Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Harper & Row (1981), Edition: First Edition, 224 pages FIRST EDITION
Description
The twentieth anniversary edition of The Spiral Dance celebrates the pivotal role the book has had in bringing Goddess worship to the religious forefront. This bestselling classic is both an unparalleled reference on the practices and philosophies of Witchcraft and a guide to the life-affirming ways in which readers can turn to the Goddess to deepen their sense of personal pride, develop their inner power, and integrate mind, body, and spirit. Starhawk's brilliant, comprehensive overview of the growth, suppression, and modern-day re-emergence of Wicca as a Goddess-worshipping religion has left an indelible mark on the feminist spiritual consciousness. In a new introduction, Starhawk reveals the ways in which Goddess religion and the practice of ritual have adapted and developed over the last twenty years, and she reflects on the ways in which these changes have influenced and enhanced her original ideas. In the face of an ever-changing world, this invaluable spiritual guidebook is more relevant than ever.… (more)
Media reviews
Kirkus Review
Lucid, appealing... a broad philosophy of harmony with nature, of human concord, sexual liberation, creativity, and health pleasure, as expressed and celebrating in a freewheeling worship of the universe.
The New York Times Book Review
A very beautiful call for a worldly spirituality
User reviews
LibraryThing member LittleKnife
This is one of the classics of its genre; highly influential its a must read to understand much of what has been written since it was first published. The original is clearly of its time and much influenced by feminist theories, it also contains many historical inaccuracies - some of the more
Your opinion on this book is going to be severely coloured by preconceptions going into it - look for an empowering spirituality there it is, looking for religion or for dangerous hocus-pocus you can find either of those too. This is not a clear-headed persuasive argument but it offers practical advice as well as heartfelt opinion.
I do recommend reading this book but with a critical eye as well as an emotional reaction. Enjoy it, be inspired & read around the subject before deciding about it.
Show More
obvious errors, more extreme political opinions and all round fluffy-bunny approaches have been toned down by the authors modifications in the 10th and 20th anniversary editions so do check which you are reading. Your opinion on this book is going to be severely coloured by preconceptions going into it - look for an empowering spirituality there it is, looking for religion or for dangerous hocus-pocus you can find either of those too. This is not a clear-headed persuasive argument but it offers practical advice as well as heartfelt opinion.
I do recommend reading this book but with a critical eye as well as an emotional reaction. Enjoy it, be inspired & read around the subject before deciding about it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member hafowler
First read in 1994 -- one of the first books on The Craft I ever bought, and remains the one I use the most.
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
Basically, I'm an atheist and thoroughgoing rationalist, but one that not only seeks to better understand spirituality but wishes I could find a way to express myself within it rationally. I thought a form of paganism might do, since it seeks to root spirituality within the earth, ie reality. So I
I'm afraid I found that there isn't much of a line between this kind of "spirituality" and the supernatural and just plain superstition. Invocations, herbal charms, spells? I found this was no more to my liking than mainstream Christianity.
And if was filled with its own myths, it's own distortions of reality and history. Nine million died in the persecution of witches? Reputable historians think no more than 100,000--and that's at the high end. Nor was it exclusively women--a majority condemned as witches were women, yes--but not anywhere near 80 percent. Yes, sexism and racism has had a horrible number of victims. But whether it's witch burnings or the Middle Passage of the Atlantic Slave Trade, we do no honor to those victims to so exaggerate the numbers we discredit their real suffering, and cause people who learn the truth to dismiss what they went through altogether. Similarly, I find Starhawk's claims for Modern Wicca having any continuity with a Pre-Christian past dubious.
Yet parts of The Spiral Dance called to my young self--as demonstrated by the number of lines I highlighted and pages I do-eared. The idea of the whole universe as what is sacred--and we're a part of it. Also, I've known many fine people who call themselves Pagan or Wiccan--including one of my closest friends. This book and the movement have had an influence. If only for that, to understand that phenomenon and its adherents better, this is a book worth reading.
Show More
bought this book, wanting to learn more about Neopaganism, since I had read this was the classic in the literature.I'm afraid I found that there isn't much of a line between this kind of "spirituality" and the supernatural and just plain superstition. Invocations, herbal charms, spells? I found this was no more to my liking than mainstream Christianity.
