Venecia Rauls

Book Riot Read Harder Challenge 2, 2016 (religion)

The entire time I was reading this book, I kept referring to the subtitle as "Tools for the Advancing Penguin." I have GOT to stop confusing Pagans and penguins!

That said, this was a good read. It was thorough, covering many of the subjects someone looking to improve or advance their Pagan spiritual practice would want to study.

The author did not lapse into a "know-it-all" dogmatic tone during the course of the book, but it's clear she knows show more her stuff when it comes to Pagan life and study.

She covers the route a person would normally take from apprentice witch, to journeyman-or-woman, to master of the Craft. She recommends directions for further study to those who wish to delve deeper into the background of modern neoPaganism, and those who wish to expand their practice further into esoteric knowledge.

She also talks about areas of specialization, such as divination, invoking deity, nature exploration, magic, ritual and altered states of consciousness, and how learning from all these areas of study can enhance one's spiritual practice, as well as help one grow and mature as a person, which was my primary reason for becoming involved with Paganism in the first place. For that reason alone, it was helpful to me to read this book, as a reminder to get back to basics.

She also writes coherently about the most powerful, responsible and difficult positions in the Pagan community, High Priest and High Priestess, and Elder. I have found that often people in these positions have very little understanding of what their titles actually signify, or the responsibilities and work required of them. Many are called; few are capable. show less

The title pretty much sums up the contents of the book. It's not a recipe for how to be an advanced Pagan, it's more a guidebook for how to move from following basics texts and training, to growing authentically and organically in Pagan spirituality.

Much to my delight, it actually focuses on doing this as a solitary. What it does discuss group work and covens, the focus is on the individual Pagan.

I quite appreciate the exercises at the end of each chapter. They're all guidelines for how to show more grow your own awareness and practice. I may well work through some of them myself.

While I don't agree with everything the author says, the fact is you don't have to. She's sharing what's she's experiences, and what has worked well for her. I'm actually tempted to get back into some kind of religious/spiritual practice again. show less

If you want to go beyond "Pagan 101", this is the book to get. It is a great tool to help inspire the 'journeyman' into deepening your practice. I look forward to her next book.

Review located at http://lupabitch.wordpress.com/2007/01/03/the-second-circle-venecia-rauls/