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

by HarperOne

$17.00
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Sales Rank:24945 (lower is better)
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Release Date:1999-09-22
Label:HarperOne
Pages:336
Binding:Paperback
Publication Date:1999-10-01
Published By:HarperOne
ASIN:0062516329
Category:Book

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Editorial Reviews and Product Descriptions

Product 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.

Customer Reviews

Good background info - Reviewed on 2008-10-17
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I have been reading other books on Wicca and find that this fits in comfortable with my emerging views. Like all books on this subject, me the beginner has to balance all of the views together and come up with a meaningful whole that I can be comfortable with. A very good read.
The Spiral Dance is NOT Wicca - Reviewed on 2008-05-29
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2 customers found this review helpful, 3 did not.

It is true that this book has had an impact on modern Wicca, but it is also the simple truth that Starhawk's "The Spiral Dance" and "Reclaiming Tradition" are not actually Wiccan, was inspired by a faddish notion of an ancient Goddess Monotheism and utopia that has no basis in reality, and is more a political movement than a spiritual movement.
If you think you want to be a witch, read this book. - Reviewed on 2008-04-16
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1 customer found this review helpful.

The Spiral Dance is the first book I would recommend for anyone who wants to work with women in ritual space with earth centered spirituality. Her Starhawk's writing is clear, specific and practical. She has revised her classic feminist work to include working with men and children in sacred space.

The Spiral Dance is a must-read for pagans, witches, or other folks who want to know how to work ritual in sacred spaces.
Wonderful book! - Reviewed on 2008-04-05
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1 customer found this review helpful.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It gives a you a look at the positive aspects of Wicca and helps diffuse the myths that most people believe about witchcraft.
Read it with three bookmarks - Reviewed on 2008-03-03
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1 customer found this review helpful.

I read it when I first started studying Wicca, Witchcraft, and Paganism, and then didn't read it for a few years.
Somehow, in that time, I saw so many reviews talking about how it was so 'Goddess/women focused', 'not balanced', blah blah blah...
It's really odd how other people's opinions can colour your perception like that, because I'd started believing it, to the extent I'd forgotten it even *had* a chapter on the God, let alone that it was the same size as the one on the Goddess. Weird.
And on the reread - it was pretty decent to start with, and in all the bits that I had questions or doubts, she's updated it with her commentary.

You WILL want to read the commentary as you go, so read it with three bookmarks, so you can flick back and forth. I respect that she wanted to let the original work stand alone, flaws and all, but for something written in her 20s, in the climate of the late 70s, it still stands up pretty damn well.

It's more group practice than solitary, but it's a classic for a reason.
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