Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America

Now, it's not as if I had anticipated this to be the most thrilling piece of reading. However, it turned out to be rather torturous.

To be fair, it did contain a significant amount of information. If that's precisely what you're seeking, then perhaps it has some value.

But from a pure enjoyment perspective, it really fell short. The presentation might have been dry or the content not engaging enough. It's a shame because with a bit more effort in making it more interesting, it could have been a much better read.

As it stands, it's a bit of a slog to get through, but if you're determined to extract the information it offers, then you might find it worthwhile in the end.

Not only is the book highly informative and a breeze to read, but it also has a charming personality just like she did.

Drawing Down The Moon encompasses an incredibly vast variety of spiritual paths and traditions.

The writing of this book is shaped not only by extensive book knowledge but also by personal experience and interviews with individuals who are closely associated with each and every path.

I find myself re-reading it time and time again, constantly uncovering new insights and perspectives.

It's truly a remarkable piece of work.

Note: The 2007 version is the most revised, which means it has been refined and enhanced to offer an even more comprehensive and engaging reading experience.

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May Margot Adler's memory always be a source of blessing. Merry meet, merry part, and until we merry meet again.

This beautiful phrase encapsulates the essence of our connection with her and the wonderful world she has created through her writing.

I firmly consider this work to be a true classic within the realm of modern Paganism.

It delves deep into the subject matter, providing an abundance of highly informative content.

The author has incorporated a significant amount of their personal experiences, which enriches the narrative and gives readers a unique perspective.

By sharing these personal accounts, the author not only makes the text more engaging but also allows readers to connect on a deeper level with the concepts and ideas being presented.

This combination of in-depth knowledge and personal anecdotes makes this work stand out as a valuable resource for anyone interested in modern Paganism.

It offers a comprehensive exploration of the beliefs, practices, and history of the Pagan faith, while also providing practical insights and advice for those looking to incorporate Pagan principles into their own lives.

Overall, I highly recommend this work to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of modern Paganism.

As research for a play I was penning, I picked up Drawing Down the Moon. My aim was to understand witchcraft in a practical sense, beyond the stereotypes and clichés of popular culture. Margot Adler provided me with an abundance of what I sought. Despite the sometimes clinical thoroughness that left me a bit fatigued at times, I truly did appreciate a novel perspective on Paganism and the Craft.

It was a refreshing experience to see witchcraft, goddess worship, and paganism defined and analyzed from within, divorced from the evil caricature that America's conservative culture insists one swallow. Adler put in a great deal of legwork, surveying almost every aspect of pagan worship and witchcraft that she had been able to track down over her three decades as a practitioner. She explored the vast array of traditions, their relationships with feminism and politics, the internal quarrels between various pagan and craft factions, and the sociological and psychological aspects of this sometimes chaotic collection of belief systems.

While Christian fundamentalists would have one believe it's all demons and supernatural affronts against nature, Adler shows that most rational witches and pagans would scoff at the notion that the supernatural even exists. Instead, most witches seem to believe that ritual is less about actual paranormal magic and more about self-affirming therapy. It's all metaphor, guiding us towards making the world a better place by reframing our role in the broader context of nature as a whole. Goddesses are only worshiped insofar as they represent Nature (with a capital 'N').

One major takeaway for me was that paganism and witchcraft are polytheistic, but only in the sense of being the opposite of monotheistic. Pagans and witches don't believe in many gods per se, but they reject the monotheistic tradition of there being one god and a single, fixed way to worship. It's difficult to pin down a specific thing that all witches and pagans believe because they're open to believing in whatever works for them, while allowing others to believe whatever works for them. Nobody is wrong if their belief makes them a better person and brings them closer to having a maximally healthy relationship with the Earth. And consequently, everyone can be right, hence polytheism.

