`Celebrating the Pagan Soul' is a book that everyone can learn from, no matter how new or advanced they are along the Pagan path. It's an anthology of thoughts from the elders of our communities. Gardnerian High Priestess Laura Wildman has brought together a wonderful assortment of writers from the USA, the UK, and Australia too. Some of the big names involved in this project include: Starhawk, Margot Adler, Macha NightMare, Francesca De Grandis, Fredric Lamond, Patricia Monaghan, Barbara Ardinger, Oberon Zell-RavenHeart, and Australian writers Caroline Tully and Douglas Ezzy.
`Celebrating the Pagan Soul' is often inspirational, sometimes funny, but it also contains many touching personal stories as well. As the editor mentions in her introduction, `The wheel of life contains moments of tragedy and loss as well as joy.'
This is not the sort of book that will be lost at the back of your bookshelves. You will want to keep it nearby, so that you can read it again and again. Its short chapters are perfect for those moments when you only have a few moments of reading time available, but I bet you'll find that you won't be able to put it down!
I absolutely loved this book. In fact, it was one of the few recent Pagan books that I had a hard time putting down. This book made me laugh it also made me cry. Some chapters had me shaking my head in agreement. Others actually gave me goose bumps.
Celebrating the Pagan Soul is a collection of stories much in the style of the "Chicken Soup" series of books. Divided into five sections corresponding to the elements of Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Spirit the various writers take you on a journey through the ups and downs of a Pagan life.
I often recognized aspects of my own Path in the words of this book. The insights of such big name Pagans as Margot Adler, Judy Harrow, Starhawk and Wren Walker are collected in these pages.
I would recommend this book for any Pagan library. It transcends the differences of our many traditions, bringing us closer in our diversity. I would especially encourage the newcomer to our ways to pick up this book. Between the covers the reader will find an intimate history of what is currently the fastest growing religions in the world.
This book contains no spells or rituals but the memories and experiences of the writers are something that I feel every reader will learn from.
This book has been written by many people - making it more a collection of short stories than a novel. But that only adds to its charm. The book lends itself perfectly to a busy lifestyle. Read a chapter at a time as time permits. Or like I did, read it all the way through because it is so good you won't be able to put it down.
W. Lyon Martin author/illustrator "An Ordinary Girl, A Magical Child"
