Rites of Worship: A Neopagan Approach [Paperback]

Isaac Bonewits (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2003

Rites of Worship is the essential source book for creating and conducting public ceremonies and worship services in the Neopagan style. This much-needed guide, the first of its kind, is rich with the author's thirty-five years of experience as a ritual leader, served up with the inimitable Bonewits style and wit.

Whether your group is large or small - or whatever religious tradition you practice - you'll find this volume filled with indispensable how-to (and how-not-to) tips of value to both the aspiring and seasoned practitioner alike.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This brilliant book will easily 'upgrade' the impact and effectiveness of your rituals. Good show Isaac... -- Witchvox.com January 12, 2004

About the Author

Isaac Bonewits is North America's leading expert on ancient and modern Druidism, Witchcraft and the rapidly growing Earth Religions movement. A practicing Neopagan priest, scholar, teacher, bard and polytheologian for over thirtyfive years, he has coined much of the vocabulary and articulated many of the issues that have shaped what some have called the fastest growing religious movement in the world, with opinions both playful and controversial.

Isaac Bonewits has led public rituals in the Berkeley, California hills, in Unitarian Universalist chapels and gardens, at the American Stonehenge during a total eclipse of the sun, and at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC, with groups ranging from dozens to thousands of participants.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Earth Religions Press (July 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594055017
• ISBN-13: 978-1594055010
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,187,427 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Isaac Bonewits is one of North America's leading experts on ancient and modern Druidism, Witchcraft and the rapidly growing Earth Religions movement.

Now the Headmaster at RealMagicSchool.com, he has been a practicing Neopagan priest, scholar, teacher, bard, and polytheologian for over thirty-five years, he has coined much of the vocabulary and articulated many of the issues that have shaped the rapidly growing Neopagan community in the United States and Canada, with opinions both playful and controversial.

He is the author of Real Magic, Authentic Thaumaturgy, The Pagan Man, Bonewits's Essential Guide to Witchcraft and Wicca, Bonewits's Essential Guide to Druidism, Real Energy, and Neopagan Rites, as well as numerous articles, reviews and essays. He is a singer-songwriter with two-and-a-half albums to his credit. As a 'spellbinding' speaker, he has educated, enlightened and entertained two generations of modern Goddess worshippers, nature mystics, and followers of other minority belief systems, and has explained these movements to journalists, law enforcement officers, college students, and academic researchers.

He is the Founder and an Archdruid Emeritus of Ar nDraiocht Fein: A Druid Fellowship, (ADF, the best known Neopagan Druid organization based in North America), a 3rd Degree Druid within the United Ancient Order of Druids (the best known Mesopagan Druid order), a retired High Priest in both the Gardnerian ('British Orthodox') and the N.R.O.O.G.D. ('California Heterodox') traditions of Wicca (Neopagan Witchcraft), an initiate of Santeria (Afro-Cuban Mesopaganism) and the 'Caliphate Line' of the Ordo Templi Orientis (Aleister Crowley's Mesopagan magical tradition), as well as a member of other Neopagan and Mesopagan Druid orders. He has been a member of the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS) for several years. Having survived five previous spouses (and vice versa), he is now married to former CUUPS Vice President, tarot expert, writer, and Wiccan Priestess, Phaedra Bonewits (hope springs eternal).

Isaac wishes it officially known that he is not 'A Pagan Spiritual Leader,' but merely one of the Neopagan movement's better-known Unindicted Co-conspirators...

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The New Standard Text on Neopagan Ritual Design, July 24, 2004

By 

The Old Philosopher "The Old Philosopher" (WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Rites of Worship: A Neopagan Approach (Paperback)

Until this book was published the only previously published guide to designing neopagan rituals that I've been aware of was Blacksun's pamphlet, "The Elements of Beginning Ritual Construction." [Published by Circle Network News, 1988] Until now, Blacksun was "required" reading in several neopagan priesthoods. Bonewits greatly expands the material in print on this subject. He brings together his knowledge from many years of hands on ritual work and makes it accessible to neopagan clergy in a clear and understandable manner. Bonewits begins with a whole chapter of definitions of words used in neopagan religion but poorly understood by many. Even someone who's been teaching pagan rituals for decades can take time to ponder the definition of "worship," "rite," of "liturgy." Chapter 2 discusses the commonalties that neopagan rites have with those of other large and small religions. The elements that are needed to be effective in a religious ceremony in one religion are also needed to be effective in the next. And what is a religious ceremony anyway? For that matter what is a religion? There is a chapter on people factors, how do you prepare for and deal with a wide variety of different people who may show up at your rituals. You may get people who are loud or quiet, have physical or mental disabilities, etc. Other thins deal with preparations, briefings, rehearsals, manna, magic, and what to do when things go wrong. There are too many topics to list in a review.

Rites of Worship is not a cookbook for neopagan rituals, it is rather instructions on designing your own rituals, and essential knowledge that can be gained either from making all the mistakes yourself or learning from someone with decades of actual experience. I would recommend this book to everyone studying to be neopagan clergy.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Destined To Be A Classic!, January 6, 2006

By 

Chasmodai "Chasmodai" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rites of Worship: A Neopagan Approach (Paperback)

Some people seem to know how to create and lead effective group rituals, but ask them how they do it and chances are they can't put it into words the way this book does. I've read many books about ritual, and some of them are very good, but this book gets to the real heart of the matter - how to get to that indescribable place the a good ritual takes you to. Every ritualist needs this book. Your rituals need never fall flat again! :)

One of the Pagan groups I belong to, Agave Spirit Grove, is having a monthly discussion group regarding this book. I think this is a great way to help increase the effectiveness of a group that works together in a ritual setting.

One thing I like about Isaac Bonewits is that he doesn't expect anyone to agree 100% with his opinions and observatons. Even if you have many different points of view, you will find something useful in Rites of Worship.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Right Rite for Worship, September 22, 2006

By 

Amulets By Merlin "Kirk McLaren" (Newport News, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rites of Worship: A Neopagan Approach (Paperback)

At last, a book on the subject that covers every aspect of ritual: concept, construction, composition, performance and review. For many years I have read tomes on Ritual only to find that it had omitted key aspects and considerations, let alone the absence of proper structure.

Rites of Worship starts with a clear definition of terms and concepts and then proceeds with a challenge to the task, then breaks down every step with a review of even more detail. At times Isaac prints the obvious (make sure you have wheel chair access, make sure that you have an alternative to alcohol for those that have issues with it and so on) however other insights such as understanding mana and its flow are breath taking.

The book is clearly targeted toward Neopagans in that there are several comparisons between mainstream religion and the New Movement. If you come from a monotheistic background, you might find some of the subject matter uncomfortable, perhaps even insulting. However for those that are true scholars (and used to reading opinions that differ from their own), they will find gems embedded within these pages.

The final section: 12 Afterwards holds a true gem: a challenge to do better and to take criticism as a blessing for improvement. In fact, one of the main emphases of the test is the importance of making ritual better, there by improving one's relationship with the Gods.

For those that are working a path towards Pagan Clergy, have been a function Priest(ess) and need a refresher or perhaps interested in strengthening their understanding of Ritual in general and religion (and it's purpose) as a whole, I strongly recommend this read. No third degree anything should pass this one over.

-Kirk McLaren
Amulets by Merlin