515 books
—
311 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America” as Want to Read:
Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America
by
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 fin ...more
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 fin ...more
Get A Copy
Paperback, 672 pages
Published
October 3rd 2006
by Penguin Books
(first published 1979)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
Drawing Down the Moon,
please sign up.
Popular Answered Questions
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America
May 02, 2008
Eli
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Don't read this ('86) edition. Get the '06 version.
Shelves:
nonfiction,
reading-my-religion
One of the grandmamma books on modern Paganism. There's a lot of fascinating history in this book, but it's much more of a snapshot of 1979 Pagan America and England, plus a tiny bit of updating for the new edition. But the new stuff felt less like the reconsidering the subject deserves and more like "where are they now?" tack-ons to the original material. Many of the groups Adler profiled originally have dwindled or died entirely, and several groups and movements I know were active in '86 are i
...more
Margot Adler talks to adherents in different traditions all across the United States, and a few in Europe, in order to banish some of the mystery and misconceptions surrounding neo-pagan groups.
"Since Pagans are a very diverse group, it is wrong to say all Pagans believe this or that, but here are some beliefs that many people in this book share: The world is holy. Nature is holy. The body is holy. Sexuality is holy. The imagination is holy. Divinity is immanent in nature; it is within you as we ...more
"Since Pagans are a very diverse group, it is wrong to say all Pagans believe this or that, but here are some beliefs that many people in this book share: The world is holy. Nature is holy. The body is holy. Sexuality is holy. The imagination is holy. Divinity is immanent in nature; it is within you as we ...more
wow, was this book absolutely incredible.
this is the first resource pertaining to witchcraft/paganism/wicca that I’ve read and I can safely say it was an invaluable one. as far as I understand, this is one of the few (if only) historical reference to modern neo-paganism and adler did an amazing job detailing the complexities of it.
this book was incredibly insightful with how it described magic, polytheism, and all things pertaining to nature based religions. as I begin to start my personal jou ...more
this is the first resource pertaining to witchcraft/paganism/wicca that I’ve read and I can safely say it was an invaluable one. as far as I understand, this is one of the few (if only) historical reference to modern neo-paganism and adler did an amazing job detailing the complexities of it.
this book was incredibly insightful with how it described magic, polytheism, and all things pertaining to nature based religions. as I begin to start my personal jou ...more
I am sure there are far better reviews out there for this book than I could write but I'll say that you can believe the hype about this book. I had heard about this for many years but never actually took the time to read it and boy do I feel silly now after completing it. This is probably one of the best resources for Pagans and non-Pagans alike in terms of accurately representing the cultural resurgence of Goddess and Nature oriented religions. After reading this I truly feel proud to call myse
...more
A clearly written history of paganism in America, including witches, druids, heathens and the whole ungainly lot of us. The book was first published in 1979, and has undergone a couple major updates. I could wish that the revisions were better incorporated, but it would be almost impossible to keep up with the rate of change in the pagan community. She's made a fair attempt to keep current; still, half the internet links I looked up are now defunct. Some of the groups she covers in-depth sound p
...more
It's important to get the most currently updated version. I found the references section to be one of the most useful. It's not a "how to" book, or a B.O.S, it's more of a social study of paganism, the culture, history, beliefs, etc... It's definitely a worthwhile read, but it can be a difficult read. There is a lot of useful information to be found in it. As I said before, definitely get the most updated version you can find.
...more
I liked this book because it really gave a clear picture of different pagan groups to help the mainstream gain understanding. I wonder though how much has changed since its publication....
Great resource on the history of modern Wicca.
This book is a classic, written in the 1980’s and has had several editions put out later. Due to the age of the book there may have been many developments in the Pagan arena , so some of the information might still seem dated. The authoress herself passed away on July 28, 2014.
Since Gerald Gardner birth the modern witchcraft revival, the Witch Craft Pagan community has grown by leaps and bounds. The most popular facet of the Pagan movement is the growth of Wicca, Gerald’s child. The face of the ...more
Since Gerald Gardner birth the modern witchcraft revival, the Witch Craft Pagan community has grown by leaps and bounds. The most popular facet of the Pagan movement is the growth of Wicca, Gerald’s child. The face of the ...more
Another one that did not live up to the write up that got me interested in it in the first place. While the content is about the growing movement of Witches, Druids, Pagans and Goddess worshipers in modern society it really is hard to follow. It seems more a collection of chapters that are always falling back to snippets of interviews with one person or another or critique of someone else's book. Every chapter became just more snippets of interviews so I found it a bit incoherent. I was often as
...more
This was a good overview of modern paganism, I think, but I am using the term modern relatively. It's true, she did update the book in the 2000s, but most of the information in the bulk of her chapters was from the seventies with only minor updates at the end about how things were totally different now. I feel like as highly as this book was recommended, there really needs to be something similar done that truly is modern, not from decades ago. It just isn't accurate anymore.
