Customer Reviews
Must-read: as relevant now as 20 years ago - By: Kate Large, 15 Oct 2008 
I was first told about this book by my boyfriend, who had read it some time back when it was pretty new. As I was reviving my old interestin Wicca, I thought I'd give it go - & I'm so glad I did. Starhawk is quite simply a very gifted writer who also happens to be a witch - this means there's no wading through clunky, mawkish prose to get to the ideas - everything leaps off the page, taking you along with it.
Another thing I love is Starhawk's joyin science - physics, astrophysics, microbiology - there's no positing of the scientific *against* the spiritual - or, indeed, the intellectual - she embraces it all. There are ideas here on magic, ritual, covens, the sabbats - but what makes this book unique to any other wiccan book you'll read is that she also covers feminism, ecology, politics, the 'roles/identities of the sexes' (an conceit she rightly explodes, & wonderfully) - & as I've mentioned before, science.
*Another* great aspect of the latest edition of this book it that is also includes all of Starhawk's addenda - from ten years after publication, & then 20 years. It's wonderful to see how her conception of Wicca - & how Judaeo-Christian & other religions relate to it - develops over the years. And she's not afraid to admit when she think she's been wrong, most noticeablyin her attitude to eastern religions.
I'd recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about wicca - though solitaries will find it extremely coven-based. But I'd also recommend it to anyone, of any age, who wants to read a wonderfully-written book, full of passion & poetry, that explores our rolein the contemporary world, & gives plenty of inspiration for ways we can improve it. I'd also particularly like to recommend it to men - you'll learn more about how men & women can relate to each other by reading the two chapters on the god & goddess, than you'll *ever* get from some crappy "men are from mars..." style nonsense.
Quite simply wonderful. A book to turn to when you want to learn, be inspired, or even comforted.
Too much Feminism not enough Paganism - By: Ms. M. Frier, 22 May 2003 
Spiral dance is without doubt an influencial book towards Paganism & Feminine spirituality, however I found that the feminine aspects were far too heavy & took the attention away from the Pagan topics that were suposed to be coveredin this book.
The book covers feminine spirituality & feminine aspects of modern Paganism & Goddess worship, thats not to say that it isn't one for the men here too, there is a lot of positive female takes on Paganismin this book that are benificial to both sexes/genders.
Basic aspects of Goddess worship are covered, it is clean cut & Starhawk has a wonderful way of writting, this book although does not cover the specifics of the faith & practice so much, it does however give a wonderful example of life inside the Pagan & Goddess worshipping communities.
The problem is that Starhawk puts too much of herself into this book, or more specificaly too much of her causes, eco work & feminism, both good causes to go after but I didn't feel that they needed to be includedin this book quite as much as they were.
If you are not a fan of feminism which follows ideas such as 'Pornography degrades women' then you are really not going to aprove of a lot of the events she talks aboutin this book. At one point she goes on to talk about male/female polarity, saying that she doesn't agreein diferentiating so much between 'Male' / 'Female' yetin a lot of her activities within feminism she does just that.
This is a good book & it will benifit a lot of people, giving a bit more of an insight on the more feminine aspects of paganism & how feminism influenced this particular form of Paganism. It is an influencial book, but you really have to be awear of Starhawks point of view before jumping into this book or else you will bein for a hell of a dive into outdated feminism.
Witchcraft from a spiritual and community-based stance - By: Mrs. Rebecca Jane Holton, 21 Jun 2001 This is an excellent book. It is very condensed & Starhawk crams so much in. It is very coven based, but I didn't find this a problem, even as a confirmed solitary. Starhawk is a very visual person which fittedin with me very well. Most of her exercises are visually based. For a beginner I would recommend reading this book & another less concentrated one at the same time. I found that I sometimes had to take breaks from it for a day just to let my thoughts gel & settle. If you are a tentative beginner then some of the exercisesin this book may feel rather like throwing yourself off a cliff. They are worth it though, despite having to screw your courage up into a ball before beginning them. On the subject of eco-feminism, I personally think this is as relevant now as it was when the book was written so I liked her tone of voice. 5 stars! - oh yes, this is a fab book!
Brilliant - By: , 09 Apr 2001 This is an incredible book. It goes into far more depth than most books on the subject & beginners may find it a bit tricky to read. It is however, one of the best books I've ever read. It made me see the worldin a different way.
Good for the beginner - By: ridgechick@wwfwcw.com, 21 Apr 2000 
I think that this book will benifit someone who is just beginning to explore paganism & wicca. I found it informative & intresting as well as a nice break from the usual traditional approach to an earth based path. It does however contain alot of opinions rather than information & a lot of spells & invocations which I don't really think are nessesary. If you are looking for a book to expand on what you've learnt so far I wouldn't be that bothered with it but if your looking for one to start as a corner stone on which to build on I really would recommend it !
