the suggested meditations and rituals are very good and can be used for uses other than magic and rituals. For those who are a nervous type or talk-a-tive this could be a meditation that would interest you. The section on empowerment is very interesting as is the section on "The privilege". A quote from the book, "the behavior or pattern that may have served us well when we were powerless can become destructive and abusive when we gain power". It was a very good way of describing how a victim can become the abuser. The sections and exercises on working on core worth to levitate deflation/inflation of the self were also very good. As a reiki healer if I become inflated and forget I am only the vessel and the healing power doesn't come from me then I block the flow of healing energy with my ego. So finding ones center or "core worth" are great meditations and rituals. This section is very interesting, as well as the sections on shielding, glamour, character work, aspecting and gathering allies. When she writes about the Sabbaths she wrote them in a way that is poetic, colorful and easy to vision. It was a great read. When she begins to speak of fear esp. the fear of death it hit a personal chord. As I fear death and found her trance the orchard of immortally EXCELLENT! The book is worth buying for this alone in my opinion despite its other flaws. In the last chapter of the outer path she breaks the flow of the book again with returning to her activist motives.
Most of the book's exercises are written for a group or at least a pair and not for a solitary witch. To work with these rituals, meditations and exercises one may have to adjust them for the solitaire. For those who are activists and involved in political protests and so forth the book is good, however for those who lead a more humble life her activist views, and constant use of hers and others experiences as activist could possibly spoil the book for you. If you can get around it and pass over the few flaws then you may also find some helpful information.
However I think the quote from Mr Cunningham is well said and applies here. Underline what is good and pass the rest.
Deepening Self-Wisdom-for Men too...........2004-06-13
This book tells a story- as in many of starhawks books, and it relates to how our lives are magickal an not. It helps us see what life is all about, who we are deep inside-by teaching through excersizes and story telling. Every book starhawk has written i have never even considered it feminist at all, she never writes in way where the sexes are seperated-they are one they way i see her view the sexes. I am a man, and have read many works by starhawk, and people wave the feminist word around to much, her books have definatley nothing to do with gender at all!. She writes books to open the soul and mind-always through story and mental/ritual excersizes. She has a definate writing style which many enjoy, as do i. Great read-any of her books!!!
Beyond 101.......2004-03-02
This book is for a mature Wiccan. It is a fantastic spiritual guide for deepening your spiritual life and growing as a human being.
Book Description
Best-selling author Starhawk (The Spiral Dance, HarperSanFrancisco, 1999; nearly 400,000 copies in print) has reached across barriers of skepticism and orthodoxy to initiate thousands into the practice of authentic magic—the ability to tap the ever-present enchantment of our world. On Earth Magic, listeners now have an unprecedented opportunity to hear this legendary figure in Wiccan and Pagan spirituality teach rituals for connecting to and channeling the elemental forces of nature. Starhawk imparts specific rites for drawing on the power of air, fire, earth, and water; celebrating sacred holidays such as the Solstice and the Equinox; and for giving gifts to the universe that return to us a hundred-fold.
Customer Reviews:
easy listening.......2007-04-03
If I hade any criticism, it would be there was a little too much emphasis on history, with room for more suggestions for today - expand the sacred rituals.
Earth religion translated.......2006-08-29
Well-known Wiccan and Pagan author Starhawk teaches rituals for connecting to and channeling the elemental forces of nature. Starhawk describes specific rites for drawing on the power of air, fire, earth, and water; celebrating sacred holidays such as the Solstice and the Equinox; and for giving gifts to the universe that return to us a hundred-fold. She is author of ten books, including The Spiral Dance and Webs of Power. More reviews at AudioColumn.com
Starhawk Speaks.......2006-08-18
Here is a new format for our readers that provides quality material at a reasonable price for those who prefer a format other than written word.
Sounds True has a wonderful package here. A 4 CD set that contains Starhawk's book "Earth Magic". The book is actually spoken by Starhawk and is nicely boxed and presented.
First, the quality of the CDs themselves. We have nice overall audio quality. Starhawk comes across clear, with her rich vocal tones. If you have ever heard her speak publicly, as I have, you will appreciate the quality here. She has the same clarity and sound. Nothing is augmented or strained. And she does not drone, or annoy vocally. So it is a pleasant overall listening experience.
