The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Goddess: 20th Anniversary Edition

What a motivating, Inspiring and strong woman Starhawk is. Thank you so much for the time, research and dedication you have put into your book, the Spiral Dance. Both my parents and grandparents and a great grandmother were Pagan as well as myself. I gained so much insight reading this book. I'm a better person having read it. You have motivated me to want to share the Pagan faith rather than just being Pagan. I highly recommend reading and/or listening to this book. It is wonderful in every way with perfectly genius positive and encouraging words of self help to live by. Suggested reading is a selfless gesture. I can't say enough positive words about this book. I am stoked and full of gratitude to Starhawk. This is like 20 books in one. A must get, read, and utilize book. Thank you. MoonShine

My favorite book on this subject, of all, to date. More than a suitable read for a thoughtful, intelligent, responsible and fair introduction for one who wishes to broaden his/her understanding of the ancient philosophies that underwent so much persecution, suppression, fear and suffering by so many. It's also particularly relevant for the new practitioner including some get-your-toes-wet guidance and exercises for practice and crafting. I won't lie, it has a bit of feminist bent on occasion, however, considering the initial release was what, 38, nearly 40 years ago, it's more than understandable given what was going on back then. Gender equality plus the right for one to freely worship in their belief or what feels most natural and sincerely connecting have all advanced light years in the past 40 years in most parts of the world; of course, there's still ample room before we reach the point of needing to not have the discussion concerning human rights any longer. I didn't mean to digress - the point I am trying to make is that this is by far my favorite book on the subject and it's become my preferred reference and go-to-guide time and time again and it's more than a worthy and pertinent source, still.

Why I no longer recommend “the Spiral Dance” to new Witches. For decades I have recommended “the Spiral Dance” by Starhawk as a second book (after “Drawing Down the Moon”) to new Witches. When it was first published, Starhawk was one of us, but had a few interesting ideas and had organized them in a well written book. It was, for a while, the best how to be a Witch book for many years. But as she continued to write books, I found them interesting, but less and less were they about Witchcraft. But it wasn’t until she started putting out revised versions of “the Spiral Dance” that I began to find myself in conflict with Starhawk fans. In the notes, she had begun recanting many of the parts of the book I liked. (like a rotating leadership for Covens, and co-ed Covens) Women started asking the men in our groups why “the Spiral Dance” had anything of value to them what so ever. The Problem is that in the 40 years since “the Spiral Dance” was first published, the occult scene has changed a lot. It used to be that we all read most of the same books, and then, only if were were lucky enough to find a copy of that particular book. But now, although we still read some of the same books, there are so many good books available, that it is impossible to read all of them. People are starting to preferentially read books only by certain authors. Some people prefer Gerald Gardner, Doreen Valiente and the Farrars, other people prefer Scott Cunningham, Silver Ravenwolf and Ray Buckland, still others gravitate to books by Starhawk and the Reclaiming collective. Although the divorce hasn’t happened yet, people are starting to put names to groups of traditions that may someday be separate Religions: British Tradition Witchcraft, Traditional Witchcraft, Wicca, and Feminist Spirituality. Recently, I downloaded the electronic version of “the Spiral Dance”. The latest version does not just have notes that I object to. There are whole sections of new content, and the some of the old content appears missing! (though she probably thinks the parts she removed are not that important) The changes are so large that they change the whole tone of the book. It is no longer a good beginning book on Witchcraft. But is still and excellent book on Feminist Spirituality. For this reason, I no longer recommend “the Spiral Dance” as a beginning book on Witchcraft. If you can Try to get hold of an old edition of the book, the red one with the pentagram mandala on the cover. It’s excellent. But the current version is not so good.

