Seasons of the Witch [Paperback]

Patricia Monaghan (Author), Sudie Rakusin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1992

There are 28 pieces of prose and poetry for each of the four seasons in this publication. Each section features a song for the goddess of light, a litany for the associated elemental creature, poems inspired by tarot cards and love spells in the ancient poetic form of the charm. A four-part "Goddess Instruction Manual" is woven through the book and included is a 73-minute CD of 25 poems set to song.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Whether searching for the perfect reading for a seasonal ritual, or seeking personal inspiration, this is an ideal resource. --Jade River, Co-founder of the Re-formed Congregation of the Goddess, Intl. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

One of the leaders of the contemporary earth spirituality movement, Patricia Monaghan has spent more than 20 years researching and writing about alternative visions of the earth.  Raised in Alaska, where much of her family still lives, she considers herself blessed to have learned the ecology of the taiga, the subarctic forest, in her youth.  She was a writer and reporter on science and energy related issues before turning her attention to the impact of mythic structures on our everyday lives.

The worldwide vision of the earth as feminine--as a goddess, called Gaia by the Greeks--led her to recognize the connection between ecological damage and the oppression of the feminine in Western society.  Much of her work since that time has explored the question of the role of feminine power in our world, in an inclusive and multicultural way.  

An avid traveler, Patricia has researched earth spirituality and goddess worship on three continents.  She has traveled widely in Europe, especially in Ireland.  She holds dual US/Irish citizenship and has edited two anthologies of contemporary Irish-American writing.

Patricia is a member of the resident faculty at DePaul University's School for New Learning in Chicago, where she teaches science and literature.  

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 145 pages
• Publisher: Delphi Pr (June 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1878980092
• ISBN-13: 978-1878980090
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,969,296 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A dream, a rush, a treasure, September 18, 2002

By 

Kelly (Fantasy Literature) (Columbia, MO United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Seasons of the Witch: Poetry & Songs to the Goddess (Paperback)

Patricia Monaghan, probably my favorite Goddess-spirituality author ever, does it again with _Seasons of the Witch_. ... Monaghan's emotional and moving poetry is wonderful. You can just read it for enjoyment, or use it in ritual. It includes "general" poems about witchcraft, a lot of Greek- and Celtic- inspired material, a few poems dealing with other myths, and a dash of fairy-tale material. All of it is very good. (One thing that makes Monaghan stand out in her field, by the way, is her refusal to bash males. Other goddess authors ignore or demean men, but many of Monaghan's poems celebrate love for men in a sensual and lyrical way.)

There is also a gorgeous accompanying CD, featuring several performers who have set selected poems to music. You'll want to hang on to this, too, either just to listen to for pleasure, or to play during ritual.

I would talk more specifically about the poems, but I can't do them justice in prose. I wish Amazon had a "see inside" feature on this book, so you could browse the first few poems and see if you like Monaghan's style.

I also must commend cover artist Gavin Duffy. For a moment, I thought Monaghan had switched publishers! Note to Llewellyn: More covers like this, please! In fact, more books like these--both in appearance and in content. This is a rare gem.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational rather than instructional, June 3, 2002

By 

Boudica (Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seasons of the Witch: Poetry & Songs to the Goddess (Paperback)

When we raise our voices to praise the Goddess, we find our voice sometimes in poetry, or sometimes in prose and most often in song.

This book is a collection of some of Patricia Monaghan's work. The book is divided into seasons, and each season is created in our minds in beautiful poetry and visualized prose. We are lead around the seasons, shown the associations of the elements, the Wheel of Life, and the different forms of the Goddess.

Ms. Monaghan is a talented and very well known poet. Her works have appeared in many magazines.

This book also contains a CD which has placed 25 of her poems into song. The poetry becomes devotional songs, and we find ourselves delicately woven into the visualizations by the enchanting voices of Peggy Monaghan, Sally Coombs, Susan La Croiz, Claudia Blythe, Kirsten Baird Gustafson and Lili McGovern. James Robbins also appears on one of the tracks.

As you read, and listen, you are drawn in by the delicate imagery Ms. Monaghan uses. Ever present is her love for the Goddess, her understanding of the elements and we feel her love and warmth in each piece.

This is a nice break from the handbooks and instructional manuals that dominate the market. Personal expression rather than personal opinion is always a nice change. The CD is professionally produced, the book is nicely bound, and the quality of the material makes this an outstanding package and a nice presentation.

This is a book that can be appreciated by anyone with a soul for poetry or devotional prose. It would make a wonderful gift and a lovely addition to your library.

Sometimes we need to step back from the "how to" books and remember "why".

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, rich poetry and songs, November 24, 2002

By 

Mica_Wrensong "mica_wrensong" (northeast FL) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Seasons of the Witch: Poetry & Songs to the Goddess (Paperback)

I bought this book/CD two months ago, and I still haven't tired of listening to the CD and reading the poetry on a regular basis. Monaghan is a very talented poet; She conveys images and emotions so well through her words! It's really wonderful... some of the best poetry I've ever read. The songs on the CD are also beautiful. They are Patricia's poems set to music that was written and performed by each artist, so the instrumental and vocal styles are often quite varied (in a good way). One of the vocalists is Patricia's sister, Peggy Monaghan, and some of the others include Lili McGovern, Claudia Blythe, Sally Coombs, and Kirsten Baird Gustafson. All of these singers and musicians are very talented, but I am lukewarm on a couple of the songs because I personally don't like the singer's vocal style and she sounds a tad flat to my ears throughout the song. Despite that, the CD is currently one of my favorites to listen to on a regular basis. Just a few of my personal favorite songs/poems include Peggy's version of "Maenad in Spring," and "Maeve Prepares for Beltane," "The Maenad Remembers Dionysus," and "Procedure for Reclaiming the Self," but all of the poems and songs are really special. I highly recommend this book/CD set to anyone who enjoys Goddess-based poetry and music.