As described in these pages, I might even find myself describing myself as a Pagan. These people certainly share ideas closer to my own than the Christian tradition in which I was raised. Which leads to another interesting theme: that paganism and witchcraft don't really proselytize, and new believers don't really convert. Joining a coven or a grove or a tradition (or whatever term that group uses to define itself) is usually more like a homecoming. You stumble upon like-minded people and simply decide to be one of them. Pagans and witches aren't overly concerned with rules, hierarchies, or dogma. You can come and go as you please, and there is ample flexibility to alter or invent traditions to suit the needs of a particular time, place, or group of people.

The only thing that really weighed me down while reading was Adler's tendency to engage in some esoteric hair-splitting. The history of the relatively recent Pagan/Witchcraft renaissance was quite interesting, as were the brief lessons about some of the foundational figures (Gardner, Murray, etc). But the boundaries between the belief systems of various groups can be so模糊 that I was a bit overwhelmed by a lot of the repetitious and vague philosophical points. I felt that this book could have been about 100 pages shorter without losing much substance.

And a final note: as others have mentioned, the bulk of this was written back in the 70s and likely reflects what paganism and witchcraft were at that time. The author openly admits this and gamely includes updates from new editions published in the 80s and again in the 00s, but it's worth keeping in mind.

In the end, I'm quite happy I took the time to read this, and I certainly feel like I have a much firmer grasp on what paganism and witchcraft actually are, beyond the scary stories from religious types and the media.

This is still an incredibly valuable resource.

Especially, I think, for those of us who are coming into the pagan community now.

Adler's work is rightfully well regarded. Her research is thorough and interesting.

The appendices still have information, publications, and groups that still exist today.

It's only 4 stars because it is getting older.

What I'd give to see an updated look at the pagan community now, in the 2020s.

And it's an extremely long read - which makes sense, it's a personal thing for me.

I am going to agree with a great many in saying that most pagans, new or old, will learn something from this.

They will learn about how our community has grown and changed over the years.

This book provides a unique perspective on the pagan community and its evolution.

It is a must-read for anyone interested in paganism or the history of the pagan community.

Despite its age, it still holds a wealth of valuable information that can be applied to our modern-day practice.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of the pagan community.

It was truly interesting to take a look at paganism and related aspects in the 70s and 80s. The research conducted was without a doubt exhaustive. However, I do think that some of that research could be refined and made into a more cohesive whole. There were several instances where I found myself getting lost in what was being discussed, and the point seemed to be labored a bit.

Still, it remained interesting, and there was a wealth of information packed within its pages. I have the impression that the author has a somewhat biased perspective, but in this case, an insider's view can be invaluable.

The one thing that really stood out to me about this being the revised edition was that, at least in my copy, it was quite obvious that it had been revised. The text had changed, the style had changed, and even the font had changed. It wasn't even done to make a particular point. It was as if a new section had been haphazardly shoved in there, and no one really cared about the formatting.

"Still a good foundational book for understanding neopaganism in America" is a concise statement.

It implies that there is a particular book that serves as a valuable starting point for those interested in learning about neopaganism in the United States.

Neopaganism is a diverse and complex religious and spiritual movement, and having a good foundational book can provide essential insights and knowledge.

This book likely covers various aspects of neopaganism, such as its history, beliefs, practices, and the different traditions within it.

It may explore how neopaganism has developed and evolved in the American context, influenced by factors such as cultural diversity, social change, and the search for alternative spiritual paths.

By reading this book, readers can gain a better understanding of the core concepts and ideas that underpin neopaganism, as well as its significance and impact in American society.

Whether one is a scholar, a seeker, or simply curious about different religions and spiritualities, this foundational book can offer a wealth of information and a starting point for further exploration.

DNF at around 15% just gives a sense of being aged and bad.

It's quite disheartening to see the game reach such a low percentage.

It makes one wonder what could have gone wrong.

Maybe there are issues with the game's design, or perhaps the competition has become too fierce.

Whatever the reason, it's clear that something needs to be done to improve the situation.

The developers should look into the problems and come up with solutions.

They could consider adding new features, improving the gameplay, or even rebranding the game.

Only by taking these steps can they hope to increase the game's popularity and bring it back to its former glory.

Otherwise, it may continue to decline and eventually fade away.