Being A Pagan: Druids, Wiccans, And Witches Today Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
More than 60 pagan leaders and teachers describe in their own words what they believe and what they practice. • Addresses how Pagans view parenting, organized religion, and politics. • Introduces the wide range of possibilities within the neo-Pagan movement. • By Ellen Evert Hopman, author of A Druid's Herbal for the Sacred Earth Year; Walking the World in Wonder: A Children's Herbal; and Tree Medicine, Tree Magic. Who are the pagans and what do they stand for? Why would some of the members of the best educated, most materially comfortable generation of Americans look back to mystical traditions many millennia old? During the last few decades, millions of people have embraced ancient philosophies that honor Earth and the spiritual power of each individual. Ways of worship from sources as diverse as the pre-Christian Celts, ancient Egypt, and Native American traditions are currently helping their followers find meaning in life while living in the Information Age. In this book Pagan leaders and teachers describe in their own words what they believe and what they practice. From Margot Adler, an NPR reporter and author of Drawing Down the Moon, to Isaac Bonewits, ArchDruid and founder of a modern neo-Druidic organization, those interviewed in this book express the rich diversity of modern Paganism. Hopman's insightful questions draw on her own experiences as a Pagan and Druid as well as on her extensive research. With coauthor Lawrence Bond, she examines how Pagans address such issues as parenting, organized religion, and politics. The resulting dialogues illuminate the modern Pagan revival.
Paperback: 392 pages
Publisher: Destiny Books; 2 edition (November 1, 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0892819049
ISBN-13: 978-0892819041
Product Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #921,367 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #88 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age & Spirituality > Druidism #455 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age & Spirituality > Wicca, Witchcraft & Paganism > Paganism #2443 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > Comparative Religion
I ordered this book under the impression that it was a new book by the authors of People of the Earth: The New Pagans Speak Out, a long-time favorite that I have been recommending to people for years. Imagine my surprise and disappointment to find that it is the *same* book under a new title. (This is a pet peeve of mine, particularly since there is another publisher of Pagan books that is very bad about doing this.) It's still a good book but I feel rather as if I've been duped into buying a new copy of a book I already own. So...for those who haven't read People of the Earth, buy it and enjoy it; for those who have, don't bother.
Aside from the weirdness caused by the book's re-naming which caused some to purchase it twice (it was formerly known as 'People of the Earth') this is a great and diverse collection of ideas centered around Pagan spirituality. There are some wonderful interviews with a lot of different people. From Starhawk, to Victor Anderson, to Annie Sprinkle... a wealth of styles and philosophies are presented.
This wonderful book is a great introduction on all the main neo-pagans of merit.I looked around for an older copy of 'People of the Earth',apparently it's out of print and now re-introduced as ,'Being a Pagan'.This is a step above Margo Adler's worthy book,'Drawing Down the Moon'(1979).I like both books,yet this is more informative,more authors discussed and cozier reading.I have not found a better collective pagan book out there ,that discusses the current best thoughts and opinions, of fellow modern heathen thinkers and writers yet.If you can't obtain the original copy,then i would recommend reading ,'Being a Pagan'.
I ordered this book under the impression that it was either a new work by Hopman and Bond or that is was an updated version of their previous work, "People of the Earth: The New Pagans Speak Out," 1996, same publisher. I was disappointed to find that it is neither; it is the same book, with a few deletions in content. Nowhere in "Being a Pagan" or...in the listing of "Other Books" by Hopman at the beginning of the book, is there a mention of "People of the Earth," and one might be inclined to believe that "Being a Pagan" is a new book. The only hint that it is not is in the copyright dates. As an academic and a Pagan who values academic honesty, I am ashamed that Pagan authors would allow such a misleading in their work (or perhaps it was the publishers?). And if it wasn't for the fact that I enjoyed "People of the Earth," I would give this (recently-issued) book a lower rating. So, if you've bought "People of the Earth," don't bother with this one; it actually has less content for your money.
This book; unlike many I have read in the past, gives a unique perspective into the different pathways of Neo-Paganism. It delivers the ideas from people who walk and live the pathway. It is not a manual of practice or a 'how to guide' to practice rituals or spells of a lot of the fluff that is available on the book store selves. It discusses the feelings and experiences of real people in real places. It enriches the feeling of Paganism by the interviews and also dismisses the misconceptions that many people in the mainstream world may have on the idea of what Neo-Paganism is all about.
I would give this 4 stars out of 5 -- but the material is quite dated. Written in the 1990s, the entire book is a series of interviews with various folks within the wider-ranging Pagan community. Some of the interviews are very revealing in nature - and others, well...let's just go back to the descriptive of "dated". Personally, I would like to see an updated version of the material....
Very outdated. The interview with the trad that deflowers virgins ritualistically is very disturbing. I hope they disbanded. The other interviews were interesting, and it's funny to see how every tradition think they are the "right" path, much like Christianity.
Purchased this for my dedicant work, and wow. It has so many interviews and pieces of tidbits about different paths of Paganism. It includes both old and young as well. It was nice to read something like this that wasn't "Drawing Down the Moon." It is well organized and would be a great addition to someone's shelf.
Being a Pagan: Druids, Wiccans, and Witches Today Drawing Down the Moon : Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today Wicca Book of Spells: A Book of Shadows for Wiccans, Witches, and Other Practitioners of Magic Pagan in Exile: Book Two of the Pagan Chronicles Pagan's Vows: Book Three of the Pagan Chronicles Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences: A Comprehensive & Cross-Referenced Resource for Pagans & Wiccans (Llewellyn's Complete Book Series) Cathedral of the Black Madonna: The Druids and the Mysteries of Chartres Demons and Druids (Daniel X) Exploring the World of the Druids Paganism: Pagan holidays, beliefs, gods and goddesses, symbols, rituals, practices, and much more! An Introductory Guide The Cosmic Shekinah: A History of the Goddess of the Old Testament and Qabalah - Her origins in ancient Pagan culture and modern manifestations The Kitchen Witch: A Year-round Witch's Brew of Seasonal Recipes, Lotions and Potions for Every Pagan Festival A Bard's Book of Pagan Songs: Stories and Music from the Celtic World - CD included Spirit Wars: Pagan Revival in Christian America The Pagan Lord: A Novel (Saxon Tales) To Walk a Pagan Path: Practical Spirituality for Every Day Confessions of a Pagan Nun: A Novel Pagan Portals - The Morrigan: Meeting the Great Queens The Notorious Pagan Jones City of Spies (Pagan Jones)
