XolokReads reviewed Spiral Dance by Starhawk
Maybe The Spiral Dance should be taught in schools as an example of how to write a sound and convincing argument.
5 stars
This is close to my 10th introductory text to Wicca that I have read this year. These books range from being so bad they work against their viewpoint to a couple of books (including this one) that aren't just good books about witchcraft. They're good books in general.
In The Spiral Dance, Starhawk manages to thread the needle of being confident in her case without being strident about things nobody could possibly know without a scientific test. She explains her thinking rather than just leaving you to guess. She acknowledges weaknesses in her case, but argues well why we should look past them. Her lived experience is very valuable too. It is distinct to her experience in 1970s West coast America, but it brings a lot of depth to what she's talking about. It is not just a recipe book for mystical stuff to do. She has reasoning behind each β¦
This is close to my 10th introductory text to Wicca that I have read this year. These books range from being so bad they work against their viewpoint to a couple of books (including this one) that aren't just good books about witchcraft. They're good books in general.
In The Spiral Dance, Starhawk manages to thread the needle of being confident in her case without being strident about things nobody could possibly know without a scientific test. She explains her thinking rather than just leaving you to guess. She acknowledges weaknesses in her case, but argues well why we should look past them. Her lived experience is very valuable too. It is distinct to her experience in 1970s West coast America, but it brings a lot of depth to what she's talking about. It is not just a recipe book for mystical stuff to do. She has reasoning behind each of her topics. She brings up other religions, but not in a childish mock-snark sort of way. When she brings up other religions she brings up her objections without being disrespectful. She gives a well-thought out reason. She challenges traditional outlooks on gender and incorporates these thoughts into her faith as she presents it. This was a refreshing read.
