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All Acts of Love & Pleasure: Inclusive Wicca
All Acts of Love and Pleasure is a companion guide to inclusive Wicca, which includes all participants regardless of sexual orientation, disability, age, or other differences, not by erasing or ignoring the distinctions, but by working with them creatively within initiatory Craft. Tracing the development of Pagan and Wiccan ideas about gender and sexuality, authority and tradition, we can see that the Craft has evolved since the 1950s, and will continue to develop in the future.
The author examines different ideas in relation to initiatory Wicca, such as eco-spirituality, science, truth, the sacred, sexuality, consent culture, tradition, and magic, and how these concepts can be explored as part of a liberal religious tradition and training as a priestess or priest in Wicca. Each chapter offers further reading, a meditation or visualisation, and practical ideas for rituals and discussions. By examining the origins and relevance of Wiccan concepts, the reader is challenged to explore their own views and how they express their own spirituality.
Although the aim of this book is to act as a guide to existing initiatory covens who want to make their practice more inclusive, its scope is much broader as it deals with wide-ranging issues including group dynamics, coven leadership, ritual, ethics, and Wiccan theology and practice. It is sure to appeal to Pagans, Magicians, Druids and Witches, of all persuasions and views.
The author examines different ideas in relation to initiatory Wicca, such as eco-spirituality, science, truth, the sacred, sexuality, consent culture, tradition, and magic, and how these concepts can be explored as part of a liberal religious tradition and training as a priestess or priest in Wicca. Each chapter offers further reading, a meditation or visualisation, and practical ideas for rituals and discussions. By examining the origins and relevance of Wiccan concepts, the reader is challenged to explore their own views and how they express their own spirituality.
Although the aim of this book is to act as a guide to existing initiatory covens who want to make their practice more inclusive, its scope is much broader as it deals with wide-ranging issues including group dynamics, coven leadership, ritual, ethics, and Wiccan theology and practice. It is sure to appeal to Pagans, Magicians, Druids and Witches, of all persuasions and views.
276 pages, Paperback
First published November 14, 2014
19 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Yvonne Aburrow
21 books73 followersYvonne Aburrow has been a Pagan since 1985 and a Wiccan since 1991. They have an MA in Contemporary Religions and Spiritualities from Bath Spa University (UK), and live in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. They have written four books on the mythology and folklore of trees, birds, and animals, and two anthologies of poetry. They have written three books on inclusive Wicca and the inner work: "All acts of love and pleasure: inclsuive Wicca", "Dark Mirror: the inner work of witchcraft (2nd edition)" and "The Night Journey: witchcraft as transformation (2nd edition)". Their latest book is "Changing Paths", a guide for people changing or leaving religions. They blog at Dowsing for Divinity.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 2, 2015
This book wasn’t what I was expecting. Many reviewers out there are focusing on a handful of All Acts of Love & Pleasure: Inclusive Wicca’s qualities, either because they are personally invested in the LGBTQ aspect (as am I) or because gender and sexuality in the Craft are hot topics in the blogosphere right now. In a way these reviews, though positive and important, shortchange Yvonne Aburrow’s book because they seem to define it by only one of its many complex facets.
Yvonne Aburrow’s book is an outstanding Wicca 201, intended for already-active, primarily initiatory covens, that examines Wiccan praxis and theology. This is the next step once you have established a solid Wiccan practice. Many aspects of Wicca are examined with an eye towards inclusivity; Aburrow covers LGBTQ, BDSM, polyamory, and asexuality; physical and mental disabilities; cultural appropriation; and trauma recovery in the context of ritual practice, relationship to divinity, and mythology. She also tackles, with dignity and respect, most of the issues that currently divide the Pagan community; science vs. magick, polytheism vs. humanism; sexuality and gender; and ecology and activism as spiritual practices. The author looks at some of the common Wiccan myths and makes suggestions for ways to incorporate deep ecology, from adapting the Wheel of the Year to appropriately reflect your climate and geography to reducing your carbon footprint.
The aspects of the book I most enjoy appear to be the ones that are getting the least attention. Aburrow has an outstanding section on invocation. She asks us to consider the specifics of our spirituality at length; What is the nature of truth? Is it possible to hold contradictory truths at the same time? Is there such a thing as absolute truth? Yvonne examines the nature of magick and Wiccan theology in a way that encourages the reader to come to her own conclusions. She considers the nature of the left- and right-hand paths in a way I never had (left-hand path work is about building the ego towards Ascension; right-hand path work is about breaking it down to achieve union with the Godhead) and emphasizes that both are valid. Yvonne covers the ordeal path and the mechanics of magick. She even offers a basic outline for a Wicca 101 course curriculum in case you want to teach one.