There are some background sounds. Drums and flutes denote the beginning and end of each disk. They are small in proportion to the rest of the disk, but a nice touch.
I listened to much of this material in my car. To be honest, it can be distracting in the car, as you are listening to some lessons and exercises in magical practice and your mind can tend to wander from your first focus of driving. I ended up listening to some of this material over again in the comfort of my work area, and I found I could focus better on the material better. So, a recommendation: don't listen to all of this in your car.
But I do see the value of having this on disk. Not just because it offers Starhawks material on disk for those who might be visually impaired. That is the most obvious benefit of having an Audiobook.
But we are also looking at meditations, which Starhawk leads you through. This format allows you to follow her guided meditation, and you can pause the disk, or give some thought to the material offered by Starhawk and then move on when you are ready.
The material presented here is Starhawk's own material. This is her tradition, her way of working, and much of it is based on the teachings of the Reclaiming Tradition.
So, the history presented on Disk One is taken from the Goddess movement aspect. On this disk she covers the history of the Goddess religions dating back to the dawn of Goddess worship. She leads us through the changes in religious practices as seen by the Goddess movement, and then bringing us back to Goddess worship today.
Disk Two looks at today's practices of Goddess worship and magic. She spends a lot of time examining magical practices through the Goddess as part of the Reclaiming Tradition. She discusses her beliefs in ethics, male and female energies, spirit and nature and the elements. She also examines life celebrations, festivals and cycles of change.
Disk Three moves into actual practices. If you have ever seen her speak publicly you know her method of incorporating a small ritual into her teachings. She does this again on this disk, discussing the Reclaiming Traditions way of working Ritual - incorporating the elements and what they mean. Very nicely done, and it provides some material to contemplate as well.
The final disk examines Goddess in your workings, intent and how it affects your practice, as well as grounding and centering and a final summary.
There is a lovely 21 minute drum meditation on Water. A very nice presentation, and one which I think you will find interesting. She even sings a little! It is a healing meditation, so it will encourage you to look deep within yourself.
The last track sums up very nicely what the purpose of this recording is all about. Starhawk discusses healing, from ourselves to the earth. Healing - and magic, being very earth-centered. This is Starhawk's message these days, and she gets this across well in the final track.
If you are a Starhawk fan, this is a great offering. It is not read, it is spoken from her heart. It gives us a really good look at the Reclaiming Tradition and its associated teachings, practices and philosophy.
If your focus is Goddess spirituality, you will find this an excellent addition to your library and your practice. Anyone who follows the Reclaiming Tradition will want to add this as well. And for those of us who respect Starhawk and her years of working in the pagan community, this audiobook gives us a glimpse of the woman and her message. boudica
Book Description
FOURTH in the new series from the author of the WINGMAN novels and the CHOPPER OPS series.
The year is 7202 A.D., and man of mystery, gifted military strategist, superb pilot, and charismatic leader Hawk Hunter finds himself alone during a clash with Imperial forces that could destroy the entire galaxy.
Customer Reviews:
Good but confusing.......2004-01-28
Ok the book was good but in my opinion by far not the best one of the series. All this entire book does is open up tons more questions as well as kill off all the main people. I have never seen the wingman series and was reading this as a stand alone series. I quite liked the series up untill this book but this book confused me. He opened up all kinds of questions in the third book then in the fourth book he ignores them and takes another approach. But in all a good book
A great introspective look at the Wingman.......2003-12-21
Once again the Wingman is fighting for good. This time in the biggest way yet. From the cockpit of his spacefaring F-16, Hawk Hunter once again takes to the skies in another stand for freedom. We get to see how much freedom means to the Wingman. Check it out.
A Masterpiece of Twists and Turns.......2003-10-29
Unlike the other Starhawk books, Battle at Zero Point is a major twist and a powerful piece of literature. Battles of the most Biblical proportions with each character finding their own meaning in the universe. Mack Maloney put a major spin in this book that was excitingly surprising. I hope his next book comes out soon; ONE OF MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE AUTHORS!!!! Be sure to read the entire Wingman and Starhawk series, they are some of the best action books ever written. Collect them all ;) I know I have.
