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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting Advice for the Beginner, July 19, 2005
This review is from: Exploring the Pagan Path: Wisdom from the Elders (Exploring Series) (Paperback)
This book is a collection of articles, essays, and general musings by some of the better known authors in our community. Contributions by such well known names as Starhawk, Dorothy Morrison, Kerr Cuhulain, M. Macha Nightmare and more demands your attention and entices you to take this book home to read. The book itself is divided into three topics focusing on information for beginners and seekers.
The first is "Explore", and the works collected in this section encourage the reader to look at the path they are walking and find the beginnings of where they would like to go. Articles are contributed by Freya Aswynn, Raven Grimassi and Dorothy Morrison to name a few. Subjects covered include an overview of Paganism, connecting with Deity, connecting with nature, and the basics of magic.
The second topic covers "Learn". These contributions are explorations of working within the Craft. Contributions are by such noted authors as Kristin Madden and M. Macha Nightmare, again, to name a few. Subjects covered are working solitary, ritual and ritual tools, and working with children.
The third topic covers "Live". We have contributions by Kerr Cuhulain, Gus DiZerega, Starhawk and others. Subjects covered are how pagans live, coming out of the broom closet, responsibilities, organizing groups and more.
The book also has Appendices. "How to speak Pagan" is basically a glossary. "Pagan Groups and Traditions" is a list of organizations, and "Top 10" covers various lists of top 10 books by topics and a list of events. There is a resource listing and an index.
The material varies. Some of it is very well written and well presented. There is a very diverse group covered with the authorship of these articles, and the material presented comes at you from many different angles. You will find yourself agreeing with some, while other material may leave you cold. This is the pagan community. Ask 100 pagans a question and get 150 different answers.
I did find a few exceptional articles that contained interesting material. Dorothy Morrison's article on "The Basics of Magic" is a wonderful first steps into the practices of the Craft. Very basic, very well written, very easy to understand, and so very "Dorothy Morrison".
"The Solitary Pagan" is a delightful overview of what it means to be solitary, pagan and what you can do to progress your path. Written by Kristin Madden "& Friends" it is again, a very well written and positive article.
Kristin's article on "Involving Children" also is a very good, one that many parents will find helpful. It provides basics for getting children into what the pagan beliefs and practices are, how to present them in a very easy and fun way that children will like, and how to progress with them into areas, such as magic and ritual, that many parents may be unsure of or just don't know how to present to kids.
Kerr Cuhulain offers a lovely discussion on "Coming Out" which is not to be missed. He comfortably takes you through some thought processes on what it means to come out of the broom closet, what you could expect, what you could encounter, and how some folks may react to you. He also covers some of your religious rights, some arguments you may find others using against your path, and some practical advice from our favorite law enforcement guide.
The book lists are interesting and the pagan organizations that are represented in the appendices are well established, working organizations that have withstood the test of time.
Overall, this book has something to offer most readers. It is a lovely exploration of the Pagan Path, giving very broad brush strokes to the painting of the pagan paths. There will be material for some to contemplate, there will be some words spoken here that may touch some people. There will be other material here that some folks may not find interesting at all. It is, very simply put, up to the reader to decide what applies and what does not. The pagan path, after all, is a very broad path, and we do not all walk in the same places or cover the same grounds. But for many, this book will entertain and possibly enlighten. I found it enjoyable overall. boudica
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18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fine collection of articles on Paganism, June 4, 2005
This review is from: Exploring the Pagan Path: Wisdom from the Elders (Exploring Series) (Paperback)
This collection of articles is a great introduction to Paganism and it has plenty of good advice for Pagans. It includes some useful references and a glossary.
The book starts with an excellent introduction by Oz. We are told that Pagans accept no dogma, authority, or hierarchy in spirituality, and don't proselytize. And we see that Pagans show respect for the animate, the inanimate, and the conceptual. Frey Aswynn then has some good advice on making a personal connection with a deity. Graham Harvey explains some of the options in Paganism and has some advice for figuring out which one fits you. The idea is not to choose something to convert to but to discover what you already are.
There are chapters on nature, on magic, on the study of Paganism and on rituals. For some Pagans, the social aspects of religion are the most meaningful, and Tehom gives some advice on working with a group. Kristin Madden (the dean of Ardantane's School of Shamanic Studies) and others explain the option of being more private (or more secretive) and practicing one's faith alone. That option does not preclude being a member of a small or large Pagan community, of course, and Madden has a chapter on Pagan communities as well. In addition, she explains that a parent can teach a faith powerfully by example. I agree. Certainly, my mother was a powerful example for me, and I learned from her at an early age what polytheism and religious privacy are all about.
Amber K and others tell us about the various ways in which Pagans live, and give advice about organizing one's own group. Kerr Cuhulain has a good chapter on "coming out" (of that broom closet). He advises being prepared before one takes any stand, gives advice about religious arguments (in general, avoid discussing the Bible), explains that Paganism is legal, and has suggestions for dealing with schools and workplaces. Gus diZerega has a good chapter on Pagans, social responsibility, and politics.
When people ask me if I am a Pagan, like Jezebel, Hypatia, Margot Adler, Galina Krasskova, Kristin Madden, Freya Aswynn, or my Mom, I say I am. But when they ask if I am a Pagan, like Starhawk, I tend to say, um, no. Starhawk's chapter is on political action. I think Pagans ought to get involved politically just like everyone else. Besides, we often agree about a few major issues. We usually feel that the value of monotheism is exaggerated in our society. As a minority, we generally support minority rights. We tend to be anti-authoritarian. And many of us value and revere nature.
But what can I say about my profound disagreement with Starhawk? My comment is that I think we need to be very careful in choosing political allies, and that fanatical, bullying, chauvinist, right-wing monotheists can be dubious choices.
All that aside, I highly recommend this book.
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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Pagan mentor in your pocket, almost., October 27, 2005
This review is from: Exploring the Pagan Path: Wisdom from the Elders (Exploring Series) (Paperback)
Kristin Madden herds Pagans. Or something like that. In this delightful new book of essays from many well-known and respected Pagan Elders, Ms. Madden collects the accumulated wisdom and experience from many different Paths and Traditions.
The book brings together the accumulated experience of such authors as StarHawk, Dorothy Morrison and Grey Cat. Each one is an expert in his or her own field. The book is divided into three sections, Explore, Learn and Live. The reader learns what Paganism is, how to make a personal connection with Divinity and the basics of Magic. With that foundation the reader moves on to magical living, ritual design and tool creation. In the final section covens, groups, activism and becoming public with your Path are discussed in depth. The book concludes with several appendices, all of which are very useful in either obtaining more information or expanding your knowledge of things Pagan.
This book reminds me of the workshops one might encounter at a big Pagan Gather. Lots of different voices collected together to teach and explain the many aspects of what being a Pagan can be. This book is a welcome addition to the Pagan library. It is more useful for those new to the Path, but the more experienced practitioner will enjoy reading the essays from authors they have not yet explored. If you ever wished you could have a mentor to guide you while learning, this book is the next best thing.
W. Lyon Martin Author/Illustrator of "An Ordinary Girl, A Magical Child"
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