Rating: 
Summary: Solid but controversial
Review: OK, I'll say this up-front. Starhawk is very, very political. She is a strong proponent of feminism and the environment. She is out to change societal sex-role conditioning for both males and females. She uses Dion Fortune's definition of magic, "the art of changing consciousness at will", and interprets it to mean both magical and political consciousness. If you're dead-set against ecofeminism, maybe you shouldn't read this book. If you prefer not to mix your spirituality with your politics, you might have to skip some chapters. If you tune out whenever psychobabble commences, you may have to skip some chapters. That said, let's go on...One of the reasons _The Spiral Dance_ has become such a classic in NeoPagan circles is its "magic education" exercises. Starhawk gives the reader "homework" in energy-raising, concentration, grounding and centering, trance, and more. This is the most complete source I have seen on this kind of work. Her exercises have been borrowed and recycled in many more recent books. If you've read any Wicca 101 books, you've probably read versions of Starhawk's exercises, whether you know it or not. All of them are useful in some way, and can help you learn to use the powers of your mind for magic. I also must rave about the breathtaking beauty Starhawk's language achieves from time to time. I'm a woman, so I don't know what a man feels when reading this book, but I find it a wonderful mood-booster when I'm going through tough times. Just read the passage beginning, "Mother Goddess is awakening, and we can begin to reclaim our primal birthright, the sheer intoxicating joy of being alive." Just read some of the ritual poetry written by Starhawk and her coven. The goosebumps on your arms and the tears in your eyes--now that's magic. Starhawk envisions a world transformed by spiritual power, a world where women are strong and powerful and comfortable in their bodies, and a world where men are free of the urge to "one-up" each other and free to show emotion. It's an inspiring idea. If you like this sort of thing, or if you want a comprehensive set of magical exercises, or if you want to read some gorgeously written Pagan rituals, by all means, get a copy of this classic.
Rating: 
Summary: Cuddles
Review: As a Dianic Wicca-influenced Pagan, I adore this book. For many years it was my bible. $40NZ and I would have spent twice the price. Now, I still think it is one of the best books around, but perhaps too much for most beginners. This rates top of my Somewhat Experienced list (not quite Beginners but to much of the basics for Experienced). Every female should own it. Males will benefit from it too. The chapter on the history of Witchcraft is more poetic than historical, there is a lot of feminist/political guff, but the core of it is superb. Blessings.
Rating: 
Summary: Lacked accuracy, but still good
Review: I'll stay anonymous because it's safer :) Starhawk has some problems with her history (as all pagan authors do), and her sources were out of date when she wrote the book. Many had been discredited, and several were simply bad to start with. Her insistance on using oral tradition rather than hard evidence detracts from her writing. She also seems to believe that Witchcraft is the only way for a person (particularly a woman) to go religiously, calls all Eastern religions cults, and would probably insult most men who read it. Aside from this, her work is still good and useful, showing women how to empower themselves using the symbolism of the Goddess. The rituals and meditations are useful; stick to those if you get the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty feministic
Review: I would have rated this book as average, it is a good overview of the Wicca religion system, is organized pretty well etc., and is easy and quick to read - I finished the book almost in a day, but the book proved to be full of Starhawk's own opinions that degrade men's position and counterpoints herself in many occasions. For example, first stating that a society shouldn't be leaded and certainly by no men and then later in the book stating that men's role is to limit and restrict females, behaving a sort like Lord Shiva in Hindu literature, dancing the dance of destruction. The book in essence seemed to be more a political book than a book on a religion system flavored with Starhawk's own anxiety - not a good way to promote a religion.
Rating: 
Summary: A cheat
Review: Somehow I just feel that anyone who changes their name to "Starhawk" really ought to be fighting crime in a flashy costume.
