Product Description

Now fully revised—the classic study of Neo-Paganism

Almost thirty years since its original publication, Drawing Down the Moon continues to be the only detailed history of the burgeoning but still widely misunderstood Neo-Pagan subculture. Margot Adler attended ritual gatherings and interviewed a diverse, colorful gallery of people across the United States, people who find inspiration in ancient deities, nature, myth, even science fiction. In this new edition featuring an updated resource guide of newsletters, journals, books, groups, and festivals, Margot Adler takes a fascinating and honest look at the religious experiences, beliefs, and lifestyles of modern America’s Pagan groups.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #526243 in Books
• Published on: 1997-03-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 608 pages

Amazon.com
Popular demand for this clear-sighted compendium of information about the rebirth of Pagan religions hasn't waned since its initial publication in 1979. Distinguished by the journalism of National Public Radio columnist Margot Adler, Drawing Down the Moon explains this diverse and burgeoning religion's philosophies and activities while dispelling stereotypes that have long been associated with it. Most people don't realize that pagan simply refers to pre-Christian polytheistic nature religions, such as the various Native American creeds, Japanese Shinto, Celtic Druid, and Western European Wicca. Originally, the word pagan meant "country dweller" and was a derogatory term in Rome in the third century A.D., not unlike calling someone a hick today. If you find yourself feeling queasy when you hear the words witch or pagan, a healthy dose of reeducation via Drawing Down the Moon could be the cure. --P. Randall Cohan

The New York Times Book Review
Given the lurid connotations Neo-Paganism has acquired... Drawing Down the Moon is a healthy corrective.

About the Author
Margot Adler has been a well-known correspondent with National Public Radio for more than 25 years, where her pieces frequently air on All Things Considered and Morning Edition.

Customer Reviews

Drawing Down The Moon
This is a classic! And the new material in it is excellent. A must read. The condition was brand new. I am extraordinarily pleased.

Drawing Down The Moon
When you go to search out a book on witchcraft, the first thing that you notice is that most of the ceremony and ritual performed are pretty close to one another. Delving into the different styles, from Gardnerian to Alexanderian, you find a haunting similarity to them all. This is because they are all drawn from the original book by Margot Adler.

Once you read this book, you discover that the person that has everyone's mind and body, is from this book. Basically, we sell this book in our shop as one of the three or four must reads in Witchcraft. This is the book from which the others are copied, even if the new writers change the way it is put in print.

Heavy, Insightful
This is a really heavy, slow read... a technical look at something that doesn't get boxed up very easily. It was what I expected as far as detail and content, but it was 2 pages then to bed for me... took a while to finish. It gave me excellent insight into Paganism which is what I wanted.