Wonderful Twist.......2003-09-12
I realy enjoyed this book. The story line was a wonderful way to clean up all the loose ends from the previous books. I hope the next book comes out soon to finish the story line. A must read for all wingman fans!!!!!!! keep going Mack!!
A splendid time is guaranteed for all.......2003-09-11
In which, after all these years of fighting foes and their minions, Hawk Hunter finally goes after Mr. Big!
No, it's not Saddam. Nor is it Osama! It's neither right-wing, neo-fascist Canal Nazis, nor Communists who have used the Vice-President to allow a nuclear attack on the USA. It's not goateed evil-doers who transmogrify into your best buddy who, himself, becomes that self-same repository of evil. It's not unreconstructed North Vietnamese with issues. It's not overweight Arab or Asian despots. It's not an extra-governmental group intent on time travel for purposes unknown.
This time, it's evil with a capital E-V-I-L.
Get the picture?
Yes, you are correct, sir or madam! 'Battle at Zero Point' has Hawk Hunter (yeah, among other stuff he remembers who he is) fighting Satan!
In this, the fourth installment of 'Starhawk', the previously somewhat tenuous linkage to the 'Wingman' series is solidified with our hero's education and revelation that his role in the greater scheme of things is that of transformational symbol of freedom.
And, as they say, getting there is half the fun. In battling the Fourth Empire - a dictatorship whose origins are in a curious one-shot reference to the virtually DOA 'Chopper Ops' series - Hawk is faced with a three-part challenge that takes on aspects of 'The Last Temptation of Christ'.
Fundamental to all this, however, if the question: what is freedom worth to you?
And, the answer for Hawk - and maybe for all of us - is, and has to be, that's it's worth everything.
Maloney's wriitng (yeah, once again check the copyright..is that the author's real monicker?) is vastly improved from the start of all this. Once more the soft core porno is down; it's more or less non-existent.
In fact, the series has turned into the (darn) fine fantasy seres that - to this reveiwer's mind - is quite a bit better than Harry Turtledove's output.
So, my friends, buy it and enjoy!
Oh...one more thing that is real personal. I wish that Colonel Ryder Long would make an appearance.
Book Description
From time immemorial, artists and poets, prophets, and shamans have drawn strength and inspiration from walking the earth. In The Earth Path, bestselling author Starhawk takes the reader on a journey into the heart of the natural world, showing how we can have a more intimate connection with the world that surrounds us.
Institutionalized religions have sacred texts -- messages written in holy books that are the inspiration for their beliefs and rituals. But the sacred texts for Wicca, like other ancient native or indigenous traditions, are written in nature -- in the magic circle of the elements: air, fire, water, and earth. With The Earth Path, Starhawk, an activist, ecofeminist, and leader in the women's spirituality movement, places you in the center of that magical circle. As you become attuned to the rhythms of the earth, your thinking will shift from focusing on isolated objects to marveling at the multitude of interconnecting patterns and relationships in nature. These patterns and connections can hold the key to your own spiritual renewal and restore your sense of responsibility for preserving this world that nurtures and sustains us.
Filled with awareness exercises, inspiring meditations, and magical rituals, The Earth Path not only teaches the reader to respect the ecology of our natural world, but shows how to spiritually connect with and channel the powers inherent in nature.
Customer Reviews:
A useful book.......2006-06-19
In The Earth Path, Starhawk discusses the elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water and ways that we can connect with each in order to work towards healing the environmental damage we've done to the Earth in the past. The book is mainly concerned with returning to amore natural state of living, i.e. growing own food.
This is a very "Starhawk" book. There is a lot of good advice as well as inpiring and emotive writing, hidden amongst a dearth of tangents on anything from the latest protest to seedballs as a microcosm of the Earth. Starhawk is infamous for her political rants and for the most part, I don't mind them. Occasionally in this book though they took away from the advice she was trying to give about permaculture.
My other complaint is that she'd be explaining how you would go about desiging or building a particular drainage system or the like and yet never fully explain why. Once or twice she just lanched into "Here's how to do this," with no explanation as to the purpose of it. The implication was that you already knew why.