And if was filled with its own myths, it's own distortions of reality and history. Nine million died in the persecution of witches? Reputable historians think no more than 100,000--and that's at the high end. Nor was it exclusively women--a majority condemned as witches were women, yes--but not anywhere near 80 percent. Yes, sexism and racism has had a horrible number of victims. But whether it's witch burnings or the Middle Passage of the Atlantic Slave Trade, we do no honor to those victims to so exaggerate the numbers we discredit their real suffering, and cause people who learn the truth to dismiss what they went through altogether. Similarly, I find Starhawk's claims for Modern Wicca having any continuity with a Pre-Christian past dubious.
Yet parts of The Spiral Dance called to my young self--as demonstrated by the number of lines I highlighted and pages I do-eared. The idea of the whole universe as what is sacred--and we're a part of it. Also, I've known many fine people who call themselves Pagan or Wiccan--including one of my closest friends. This book and the movement have had an influence. If only for that, to understand that phenomenon and its adherents better, this is a book worth reading.
Show Less
LibraryThing member KRaySaulis
Amazing book. Absolutely amazing. One of the best I have ever read on basics of Wicca/Paganism.
LibraryThing member cerridwenns_cat
exercises and meditations are excellent for a beginner. "history" is completely revisionist and upholds murray and others' errors. the good points are really good, the bad points are really bad. the 4 stars are just for the exercises - the historical errors bring the overall rating down to 1.5 but
Show More
the exercises deserve far better than that. Show Less
LibraryThing member hearthfirecircle
While I felt that almost every chapter was incomplete somehow, the book was inspiring and made me hunger for more in my personal practice. More passion, more goddess, more earth, more spontanteity in ritual, just as she describes!
LibraryThing member dragonasbreath
If you try to sit down and read Spiral from front to back you will probably fail. But if you take it in sections, and think about the section before you move on, you'll pick up good info from it!
LibraryThing member Collectively
A classic and foundational work for many modern, feminist Pagan communities. Starhawk writes with a poetic ferocity that is refreshingly self-reflective in the books continued reprints as she adjusts, alters and reinforces her magickal worldview. Starhawk is a Pagan Elder who walks their talk and
Show More
the Spiral Dance inspires one to do the same. Show Less
LibraryThing member dbsovereign
THE book to read if you want to find out about paganism, and how to change reality through magic (yes, it really does exist). No hocus pocus here - just a primer on ritual and how it can transform your life. If you want to get the whole story on modern day witchcraft, you should contact the folks
Show More
in Reclaiming or see your local Druid/Priestess. Central message in a nutshell: you create your own reality. Show Less
LibraryThing member SumisBooks
Great beginner's book to help get you off your feet LOL. Easy to read and rituals are easy to follow. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone new to the craft.
LibraryThing member Dreamofaredbird
I found this book very inspiring and loved the practicality of it. A powerful book by a powerful woman.
LibraryThing member tldegray
I read this again and again. It informed my own practices.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1979-10-31
Physical description
224 p.
ISBN
0060675357 / 9780060675356
Local notes
First Edition. has some marginalia and underlinings.
Other editions
Similar in this library
Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America by Margot Adler
The twelve wild swans : a journey to the realm of magic, healing, and action : rituals, exercises, and magical training in the reclaiming tradition by Starhawk.
The Pagan Book of Living and Dying: Practical Rituals, Prayers, Blessings, and Meditations on Crossing Over by Starhawk
Earth, Air, Fire & Water: More Techniques of Natural Magic (Llewellyn's Practical Magick Series) by Scott Cunningham
The magical household : empower your home with love, protection, health and happiness by Scott Cunningham
The grandmother of time : a woman's book of celebrations, spells, and sacred objects for every month of the year by Zsuzsanna Emese Budapest
To Stir a Magick Cauldron: A Witch's Guide to Casting and Conjuring (RavenWolf How To Series) by Silver RavenWolf
The Practice Of Witchcraft Today: An Introduction to Beliefs and Rituals (Citadel Library of Mystic Arts) by Robin Skelton
Magical Herbalism: The Secret Craft of the Wise (Llewellyn's Practical Magick Series) by Scott Cunningham