The Witches' God: Lord of the Dance [Paperback]

Stewart Farrar (Author), Janet Farrar (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0919345476 | ISBN-13: 978-0919345478 | Publication Date: April 1, 1989

Exploring the Masculine Principle of Divinity This companion volume to The Witches' Goddess re-establishes the ancient balance between God and Goddess. Part I covers the many concepts of the God examined, including: His faces throughout history; The Son/Lover God; The Vegetation God; The War God; The Anti-God; and more Part II gives a close look at 12 individual gods of history with an appropriate invoking ritual for each. Part III presents a comprehensive dictionary of over 1000 gods from many world cultures, past and present. The Farrars are among the best-known authors on the Craft, and in The Witches' God have written what is likely to become the standard work on the masculine god aspect. Over 30,000 sold!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Janet and Stewart Farrar have authored eight books on witchcraft and have traveled globally giving workshops and seminars.

Product Details

• Paperback: 278 pages
• Publisher: Phoenix Publishing (WA) (April 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0919345476
• ISBN-13: 978-0919345478
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #483,694 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This book is great simply because there are so few like it., October 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Witches' God: Lord of the Dance (Paperback)

+AH4-There are so many books on the Goddess (including the prequel to this one by the Farrars, the Witches' Goddess, which is good) but what about information about the God of the Witches? This book by the Farrar's, who are "among the best known authors on the Craft" according the cover, have complied a book solely on the God, including 12 or so individual Gods and appropriate rituals for each (Pan, Osiris, Tammuz, Thoth, Herne/Cernunnos, Shiva, The Dagda, Loki, Zeus, Eros, Ra and Amun-Ra,+AH4-+AH4- Wayland and Smith). Also includes recipes for foods and incenses that correspond with the God(s), photos and a dictionary of over 1000 Gods, past and present, and looks at the many faces of the God in history and mythology. I think it is a worthwhile addition to any Witch's library to compliment the many Goddess books out there. While it is not beginner material about Witchcraft or Wicca as a religion of course, it is interesting and good reference material on the subject of the God. It strives+AH4-+AH4- to "re-establish the ancient balance between the God and Goddess." I'd recommend it along with the Witches' Goddess since they really do go together+AH4-

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Informative Read, January 6, 2004

By 

Theia (Carrboro, NC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Witches' God: Lord of the Dance (Paperback)

This book is advertised as having three parts. The first discusses God archetypes, the second presents rituals for various Gods, and the third is supposed to be an encyclopedia of Gods. The only truely useful part (for me at least) is part one.

The discussion of God archetypes is pretty good. Some of the archetypes are better than others, but overall the Farrars' do a good job of presenting the material. A little more academic than most of the other books I have read on the subject. Presents the each archetype seperately but makes important connections between them. Written sort of as a series of justifications for archetypes.

The second part gives short descriptions of each God and then provides a ritual. Many of the rituals are little more than long incantations. They are all written for covens and most cannot be easily adapted to solitary use. Still, the descriptions of the Gods themselves are interesting.

Finally the third part is nothing more than a list of names. Many of the names say nothing next to them at all. Some of three or four word descriptions like "God of War" or "Father of Blank." Arranged alphabetically instead of by culture or archetype so you need to know the God's name in order to look it up, at which point you only learn His name, something you already knew.

A good read if you are interested in learning more about the roles of God archetypes.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Praise God!, February 11, 2003

By 

Witchy woman (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Witches' God: Lord of the Dance (Paperback)

I love this book, yes, as a Wiccan, there are not a lot of books written about the God, but there are some, and this is by far the best. It has stories, tells you whos who and what's what. if you are a Wiccan, you need this book. Yes, I came into the Craft because the Goddess spoke to me as a woman, but the God has been masked and his many guises denied or branded evil. This book sets it straight. Please get your hands on a copy if you are Wiccan or wish to adore the many faces of God.