Other than that, I enjoyed each of the explorations on the elements. I liked how she applied the elemental energies to practical everday things we could see in effect in our areas and all the practical exercises to connect with each element were simply enough for a relative beginner but a more advanced practitioner could still find beenfit from them. I particularly liked how she talked about how you could work with each element to better the environment, for example the chapter on fire talked about cnserving household energy usage.
I also found the book to be motivating to get out there and do something. I think the practical sugestions is what helped there. Instead of just saying "The envornment is realy important so we should heal it," and stopping there, Starhawk then goes on to say exactly how you can make small steps toward doing just that. It was also good that she tied in the knowledge of and respect for naturein with the spirituality of Paganism. She made a very good point that although most Pagans reer nature, most don't know terribly uchaout it.
This is basically a good book with some minor irritants. I don;t think it'll go down a a classic but it is usful and a great jumping off point or Pagans wanting to explore a more environmentally friendly way of living.
Rating: ***1/2 (3.5 stars out of 5)
Earth Path-straight to my personal situation.......2006-01-18
I bought this the day before I moved and maybe that's why I find it so meaningful. I've been in a situation of rootless-ness and upheaval and Starhawk seemed to help me see why this is so unsettling to me. It has helped me understand the path I'm on and where I need to go. Environment, a home, knowing the land around us have great spiritual significance for many of us. Read this and follow with a shot of Thoreau.
Caroline Tully review.......2005-08-27
If you are looking for something to read that will change your life you cannot go past Starhawk's latest book "The Earth Path" which is her best so far. Whereas her previous book "Webs of Power" was about explaining the international global justice movement and what it is fighting for, in this new book Starhawk focuses on the local intimate landscape and gets down and dirty with permaculture. Permaculture is a holistic method of horticulture, agriculture and landscape design, originally invented in Australia by Bill Mollison, which seeks to establish a kind of perpetual, self-sustaining `wild' bounty. Why is this important for Witches? Starhawk wants to emphasise how so much of modern magick is abstracted into intellectual concepts, nature is idealised, romanticised and despite our claims to "worship" nature, most urban Witches are really not particularly familiar with just what "nature" actually is. Starhawk urges us to dispense with tokenism regarding Witchcraft concepts such as the four elements and the Goddess and God, and instead become cognisant of the real elements - real tangible fire, water, air and earth, real sky, real plants, real land. How does water actually work in your environment? What are its cycles, what is its source? What is the relationship of fire to you, to your environment? How does fire behave out in nature compared to on a candle wick? Starhawk has an enthralling story-telling ability which makes this book really interesting, plus to help us to observe and participate in grounded reality she provides eighty exersises, meditations and rituals. Personally, I'm a huge fan of seeking truth in nature even if what we find there may not always be pleasant or good for our egos. I believe that nature is both the source and goal of Witchcraft and that we owe it to ourselves to rend the veil of illusion and stare boldly at the Goddess Earth in all her incomprehensible glory as Starhawk advocates. This book is a boon for beginners and jaded old-timers as well. Highly recommended.
A Great Idea that Needs More Work.......2005-07-28
In this book, Starhawk aims to provide a much needed anchor to the Pagan community--to remind us that we are part of the surrounding eco-system and that the basis of any "Earth-based" spirituality should be the Earth itself, instead of abstraction and symbolism.
However, she advocates this through presenting rituals that involve a minimal amount of observing or understanding nature...and focus instead on abstraction and symbolism.
She also reiterates the role of humanity as "caretakers of the Earth", which always inmplies a degree of separation from the natural world, and places us above it.
That said, her rituals and meditations are beautiful, but if you _really_ want to connect to the world around you, why not study the mystery and beauty of nature for what it is, instead of how it relates to you?
