Books
of Interest: modern wicca and neo-paganism
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COVER IMAGE |
TITLE |
SYNOPIS OR REVIEW |
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The
Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft by Prof Ronald
Hutton |
Until
recently Wiccans--the name that present day witches prefer--used to claim that
their religion was a recreation, even a continuation of ancient beliefs
widespread in Europe before Christianity drove them out. Most of today's
Wiccans are more honest, more ready to accept that theirs is a new religion,
self-consciously created to serve a need not met by existing mainstream
religions. Ronald
Hutton's highly acclaimed The Triumph of he Moon is a history of
modern pagan witchcraft, examining not only its origins half a century ago
but the many ideas and enthusiasms of the last few centuries that paved the
way for it. He finds powerful influences in 18th and 19th-century
Freemasonry, 19th-century Rosicrucian-type societies, including the Hermetic
Order of the Golden Dawn, as well as in the tradition of wise women,
dispensers of herbal remedies and folk wisdom. |
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Shamans/Neo-Shamans:
Ecstasy, alternative archaeologies and contemporary
Pagans by Dr Robert Wallis, due for publication February
2003.: UK purchase
link to follow |
“Shamans
and shamanisms are in vogue at present. In popular culture, such diverse
characters as occultist Aleister Crowley, Doors musician Jim Morrison and performance
artist Joseph Beuys have been termed shamans. The anthropological construct
‘shamanism’, on the other hand, has associations with sorcery, witchcraft and
healing, and archaeologists have suggested the meaning of prehistoric cave
art lies with shamans and altered consciousness. Dr
Wallis explores the interface between ‘new’ (modern Western), indigenous and
prehistoric shamans, and assesses implications for archaeologists,
anthropologists, indigenous communities, heritage managers, and neo-Shamanic
practitioners. Identifying key figures in neo-Shamanisms, including Mircea
Eliade, Carlos Castaneda and Michael Harner, Wallis assesses the way in which
‘traditional’ practices have been transformed into ‘Western’ ones, such as
Castaneda’s Don Juan teachings and Harner’s core shamanism. The book draws on
interviews and self-reflective insider ethnography with a variety of
practitioners, particularly contemporary Pagans in Britain and North America
from Druid and Heathen traditions, to elucidate what neo-Shamans do. Wallis
looks at historical and archaeological sources to elucidate whether ‘Celtic’
and ‘Northern’ shamanisms may have existed; he explores contemporary Pagan
engagements with prehistoric sacred sites such as Stonehenge and Avebury, and
discusses the controversial use by neo-Shamans of indigenous (particularly
Native American) shamanisms. Rather than discuss neo-Shamans as, simply,
inauthentic, invalid culture-stealers, Wallis offers a more detailed and
complex appraisal. He makes it clear that scholars must be prepared to give
up some of their hold over knowledge, and not only be aware of these
neo-Shamanic approaches but also engage in a serious dialogue with such
‘alternative’ histories.” |
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Pagan
Pathways: A Guide to Ancient Earth Traditions by Graham Harvey and Charlotte Hardman |
The
number of practising Pagans is increasing dramatically. This book offers a
collection of views from a wide range of Pagans - including Wiccans, Druids,
Celts and Shamans - reflects the diversity of traditions The contributors
range from practising Pagans and Wiccans to academics. The subjects they
discuss include: is Paganism an ancient tradition or a new religion?; what
are the main magical groups?; a look at the goddess as a source of healing
for modern women; how is wicca practiced?; what do druids do?; and what does
it mean to be a Celt today? Paganism is a growing spiritual path and this
book offers an introduction to the subject. |
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Indigenous
Religions: A Companion |
Indigenous
religions are the majority of the world's religions. This Companion shows how
much they can contribute to a richer understanding of human identity, action
and relationships. It also challenges their marginalization in the study of
religions. An international team of contributors discuss representative
indigenous religions from all continents in relation to significant themes.
In the process they illustrate a variety of approaches to the study of
religions. The Companion therefore provides a valuable resource and a
provocation to a full consideration both of some of the most dynamic
religions of the world and of ways in which they might be approached. The 17
chapters are divided among three parts labelled "People",
"Power" and "Gifts" which encapsulate much of what is
significant about a diversity of religions which are often pragmatic,
multi-stranded, layered, non-dogmatic but unanalytical. They are frequently
concerned with reciprocal rather than hierarchical relationships. Some
challenge the obesssion with deities, showing that religions are concerned
with a far broader range of relationships, many initiated and furthered by
humanity not by putative "spiritual" beings. Others challenge
obsessions about the afterlife or next world, showing that religions can be
concerned with the pursuit of health, wealth and happiness in this world now.
