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Ariadne's Thread: A Workbook of Goddess Magic

Ariadne's Thread: A Workbook of Goddess Magic

List Price: $16.95
Your Price: $11.53
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Dianic classic
Review: Although somewhat dated and ideological, this is a classic work in Dianic witchcraft and women's spirituality, a must have for all enthusiasts of the Dianic Path. It's a warm-hearted generous book, accessible and genuine, very much unlike the cookie cutter Wicca books crowding the shelves of your local bookstore. The people who complained of male-bashing etc--all I wish to say is that this is a book that deals with Women's Mysteries and women's space. Enter within with a reverent heart and learn.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Laying a foundation
Review: Ariadne's Thread is a wonderful introduction to Feminist/Dianic Witchcraft. Shekhinah has such a gentle spirit and her writing, stories and activites reflect her compassion and dedication. I would recommend that anyone interested in a truly Feminist study begin with this book. It's easy to follow and includes stiumlating questions and activities that a group or individual can use to build a solid foundation in magic. The coven that I helped to create a few years ago uses this for new members, to ensure a loving understanding of Witchcraft and feminism-in-action. Anyone that's read the Pagan-101 books by Cunningham, Starhawk or the others will find that the beginning of the book is mostly review, but it's still refreshing with it's unique perspective. By the end of the book, the studies have become more advanced and require more trust in yourself and your magic.
Overall, I highly recommend this book. It's a beautiful study that lays a sturdy foundation in Feminist Witchcraft upon which you can build a magical and vast knowledge/practice.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Inspiring, informational
Review: As a beginner this book is the best I have read. This book provides rituals and spells for reaching into ourselves and finding Goddess. An absolute 10!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: great guide for priestesses...
Review: i am an ordained wiccan priestess teaching my third coven. i wish i would have had this book for my previous two! i have always been searching for something that would give my students in-depth exercises that challenged them and complimented my own projects i assigned. this book has accomplished my goal! i especially like the intro in this book that gives some pointers for both teachers and students, our relationships and the value behind being both a teacher a student in all walks of life and at all times. it also has some great explanations and ideas about charging payment for teaching, which we all know (though many ignore) is a law that can not be broken. since i teach a specific tradition, there were parts i had to ommit such as the tools corresponding to which elements. these vary in many traditions of witchcraft. i do teach from a feminist tradition (not by choice, but rather lack of male participants) and i was afraid it would be a bit "male bashing". it does speak of the differences in society between genders but does not stereotype and does not insult. it has a plethora of deep questions and projects and no teaching priestess should be without this book if not solely for her own personal growth!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: some faults but overall a good read
Review: i enjoyed this book for several reasons. it had an easy to follow, step by step guide to exploring feminist wicca, with helpful activities and projects to get you started, and i particularly liked the chapters on plant magic (which borrowed lots of interesting snippets and suggestions from other books), and her section on divination and tarot. far less militant than Z. Budapest, she takes a more fair and accepting approach to men, and is at pains to state that feminist wicca & matriachy etc is not just a role reversal of patriachy and the 'men good women bad' mindset. she finds things to celebrate in all woemn's aspects, and her interesting bright and dark maiden proposal (about two seperate sides to the maiden goddess) adds to our perception of the goddess (though she emphasises the dark maidens dependance on the bright maiden-she should have pointed out that a purely rational non-intuitive personality is just as undesirable as a passive personality, and the bright maiden needs to learn from the dark maiden and vice versa). by the way, if you havent heard of this proposal and dont know what on earth im going on about, the book goes into some detail to explain.

there were some faults. the authors poetry got quite 'amateurish', 'worthy' & irritating, and several (not all) of her illustrations for the tarot set were childlike and poorly drawn (this wasnt personally my favourite style but each to their own). her introductory stories (involving adraine and various goddesses) to the sections of the book seemed contrived, but it was original and evidently done in good faith, and meant something to her so i guess it depends on the reader. i disliked the way she critiscied isadora duncan for having a male lover, and implied if she had been gay her children would not have tragically died (lesbian relationahips have faults too, not just heterosexual ones), and i think her coments here were very opinionated. this is not a book to read if you want detailled information on individual goddesses (except aphrodite), as she emphasises the basic threads connecting them (not a bad thing), and inherant similarities.

to conclude, i strongly advise you to buy this book, but to bear in mind it is not flawless. if you can stick the (sometimes not very good) poetry, it is chock full of varied information from sappho to rosaries, herbs to runes, the 'avalon' book series to reworkings of patriachal myths, and is a good book for either beginners or those wishing to expand knowledge of feminist wicca, as its positive points far outweigh the flaws.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Inspirational for new students & seasoned practitioners.
Review: I found Ariadne's Thread by chance, and, as a priestess and scholar of comparative religions, I thought it was a inspirational guide for someone new to the study of Wicca/Goddess religions and a useful tool for the seasoned practitioner. I especially enjoyed the projects, questions, and recommended reading which followed each chapter. She presents her opinions openly without imposing them on Wicca/paganism in general and reveals her immense experience and knowledge gained from years of practice and participation in the goddess traditions.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Wonderful Primer On Goddess Religion
Review: I found this book at the library and then later just went ahead and bought it. I love Shekhinah's earthy, mystical, poetic approch to the Craft, and her love of the Earth and the Goddess shine through. I do agree with one reader, however, in that some of the material is outdated. A lot has changed since the 1970s and early 80s and I would love to see a second (or third) edition of this book come out. I practice mainstream Wicca, but my heart lies with the earthy Goddess religions and I consider myself a Goddess-worshipper more than a Witch. If you are is looking to include the God in ritual, as I do, then you may want to check out or buy a book on Wicca that includes Him as a supplement to Ariadne's Thread. Otherwise, happy reading!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A bit too Goddess oriented
Review: I know that the book is about Goddess Magick, but it was too exclusive of the God for my tastes. The author shares great information and is very understandable. Her exercises are quite helpful. If her wording had been just a bit kinder to the God I would have been happier with the book overall.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: not intended for everyone
Review: I notice with books of this nature (woman affirming, at times to the point of excluding men) that there are reviewers who complain about the author being "anti-male" or things of that sort. Did it ever occur to some of you that some books are intended to appeal to women only? Not all books are intended for ALL people. I loved this book. I enjoyed the exercises given at the end of each chapter, as well as the detailed reading lists and recommendations. I am not bothered in the least by any of the author's actual or perceived "anti-maleness". If anyone doesn't like that about the book, no one is forcing them to read it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Mama Speaks
Review: I reccomend this book to anyone seeking to reclaim the divine feminine in their lives.


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