Spiritually & Practically Connecting with the Earth.......2005-05-23
One of the most widely read and respected authors in Wicca and Earth-based spirituality, Starhawk, has written no less than ten books on the subject. Her most recent book, "The Earth Path: Grounding Your Spirit in the Rhythms of Nature" that was published in 2004, is an amazing combination of spiritual, emotional, practical and even political aspects of Earth-based spirituality. Written in twelve chapters with ample footnotes and references, the first four chapters deal primarily with understanding and recognizing what is sacred in Earth-based spirituality: the Earth and all of its many components, from the land, the water and all living things from the smallest to the largest. The most important lesson here is to realize that the Earth is much more than its individual components, which runs counter to Western science and philosophy that tend to view things in a purely mechanistic and compartmental manner as exemplified by the seventeenth-century French philosopher René Descartes. Granted, great scientific understandings have been attained by this philosophy; but it fails in its understanding of emergent characteristics and patterns of complex systems as described elegantly by Fritjof Capra in his book "The Web of Life". However, where Fritjof Capra presents his book from a purely secular perspective, Starhawk expands this view into the spiritual aspects, including the realization that our ancestors aren't just humans, but also the myriad of single-celled creatures and bacteria that gave the Earth an oxygen-based atmosphere through the gifts of chlorophyll and photosynthesis. For without these, we would not exist.
The next aspect that Starhawk examines extensively is observation. If one is to learn how to read and understand Nature and what the Earth is speaking, one must learn how to listen to the birds, insects, plants, trees, the ground, the water, etc. To achieve this, Starhawk includes a number of meditative exercises focused on learning to understand a particular animal, plant, insect or even fungus. Some may not be interested in fungi, but Wicca and Earth-based spiritualities recognize the interconnectedness of all things, as well as the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. For without death, there would be no life and no rebirth. Fungi, which on the surface may not seem particularly spiritual, is at the heart of death and rebirth because it is fungi that break down dead matter into its essential elements so that they can be reused and renewed. A prime example is Starhawk's "Fertility and Decay" meditative exercise on pages 163 through 166. Starhawk's meditative observation techniques come in particularly useful for understanding each of the four elements (air, fire, water and earth, as well as spirit in the center) that are an inseparable part of Wicca and Earth-based spirituality. I also especially liked the blessing for each element that Starhawk wrote for each element at the end of each element's chapter.
Interlaced throughout the book, Starhawk includes writings from her personal journals involving her life, home and the areas surrounding her home. These include such things as the nearby rain-fed streams, building maintainable & reusable sources of energy, sharing seeds and plants with neighbors, eating organically-grown food and living harmoniously with the Earth, as opposed to constantly taking from and polluting the Earth as so many U.S. and international corporations have done. This is where the political aspects come into play as Starhawk addresses such groups as the World Trade Organization, whose policies were designed to ensure corporate profitability (including the patenting of life forms) at the expense of the environment and individuals. Starhawk makes no distinction between the political and spiritual when it comes to the Earth because pollution, clear-cutting, the introduction of genetically-modified organisms, the use of herbicides, insecticides, pesticides and other synthetic chemicals in the environment are all-too-often harmful to all life, the environment and the Earth. To this end, Starhawk makes various recommendations for the various little things that each individual can do to help the Earth.
Overall, I found Starhawk's book "The Earth Path: Grounding Your Spirit in the Rhythms of Nature" to be well written and an extremely useful resource that deserves a very high rating of 5 out of 5 stars. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in having a more intimate relationship with the Earth, the elements and the many creatures that share this planet with humanity.
Average customer rating:
- Darkness, Magic, and Truth
- The Personal Is The Magical
- Essential Reading
- Brilliant Ecofeminist Book
- Dry and hard to read, pollitically driven.
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Dreaming the Dark : Magic, Sex, and Politics
Starhawk
Manufacturer: Beacon Press
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ASIN: 0807010375 |
Book Description
Featuring narrative, chants, songs, and rituals, Dreaming the Dark (100,000 copies sold) brilliantly combines the world of magic and spirituality with the world of political and social change. This fifteenth anniversary edition includes a new preface by the author. Dreaming the Dark is [Starhawk's] best book; it offers myths of fulfillment, rituals of healing, an unusual but perhaps ultimately pragmatic cultural perspective, and a vision for survival and growth. --The Bloomsbury Review
Customer Reviews:
Darkness, Magic, and Truth.......2007-03-22
Enter the mysterious world of magic, sexuality, and the deepest part of yourself. This is the goal of "Dreaming the Dark" by Starhawk, author of the bestselling book "The Spiral Dance", considered essential reading in most Wiccan circles. Picking up where her other books leave off, "Dreaming the Dark" is a guide for putting one's beliefs into practice, an attempt to reach out to a world largely deprived of spiritual experience and reclaim the sacred within and fuse it with political activism.
