Rating: 
Summary: one of the best, if not *the* best
Review: Absolutely wonderful book, and excellent writing. As an author, I commend her style of writing. She doesn't babble, nor does she claim to have the Infinite Truth. It's easy to follow and very involving. Another book that I just couldn't put down. I'm a slow reader, so this one kept me up late at night. :PWhile this book does provide rituals and spells, etc., it's incredibly in-depth. Unless you know the basics of Wicca (stuff presented by Ravenwolf, Cunningham, etc.) than you don't want to read this book. Starhawk delves into the history of Witchcraft, it's evolution today, it's spiritual principles, it's beliefs, it's practicioners, everything. It covers the basics of Wicca (Godess, God, Magic, Spells, Ritual, Sabbats) in-depth, so much so that you crave for more. This is a book that you can just read straight through, but it is also a book that you can take an active part in. It includes exercises and more, so that as you learn the ideas Starhawk presents, you can practice them and make them a part of your life. I recommend taking this book slowly and going through it to make the experience more fulfilling. Or, you could do what I did, which was the read the entire book, and then go back through it and do the exercises. Either way, a great book. Also a great reference, it includes elements that will help you make your own Book of Shadows. This is a guidebook and an informational book. But wonderully and beautifully written. Starhawk's serious attitude and extensive knowledge of Witchcraft definitely show through in her writing, and thus are imparted to the reader. One drawback: she focuses in some spots on the Fairie tradition of witchcraft, since it is her speciality. But the information she presents on that tradition are applicable to any Witch, no matter what tradition. It is also especially useful for ecelectics. This book is also great for either solitaries or coveners. Brightest Blessings! P.S.: I also reccomend reading The Twelve Wild Swans (Starhawk) as the sequel to this book.
Rating:
Summary: The Spiral Dance
Review: "The Spiral Dance" is truly an amazing book, filled with useful information. It comprehensively addresses many of the political, ecological, and historical issues concerning modern witchcraft, while maintaining a relaxed, easy-to-read feel. Starhawk's included adaptation of "the charge of the goddess" is a beautiful and inspirational prose piece. All in all, this book is a wonderful guide for beginning and advanced practitioners alike!
Rating: 
Summary: Good, But Not Great....
Review: I picked up the second edition if this book several years ago because it is one of those "must reads" that has influenced the beliefs of so many (There's even a reference to it in White Wolf's "Mage" roleplaying game.) After reading it, I have mixed feelings.
On the good side, it does give a much more in-depth and grown-up view of witchcraft than many of the beginner books out there. It is a very emotional book with some beautiful poetry, symbolism, and exercises. Starhawk takes us down her path as a witch showing how her beliefs changed and grew, and as a beginner at the time, I found that reassuring.
On the bad side, the history section is embarassingly bad. I'll grant that most of the source material for it is 20-30 years old, but that does not excuse everything. (Joan of Arc was a witch??) I also thought that the femminist political nature of this book made it feel very dated, not to mention preachy.
So read this book because it is one of THE classic books on the subject, but read it with a grain of salt.
Rating:
Summary: Inspired poetry of theology
Review: The Spiral Dance is one of the seminal books of modern day Goddess worship. Starhawk writes with a brilliant hand, and guides the reader on a spiritual awakening that reaches beyond the mundane, beyond traditional spirituality into a realm where politics, everyday life, spirituality, and poetry come together to paint a picture of the Goddess that no other text has quite captured. Perhaps the most fundamental reason for the longevity of this book lies in Starhawk's ability to transcend the static "blah" of mundane life through vivid, lucid, and lyrical writing. While many of the ideas expressed in this work have been expressed elsewhere, no other Wiccan writer has surpassed Starhawk's ability to make us fall in love with the Goddess. Her powerful writing style invites us to see the Goddess as poetry-and that, in and of itself, is profoundly spiritual. Yes, the book is political. For many people, this is a turn off. However, through its political angle, Starhawk makes religion and spirituality relevant and even complementary, not just as a tool for personal growth, but as a way to build community, to build networks of communication-in other words, Starhawk emphasizes politics as merely one way to experience the manifest Goddess. Is the book feminist? Yes. Is it alienating to men? Maybe. Does it challenge the way we think and encourage us to ask introspective questions? Yes, and I think that's part of the beauty and power of this book. Even if one doesn't agree with much of Starhawk's political agenda (and I can't say that I do, even), the poetry with which Starhawk writes, and the passion that she creates for the Goddess cannot be denied. It is an enjoyable read-a truly spiritual experience. One of the most beloved books of many Wiccans' libraries.
