Customer Reviews

Ariadne's Thread: A Workbook of Goddess Magic

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book has been on of my overall favorites for Dianic witchcraft and "womyncraft" since 1991. It takes the reader through the very basics of witchcraft and energy work and leads them through ritual, tool, and spell design. Has an overly feminist tone, and a definite lesbian lean to it, but still an excellent book!

I found this book at the library and then later just went ahead and bought it. I love Shekhinah's earthy, mystical, poetic approch to the Craft, and her love of the Earth and the Goddess shine through. I do agree with one reader, however, in that some of the material is outdated. A lot has changed since the 1970s and early 80s and I would love to see a second (or third) edition of this book come out. I practice mainstream Wicca, but my heart lies with the earthy Goddess religions and I consider myself a Goddess-worshipper more than a Witch. If you are is looking to include the God in ritual, as I do, then you may want to check out or buy a book on Wicca that includes Him as a supplement to Ariadne's Thread. Otherwise, happy reading!

This is a wonderful book, whether you are just beginning to learn about the Godddess, or have been on the path for years.Chock full of information, Mountainwater also gives you activities and excercises to help you better understand the chapters. Make your own book of shadows, lunar calendars, decorate your altar. This is not the old "wicca" 101 book. This is Goddess Study...and it will REALLY make you think.

This is one of my all-time favorite Goddess books. There is truly something for everyone in this book--even men! This book can be used alone, or with a group--either way, the poignant questions and activities will elicit wonderful response. I stumbled onto this book in a [bookstore] about 2 years ago, and it is now very well worn (and read). If you are looking for answers to life's questions, this is a good place to start.

This was a very refreshing read, making me feel good about being a woman! I cannot overstate how much I enjoyed this. The book is written in 13 chapters, and at the end of each are projects to do and questions to think about. I think this is a wonderful method of study. Many diagrams are shown, and the poetry is wonderful, though some phrases did crack me and my boyfriend up ("my bowels know thee" and "my stomach partakes of thee") :D And I cannot help but think that this book is maybe a little *too* feministic, and instead of presenting both sexes as equals it rises women high above men. But if that doesn't turn you off, it certainly didn't on me, this is a fantastic read and highly recommended! This isn't for an absolute beginner though, and to completely understand you should have some basic knowledge.

I recently purchased my second copy of this book, having worn out the first. It is a wonderful companion and teacher. I still find new ideas, deeper understanding and healing beauty in it.

I would recommend this as a gift to self for any woman who is no longer quite comfortable with limited spirituality, and who would like to find out more about a moral structure designed to include women. Or gift it to a friend. There are many conversations to be had over the concepts in this book.

This is a book that written for women who are interested in Goddess Spirituality and are seeking a direction in which to start to put together a Spiritual practice. Shekhinah has developed and continues to develope a feminine way of approaching the Divine. While the book may appear to gender biased to some, it is only because it is intended for women to be reading and using it. Here is a book of Spirituality created for women only. I have had my copy of Ariadne's Thread for many years and cannot give it enough praise. While I was searching for answers I stumbled across this book on a store shelf and it was like finding a beacon of light in the unknown territory of Goddess Spirituality. Shekhinah emphasizes the flowing cycles of feminine energies even in the structure of the book's layout. The chapters are referred to as cycles and they move effortlessly from one to the other and back around again. Here is a study book that you can keep using over and over and over again. Every time you move through it you find a new layer of insight to learn from. This book could be termed as the 'Bible' of Goddess spirituality for women.

Shekhinah Mountainwater has given us a true gem with this book. She has clearly walked her path rather than simply done research. This isbyfar one of the most amazing and awe inspiring books I have ever experienced and I use its teachings in my daily life. This book is geared toward women but it may also be usefull for males who are seeking the divine feminine within. I hope this review has helped you to seek out her book.
Blessed Be to all!
Jet

i enjoyed this book for several reasons. it had an easy to follow, step by step guide to exploring feminist wicca, with helpful activities and projects to get you started, and i particularly liked the chapters on plant magic (which borrowed lots of interesting snippets and suggestions from other books), and her section on divination and tarot. far less militant than Z. Budapest, she takes a more fair and accepting approach to men, and is at pains to state that feminist wicca & matriachy etc is not just a role reversal of patriachy and the 'men good women bad' mindset. she finds things to celebrate in all woemn's aspects, and her interesting bright and dark maiden proposal (about two seperate sides to the maiden goddess) adds to our perception of the goddess (though she emphasises the dark maidens dependance on the bright maiden-she should have pointed out that a purely rational non-intuitive personality is just as undesirable as a passive personality, and the bright maiden needs to learn from the dark maiden and vice versa). by the way, if you havent heard of this proposal and dont know what on earth im going on about, the book goes into some detail to explain.

there were some faults. the authors poetry got quite 'amateurish', 'worthy' & irritating, and several (not all) of her illustrations for the tarot set were childlike and poorly drawn (this wasnt personally my favourite style but each to their own). her introductory stories (involving adraine and various goddesses) to the sections of the book seemed contrived, but it was original and evidently done in good faith, and meant something to her so i guess it depends on the reader. i disliked the way she critiscied isadora duncan for having a male lover, and implied if she had been gay her children would not have tragically died (lesbian relationahips have faults too, not just heterosexual ones), and i think her coments here were very opinionated. this is not a book to read if you want detailled information on individual goddesses (except aphrodite), as she emphasises the basic threads connecting them (not a bad thing), and inherant similarities.

to conclude, i strongly advise you to buy this book, but to bear in mind it is not flawless. if you can stick the (sometimes not very good) poetry, it is chock full of varied information from sappho to rosaries, herbs to runes, the 'avalon' book series to reworkings of patriachal myths, and is a good book for either beginners or those wishing to expand knowledge of feminist wicca, as its positive points far outweigh the flaws.

Although somewhat dated and ideological, this is a classic work in Dianic witchcraft and women's spirituality, a must have for all enthusiasts of the Dianic Path. It's a warm-hearted generous book, accessible and genuine, very much unlike the cookie cutter Wicca books crowding the shelves of your local bookstore. The people who complained of male-bashing etc--all I wish to say is that this is a book that deals with Women's Mysteries and women's space. Enter within with a reverent heart and learn.