Starhawk co-founded the Reclaiming Collective, a Wiccan tradition that emphasizes spirituality and political action, and a majority of the text is focus on examining structures of power. She separates power into two categories: "power over" and "power from within" and discusses how such structures have been used throughout history to suppress and control. Magic, as Starhawk defines as "the art and practice of changing consciousness at will", can be teamed with political action to cause effective change in our society and help to preserve what we hold as sacred.
For those unfamiliar with Paganism, "Dreaming the Dark" is the perfect collection of stories, chants, and bits of information that will give the reader and accurate portrayal of Pagan paradigm. Starhawk clearly examines what Witches and Pagans hold sacred, specifically Nature and how it is essential that action is taken for preservation. Beautiful and often poetic descriptions of the Goddess and rituals paint vivid picture of the triumphs and struggles of many in the Pagan movement.
"Dreaming the Dark" is not a book for the faint of heart, but it is necessary. It is challenging yet inspiring and deeply moving. For anyone interested in modern religious movement and especially those interested in politics, it is an essential read. "Dreaming the Dark" is not a book of spells, meditations, or ritual, it is an invitation, a calling to take a stand in the face of injustice and reclaim the whole of our being.
The Personal Is The Magical.......2006-02-06
This is the book that made Starhawk's name as the preeminent voice for politically active Wiccans. It is a call to rescue the world while there is still time, recognizing that magic is not contained in any book or ritual, but relies upon the love we put into life.
Why only four stars, then? I met Starhawk and was completely surprised and dismayed to encounter someone whose manner was more akin to Marie Antoinette than a daughter of the Dark. If magic is the manifestation of our lives, this cannot be less the case for how we regard and interact with other people. I worship the Goddess--not the princess.
The story of great analysts, artists, or technicians whose personal way of being in life lessens or even refutes their professed principles, is an old one. Each of us should meditate upon the challenge of never becoming consumed by our "stage presence" or stardom; the urgency of the real work to be done is too great for such poses or pretense.
Essential Reading.......2004-08-28
The writing skillfully integrates annecdotes with philosophy and there are exercises useful to any group of pagans. For Starhawk, Witchcraft and environmentalism and activism and gender awareness are natural companions; what Witch doesn't care about the earth and nature? What Witch would not know the power of the individual and of people together? How can anyone who honors the Goddess not strive to be aware of gender politics, sexism, and the power of sex? What Witch would not know the power of will, awareness, perspective? But as natural and integrated as these themes are for her, some traditional Wiccans and other pagans are very hostile about Starhawk. There is a lot for even non-pagans to learn from her, and I think every serious pagan should read her work. If it upsets you - please, ask yourself why; what exactly does she threaten? This book is dated, and the history is only as good as we (all) knew when it was first published, but if you want to understand group dynamics, if you ever wondered if Witches should be political, or environmentalist, or activist, or gender aware - read this book.
Brilliant Ecofeminist Book.......2004-08-05
In this inspiring book, legendary Starhawk combines the wisdom of the women's spirituality movement with anarchism and radical environmentalism. It should be required reading for anyone involved in peace and social justice activism.
Dry and hard to read, pollitically driven........2001-11-17
If you're a solitary Pagan, if you're not much for politics and don't really mind the way of the world (and it's inner workings of the politico) you may find this book dry, droll and sorely lacking for any substance or practicality.
If you're in a group that needs help organizing or staying so, if you're a political Pagan or activist who wants to change the world and break the laws doing so, you may well get tons of information from this book.
First, this was a dry book and a hard read, not for the information presented but the style of writing had my mind wandering and hard to keep on course. Second, I may be a rare egg, but I know all too well the screw ups of our political hierarchy, I've studied Paganism, goddess traditions and our own political workings enough to know that we're oppressed yet don't know it; that we've been sold a bill of goods and eat it with capitalist zeal and that our environment is suffering for it. As for myself and my house, we're way too busy trying to survive to go off into the woods and chain ourselves to trees. I don't work hard to buy neat stuff, I work hard to provide food and shelter for my family. We try to live as responsibly as possible, recyling, composting, if we could live off the land, we would.. with that said, there was just a hint of guilt laid out in the book to suggest that if you're not against nukes you're for them, and so forth. That may put many people off and have them question, how much is this really about Paganism.. and how much is it about Starhawk's own agenda?
