Mike Nichols' writings on the Pagan holidays, collected into book form, at long last! If you are only going to buy one book on the Sabbats, this is the one to get. Nichols packs way more information into his writing than most other authors, and it's based on solid scholarship into old folk traditions. I have known and loved most of these articles for many years, in fact I have made them a part of my own Book of Shadows. There are new articles here too, like the one on marking the sun's position at each of the holidays, that are worth the price of the book alone. Nichols has a wonderful writing style that is personal, gently humorous, and very wise. He often puts things in a way that makes you see them in a whole new light, like when he refers to the holidays as "sanctuaries in the timestream." What a perfect description! It is that ability to make the reader stop and think about the whys and wherefores of the Craft that makes this book so special, and no Pagan author does it better. I also love the artwork and the size of the book and the way it is laid out. All in all, I predict this book is going to become an instant classic.
Many years ago, when the Internet was a path only traveled by the experienced "geeks" and witches and pagans were some of the few "outworlders" who posted websites dedicated to their "techno-magical" paths, there was a wonderful website put up by Mike Nichols with information about the pagan "Wheel of the Year". There was more to it than just the Wheel of the Year, but the way Mike Nichols approach to the pagan/witch holidays, his way of writing about it so anyone could understand or connect to the pagan calendar was unique and well thought out and put together. So much so that many websites, including our own TWPT, linked back to his site, referenced it and rather than being redundant and trying to repeat an already well researched offering, used Mike's site as the standard.
Mike has finally put out a book that covers his original material. He has done an excellent job defining, tracing the history, and giving both the beginner and the experienced pagan a good resource for the Wheel of the Year outside the Internet experience.
Each of our eight Sabbats is covered here, from the traditional standpoint, including some history, some insights and some traditional pastimes that make each Sabbat unique from the pagan perspective. There are some nice illustrations, though the bunny does look a little neurotic. The nice thing is that this material does not run on and one, but does a very effective job in a minimal amount of space. He discussed "High" and "Low" holidays, their Celtic roots, some modern day traditions, and their older counterparts.
The book, while focusing on the Sabbats, has some hidden gems. The second part of the book covers other associated material. There is a discussion on The Death of Llew in reference to the Sun God and the balance of power.
The Ever Widening Circle is observations and inclusion of material that Mike sees as new patterns developing and material he didn't include in the Wheel of the Year. Some really good observations, and worth the read.
Marking the Sabbats is a discussion on how the Sabbats are recognized. Do we look to astrological signs, are we looking at the changing of the seasons, or is it a day marked on your calendar? More interesting musings by Mike.
Rethinking the Watchtowers is an old argument which Mike brings up and adds his own keen sense of observations to. A good read, and one which will spark much discussion in the pagan community.
Ten Years Gone is a reflection by Mike on the Pagan Community and it's growth over the years. A little bit about Mike himself is offered and we find he has more to say than just what he teaches. He has some keen insights here as he compares his previous experiences with the pagan community and new ones - ten years after.
The final chapter Two Witches is a very good fairy tale about how we perceive Divinity. I will not spoil it for you, but it is a very good example of Mike's ability to teach while allowing the curl of a smile upon the lip. Must read, folks!
The book contains a good bibliography, and is indexed for easy reference.
As Mike was when we first found him on the web, so he is today in print: a wonderful teacher, a man who has some interesting insights, musings worth sharing and does his homework. He also spells it out and makes it clear so anyone can understand. This is the mark of a good author, one who has withstood the test of time, and he is now available to those who have never wandered into cyberspace, or touched the magical mouse. boudica