A problem I have wit ...more
A problem I have wit ...more
This is the 2006 revision of a book I first read in 1984. It's a book that stayed with me in the back of my head through thirty odd years of spiritual dabbling and wandering and, given where I am now, has an additional fascination.
What strikes me most is how the tone of the book feels so much more personal than it did when I was 22. It's not an academic tome (though the research is thorough, the biases are clearly and reflexively pointed out and Adler goes to great trouble to present alternativ ...more
What strikes me most is how the tone of the book feels so much more personal than it did when I was 22. It's not an academic tome (though the research is thorough, the biases are clearly and reflexively pointed out and Adler goes to great trouble to present alternativ ...more
This gets 5 stars for influence.
A couple of years prior to this read I had a spontaneous spiritual emergency as I came out of a meditation sitting in the sand at Alki Beach in Seattle.
I was familiar by this time with Starhawk and Reclaiming and had met people at the pagan bookstores and had taken a class or two with some pagans.
This book was a matter of fact reading about who's who in the pagan subculture, some history and an introduction to paganism in general. I liked that it was a survey of a ...more
A couple of years prior to this read I had a spontaneous spiritual emergency as I came out of a meditation sitting in the sand at Alki Beach in Seattle.
I was familiar by this time with Starhawk and Reclaiming and had met people at the pagan bookstores and had taken a class or two with some pagans.
This book was a matter of fact reading about who's who in the pagan subculture, some history and an introduction to paganism in general. I liked that it was a survey of a ...more
This kinda felt like reading an NPR episode, which is fitting because Adler was a host. Sometimes the book dragged, but there were some really intriguing parts of the book, I particularly liked Adler's reflections, and the reflections and opinions of Devlin.
I read the most recent edition of Drawing Down the Moon, and I'm glad I did, as it would have been really out dated had I read a second hand edition. This edition allows the reader to see where Adler views the craft in 2006, compared to wher ...more
I read the most recent edition of Drawing Down the Moon, and I'm glad I did, as it would have been really out dated had I read a second hand edition. This edition allows the reader to see where Adler views the craft in 2006, compared to wher ...more
Adler's "Drawing Down the Moon" is a fantastic anthropological overview of Neo-pagan religions in the United States since the 1970s. Written in a very engaging and approachable fashion, the prose is simple yet sufficient. Adler is able to remain objective whilst analyzing various aspects of the Craft and other pagan traditions despite being involved with them herself. She also frequently acknowledges where the study, conclusions, or data may be lacking finesse. Overall, a monumental piece of wor
...more
An excellent look at alternative spiritual paths in contemporary America that are inspired by ancient pagan practices.
DRAWING DOWN THE MOON by Margot Adler is good survey of the contemporary American neo-Pagan movement. Unlike much that sprang from the 60s and 70s (they did a lot of dope and acid back then), the movement is chaotic, creative and often playful. The core tenants are pretty straight forward. Honor nature, since neo-Paganism is an earth-based religion. Do no harm to others, but other than that, you're free to enjoy life. Etc.
Like a good survey book, it introduces a ton of pagan traditions. There's ...more
Like a good survey book, it introduces a ton of pagan traditions. There's ...more
When I started looking at Wicca again, this book came up in list after list. It was on lists for beginners and it was on lists for "people looking to get back into paganism." When I started reading about Wicca and the occult way back in 1998 it was on all of the lists and that was before it got an updating. I bought the book and it sat on my coffee table through a pregnancy AND a maternity leave and then it was moved to my bookshelf. It just looked so big and I always have so many books to r
...more
Although starting the discourse from America (as the title suggests), Margot Adler offers a wide perspective that comes from various cultures around the world that ultimately reached and affected American Pagans. I didn't think about it and was gladly surprised, although it's something you should expect, since America's various ethnicity itself. Then, I personally think that "Drawing Down The Moon" is a book of interest to everyone studying the subject (as a practitioner or anthropologically or
...more
A relatively casual participant-observer investigation into neo-paganism and new age spirituality in the Western world. First written in the late 1970s, republished twice with updates. I read the 2006 updated version.
I think it was very helpful in understanding how neo-pagans and Wiccans conceptualized themselves, their spiritualities and histories at the times this book was written and updated. Very good insights on this front.
But I think that is perhaps where the usefulness ends, as I think ...more
I think it was very helpful in understanding how neo-pagans and Wiccans conceptualized themselves, their spiritualities and histories at the times this book was written and updated. Very good insights on this front.
But I think that is perhaps where the usefulness ends, as I think ...more
A very meaningful and heartfelt deep-dive into the history of the many branches of paganism in America.
What I liked:
The layout of the book flowed really well.
Contained diverse experiences and perspectives.
