Ancient Ways: Reclaiming the Pagan Tradition

by Pauline Campanelli, Dan Campanelli (Illustrator)

Paganism has filled the hearts and souls of people all over the world for thousands of years. In each culture, independent ways to honor the Goddess and God and watch the turning of the wheel of the year have developed. In "Ancient Ways" by Pauline Campanelli, you will learn many of those ideas and techniques, enhancing your magick and your ties to Pagan ancestors.
The book follows the flow of growth in the world that is linked to the Pagan festivals. It begins with Imbolc (February 2) and continues with the solstices and equinoxes, as well as the cross-quarter holidays such as Lammas, Samhain, and Yule. Each festival has a chapter dedicated to it, and each chapter is filled with folklore, history, and traditions that will make your heart sing.
For example, in the section on Samhain (October 31) you'll learn about traditional Halloween party favors and how to use a tambourine to help contact spirits. You'll discover information about cats and why they became associated with Witches. You'll also learn where the association of this festival with bats and owls came from. And of course the book explains the pumpkin and the Jack-o'-lantern. There's even a recipe for pumpkin bread.
"Ancient Ways" explains how this holiday is actually considered the third or final harvest. You'll learn how apples are involved with the holiday and how they can be used for healing. Other topics here include how to use a pendulum, channeling, and mediumship; a brief history of important dates in Witchcraft; and how to use magick mirrors and crystal balls.
This type of information is included in every chapter of this book. You'll also learn charms and spells, numerology and folk arts, as well as traditional myths and legends. With this book you will expand your knowledge of Paganism and enhance and add to your practices. It is a book you will use again and again.

Genres: Paganism, Wicca, Spirituality, Witchcraft, Nonfiction, Religion, Magick

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 8, 1991

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about observing Pagan traditions throughout the seasons. Campanelli tells the lore, symbolism, and rituals of the major Pagan holidays: Imbolc, Vernal Equinox, Beltane, Midsummer, Lammas, Autumnal Equinox, Samhain, and Yule. She draws from Greek and Roman myth, Anglo Saxon herbals, Eastern European folktale, Arthurian Legend, modern Pennsylvania Germans (“Dutch” as they are incorrectly known), her own personal traditions, and many other sources. There is information on everything from gemstones to faeries to Ukrainian Easter eggs to her collection of vintage Halloween cards. This wealth of information is not always logically organized, and seems to ramble on at times.

The author paints a charming picture of her family life in rural Pennsylvania, and this book is partly about her personal journey. She also gives instructions for seasonal crafts and baking as well as rituals. Another major theme is how the New Religion (Christianity) took many holiday traditions and symbols from the Old Religion (Paganism). It is well known that early Roman Catholics did this to encourage Pagans to convert to their religion. This material was sometimes written a bit defensively, which is unfortunate, because the facts presented were among the most interesting in the book.

Overall, I liked reading each chapter individually. For example, reading about Lammas in early August, Samhain at Halloween, or Yule at Christmastime gave me a good sense of the season and its ancient roots. Taken as a whole book, though, there is not enough relatedness between the chapters/seasons to really make it work for me.

[Beth M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a wonderful read. It is a permanent part of my library at home as well.
If you are already familiar with the craft and many of its ways, this will be much of the same, but she does make it refreshing to read this "same" information again. The crafts for the sabbats and the recipes are wonderful as well. Many of her ideas I have used and made them my own. If you are beginning the Pagan ways, this is a great start or if you just would like to learn what a Pagan friend is talking about. I would recommend this book a million times over.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

cant recall when I decided to read this book; I owned a bookstore, so I had access to what I sold. I totally appreciate all of the wisdom this wise, gentle couple have decided to share with those with a thirst for learning. Certainly put these authors books on your must read shelf; you'll be pleased you did.

[Nicole Diamond · Rating 3 out of 5]

If it has one star I liked it a lot
If it has two stars I liked it a lot and would recommend it
If it has three stars I really really liked it a lot
If it has four stars I insist you read it
If it has five stars it was life changing

[SAWthegirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kind of just flipped and speed read through it. I like the format, because it teaches how the wheel of the year work and how to read it. It also includes fun little crafts for most holidays or shares recipes (I saw one in the Imbolic or Belinate chapter). This feel like more for like an all year study book of the holidays, so I may look into adding this to my personal collection.

[Rachael Quinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Since I’ve been studying more about Paganism, I’ve started back at the beginning of my journey and then started working through suggested reading lists. That’s how I came across this book, which was suggested for “beginners.”

And it was interesting.

I liked that it was organized by the eight Pagan holidays as I am trying to reincorporate them into my life. There was a lot here. There was mythology, lore, history, catalogs of materials that should be on hand, descriptions of altars, and rituals that fit the seasons. However, Campanelli really is trying to make this a book for beginners and it comes off as being a little confusing. While talking about a holiday and a season, she may go off on a five page aside about stones or herbs or a legend. The asides were sometimes long enough that I would lose track of where I was. If I wanted to consult this book later about something, it could be impossible to find. There was a lot of information jammed in and no index or citations. There isn’t even a list of resources.