Rating:
Summary: Everyone should read this, whether pagan or just searching..
Review: Wicca isn't about hoarding dusty occult texts and having contests to see who is the most esoteric...nor is it about cute little love spells and cheesy witch kits. Its not about people who follow these misguided paths getting [ticked] at each other and writing rants on amazon book reviews (though Goddess knows I've done my share of those). Wicca is about loving the Earth and caring for her. Its about seeing your fellow creatures as part of an interconnected web, and treating them with compassion and empathy. Its about the ecstacy of being truly alive, and one with nature. As far as I am concerned, if someone seeks out this path with those intentions in mind, no one has the right to say that their path isn't valid. Starhawk's book expresses these ideas with joy and hope that will make you cry, but also an unflinching look at reality. If you are going to read just one book on wicca, please read this one. Peace and love,
Bridget
Rating:
Summary: An interesting book to help awaken your conscience
Review: This was an interesting book, but I have not found most of the information new or relevant.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully Done
Review: My favorite part of this book happens to be the end-notes that Starhawk wrote for the 10th and now the 20th edition of the original. I was very impressed with how she wrote about her spiritual journey--she wasn't afraid to revise what she had written twenty years ago. For example, if one was to read the book and not the endnotes, you would get the impression that she only focuses on the Goddess and women. In her endnotes she discusses the need for the God and the inclusion of men in ritual. For the rest of the book, I would highly recommend this to a "newby" as opposed to other "Wicca 101" books that are so popular now. She seems to focus more on explaining diety, the need for ritual etc. instead of making sure the student has the tool, the color, the stone, etc. for a specific spell. Much in here forces the student to think for her/himself as opposed to quoting eight words of the Rede and telling students to memorize it. I also would stress (yet again) for the student to read the endnotes along with the original text.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty Good
Review: As a resource for background and historical information on pagan religions and Wicca, this book is one of the best that I've found. There's a lot of folklore mixed in with her personal experiences with the craft. The excersises included in the book are very detailed, although the meditation and trance ones could be difficult for a person to do at first and may come off as a bit daunting to a beginner. As a resource for spells, this book has a few, but does not give many. The book seems to focus more on raising power than focussing your intent on anything specific. There is also very little information on creating your own spells, although Starhawk does make it clear numerous times in the book that the rituals and spells given are not set in stone and unchangeable, but are given to be built upon and changed as the reader sees fit. My only dislike in the book is the feminist slant that Starhawk seems to place on much of the information. While agree with some of her points, I didn't feel that I added anything to the book.
Rating:
Summary: incredible!
Review: Many people say Starhawk's writing is dense and inaccessible, but I couldn't disagree more. Her love and wisdom shines through beautifully on every page. A must for any woman, goddess worshipper or not.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Training Exercises
Review: I've heard some people complain about this book because they found it too feminist and political. Granted, from a British Traditional Wicca viewpoint, it's a bit skewed, but then, Starhawk isn't writing from that viewpoint. She's a Feri initiate of Victor and Cora Anderson, and has created her own tradition of Reclaiming. The most important part of this book are the various excercises. There's no book out there with better exercises for someone wanting to learn basic Wiccan techniques. I use these exercises extensively for my own students and recommend them to anyone wanting to learn the basics of meditation, trance work, visualization, etc.
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