Spiral Dance, The - 20th Anniversary : A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Goddess: 20th Anniversary Edition

Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: I've seen some other reviewers say that this book is self-worshiping or narcissistic. But I don't think so. Admittedly, there isn't much on true Wiccan history, but the exercises and ritual guidelines are just what I needed to get going. This is a great book.

Rating:
Summary: How does tripe like this deserve even a new edition?
Review: It's an amazing thing in this world when an author whose interest is more money and PR than valid research can spin a line that will make every Wiccan in the world bite. Starhawk's "The Spiral Dance" is nothing but a couple hundred pages of poor research, opinion, conjecture, politics, etc wrapped neatly in a little layer of Paganism. Starhawk has effectively buried the true history of Wicca, the truth of Wicca's differences from Witchcraft, and the truth about primal religion in an attempt to be self-worshipping and promote her exceedingly leftist gender-femenazi views. In fact, I'd daresay go so far as to lay blame to this single work of hers as the reason that the comically over-leftist Pagan community can't be taken seriously in the political arena. If you're looking for a good book on Wicca, go grab some Gardner or Sanders or someone who acknowledges them. If you're looking for a good book on Primal religion, go read Frazer's work or check out people like Caitlin Matthews. If you're looking for a book on Witchcraft, try Rhiannon Rhyall or one of her gang. If, however, you're looking for a book that uses poor logic, bad research, and thoughs from the heart rather than the head to spiritually justify a liberal, gender feminist, political activist lifestyle, then hang your hat here...you've found the perfect book to fit the blinders over your eyes.

Rating:
Summary: the personal is political, within reason
Review: This book was my intro to the world of paganism and Earth-centered religious life. It's a good, if biased, sourcebook for witchcraft under the name of Wicca, and like all books about living the Wiccan's life it is extremely gynocentric and strident in all of its basic assertions about women and religion. Don't buy into this though, you do not need to worship a goddess in order to be a witch, you do not need to lead a leftist political life to be a witch, you do not need to believe in pre-Judeo-Christian matriarchal societies in Eurasia to be a witch. This book makes many assumptions about women and what they need in their spiritual lives, and after living a witch's life for the past 15 years, I no longer use this book because it comes across as extremely narcissistic (another reviewer says it's no coincidence that many of these women are of the baby-boomer generation, this hits the nail on the head), and places self-importance on the same pedestal as personal/political power. It's easy to forget that we belong to the earth when reading this book. If you are a feminist in need of a politically-motivated and self-esteem-boosting life-path, by all means get this book. If you are a level-headed woman who simply wants to acknowledge where she came from, you're better off reading Yasmine Galenorn and substituting appropriate nouns for every utterance of the word "goddess".

Rating:
Summary: A must get.
Review: If you can only get one book on Wicca, make sure it's this one. Comprehensive, sensitive treatment of the Old Religion. I reread this one constantly and continue to get more out of it. A must have for the library of anyone interested in or involved in Wicca and paganism.

Rating:
Summary: Recommended like crazy
Review: This book was recommended to me in the bibliographies of other books I have read. It was as if it was required reading or something. I was disappointed in its women's movement-ness, and frankly, it creeped me out with the ritual uses it gave for certain body fluids. Don't get me wrong- it's a beautiful book. I just think I read it in the wrong decade.

Rating:
Summary: First, separate the topics...
Review: Putting aside the strongly feminist and political sides (even Starhwak in this new edition tried to do that), is a very well written and documented book. The concepts of inmanence and "perfect love and perfect trust" are very well explained and comprehended by Starhawk. In fact, is a reminder for us, the old line, that the last lesson, after all the roads travelled and the uses of energy, is that to be whole, you need of somebody else. Very entertaining book, specially to know all the things some have to do to feel and control the magic that we are.