The author also deals with coven dynamics and how individual personality types affect this balance. In my opinion, if you were to read this book and Judy Harrow’s Wicca Covens, you would be reasonably well prepared for whatever coven leadership can throw at you.
Naturally I don’t agree with everything she says. For instance, Yvonne recommends against full possession trance and says that she doesn’t think it is a “beneficial practice.” I disagree. I also questioned the need for a “magic vs. science” chapter, but that was until I began reading Polytheist and Atheo-Pagan blogs, and now I know better! As a Witch, Yvonne also has a strong polytheistic leaning and that bias does show through; though I give her kudos for trying to present a balanced viewpoint.
An interesting aside is that in reading the statement on the “Progressive Wicca Movement” published in the appendices (circa 1988,) I was struck by some remarkable similarities to my own tradition. Since the Star Sapphire was formed right around then I find myself wondering if it was a case of parallel evolution, or if the movement in the UK influenced a smaller one here in Canada?
But needless to say I thought the book overall was outstanding and I loved it! I will be putting it on my recommended reading list for my students, and it will be the first thing I hand them when they start making noises about their second degrees; which, in my tradition, is when you start teaching groups. I find it harmonizes with the perspectives of my tradition and practice, and I’m glad to have this much-needed resource at my fingertips. On top of all of this, it’s clear and well-written. As someone recently pointed out to me, good Wicca 201 books are as rare as hen’s teeth. This is a great Wicca 201 book. Highly recommended!
Yvonne Aburrow’s book is an outstanding Wicca 201, intended for already-active, primarily initiatory covens, that examines Wiccan praxis and theology. This is the next step once you have established a solid Wiccan practice. Many aspects of Wicca are examined with an eye towards inclusivity; Aburrow covers LGBTQ, BDSM, polyamory, and asexuality; physical and mental disabilities; cultural appropriation; and trauma recovery in the context of ritual practice, relationship to divinity, and mythology. She also tackles, with dignity and respect, most of the issues that currently divide the Pagan community; science vs. magick, polytheism vs. humanism; sexuality and gender; and ecology and activism as spiritual practices. The author looks at some of the common Wiccan myths and makes suggestions for ways to incorporate deep ecology, from adapting the Wheel of the Year to appropriately reflect your climate and geography to reducing your carbon footprint.
The aspects of the book I most enjoy appear to be the ones that are getting the least attention. Aburrow has an outstanding section on invocation. She asks us to consider the specifics of our spirituality at length; What is the nature of truth? Is it possible to hold contradictory truths at the same time? Is there such a thing as absolute truth? Yvonne examines the nature of magick and Wiccan theology in a way that encourages the reader to come to her own conclusions. She considers the nature of the left- and right-hand paths in a way I never had (left-hand path work is about building the ego towards Ascension; right-hand path work is about breaking it down to achieve union with the Godhead) and emphasizes that both are valid. Yvonne covers the ordeal path and the mechanics of magick. She even offers a basic outline for a Wicca 101 course curriculum in case you want to teach one.
The author also deals with coven dynamics and how individual personality types affect this balance. In my opinion, if you were to read this book and Judy Harrow’s Wicca Covens, you would be reasonably well prepared for whatever coven leadership can throw at you.
Naturally I don’t agree with everything she says. For instance, Yvonne recommends against full possession trance and says that she doesn’t think it is a “beneficial practice.” I disagree. I also questioned the need for a “magic vs. science” chapter, but that was until I began reading Polytheist and Atheo-Pagan blogs, and now I know better! As a Witch, Yvonne also has a strong polytheistic leaning and that bias does show through; though I give her kudos for trying to present a balanced viewpoint.
An interesting aside is that in reading the statement on the “Progressive Wicca Movement” published in the appendices (circa 1988,) I was struck by some remarkable similarities to my own tradition. Since the Star Sapphire was formed right around then I find myself wondering if it was a case of parallel evolution, or if the movement in the UK influenced a smaller one here in Canada?
But needless to say I thought the book overall was outstanding and I loved it! I will be putting it on my recommended reading list for my students, and it will be the first thing I hand them when they start making noises about their second degrees; which, in my tradition, is when you start teaching groups. I find it harmonizes with the perspectives of my tradition and practice, and I’m glad to have this much-needed resource at my fingertips. On top of all of this, it’s clear and well-written. As someone recently pointed out to me, good Wicca 201 books are as rare as hen’s teeth. This is a great Wicca 201 book. Highly recommended!
January 4, 2021
Pros:
- The information on traditional Wicca, covens, traditional Wiccan holidays and rituals, and values is excellent. They evaluate what magic is, Wicca's relationship to science, what truth is, Wiccan theology, etc. This book is very thorough in terms of Wicca as a religion.
