The Way of The Horned God: A Young Man's Guide to Modern Paganism

by Dancing Rabbit

If you are the parent of a teenage boy, The Way of the Horned God will guide your son in growing to be a man who will be responsible, courageous, and true Son of the Great Goddess and Horned God. If you are a young man who is serious about Pagan spirituality and is interested in working toward harmony within yourself and with nature The Way of the Horned God is written especially for you.

162 pages, Paperback

First published March 16, 2010

Reviews

[Davin Raincloud]

The way of the Horned God is an important book for male Wiccans. I think it's one of the very few that targets young men. The author Dancing Rabbit has a kind of Universal non-hierarchical path that is not strictly Wicca but based heavily on it. Bare this in mind when you obtain the book. It doesn't really cater for the wider Neopagan movement, and it tends to refer to Wiccan style theology and ritual as 'pagan' in a general sense. The author is a member of his local Unitarian Universalist church, so bare in mind his proclivities. There are some very important topics within the book like manhood rituals, self initiation and connecting with both the Horned God and the Goddess. (Again remember this is done in a soft polytheistic style of most Wiccans). I enjoyed that the author gave practical tips on what is important, and you can tell that he is speaking from experience. Even something as banal as cleaning up your room is emphasised. His ideas of the spiritual development of a young man going through puberty is something that is largely ignored in Western culture. So these ideas are important. Some criticisms I have is that I'm not sure of the safety aspect of allowing young boys to go and camp by themselves. This is something I would leave until they are 18, but the author doesn't specify that. I'd also be wary of stripping naked whilst camping, which I don't think is legal or wise. Perhaps camping is not as perilous in North America as it is in my country Australia. The illustrations are interesting and unique. The paper and cover are well done. On the whole the editing and grammar is okay, but is let down towards the end where there is probably a little too many mistakes. An excellent addition to your collection as it will spark many ideas in your head, especially if you are raising boys. I hear it's no longer in print, so you should be able to obtain a second hand copy cheaply. This book would suit a 13 year old boy, or a young adult. As stated before it would be a good resource for parents.

[Peggy]

I initially read this book because the author, Dancing Rabbit is a lifelong friend of mine. I also have a long time interest in paganism, and I was delighted with the way this book is written. It is directed toward young men who are interested in living pagan values, and it is very "down to earth" (pun intended) and sensible. It is also a very informative guide for parents who have a son interested in paganism. It shows parents that this teaches a life of responsibility, and is nothing to be frightened of. I highly recommend this book.

[David]

I thought this a fine book addressing a subject that is rarely discussed. As a parent to preteen boys, I found some really nice tips for the future discussions that are sure to come. If my children choose this path (and I hope they do), this book will have provided valuable tools to me as a parent. I found special inspiration in the last chapter, and here the author does a remarkable job explaining the importance of a coming of age ritual, ceremony, trial, ect. and the effect of its absence in modern western culture. Definitely food for thought.

[Iván]

Dicen que un libro te elige (llega a tus manos) en el momento adecuado, sin embargo me hubiera gustado leer este ejemplar siendo mucho más joven. Si te interesa el paganismo y en específico la Wicca este libro sin duda es para ti, sobre todo si eres un hombre joven con poca o nula experiencia en el tema, ya que resume aspectos esenciales que encuentras en los libros de Gerald Gardner, Scott Cunningham o A. J. Drew.