This ended up being another problem for me. There was some information in this book that I found myself doubting. It felt as if the author was reaching and drawing conclusions that were a little biased. I would have liked some resources to pursue further.

[Claer Barber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read this over the year - a chapter at a time in the run up to one of the 8 festivals that make up the modern eight fold wheel of the year.
The book details a rather charming approach to celebrating these festivals, as carried out by a couple/family in the US. There are some useful bits in there. Unfortunately, these get a bit hidden by quite a bit of extra (and often unnecessary, less interesting) asides (like bit on King Arthur and gemstones) that often have little to do with the festival being discussed. There are some quite erroneous bits too....like the author asserting that wassailing was "certainly" performed in the UK at Samhain and the door-to-door wassailing traditions were trick or treating. This is a fantasy of the author based on no evidence what so ever. Sadly, there are several incidents of this, which show wishful thinking rather than proper research.
If taken just as account of how the authors celebrate and observe the seasons and wheel of the year, it is fine.
The illustrations in the book though are wonderful.

[Emmy · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be fair, I did enjoy reading this, but what a mess. There were many times I wondered why the author had veered so far off-topic. No section headers, no section breaks, no index, a rudimentary table of contents. And the thing that really let this book down—so many historical references and arguments being made, yet not a single cited source in the entire text. Pauline, saying, “therefore, we can conclude that…” every time you draw a conclusion is not the same as making a cogent argument.

[David]

Much like their Wheel of the Year, but instead of monthly installments, we get info surrounding the 8 major Wiccan holidays. Some of the same stuff gets re-hashed in this volume, but not enough to make you grumble. If you are Wiccan, I'd put it in the "must have" category.

[Lydiadarrah113 · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredibly interesting read on the connections of Pagan traditions in contemporary Christianity; and of our roles as stewards of the Earth.

[Lota Carolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading this and other of Campanelli books chapter by chapter through the year before that month. Makes it invaluable.

[Bladestryke · Rating 4 out of 5]

a wonderful book that goes into great detail on the sabbats. it also has some DIY ideas for your alter decorations. I also loved the deeper explanations of the old fairy tales and modern holidays.

[Tchipakkan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best

[Erin Regneri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another favorite by the Campanellis. Full of ritual and lore for each major Sabbat, and a great place to start when planning a Sabbat ritual of your own. Good basic book for any Pagan library.

[Eva Muhlhause · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is lovely one of my favorite books on pagan customs.

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one! I learned some things I didn't know before, like the Pennsylvania Dutch and their hex signs, thumbs up gesture, and pow-wow magic.

[teacupsandunicorns · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gives a lot of info of all kinds of different ancient practices from different cultures and countries and religions. So that’s informative and interesting to see the similarities.

However my main problem was that this was so mixed together of different cultures which on one hand is cool, but she says specifically Americans can pick and choose from different practices as they see fit. On one hand I understand America is the melting pot and we have a mix of cultures, but I think it is naive to think we can pick and mix what we like and leave the rest—by doing this, we run the risk of appropriation, removing practices from their context and original origins and purposes, and it can be appropriation due to the lack of research and understanding of context and how and why something is used or believed. However, if enough research is done and you can do the practice properly without butchering it, I think it is fine to share with another belief system if it works for you.

[Edward Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great primer for those who want more information not only from a majikal standpoint but also want to learn more about the traditional pagan holidays still celebrated in the craft. Layed out in a simple fashion following the wheel of the year and speaking to how the ancients used them to mark the passing of seasons, this book is an easy read with a lot of lore and stories thrown in to keep it fresh.

[Terry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly this didn’t work for me. It’s not bad, but I felt it’s like a cake short of a few key ingredients. Lots of nice info about, but not a how to do book so for that reason I wouldn’t recommend for a newcomer to paganism. For reclaiming pagan tradition I personally preferred the Mrs Darley series of books.
Found myself skimming through the first chapter after the first ten pages or so which is never a good sign.

[Crystal Ratcliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books, I found it priceless in taking myself as a new pagan and Witch from book bound theory to living and "being" a pagan, witch in my home, and as a way of life. It can also be extremely beneficial to heathens also.

[Jerilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and Informative.

Pauline Campanelli has put together a very fun, yet informative book of Pagan traditions and way with illustrations in her book Ancient Ways. This would be a great book to use with and teach children. I Highly recommend this book.

[Ik · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about some of the myths. Other than that, it's more about the wiccan path than it is about ancient or pagan (non-wiccan) ways.

[Mariah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for ideas on how to celebrate the 8 NeoPagan/Wiccan holidays
has lots of activities, and interesting mythology. However be careful she sometimes gets her history and mythology wrong. (i.e. Burning Times, lumping deities together)

['Nathan Burgoine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one - it walks you through the wheel of the year with practice and ritual and myth and craft. Each sabbat is rife with ideas for cellebration, from Samhain to Yule and back again.