Covered the history of the beginnings of the Craft, and did so well.
Both the author and those interviewed were fascinating and relatable.
What I wasn't a fan of:
I wasn't a fan of the overall length of the book (it's a big one).
The book was written like research, and may not be suited for everyon ...more
What I liked:
The layout of the book flowed really well.
Contained diverse experiences and perspectives.
Covered the history of the beginnings of the Craft, and did so well.
Both the author and those interviewed were fascinating and relatable.
What I wasn't a fan of:
I wasn't a fan of the overall length of the book (it's a big one).
The book was written like research, and may not be suited for everyon ...more
In Drawing Down the Moon, Margot Adler explains the origins of the modern Neo-Pagan movement, the demographics of its practitioners, the practices of various Neo-Pagan groups, and how the movement has evolved since the 1960s.
Though well written and engaging, this is a long, dense book that does occasionally feel repetitive. I was also disappointed that it did not include more of the ritual practices. But I know the purpose of the book was to examine the movement on a sociological level.
Recomme ...more
Though well written and engaging, this is a long, dense book that does occasionally feel repetitive. I was also disappointed that it did not include more of the ritual practices. But I know the purpose of the book was to examine the movement on a sociological level.
Recomme ...more
Interesting and I learned a lot, but gets very repetitive and seems to throw a lot of bits of information around without drawing any comparions or conclusions. Could use a heavy editing hand. 2.75 stars if I could give it that
I didn't understand neo-pagan religions at all. Very interesting.
...more
Somewhat dated even in the latest edition, but a thoughtfully researched and sympathetic commentary on the history of the Neo-Pagan movement in the United States.
Absolutely excellent piece of journalism/biography/modern history/bias-acknowledging badassery in writing. I highly recommend this book.
Drawing Down the Moon is an almost academic historical overview of the development, growth, and beliefs of pagan groups in the 1970s, both in the United States and the United Kingdom. Margot Adler, author, journalist and a Wiccan priestess herself, does her very best with this book to give the reader a solid overview of the many spiritual leaders, cults, practices, festivals and other interesting titbits that gave the pagan movement its second wind in the 70s.
It includes personal stories and a ...more
It includes personal stories and a ...more
I really enjoyed this book and became inspired by some solid arguments for a case against monotheism, which I hope to use to help produce a sound theory around. One thing I found interesting was that Margo Adler supports the idea that monotheism, as a minority practice, has been with humanity since the inception of religion.
I was really surprised how much of the Wiccan myth I didn’t know about. Authors like Margaret Murray and works like Aradia were unknown to me before I read this book. I didn’ ...more
I was really surprised how much of the Wiccan myth I didn’t know about. Authors like Margaret Murray and works like Aradia were unknown to me before I read this book. I didn’ ...more
Maybe not the best book if you are completely new to the Wicca, Pagan movement. Although a thorough investigation into the world of Pagans in America, the book can be hard to read and hard to keep up with. Although, as the book states in many cases, it may simply be that the movement is really hard to clarify, with tons of different branches, rituals, beliefs and rules.
Having said this, the book is definitely worth reading if you want to get an idea of what’s out there, or at least where it sta ...more
Having said this, the book is definitely worth reading if you want to get an idea of what’s out there, or at least where it sta ...more
Oh my god, I loved this book. So full of information in a fresh light, even for it being 40 or so years old. I learned so much, it opened my eyes and made me feel closer to my Path than ever before. This is something everyone interested in Paganism/Witchcraft or knows someone who is and is unsure of what that other person really means. The unity of disunity is what makes the Craft such a lovely thing, which was emphasized in this book- everyone is different and Paganism gets that, it understands
...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book Witches: * ***OCTOBER 2018*** "Drawing Down the Moon" by Margot Adler | 24 | 30 | Oct 21, 2018 02:10PM |
Readers also enjoyed
Margot Adler was an American author, journalist, lecturer, Wiccan priestess and radio journalist and New York correspondent for National Public Radio (NPR).
Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1946, Adler grew up mostly in New York City. Her grandfather, Alfred Adler, was a noted Austrian Jewish psychotherapist, collaborator with Sigmund Freud and the founder of the school of individual psychology.
Ad ...more
Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1946, Adler grew up mostly in New York City. Her grandfather, Alfred Adler, was a noted Austrian Jewish psychotherapist, collaborator with Sigmund Freud and the founder of the school of individual psychology.
Ad ...more
News & Interviews
Ah yes, the allure of new love! Be prepared to be charmed, wooed, and—of course—seduced by these most popular romance novels of the past three...
154 likes · 61 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“The first time I called myself a 'Witch' was the most magical moment of my life.”
—
219 likes
“When a person assumes that his or her revelation is the only true one, it only says that this person has had very few religious revelations and hasn't realized how many there are.”
—
12 likes
More quotes…