- Most Wiccan/Pagan books I've read talk about a love of nature and environmental activism, but very few give actual details about how to do those things. This book has several in-depth chapters about both individual and group environmental activism at multiple levels, from what food you buy to how/what/when/where to protest. It mentions the ethics of the textile industry and how to determine if the wooden furniture you purchase has been ethically made - FINALLY!!
- Each chapter includes points for discussion and reflection. This book would be excellent to journal with and/or to read with others as a group.
- The sections on gender and sexual inclusivity were fantastic, I was familiar with some of the authors & activists Aburrow mentioned and there were still more for me to research!
- The chapter on consent was incredibly validating, and after the discussion questions is a list of further reading on the topic. This book predates the #MeToo movement by a couple years, and handles the topic exceptionally well.
Neutral:
- Aburrow includes a lot of their personal experiences and thoughts, and they always clarify when they are speaking for themself. This book is very much from one person's perspective and that one person has extensive education and experience.
Cons:
- Although Aburrow addresses the inclusion of genderqueer people (this book can seem a little dated in some of its terminology, but that's a natural part of writing about gender), the vast majority of the book refers exclusively to men and women.
- At times I thought "ooo, this editor did a poor job" but there's no information about the editor? Was this book edited? Parts of the book were scholarly with plenty of references and citations, others just said "a guy called Chris went to a shamanic event..." A good editor would have smoothed this all out.
- This book is very white. Anti-racism is mentioned a few times but, except for a section on cultural appropriation, without any information about how to do that. The "inclusive" seems to be solely in terms of gender, sexuality, and different preferences within Wicca.
I highly recommend this book alongside other books (Traditional Wicca by Thorn Mooney comes to mind as a great co-read) for anyone who wants to learn about Wicca, and not just beginners!
- The information on traditional Wicca, covens, traditional Wiccan holidays and rituals, and values is excellent. They evaluate what magic is, Wicca's relationship to science, what truth is, Wiccan theology, etc. This book is very thorough in terms of Wicca as a religion.
- Most Wiccan/Pagan books I've read talk about a love of nature and environmental activism, but very few give actual details about how to do those things. This book has several in-depth chapters about both individual and group environmental activism at multiple levels, from what food you buy to how/what/when/where to protest. It mentions the ethics of the textile industry and how to determine if the wooden furniture you purchase has been ethically made - FINALLY!!
- Each chapter includes points for discussion and reflection. This book would be excellent to journal with and/or to read with others as a group.
- The sections on gender and sexual inclusivity were fantastic, I was familiar with some of the authors & activists Aburrow mentioned and there were still more for me to research!
- The chapter on consent was incredibly validating, and after the discussion questions is a list of further reading on the topic. This book predates the #MeToo movement by a couple years, and handles the topic exceptionally well.
Neutral:
- Aburrow includes a lot of their personal experiences and thoughts, and they always clarify when they are speaking for themself. This book is very much from one person's perspective and that one person has extensive education and experience.
Cons:
- Although Aburrow addresses the inclusion of genderqueer people (this book can seem a little dated in some of its terminology, but that's a natural part of writing about gender), the vast majority of the book refers exclusively to men and women.
- At times I thought "ooo, this editor did a poor job" but there's no information about the editor? Was this book edited? Parts of the book were scholarly with plenty of references and citations, others just said "a guy called Chris went to a shamanic event..." A good editor would have smoothed this all out.
- This book is very white. Anti-racism is mentioned a few times but, except for a section on cultural appropriation, without any information about how to do that. The "inclusive" seems to be solely in terms of gender, sexuality, and different preferences within Wicca.
I highly recommend this book alongside other books (Traditional Wicca by Thorn Mooney comes to mind as a great co-read) for anyone who wants to learn about Wicca, and not just beginners!
July 8, 2020
I love this book. It reviews many subjects that need to be addressed today in wicca and the pagan community in general. Subjects like gender and sexuality, how do we define feminine and masculine, the place of science and much more.
July 18, 2023
Comprehensive Overview of Wicca
This book is a comprehensive overview of Wicca with eclectic sources and philosophical overtones. A recommended read to folks interested in or practicing Wicca.
This book is a comprehensive overview of Wicca with eclectic sources and philosophical overtones. A recommended read to folks interested in or practicing Wicca.
January 25, 2018
Wonderful.
In articulating the rationale for inclusion,
assisting the crafting of inclusive ritual
and in
overcoming objections to inclusiveness
In articulating the rationale for inclusion,
assisting the crafting of inclusive ritual
and in
overcoming objections to inclusiveness
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews