Product Description

The influential masterwork that launched the American Goddess movement is even more popular and relevant than ever- a bestselling spiritual classic. This brilliant overview of the growth, supression, and modern-day reemergence of Wicca as a Goddess-worshipping religion has left an indelible mark on the feminist spiritual consciousness. In this beautiful 20th-anniversary edition, Starhawk now reveals the ways in which the practice of ritual and Goddess religion have, in the face of a changing world, developed over the last 20 years -- and the ways in which these changes have influenced and enhanced her original ideas. This important spiritual guidebook provides both the tools of ancient practice and the means to adapt them to our lives today -- for, according to Starhawk, 'a living tradition is not static or fixed; it changes and responds to changing needs and changing times.'

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28595 in Books
• Published on: 1999-11-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

Review
'A very beautiful call for a worldly spirituality.' New York Times Book Review

About the Author
Starhawk is a witch, peace activist, ecofeminist, and author of several books, including The Pagan Book of Living and Dying, The Fifth Sacred Thing, Walking and Truth or Dare. She teaches at several San Francisco Bay Area colleges, is the co-founder of the Bay Area Reclaiming Collective, and lectures all over the world.

Customer Reviews

Witchcraft from a spiritual and community-based stance
This is an excellent book. It is very condensed and Starhawk crams so much in. It is very coven based, but I didn't find this a problem, even as a confirmed solitary. Starhawk is a very visual person which fitted in with me very well. Most of her exercises are visually based. For a beginner I would recommend reading this book and another less concentrated one at the same time. I found that I sometimes had to take breaks from it for a day just to let my thoughts gel and settle. If you are a tentative beginner then some of the exercises in this book may feel rather like throwing yourself off a cliff. They are worth it though, despite having to screw your courage up into a ball before beginning them. On the subject of eco-feminism, I personally think this is as relevant now as it was when the book was written so I liked her tone of voice. 5 stars! - oh yes, this is a fab book!

The Goddess is alive and kicking
If you know anything about Wicca, you probably know that the way a lot of people begin on this religious path is by reading The Spiral Dance. Most seekers are told to read it - and for good reason. In this book, Starhawk recognizes the God and Goddess and gives a complete description of the way witches worship. It is my opinion that it is impossible to go away from this book unchanged. Even if you do not accept her teachings or the God and Goddess, you will find that you can never look at the seasonal changes and moon phases the same way again. This is because she does a wonderful job of showing the seeker the Wiccan world view. Starhawk's prose and poetry brings the spirits of nature to life and inspires the seeker to call out to them as well as the moon, the sun, the earth and everything in it as we reclaim our Father and Mother of pagan heritage.

Brilliant
This is an incredible book. It goes into far more depth than most books on the subject and beginners may find it a bit tricky to read. It is however, one of the best books I've ever read. It made me see the world in a different way.