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Summary: If you're serious about wicca...
Review: ...then you'll need to read this book. After years of searching for a book that actually discusses wicca as a religion, I stumbled upon Starhawk's books. This book is a treasure to anyone wanting more than a retelling of calling the quarters and love spells. Using a simple fairy tale as a guide, Starhawk and Valentine setup three different paths for the reader. While the book does refer to other Reclaming tradition books (Spiral Dance, Circle Round, et al), it is easy to follow and provides numerous meditation and ritual ideas.
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Summary: Just like being at Witchcamp...
Review: ...Well, sort of. No late night howling at the moon or camp songs, but this book is organized in a way analogous to camp. There are excellent tools in this book, for beginners to advanced Witches. In fact, I think it is one of the few books really suited for the intermediate to advanced Witch. This book could sustain one's personal work for quite a long time, if needed.I do find it interesting to read the comments of the reviewer who mentioned the "rabid feminism." I certainly don't perceive this book to be that way. In meeting Starhawk and reading her work, I've never percieved her as a "rabid" feminist or man-hater... interesting how some men think anyone who uses "she" and "her" instead of "he" and "him" as generic pronouns is rabid. I've been putting up with books with a generic male audience my entire life! I guess I'm not really sure why some men are so offended by the book addressing a generic female audience instead. I believe this book is an incredible, valuable addition to the available literature on Witchcraft, and I strongly recommend it, both to women and (secure) men. ;-) Blessed be!
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Summary: Another gem from the Reclaiming Community
Review: All too often, books on the Craft seem superficial. One is left with the feeling that there is a deeper mystery that is not being explained, a richer, darker, more passionate way to approach the Old Religion. The works of Starhawk and the Reclaiming Community stand apart from this depressing state of affairs. Each one unearths deep emotion and is filled with insight. This is the real thing, and that reality is felt bone deep. "Twelve Wild Swans" is no exception. The lessons are based on an old, somewhat unsettling fairy tale. This story is approached from three different directions that enhance eachother. The most important thing, in my opinion, is the stress the authors both put on the seriousness of commiting one's self to the Craft. Witchcraft is a life altering journey, and that journey should not be embarked upon as a fashion statement. The Outer Path sections make this especially clear. As a book that stresses dedication and a deep commitment to the Goddess, "Twelve Wild Swans" takes its place as a classic on par with, if not exceeding, "Spiral Dance". Thank you Starhawk and the Reclaiming Community!
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Summary: Ah, the next steps
Review: Have you noticed lately that witches and spiritual writers are calling to action? It is like Bolen's story of the millionth monkey. One monkey starts to wash a sweet potato thrown on the shore. Another monkey joins the next day. Soon monkeys on unrelated islands are washing a sweet potato thrown on the shore before eating them. Magic. Starhawk's new book is one of these pathways. Doing the work within, alone or in your coven, is joining in to the action
that our world needs to become peaceful, balanced, and free.
Starhawk understands deeply that until we are all free, we are none of us free. Feminist, powerful, witch that she is she has provided us all, once again, a primer that delves even deeper and that asks us all to find our own way to action. As usual, she does it all with bone honesty and deep respect for your path. Read it. Do it. Get busy. Thank you for the book.
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Summary: A masterpiece of Wiccan ritual instruction
Review: In 1979, Starhawk set the bar for Wiccan/pagan instruction with her book _The Spiral Dance_. Now she and coauthor Hilary Valentine have raised the bar with _The Twelve Wild Swans_. Where most other books focus on the basics of solitary and small-group Wiccan ritual and magic, this one also delves into the training of a priestess for group (especially large-group) ritual and political action, as well as the self-healing exercises and challenges that few in our community have written about openly. The layout is very friendly: the three paths are constructed to be independent while still allowing for easy movement among them, and the text is filled with wonderful examples and anecdotes gleaned from twenty years of Reclaiming's ritual classes and Witchcamps. The authors assume nothing, beginning with the basics of ritual work (grounding, casting circle, invoking) and using these basic concepts and techniques to build their more advanced lessons. An advance warning: the exercises are not always easy, particularly in the Inner Path - you will be challenged to examine yourself in uncomfortable ways, to ask hard questions. Go for it! Learn who you truly are, and why - it will inform your life, not just your ritual practice. This book is the perfect manual for both solitary and group study; I can't wait to dig into its exercises with my own group. An instant classic that belongs on the bookshelf of every serious student of Wiccan ritual.
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Summary: A Wonderful Resource!
Review: This book is a wonderful resource for those who desire a more advanced, in-depth treatment of the tools and techniques from The Spiral Dance. The book is engrossing and thoroughly informative, and was tremendously helpful to me. To the previous reviewer who asserted that "the statement that we automatically inherit responsibility for the evils done by our predecessors was particularly odious," I'd like to suggest that if we're not responsible for fixing past wrongs, who is? If we don't change the world, who will? If we don't heal the Earth, how will She heal? This book gives us some of the tools to help do that.
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Summary: Deepening Self-Wisdom-for Men too....
Review: This book is for a mature Wiccan. It is a fantastic spiritual guide for deepening your spiritual life and growing as a human being.
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Summary: men should not be afraid to read this book!!!
Review: This book takes the study of Wicca in an interesting light. You have the option of going through the book chapter by chapter or by using one of three methods of study. It is a wonderful, thought provoking story and is easily translated into everyday events. I especially recommend this for women and even more so to young women just entering the craft.
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Summary: Deepening Self-Wisdom-for Men too....
Review: This book tells a story- as in many of starhawks books, and it relates to how our lives are magickal an not. It helps us see what life is all about, who we are deep inside-by teaching through excersizes and story telling. Every book starhawk has written i have never even considered it feminist at all, she never writes in way where the sexes are seperated-they are one they way i see her view the sexes. I am a man, and have read many works by starhawk, and people wave the feminist word around to much, her books have definatley nothing to do with gender at all!. She writes books to open the soul and mind-always through story and mental/ritual excersizes. She has a definate writing style which many enjoy, as do i. Great read-any of her books!!!
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Summary: Extraordinary
Review: This is the advanced Wiccan/Pagan book that practitioners have been waiting for. We are transformed as we follow Rose through her betrayal and redemption. I think I would have been overwhelmed reading this if I was a beginner because like the fairy tale, it assumes a spiritual life and previous magical experience would be very helpful. There is no hocus-pocus in this book. Meditiation is stressed and spells are practically non existent. This is real magic. The connection to divinity is profound. The book is written in a feminine voice. The authors explain that it is not only to try to balance all of the books that are written in a male voice but also to avoid the constant repetition of god and goddess and he and she. It was refreshing to read a book written in this light. This book does not male bash or Christian bash, and I was also grateful for that as well. I would go through this book line by line if I was either starting a group or working in one currently. While you can be a solitary and get a lot out of this book, I think a newbie solitary would have a hard time at first. Towards the end of the book, the authors drop solitary references and recommend ways to draw people of like mind into your life. There is a lot of political activism and community spirit in this book. The authors recognize that we do not live in a vacuum and it is all well and good to do spells and prayers for the Earth but real, concrete involvement is really what's going to save the planet and our souls. The writing is superb. Read this and be transformed.
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