Average customer rating:
- Containers & SOME Hanging Baskets
- Inspiring For Some
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Colorful Hanging Baskets & Other Containers
Manufacturer: Sterling Pub Co Inc
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ASIN: 0806994916 |
Customer Reviews:
Containers & SOME Hanging Baskets.......2000-11-05
The title of the book is misleading: the words should have been transposed to signify that only a few hanging baskets are included in the book. There is a good variety of examples of container gardening, but hanging basket ideas are sparse. With good quality photos and pages, however, it's good book for beginners who are looking for general ideas and some recipes for planting combinations.
Inspiring For Some.......2000-07-03
I don't like giving a bad review just because I dislike a book - I think every book has something for someone - but this book, I would not buy again if I had the choice, but only for one reason: I expected something different than what I received. I was hoping the book would contain unusual, out of the ordinary containers that would inspire me, but I didn't find that. Instead, it presented itself as a 'recipe' book of sorts, showing off the different ways plants and flowers can be combined in order to create beautiful arrangements. Each chapter was divided into color sections such as, "Moody Blues", and "Fresh Yellows", which allows the reader to create themed containers according to color. If what you are looking for is direction - a book that will tell you exactly what to plant and and how to plant it - then this book is for you. If you are looking for a book that gives equal attention to both containers as well as flowers, then I would pass on this one.
Average customer rating:
- Thoughtful Guidance and Ideas
- For the Serious Pagan Clergy!
- Paganism
- Exceptional look at death, be it you, your friend/family, or just anticipating the future.
- What Is Remembered Lives
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The Pagan Book of Living and Dying: Practical Rituals, Prayers, Blessings, and Meditations on Crossing Over
Starhawk , and
M. Macha Nightmare
Manufacturer: HarperOne
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ASIN: 0062515160 |
Amazon.com
The Pagan Book of Living and Dying is the pagan omnibus on death, much more than just a history of various cultural rituals and beliefs regarding death. This collection of essays, prayers, and songs is a living document that draws on the resources of today's entire pagan community and fills the void left by ancient sacramental rites lost over the centuries. Designed in such a way as to benefit both the leaders of the pagan community as well as the individual reader, The Pagan Book of Living and Dying encourages preparation under the obvious, but often neglected, understanding that death is seldom expected nor convenient but happens to everyone.
The Pagan Book of Living and Dying discusses all aspects of death, from pagan thealogy (from thea meaning goddess, rather than theo meaning god) to the dying process itself, and it even covers sensitive subjects like helping children cope with death. Congenial essays such as Sharon Jackson's "Crash Course in Being Present with the Dying" and insightful perspectives like Diana Paxson's "Preliminary Thoughts Toward Midwifing Your Own Passage" offer a written spiritual resource for assisting and comforting the dying, and advice on facing one's own passage. The Pagan Book of Living and Dying is simultaneously a practical guide, a comforting liturgy, and a new heritage that shows how to appreciate life through a closer relationship with death. --Brian Patterson
Book Description
In response to her own mother's death, Starhawk, the bestselling author of the classic Spiral Dance, along with other Pagan authors, created in inspiring collection of essays, original prayers, blessings, and meditations that present the Pagan way of dying. In the tradition of such bestsellers as How We Die and The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, it offers a new understanding of death and the rituals that surround it, adding insight and depth to spirituality.An inclusive, respectful, and deeply spiritual guidebook for those in the Pagan community and beyond, this powerful resource will help the dying make the transition between life and death, and their loved ones will find spiritual comfort and strength through the grieving process. It shows us that death can be a process of renewal and transformation.
Customer Reviews:
Thoughtful Guidance and Ideas.......2007-04-02
This book was very helpful at a time when I often felt overwhelmed and not sure where to turn. It's an excellent resource not only for the Pagan community, but for all who are involved in pallitive care or who are moving through the death and grief of losing a loved one. Blessed Be.
