Adler, Margot. Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today. London: Penguin, 1979. 1986
Perhaps the best aspect of Drawing Down the Moon is that is was written by a journalist. Adler is a Pagan, true; but she also commands a certain legitimacy in the mundane world through her work with National Public Radio and other media outlets. So many neo-Pagan titles are written by authors with clearly made-up names and strange metal animal fetishes. As for things to dislike about the book, I'll say right off the bat that I am as profoundly irritated by references to “the Wicca” as practitioners of Wicca as I am by references to “the ADF.” Additionally, I am firmly in the camp that believes the word “worshipers” should only have one /p/.
This was a book that I put off reading for a long time simply because so many people recommended it. When something is that recommended by people, I tend to mistrust it. However, a thousand Pagans, in this case, weren't wrong. From the beginning Adler makes an effort to present a number of Pagan views for each topic. I was particularly intrigued by her chapter on a Pagan World View and the widely held expressed belief that polytheism naturally leads to more readily embracing diversity. While many of the sentiments quoted by Adler do not reflect my more strict definition of polytheism (the absolute belief in a multiplicity of gods as opposed to gods as reflection or facets of a divine one or divine mated pair) I appreciate the sentiment and had not considered that aspect of polytheism before.
Adler points out a basic truth that is far too easy for those of us who study our religion's roots to forget, “All that follows-- the distinctions, the definitions, the history and theory of the modern Craft-- means nothing unless the powerful and emotional content that hides as a source behind the various contemporary forms in respected.” (p. 44) I had to wince reading the opening paragraphs of The Myth of Wicca as I remembered the papers I wrote during High School about witchcraft being an ancient religion that honored a great Mother Goddess and was routed by cruel patriarchal Christians. Ah, it is a good story though, isn't it?
I felt a pang of guilt that Adler refers to Isaac Bonewits' Real Magic as “one of the most intelligent explorations of [magic],” yet I have been unable to force my way through it yet. Her allowance that most modern intellectuals have a knee-jerk rejection of notions of magic is refreshing and makes me feel like less of a Pagan party-pooper. Yet her handling of the topic is actually quite inspiring and left me wanting to revisit some of my old texts and perhaps re-incorporate magic into my personal Druidry. As a member of such a vehemently orthopraxic organization, I particularly value the emphasis given to the place and purpose of ritual in Pagan religions. Adler clearly points out that throughout Paganism it is action, rather than belief, that defines us.
I found the chapter about reconstructionist religions fascinating. There are/were so many of which I was completely ignorant. Feraferia? What on Earth is that? A ready made utopian religion designed to see us through after The Great Catastrophe? What convenience! And the misdirection and mystery-weaving of Odun is mesmerizing, and reminds me of a few high priests I've met. I am grateful to finally have a grasp of the concept of henotheism; a term I've come across but never fully grasped until reading Odun's explanation. Sadly it appear Adler's research into Asatru couldn't get farther than the Folkish types, though that is to be expected since they are the oldest and most numerous branches. ADF's Norse contingent and the more Universalist Troth weren't thriving when she was writing as they now. I understand there is a 2007 edition of the book, perhaps she has revised this section. Naturally I would love to see an updated piece about ADF as we have moved beyond Isaac's original “benevolent dictatorship” and into something drastically different!
While a great deal of Adler's material was old hat for me, I was surprised by how much I didn't know about the Pagan resurgence. Despite my many protestations, I am gratified to have the book and I probably would not have done so if it weren't for this DP requirement. Mr. Dangler told me so.
Perhaps the best aspect of Drawing Down the Moon is that is was written by a journalist. Adler is a Pagan, true; but she also commands a certain legitimacy in the mundane world through her work with National Public Radio and other media outlets. So many neo-Pagan titles are written by authors with clearly made-up names and strange metal animal fetishes. As for things to dislike about the book, I'll say right off the bat that I am as profoundly irritated by references to “the Wicca” as practitioners of Wicca as I am by references to “the ADF.” Additionally, I am firmly in the camp that believes the word “worshipers” should only have one /p/.
This was a book that I put off reading for a long time simply because so many people recommended it. When something is that recommended by people, I tend to mistrust it. However, a thousand Pagans, in this case, weren't wrong. From the beginning Adler makes an effort to present a number of Pagan views for each topic. I was particularly intrigued by her chapter on a Pagan World View and the widely held expressed belief that polytheism naturally leads to more readily embracing diversity. While many of the sentiments quoted by Adler do not reflect my more strict definition of polytheism (the absolute belief in a multiplicity of gods as opposed to gods as reflection or facets of a divine one or divine mated pair) I appreciate the sentiment and had not considered that aspect of polytheism before.
Adler points out a basic truth that is far too easy for those of us who study our religion's roots to forget, “All that follows-- the distinctions, the definitions, the history and theory of the modern Craft-- means nothing unless the powerful and emotional content that hides as a source behind the various contemporary forms in respected.” (p. 44) I had to wince reading the opening paragraphs of The Myth of Wicca as I remembered the papers I wrote during High School about witchcraft being an ancient religion that honored a great Mother Goddess and was routed by cruel patriarchal Christians. Ah, it is a good story though, isn't it?
I felt a pang of guilt that Adler refers to Isaac Bonewits' Real Magic as “one of the most intelligent explorations of [magic],” yet I have been unable to force my way through it yet. Her allowance that most modern intellectuals have a knee-jerk rejection of notions of magic is refreshing and makes me feel like less of a Pagan party-pooper. Yet her handling of the topic is actually quite inspiring and left me wanting to revisit some of my old texts and perhaps re-incorporate magic into my personal Druidry. As a member of such a vehemently orthopraxic organization, I particularly value the emphasis given to the place and purpose of ritual in Pagan religions. Adler clearly points out that throughout Paganism it is action, rather than belief, that defines us.
I found the chapter about reconstructionist religions fascinating. There are/were so many of which I was completely ignorant. Feraferia? What on Earth is that? A ready made utopian religion designed to see us through after The Great Catastrophe? What convenience! And the misdirection and mystery-weaving of Odun is mesmerizing, and reminds me of a few high priests I've met. I am grateful to finally have a grasp of the concept of henotheism; a term I've come across but never fully grasped until reading Odun's explanation. Sadly it appear Adler's research into Asatru couldn't get farther than the Folkish types, though that is to be expected since they are the oldest and most numerous branches. ADF's Norse contingent and the more Universalist Troth weren't thriving when she was writing as they now. I understand there is a 2007 edition of the book, perhaps she has revised this section. Naturally I would love to see an updated piece about ADF as we have moved beyond Isaac's original “benevolent dictatorship” and into something drastically different!
While a great deal of Adler's material was old hat for me, I was surprised by how much I didn't know about the Pagan resurgence. Despite my many protestations, I am gratified to have the book and I probably would not have done so if it weren't for this DP requirement. Mr. Dangler told me so.