Rating: 
Summary: Essential Reading, With Flaws
Review: If you're new to Paanism or Wicthcraft as a religion, this book will set you on your proper course. Starhawk does what few other Pagan and Wiccan authors manage: She makes the religion of the Great Goddess come alive. Her writing sparkles, and her passion for her subject is infectious. While many chapters of this book are devoted to philosophy and mythology, just as many are devoted to practical ritual and spiritual practice. This is where Starhawk shines. Her ritual format is brief, stripped down to its essentials; she removes the focus from tools like athames and chalices and puts it where it belongs - on people. She teaches the basics of the Pentagram, of invoking the Goddess and Goddess, self-purification, raising energy, and divination - showing, every step of the way, how these spiritual techniques complement our scientific culture rather than contradict it. The book, in my opinion, is worth the price of purchase just for the beautiful invocations to the Goddess and God that it contains. While much Pagan poetry is wooden and stilted, that of Starhawk and her Reclaiming collective trips lightly off the tongue, and can bring you to tears of joy just by repeating it softly to yourself. Outside of these nuggets, the book has some deep flaws. The original edition described a yin-yang creation cosmology, dividing the world into Male and Female essences; in this updated edition, she spends footnote after distracting footnote revising this hetero-myth so as not to exclude the GLBT community. It's a noble goal, but she just should have rewritten this section. Libertarians, moderate liberals and conservatives will sour on her left-liberal politics, not to mention how tightly she intertwines her politics with her religion. You'd think, reading this book, that "being Pagan" requires a Nader/LaDuke bumper sticker and a subscription to Mother Jones. Fortunately, the Pagan community is much more diverse. Finally, much of the information about past "Goddess/matriarchical societies" and about the "Burning Times" is wrong. Using outdated sources like Margaret Murray, Starhawk attempts to build a mythology of oppression for guilt-ridden, middle-class white people... Despites its drawbacks, SPIRAL DANCE is important, and ought to be on your shelf.
Rating: 
Summary: Better than the original
Review: This 20th anniversary edition is better than the original in many ways. While there are still some really glaring errors, the poetry and beauty of this book mades them something one can work around.
HOWEVER, this book deserves a context. Read it for what it is, and don't make it out to be more than what it is...
I recommend it for older, more mature students, with study and history behind them.
Rating:
Summary: exceptional book!
Review: reading the spiral dance is an experience in itself, whether one has been practicing wicca/goddess worship for years or they are just beginning along the path, or are researching the subject. it provides exceptional insights into the general beliefs, roots and practices of this movement. many who teach the craft put this in their list of "must read" books for new students. however, therein lies a problem. starhawk has included a large number of exercises to develop and enhance one's understanding and experience in spiritual and psychic development. many of these are best practiced in a group setting (indeed, some require a group to perform them at all). many are very advanced and a newcomer to the craft may become frustrated trying to perform them. this is an excellent book for all... including beginners. however, i feel that beginners might do well with more basic exercises before attempting many of those in this book. an exceptional book and a must read for every student of the craft and goddess worship!
Rating:
Summary: Overall great book
Review: This is one of best books i have read and a great source for teaching students ..
Rating:
Summary: The acrostic view.....
Review: Part theological and part "how-to" THE SPIRAL DANCE includes many suggestions regarding Wiccan rituals and magical practices, as well as the role of witches in a changing world. Like it's counterpart, DRAWING DOWN THE MOON (written a few years later), the book explores the organizing principles of Wicca in the 20th century. Starhawk wrote her book in the late 1970s and the special 20th anniversary edition includes her insights 10 years and 20 years later. Her additional comments expand on her earlier positions and reflect increased wisdom. Do witches meet in the altogether to cast a circle? Not the members of Starhawk's coven who gather in drafty old Victorian houses-although one can do so. However, the most important aspect of WICCA is not whether to appear skyclad at a coven gathering, but recognizing the spiral dance of life. The world is in flux. Things change. On a practical level, this means even the rituals for observing Esbats (Moon cycles) and Sabbats (Sun cycles or the Wheel of the Year) are not set in concrete. Furthermore, witches have an "acrostic" eye that allows them to see underlying mind-sets, patterns, and structures are not absolutes. Starhawk's observations are as salient today as ever. She finds those who subscribe to absolutism (which "stems from an intolerance of ambiguity") and a dualistic thinking (good versus evil) dangerous. She suggests the fall of communism in Europe forced the dominant class to identify a new enemy for the purpose of retaining control through fear. During the 1990s, these "rulers" identified drugs, Satanists, a president afflicted with satyriases, and Sadam Hussein as "the enemy." However, none of these "evils" captured the public imagination and wrath. (Issue date of this 20th anniversary edition is 1999 - post 9-11 Islam may work as an "enemy"). Starhawk suggests feminism is necessary because it is inclusive, not exclusive, and can help change the structures of civilization that rely on violence as a solution. Imagine a world where feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, healing the sick, comforting the dying, protecting the environment, and behaving in a kinder, gentler way towards all living things was the dominant motif!! The opposite of feminism is a "witch hunt" mentality. Wicca is an important spiritual counterpart for women because all the major religions of the world are male centered. This is obvious regarding the Judeo-Christian and Islamic views, but the organizing principle of Eastern religions is directed towards helping one find a kinder gentler self. Starhawk thinks women have mastered that side of their personal development and need to become more assertive and aware of their own needs. This awareness requires the acrostic eye-seeing that the male "only" structures have to go. Simply adapting to them produces a Margaret Thatcher. Some members of Wicca envision a goddess-centered universe, but Starhawk and others recognize a higher power that includes both male and female aspects. She says the 'All that is One' is neither male nor female. Humans can use the metaphors of "Goddess" and "Lord" to address what Joseph Campbell described as "the thing that stands behind."
Rating: 
Summary: Great book--for even the Wicca ignorant
Review: I enjoyed this book, excellent writing as well as the history of a very old religion. I am not a Wicca practicioner, and still got much out of this book. It makes me want further explore this religion.
Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: The only reason I originally bought this book is because it was required reading in my wicca 101 class. But now it is one of my favorites! Geared more toward the feminist witch, this book is excellent for any woman to read.
Rating:
Summary: Sweetness
Review: The best of the best in wicca books. A great way to understand how and why we are truly into the religion. Starhawk expresses her words in ways that you would understand and she explains everything in such positive light. I truly recommend this book to the beginner wiccan and the advanced.
Rating:
Summary: Standard issue for witches
Review: The Spiral Dance is a wonderful walk back in time to the era when Witchcraft made a resurgence in this country. It was the height of the feminist movement, and although I do not consider my self a feminist (I prefer humanist LOL) I really did enjoy this book. Sometimes I just open it in the middle to find a topic to meditate on during the day. If you are thinking about picking up a copy of this book, I highly recommend the 20th anniversary version, as it has extensive recent commentary by Starhawk relating to how her views and those of others involved in the Craft have changed over the years. Without the commentary, I would have to give it four stars, but for me, the update makes all the difference. This book is a page out of history, albeit recent history...it`s important to know where we have been in order to decide where we are going.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good Book
Review: This book has a extensive collection of history, which, in some cases, cause boredom in the readers, but, it is a good book. I would recommend this.
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