Ancient Ways: Reclaiming Pagan Traditions [Paperback]

Pauline Campanelli (Author), Dan Campanelli (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 8, 1991

Filled with magic and ritual that you can perform every day to capture the spirit of the seasons. Focuses on the celebration of the Sabbats of the Old Religion by giving you practical things to do while anticipating the sabbat rites, and helping you harness the magical energy for weeks afterward. Learn how to look into your previous lives at Yule...at Beltane, discover where you are most likely to see faeries...and more!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The Campanellis have been practicing Wiccans since 1968. Because of their deep religious beliefs they have evolved a lifestyle based on natural magick. In their 18th century home in western New Jersey, magick is a part of their everyday life.

Pauline and Dan have written and illustrated several books and many articles on Witchcraft. They have also recounted their personal experiences with the Spirit World for Circle Network News and Fate magazine. Other paranormal experiences shared by Pauline and Dan have been included in Haunted Houses: U.S.A., and More Haunted Houses, and in Alan Vaughn's Incredible Coincidence.

Both Dan and Pauline are professional artists. Dan works in watercolor, Pauline in oils. They are each listed in thirteen reference books, including Who's Who in American Art and The International Dictionary of Biographies. Their home and artwork were featured in Colonial Homes, March/April 1981 and Country Living Magazine, April 1985 and October 1992. New Jersey Network produced a program on their artwork and lifestyle for PBS in 1985. Their paintings have been published as fine art prints and are available throughout the United States and Europe.

The Campanellis have been practicing Wiccans since 1968. Because of their deep religious beliefs they have evolved a lifestyle based on natural magick. In their 18th century home in western New Jersey, magick is a part of their everyday life.<br><br>Pauline and Dan have written and illustrated several books and many articles on Witchcraft. They have also recounted their personal experiences with the Spirit World for <I>Circle Network News</I> and <I>Fate</I> magazine. Other paranormal experiences shared by Pauline and Dan have been included in <I>Haunted Houses: U.S.A.</I>, and <I>More Haunted Houses</I>, and in Alan Vaughn's <I>Incredible Coincidence</I>.<br><br>Both Dan and Pauline are professional artists. Dan works in watercolor, Pauline in oils. They are each listed in thirteen reference books, including <I>Who's Who in American Art</I> and <I>The International Dictionary of Biographies</I>. Their home and artwork were featured in <I>Colonial Homes</I>, March/April 1981 and <I>Country Living Magazine</I>, April 1985 and October 1992. New Jersey Network produced a program on their artwork and lifestyle for PBS in 1985. Their paintings have been published as fine art prints and are available throughout the United States and Europe. <br>

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications; 1st edition (January 8, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0875420907
• ISBN-13: 978-0875420905
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #363,353 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars disorganized but a delight for the handcraft-oriented, February 2, 2000

By 

J. K. Kelley "literary mercenary" (Eastern WA, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ancient Ways: Reclaiming Pagan Traditions (Paperback)

If you are pagan and you enjoy things like cooking and making things at holidays, this collection of craft ideas will probably appeal to you a great deal. This book contains a wealth of such ideas, more or less strung together at random. (It's supposedly organized by Sabbat, but I'd take that with a grain of salt.)

If you are looking for valuable history or theology, look elsewhere. Just as one might buy Buckland's blue book for the reference materials or Starhawk for the beautiful incantations and ritual poetry, one would buy this one for the creativity it inspires.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An enjoying, nearly meditative, walk through pagan ways..., July 2, 2001

By 

Jonathan Burgoine "bookseller" (Ottawa, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ancient Ways: Reclaiming Pagan Traditions (Paperback)

"Ancient Ways" was the first Pauline/Dan Campanelli book I came across, when I was searching for something a little more in depth about the sabbats and other major destinations on the wheel of the year.

Starting with Imbolc and taking the reader on a delightful walk through the seasons and sabbats straight through to Yule, the Campanellis have put together a reading experience that almost comes through as a meditation.

I sat down with this book a while before Lammas thinking that I would skim the rest of the book, leaving it for a later reading, and just focus on the section about Lammas. Instead, I sat down and read it cover to cover, enjoying every section, and leaving the book with a feeling like I'd just undergone a guided meditation on the wheel of the year.

This book is a valuable resource for all of us who have learned only the basics and the typical rituals associated with the wheel of the year and the major Sabbats, and wonderful for anyone looking for new ideas to make their sabbats fresh again. It belongs on any Pagan Bookshelf.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Sabbat info, April 19, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Ancient Ways: Reclaiming Pagan Traditions (Paperback)

While Llwellyn has been publishing a set of books, one for each Sabbat, this book is the best source for lore, crafts, recipes, magic, and ritual for the Sabbats.

Poetic and full of wonderful artwork, this book doesn't treat pagan holidays as a childish game. The folklore is wonderful and accurate, the crafts are relevant to the season, and the magic and ritual is simple and powerful.

This should be in all pagan libraries.