Circle Round: Raising Children in Goddess Traditions [Paperback]

Starhawk (Author), Diane Baker (Author), Anne Hill (Author), Sara Ceres Boore (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2000

In our rushed, stressed society, it's sometimes difficult to spend meaningful time as a family. Now Starhawk, Diane Baker, and Anne Hill offer new ways to foster a sense of togetherness through celebrations that honor the sacredness of life and our Mother Earth.

Goddess tradition embraces the wheel of life, the never-ending cycle of birth, growth, love, fulfillment, and death. Each turn of the wheel is presented here, in eight holidays spanning the changing seasons, in rites of passage for life transitions, and in the elements of fire, air, water, earth, and spirit. Circle Round is rich with songs, rituals, craft and cooking projects, and read-aloud stories, as well as suggestions for how you can create your own unique family traditions. Here are just some of the ways to make each event in the cycle of life more special:

Mark Summer Solstice by making sweet-smelling herb pillows for good dreams
Send a teenager off to college with the Leaving Behind and Carrying With rituals
Comfort an injured child with the Tree of Life meditation
Commemorate a loved one by planting or donating a tree

As a one-of-a-kind resource for people of many faiths and beliefs, Circle Round will be a beloved companion in your home for years to come.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The 20th-century reclamation of Goddess traditions has evolved from a small counterculture revolution of the mid-1900s to the birthright of an entire generation of children and young teenagers. However, the parents--who were adults when they first turned to paganism--are discovering that raising children in a pagan tradition can prove difficult amidst the near void of resources to assist them in teaching this way of life. Relying on age-old learning methods, such as songs and storytelling, Circle Round fills this void with techniques that are truly rooted in traditions. This priceless resource offers guidelines for helping children discover the different facets of the Goddess tradition--from altars to sabbats--and suggests recipes, creative projects, and other activities resuscitating the values of family in our latchkey society. --Brian Patterson --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"A bountiful harvest...Families will find in this book...an enduring friend and reliable adviser."
--NAPRA ReView

"Wonderful...With the term 'family values' so carelessly tossed about these days, it's nice to read a book which so thoroughly demonstrates them."
--The Roanoke Times

"Clever, inspiring, and jam-packed with ideas."
--Sonoma County Independent

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (February 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553378058
• ISBN-13: 978-0553378054
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 0.9 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (70 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #150,638 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #30 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age > Goddesses

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Good Start, but Seriously Lacking: I wanted advice, not a history lesson, May 21, 2006

By 

Ravenclaw's Wit (Sunnyside, WA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Circle Round: Raising Children in Goddess Traditions (Paperback)

I would recommend this book for the stories and the recipes. It gives a wide variety of stories for the Goddess has many faces in many cultures. There are some neat recipes (one of which I am in the process of making at this moment). It gives descriptions of each Sabbat that are kid-friendly. There is also a portion dedicated to involving your children in your rites, but never forcing it upon them.

However, there are some areas in this book that leave you confused, unanswered, and even concerned. The glaring example of this is when they bring up the issue of children being teased or even harrassed for their faith. I expected some tips on helping your children through this time of crisis, but I did not expect a long diatribe on Pagan oppression. Yes, instead of answers you get a history lesson on the Burning Times. I'm sorry, but I don't feel that will help a child deal with being ridiculed.

Another section that seriously concerned me was when they discussed sexual activity. Another reviewer has expressed her concern over this area of the book and so I will not speak long on it. When it discussed love-making, it gives the impression of "the sooner the better." One can see the problems with this so I won't beat a dead horse.

All in all, it was a great beginning, but seriously needs re-vamped. Perhaps one day we can be graced with a seriously revised Second Edition.

95 of 110 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Really taken aback, October 9, 2005

By 

E. Arnold (CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Circle Round: Raising Children in Goddess Traditions (Paperback)

I expected this book to have ideas, rituals, projects, etc. to share with your child/children on the traditions of the god and goddess, which it did. What I didn't expect was the small section on Youth and Maiden Lovemaking, and the irresponsible advice it touted. Written by a 14-year old (which is surprising enough) who obviously has no idea what he's talking about, it opens with "A lot to being a Pagan is being a good lover. My attitude is, why not start sooner than later?" This child is 14! Our kids are already out there experimenting at early ages, and now we have this boy promoting that?! Next he talks about STDs - "You may hear about STDs, and the fact is, the *only* way to prevent STDs are condoms and outercourse." Uh, no...the *only* way to fully prevent an STD is abstinence, but since that is not a realistic way to think, why not say that condoms will *protect* you from STDs, but not always *prevent*, so make sure you use them correctly and responsibly. And you can't get an STD from "outercourse"? Really? I think this kid needs to go back and do his homework on this one.

It's a shame, because up until this point, this chapter was really beautiful and informative, but by throwing in this drivel it managed to take away from the previous good advice and end this chapter on a negligent and dangerous note.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lovely Resource for Younger Families, September 6, 2005

By 

HeartofAvalon "abellygoddess" (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Circle Round: Raising Children in Goddess Traditions (Paperback)

This book is a great resource for families that have very young children. I found that my schoolage and teen children really wouldn't be served by this book. A better choice for families with slightly older children is, Celebrating the Great Mother. The activities are more appropriate and appealing. I will say that this book had me thinking about bread baking in a whole new way, and I will be incorporating that in our family rituals and celebrations.