For the Serious Pagan Clergy!.......2007-03-09
With all we do as Pagan Clergy, we tend to forget we have a responsibility to help in the transition process. This book gives us means and ways of being True Clergy in a tough time for those we work with as well as ourselves.
I highly recommend this book. Tough subject matter? Yes it is. Want to be taken as a serious clergy member as other groups are? Then read this book and do the work. Time to step up to the plate and realize we are also doing the same work as other faiths, no venue required as this book states, just a call to serve!! Any tradition can work with this book after some thought, I urge you to do so.
ByM,
Lord Healer
Clan Head of Black Forest, Jade Spider Clan, NYC Metro Area
Paganism.......2007-01-16
This is a fantastic book. It's very informative and is filled with terrific meditations.
Exceptional look at death, be it you, your friend/family, or just anticipating the future........2006-04-21
I cannot say enough good things about this book!!! The layout of the book is very approachable. The personal stories, rituals, prayers, songs, chants, poems, and meditations are invaluable!
I especially enjoyed the story "Bo's Cremation" by Patricia Michael. The details given of his life and death are so personal and helpful. The instructions (and examples of trial/error) in obtaining a loved one's body, keeping it on dry ice, and setting up your own viewing and cremation ceremony was amazing.
I was also thoroughly drawn to the story "Aric Arthur Graf Dies (or Rickie Goes to Become an Ancestor)" by Donald L. Engstrom. This story was very intimate and striking. The idea of the author going into trance and being able to astrally project himself with his loved one on another plane about to cross over was mesmerizing.
The items about using the Tarot with death related activities was helpful. The last section of the book gives fabulous concrete things you can do do make sure all your "things" are in order for your own death. This should be read and acted upon by all, because you just never know when you may have to go (like one section of the book says--always keep your bags packed).
Being fairly new to the Wiccan religion still, I feel like I have a more concrete understanding in the Pagan beliefs of death and dying. I feel more enlightened about the subject in general as well. I found the section on suicide to help answer a lot of questions I had about that. The book doesn't just make it a cut-and-dried topic either, it talks about the intricies of suicide based on depression, long term health illness, and other topics.
It's been said in other reviews, but I must reiterate--This book belongs in EVERY Pagan home. The sooner the better.
What Is Remembered Lives.......2005-11-20
Sadly, I bought this book upon receiving the news that a friend's teenage daughter had been diagnosed with an incurable fatal illness. As one who came to Paganism by my own choice, I had no reference yet for how Pagans dealt with end of life passage.
It turns out it was that very reason that Starhawk and other members of Reclaiming wrote this book. Very few modern Pagans are raised in their chosen spirituality and often find they have no traditions or practices to guide them when dealing with the loss of a loved one.
This book is not a strict step-by-step ritual guide, but a sharing of experience that includes blessings, prayers and ritual details. The collected writings share how various people have dealt with the situations around long illness as well as sudden losses. There are accounts and suggestions for rituals not only to say farewell or bury the dead, but for how those still alive can honor those who have died and address their own grieving and healing.
I found the stories shared in this book to be incredibly personal and yet at the same time practical. I feel I will have a foundation of knowledge from which to draw when I have to deal with this issues and changes in my own family and circle of friends.
Books:
- The Spirit Stone: The Silver Wyrm, Book Two (The Silver Wyrm)
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- The Universe in a Single Atom: The Convergence of Science and Spirituality
- The World of the Dark Crystal: The Collector's Edition
- The World Turned Upside Down (Prelude to Glory, 6) (World Turned Upside Down, 6)
- The Writing on the Wall: Why We Must Embrace China as a Partner or Face It as an Enemy
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Books Index
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- If Only He Knew: What No Woman Can Resist
- Love Talk: Speak Each Other's Language Like You Never Have Before
- Law of Attraction: The Science of Attracting More of What You Want and Less of What You Don't
- Illustrating Nature: How to Paint and Draw Plants and Animals
- Hayek the Economist and Social Philosopher: A Critical Retrospect
- Manual De Beneficios Del Seguro Social / Manual Of Social Security Benefits
Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America
Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner
Buckland's Complete Book Of Witchcraft (Llewellyn's Practical Magick)
To Ride A Silver Broomstick: New Generational Witchcraft