Rating:
Summary: Required Reading in the Craft
Review: I didn't read this book until I had been studying for a few years and I wish I had read it sooner. The Spiral Dance is practically required reading for anyone interested in Wicca or Goddess spirituality. Actually, I found Starhawk's book suprisingly balanced for women's spirituality. Her book gives the God a lot more attention and treats Him a lot more lovingly than most books on feminist witchcraft. Much of The Spiral Dance is political, but one must realize that Starhawk sees witchcraft as a tool in the fight to make this planet a better place. Her description of a Winter Solstice celebration in San Francisco in the future was so inspiring, and hints of her futuristic book The Fifth Sacred Thing. I am only giving this book 4 stars because I felt that the sections on trance and the cone of power were a little to intimidating for the beginner. Also, not enough information on modern Wicca. A wonderful book non the less.

Rating:
Summary: Self worship disguised as religion
Review: It is no wonder that the main figures in so-called neo-paganism are baby boomers (born in the late 1940's and early 1950's).This was the first generation brought up in a full-on consumer society with the message of self indulgence and hedonism.Starhawk says "ecstasy is the foundation of Witchcraft".Ecstasy can be a result of religious practice, but is not the highest goal of life.True religion means self development and understanding the deeper levels of life, not mere self gratification.The ancient pagan philosophers taught that the human being has an animal soul and a divine soul.To them the aim of life was to uplift the animal nature by means of the divine nature.Starhawk and neo-pagans avoid the hard work and just declare that the animal soul is divine.Things are not that simple.Starhawk repeats the fantasy that Wicca is an identifiable religion with a continuous history going back to ancient times.The ancient people did respect nature, but it is another matter to concoct a "religion" out of wishful thinking and ignore the facts.Starhawk says that Wicca is unique in that it is a religion of clergy only.This is unique alright, but it is not a real religion, it has many features of a cult.

Rating:
Summary: Profoundly spiritual and enlightningly educational
Review: This book is a must have. It not only contains higly effective magical insight but it looks into some of the over all views of male and female energy and the way the world views them. Adding this book to your library could most definatly change the way you look at societys roles of gender as well as how you work in a coven. This book was one of my first beginning books and I wouldn't have traded it for any of the other books I've read to date. The " Spiral Dance " helps explain some of the enigmas behind and in magick. Starhawk sets down a very realistic and tangable over-view of what magick is and how to attain it. There is much depth on the Gods and Goddesses relation to male and female energy and what each is a representation of as well as how it relates to each individual ( man or woman ) Reading this book will help you to understand how the masculine and feminine energys work in the world and lay some serious questions about how society catigorizes and stereo types us all. It most deffinatly will help change the way you view the patrearchial system. It also lays a good foundation for the spiral dance. What it is, how it's celebrated and how it relates to the world we live in on a daily basis. The spell craft, oil, insence, tinicturs, brews, candle magick and meditation formulas are a most deffinate must for any witches library. This book will lay a firm foundation for anyone who is new to the craft as well as help advance an intermeadit or just plain lend some new insight or ideas out to thoose who have practiced craft for years. Without this book I would not have come so far is so short of time. I concide myself to be an intermeadit witch but don't think I would have gotten there without Starhawks exqusit book. It layed a positive foundation for my craft work to grow, and my hat's off to the author for providing what I have found to be one of my most helpfull and freaquently used reference books. I truly love this book and I'm sure any true seeker of the craft will find it helpfull. May this book help many others on the quest for knowledge, as much as it has me. Merry meet, Merry part until we meet again. BLESSED BE!!!!!!!!!! Tobie Heideman

Rating:
Summary: Heartfelt Overview of Contemporary Goddess Religion
Review: I greatly enjoyed reading this book for what it is, one person's experience and perspective with an alternative, earthbased-religion. The book is strongly feminist which may bother some readers but was interesting to me. Not because I feel the same way, but because I enjoy listening to another's point of view. The explanations of energy and the overview of practices was informative and a quick read. I enjoyed the book and appreciate the contribution Starhawk is making by writing this information.