[.ca] The Earth Path: Grounding Your Spirit in the Rhythms of ... (ISBN 0060000937)

A Gaianist Philosphical Paradigm?:
Starhawk's, The Earth Path: Grounding Your Spirit In The Rhythms of Nature, may just provide an antidote to the poisonous, narcissistic, corporate nationalism and dominionist, fundamentalistic, theocrats who are bent on tearing the world apart in order to impliment a pre-established agenda - one where retention of power and control take precedence over anything even vaguely resembling ethical, secular, humanism. With a myriad of sacred suggestions, this author supplies ample exercises, examples and inclusion of the four traditional elements (air, fire, water, earth) - grounded within the circle - in order to guide readers through reinforcing accounts of ways to not only reclaim personal power, but also enliven a process for transferring and sharing the magical quintessence of empowering others. Throughout the text, Starhawk intigrates many themes, such as: the vital importance of attunement, attentiveness, and reconnection. Likewise, sustainability, respect and reverence resonate and validate the philosophy of Gaiaism. The need to restore balance is preemminent. Reconceptualizing the craft and magic might be necessary for anyone who has not transcended the conventional, stereotypified preconceptions associated with negativity from threatened belief systems that act as rivals to the ancient practices that predate written languages. The people who most need to read this book will likely shy away from it, primarily due to the fear engendered in challenging their own antiquated myths of monotheism. Still, I highly recommend this text for opening minds too long closed. An awakening is occurring, and those who wish to be prepared for a great leap in cosmic consciousness would do well to garner both insight and enlightenment from the words of a wiccan/pagan dreamweaver. ****The Perilous Pen****

grateful reader:
Though her autobiographical approach put me off at first, by the end of the book I was deeply appreciating Starhawk's openness about how she lives the ecological principles that she believes in on a day-to-day basis. She introduced me to the whole field of permaculture ('permanent + agriculture', about sustainable living on the planet), with an excellent bibliography and resource list at the end. As permaculture is a philosophy and a way of life, as well as a well-researched body of knowledge, Starhawk has inspired me to find my own way to do something practical about the despair I feel about the state of the earth. She also offers exercises, meditations and rituals which are divided into the four elements. (I would recommend that this book also be listed under 'permaculture' because many people will miss it if it is restricted to 'pagan' and 'wicca' booklists.)

Single Best Effort Since The Spiral Dance:
The Earth Path is without doubt Starhawk's single best publication since The Spiral Dance. (Not to dismiss Dreaming The Dark or Truth Or Dare by any means - two other great books!) By weaving in a practical, experienced perspective on earth-based spirituality, the reader gains what is a much more mature, pragmatic and solidly 'earthy' approach than I've found anywhere else. For example, I recently reviewed an ostensibly 'pagan' text about magical gardening that casually talked about MiracleGro for this, and insecticides for that..! (Can you imagine!!) What Starhawk accomplishes here is taking the spiritual aspect almost physically into the earth through practices like permaculture. It's important, as this book very eloquently lays out, not to separate our spiritual practises that are ostensibly nature-based from our day-to-day actions that impact the earth around us. Like avoiding chemical fertilizers and pesticides that undermine soil structure and food sources for beneficial wildlife. Taking earth-based spirituality back to how we work the earth with our hands, Starhawk has fun even poking a bit of fun at herself - particularly when she talked about planting today vs. years ago when she used to spend all kinds of prayers on every plant she put in. I recently read a piece by David Suzuki who described a need for embracing protection of the earth into our spirituality, and The Earth Path (for me) seems to describe precisely the path we need to carve and follow to make this happen. A fun, very enlightening and practical read. Highly recommended new classic.