The Spiral Dance

by Starhawk

Now in its twentieth anniversary edition, Starhawk was Pagan before Pagan was cool; she is credited with bringing women's spirituality into the public eye, and with good reason. This is a harder book to get through than Cunningham's; it's written with a more scholarly tone and has a decided feminist slant, though in its most recent edition Starhawk's endnotes tone down a lot of the gynocratics. It is, however, a beautiful book with a lot of poetry between the lines, and even if I don't agree with the gender bias on a lot of levels I have a soft spot for this book. Includes a set of Sabbat rituals for group practice, several good spells; take her history of the Craft with a grain of salt, as she wrote it more as modern myth than strict research.

Reviewed by Diane Sylvan

In addition to all that Dianne said, the book contains many good exercises and meditations to aid in circle and energy work. It is, even after all these years, it is one of the most intelligent yet simple books on pagan practices. It is a wonderful book to have in your library and a good resource for anyone on the pagan path.

Reviewed by Trinity