Starhawk’s (aka Miriam Simos) seminal work, “The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess,” was first published in 1979. In addition to the original text, this 1999 edition includes notes from both 1989 and 1999. The twenty years of notes highlights the evolution of the author’s thoughts. A lot of exercises are included for both individuals and groups. Portions of the original text harken to the Margaret Murray-inspired ‘this-religion-has existed-forever’ line of thought, along with ongoing references to the ‘Burning Times’, so in some regards, this book is a bit dated. However, the text is important because it highlighted the growing religion while Wicca (group worship—not solitary) was still in its infancy This book, I believe, served as a model for the many books that followed, particularly with the author’s inclusion of tables featuring herbs, colors, and etc., for the elements. There are numerous ways to practice this religion and there are many traditions; the author presents just one version. However, the ten and twenty year updates really reveal not just what changed for the author, but also what remained the same.

The book also reached on time! And the quality is very good! In general, I'm content with the shopping. Thanks!

Il est vraiment génial. La lecture est fastidieuse cependant avec les update des 20 ans plus tard à lire à la fin du livre, en lisant.

A must read for any student of Wicca no matter what tradition you are persuaded by. The historical relevance alone is worth a look. The additional writings from the 10th and 20th anniversary are brilliant and very necessary to the continued relevance of this book today. Starhawk's approach to Wicca has a more feminist stance, however there is still reverence for the male aspect of deity. I love many of her concepts that could truly heal both men and women alike from the trouble's of patriarchal culture. For example, she discusses the true strength of men as "power from within" instead of "power over" another. This concept also applies to women and how we can become powerful without being dictatorial or authoritarian. Her feminist spirit sometimes overshadows the balance of male and female in this book. For example, she considers the "god" as the consort of the goddess rather than her equal partner, but does not go as far as Dianic Wicca which tends to ignore the god completely. I feel that this is a reaction to the harmful aspects of patriarchal culture which to my mind even infiltrates Gardnerian Wicca to an extent. Overall though, I feel she has made a concerted effort to remain true to her point of view while not alienating her male readers. Having said that, women may indeed identify more with this work. Even so, it would still be a beneficial read for men looking to understand women's issues better and also redefining their own roles in society in a way that would be healing for all. Starhawk is a passionate and brilliant writer that will no doubt sweep you up in her Spiral Dance.

Von dem Buch bin ich sehr begeistert. Es war genau so, wie ich es mir gewünscht habe: Inspirierend, kreativ geschrieben und gut zu lesen.

I was first told about this book by my boyfriend, who had read it some time back when it was pretty new. As I was reviving my old interest in Wicca, I thought I'd give it go - and I'm so glad I did. Starhawk is quite simply a very gifted writer who also happens to be a witch - this means there's no wading through clunky, mawkish prose to get to the ideas - everything leaps off the page, taking you along with it. Another thing I love is Starhawk's joy in science - physics, astrophysics, microbiology - there's no positing of the scientific *against* the spiritual - or, indeed, the intellectual - she embraces it all. There are ideas here on magic, ritual, covens, the sabbats - but what makes this book unique to any other wiccan book you'll read is that she also covers feminism, ecology, politics, the 'roles/identities of the sexes' (an conceit she rightly explodes, and wonderfully) - and as I've mentioned before, science. *Another* great aspect of the latest edition of this book it that is also includes all of Starhawk's addenda - from ten years after publication, and then 20 years. It's wonderful to see how her conception of Wicca - and how Judaeo-Christian and other religions relate to it - develops over the years. And she's not afraid to admit when she think she's been wrong, most noticeably in her attitude to eastern religions. I'd recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about wicca - though solitaries will find it extremely coven-based. But I'd also recommend it to anyone, of any age, who wants to read a wonderfully-written book, full of passion and poetry, that explores our role in the contemporary world, and gives plenty of inspiration for ways we can improve it. I'd also particularly like to recommend it to men - you'll learn more about how men and women can relate to each other by reading the two chapters on the god and goddess, than you'll *ever* get from some crappy "men are from mars..." style nonsense. Quite simply wonderful. A book to turn to when you want to learn, be inspired, or even comforted.