The possibility that this is true of all religions makes this Companion
relevant to everyone interested in human religiosity today. |
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The
Athlone History of Witchcraft and Magic in Europe...The
Twentieth Century- Willem De Blecourt, Ronald Hutton, Jean La Fontaine, Bengt
Ankarloo (Editor), Stuart Clark (Editor) |
Witchcraft
continues to play a role in the modern European imagination and in its
cultures. This book brings together studies of its most important modern
manifestations, including a new history of English Wicca, and satanic abuse
mythology. |
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Nine
Worlds of Seid-magic: Ecstacy and Neo_shamanism in North-European Paganism
by Dr Jenny Blain |
This
accessible case study of Northern European shamanistic practice, or seidr,
explores the way in which the ancient Norse belief systems evoked in the
Icelandic Sagas and Eddas have been rediscovered and reinvented by groups in
Europe and North America. Drawing on ethnography, anthropology and sociology,
the book examines the phenomenon of altered consciousness and the
interactions of seid-workers or shamanic practitioners with their spirit
worlds in historical and political contexts. Written by a follower of seidr,
this study not only investigates, but also addresses those new communities
involved in a postmodern quest for spiritual meaning. |
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Forthcoming: edited work by Douglas Ezzy,
Graham Harvey and Jenny Blain titled Researching
Paganisms to be published by Alta Mira |
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Witches,
Druids and King Arthur by Prof Ronald Hutton |
Forthcoming
in 2003: by the author of "Stations in the Sun" and "The
Triumph of the Moon", in which Ronald Hutton established himself as a
leading authority on the history of paganism, this title contains his essays
which cover a wide range of beliefs, myths and practices, also on the subject
of paganism. |
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Practising
the Witch's Craft: real magic under a southern sky Dr
Douglas Ezzy (editor) World Supplier: Allen & Unwin, Australia |
Practising the Witch's Craft tells the stories of ordinary
people who have discovered that life is enchanted and that Witchcraft works
for them. Leaders of the Witchcraft movement and practitioners with many
years of experience talk about what real Witches actually do. They describe
powerful rituals and moving magical encounters, and discuss how they work
with natural forces, including sexuality and the seasons. They also explain
how to do spells, create personal rituals, use incense and herbs, and find a
coven. Witchcraft is a living spirituality that gives meaning and purpose in
life and helps practitioners cope with hard times. With insights from many
different traditions including Wicca and Paganism, Practising the Witch's
Craft invites you into the world of contemporary Witchcraft. |
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Nature
Religion Today: Paganism in the Modern World
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While
traditional religions are in decline, Paganism is an area of unprecedented religious
growth. This work offers an insight into this area of cultural change. It
shows nature religion evolving from a blend of environmental activism,
feminism, critiques of capitalism and innovative forms of spirituality, such
as dedication to the Goddess. Topics includes feminist witchcraft, the modern
Goddess, and Tibetan buddhism amongst others |
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Graham Harvey (Editor) |
Shamanism
has been practised amongst communities all over the world for millennia; as
one of the world's most universal and enduring spiritual traditions, it
continues to survive today in both modern and ancient forms. During its long
evolution from Siberia, Aboriginal Australia, Northern Europe and South
America to the New Age movement and household television screen, it has
provoked and enthused critics across the academic disciplines. The book
gathers together perspectives from anthropology, psychology, musicology,
botany and other disciplines to provide a unique overview of modern writing
on shamanism. Juxtaposing ethnographic case-studies with descriptive
surmises, and the ancient practices of indigenous tribes-people with new and
often radically urban forms of shamanic interpretation, its cutting-edge
selection highlights the diversity of approaches to shamanism in a thematic
way. From grassroots political writing to established anthropological
classics, the articles presented here cover topics including gender,
initiation, hallucinogenic consciousness and political protest, whilst
raising questions about constructions of shamanism, its efficacy, its use and
misuse as a cultural symbol, and its real nature. |
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Religion
Today: Tradition,
Modernity and Change: Belief Beyond Boundaries |
This
fifth volume of the "Religion Today" series explores "religions"
or forms of spirituality that tend to be marginal to the mainstream of
British and North American religious expression. The book examines how
alternative spiritualities traditionally classed as "New Age" or
new religious movements have grown exponentially in recent years. It
progresses to detailed examination of Paganism, Celtic spirituality, Wicca,
witchcraft, North American indigenous religion and New Age, considering the
impact of the rise of science on religion and the emergence of new categories
of spirituality. The authors explore why these forms of spirituality are so
popular in the contemporary UK and USA, and how they impact on mainstream
traditions. |
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Listening
People, Speaking Earth: Contemporary Paganism By Graham Harvey |
This
work introduces the main movements and trends in paganism. Individual
chapters focus on druidry, witchcraft, heathenism, goddess spirituality and
magic. These are followed by discussions of shamanism and geomancy. Sources
of inspiration are treated next: from real history to more imaginative or
poetic phenomena. The book concludes with an exploration of the ecological
activities, theologies and rites of passage of pagans. |
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A
Popular Dictionary of Paganism Joanne Pearson (editor) |
This
dictionary is a glossary of terms and a reference work whose entries cover
the complex phenomenon of contemporary paganism. It is intended for readers
interested in pagan thought and practices, pagan parishioners, social workers
and teachers who come into contact with pagans and their children, and
university students |
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