Rating:
Summary: marvelous - and extremely useful
Review: The Spiral Dance is magnificient - I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Starhawk has done a truly outstanding job of providing the reader with an excellent groundwork for an introduction to wicca, providing invocations, rituals and meditations. But what I found most useful were her numerous mental exercises designed to develop awareness, improve visualization and meditaiton techniques. They have been extremely valuable to me. Starhawk discusses the various aspects of Witchcraft at length as well, which is also useful reading. Chapters are devoted to the Goddess, the God, summoning and grounding energy, casting - everything one would expect in a book for beginner practioners but with much more depth in explaining the "whys" rather then simply the "hows." I would only add that the book is a little "advanced" for many new to witchcraft or wicca - the writing is pretty mature and techincal, albiet very good. If you have read Cunningham or Sliverwolf (who are both good), and are looking for something a little more mature, this would be my first choice. Enjoy! And bright blessings.
Rating:
Summary: critique of this book in a magazine
Review: I have not read this book, but I did recently read an article about it in the January 2001 "The Atlantic Monthly". One of the subtitles of the article in the magazine uses the word "bunk".
Rating:
Summary: A Brief Word about Historical Revisionism
Review: It would have been better if the author had stuck to her own views on religion rather than attempting to attribute those views to historical people such as Joan of Arc. As a researcher who has translated a number of the documents relating to Joan's life, I would merely like to point out what generations of other scholars have already pointed out: the documents contain numerous quotes from Joan which indicate beyond a doubt what her religion was. Even the transcript of her trial admits that she identified Jesus Christ as, quote, "the King of Heaven, son of Saint Mary" (see the letter entered into the record under Article XXII of the first set), despite claims made by a few popular authors alleging that she never defined who her "King of Heaven" was; her other surviving letters are even more explicit, not only containing phrases such as "King Jesus" (in letters dated July 4, 1429 and July 17, 1429), but there's also a letter to a faction called the Hussites (addressed as "the heretics of Bohemia") dated March 23, 1430, in which she threatens to lead a crusading army against the group unless they return to Catholicism, which she describes as, quote, "the original source of light". These are the sources which have always been used by professional historians (as opposed to pop authors), along with the transcript of the posthumous appeal of her case (generally referred to as the Rehabilitation Trial) in which the men who had taken part in the original trial admitted that she had been convicted for political reasons rather than out of any genuine belief that she was a heretic, a point which is rather obvious even from the transcript of the original trial itself. The verdict was therefore annulled on July 7, 1456, with the presiding Inquisitor describing Joan as a martyr. At any rate, historians can establish that Joan was a Catholic with the same degree of certainty as we can establish that Julius Caesar was a pagan, and it would be nice if people of all faiths respected the historical record rather than trying to appropriate people who belonged to other religions: the author of this book has plenty of ancient cultures available from which to find role models.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST WICCAN RESOURCE
Review: Starhawk offers her insight in a very intelligent, enlightening manner. Like any good storyteller, she weaves the herstory of Goddess lore in such a spellbinding and intrigueing manner its absolutely captivating. This book was my introduction into Wicca seven years ago and today its cover is so tattered with such usage it merely commends her gift to us all. I highly reccomend this book to anyone interested in learning more about The Old Ways and how to live in tune and with reverence for nature!
Rating:
Summary: The ONLY book
Review: This and Dreaming the Dark were the first books I read when I started on the path 4 years ago - and they were the only books that could have gotten me started. Since then I have read many other books on wicca and the Craft, but nothing else ever spoke to me about the WHY of the Craft, certainly nothing as deeply as Starhawk does. I would highly recommend Starhawk for beginners as well as those with experience, even for people who are 'just interested in reading about it". Anyone who is interested in thinking deeply about the human condition and acting powerfully to transform it on both the personal and societal levels, will find Spiral Dance, Dreaming the Dark, and Truth or Dare to be a worthwhile read, at the very least. Plus it has all the basics of magical "how-to" that you would get in the other books that lack Starhawk's poetry and insight.
|
