Ariadne's Thread: A Workbook of Goddess Magic

by Shekhinah Mountainwater

Mountainwater, Shekhinah

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Goddess, Paganism, Magic, Witchcraft, Feminism

382 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1991

Reviews

[Hilary]

I found this book in the library when I was eleven... my first introduction to paganism. I ordered it for myself last year when I found it online, for sentimental value and to attempt reading it again.

[Araminta Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shekhinah Mountainwater is clearly an intelligent writer. She proposes theories, ideas, and concepts related to a matriarchal and woman-centric spirituality through a well-reasoned, articulate lens. At the same time, she intersperses her clearly female-centric, anti-patriarchy agenda with evidence she has gathered from works of fiction as frequently as from works of evidence. On the one hand, this type of evidence could be said to spring from the sacred well of intuition that has been usurped and sullied by patriarchal forms of scholarship. That is, folklore, which was often a medium for extending scholarship through narrative, has been denigrated to whimsy and fairy stories by the modern-day institutions of academia, while self-perpetuating historical analyses that reference and reflect only other (and perhaps "popular") forms of scholarship are seen as somehow "more real." As an academic, I tend to temper my view of scholarship through the lens of "both/and" in that it would be foolish of me to presume that folk-derived evidence is somehow inaccurate to its roots whereas "science" is the only truth...if that were the case, well... perhaps Pluto is a planet? I mean, I've never been there myself, so...

But I digress. My point here is that Mountainwater is intelligent, but occasionally she moves in rhetorical circles that seem only to push her own agenda. I did love this book. It was exactly what I was looking for, and it has led me to many other books I plan to read and work. Still...it would be nice if someone like Mountainwater (whom, I have discovered, is sadly deceased) could work with someone like Merlin Stone, who presents research with more reliable/conventional supports.

Then again, perhaps I just need to go talk to my minister about all this, anyway. It is, after all, her domain. She'll have all the right questions, and this book has certainly helped me ask many new questions. :)

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

another quintessential witchy read (and workbook)!

[H. Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Until reading Ariadne's Thread, I had only been exposed to books on witchcraft that followed the more wiccan traditions. This workbook opened my eyes to alternate magical beliefs and showed me that I could cut my own spiritual path, rather than trying to force my magic into rigid practices that weren't working for me.

Containing all the usual magic basics (altars, herbs, associations), this book is really a beginners guide but the strong focus on women's mysteries make it a must read.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Accidentally found it after accidentally finding Shekhinah's cool Womanrunes system. Enjoying reading older books on Goddess spirituality lately. Lots of great stuff to be gleaned from less well-known works.

[Jennifer Heise]

I started reading this at the beginning of my faith journey, and used some of it, but it didn't click with me so I passed it on to another person.

[Nicole Diamond · Rating 4 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

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important book in Goddess Spirituality. Good for working through alone or with a group. Currently out of print, but well worth finding.

[Dreamersemporium]

very good

[Lisa]

very good

[Elyse Welles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to read this the way the author intended, as 13 moon cycles in a group of women (we had a few breaks but really stuck to the moon cycles as a key connecting point for the discussion.) even still, I was not very impressed with this book. I think 30 years ago this would’ve been monumental, life-changing, and new. But unfortunately, I have come to expect too much from neopagan books, and at the same time, I think the standard should’ve always been a little bit higher. My main issue is the completely made up claims and lack of sources for what she claims is truth about goddesses, ancient practices, and connections to witch trials, and ancient Greece, that are really unfounded. Not once is a source cited, except for when it is a poem or something fictional. Her “history” is completely conjecture and clearly Margaret Murray-inspired. I also found her rituals and associations of different herbs, colors candles, etc. to be really subjective and not in alignment with anything I’ve come across even in other books from this era of literature and earlier. And unfortunately, there is also a very negative positioning against men pervasive in this book. I really don’t agree with her that men can’t be witches, and I found that problematic and difficult to swallow. Some of her points were very interesting, and seem to go against some of her other points, such as the idea that androgyny — or as we would call it today non-binary, or agender — worship is crucial to the feminist movement. I would agree with that, but it wasn’t in alignment with much else of what she said. All in all, I don’t recommend this one, sorry to say. But I’m glad for the women I’ve met along the way they made it a fun discussion!

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ariadne's Thread

I have wanted to read this book for sometime and I am thrilled it is now available for Kindle.
Was it worth the wait?
In my opinion yes.
Things have changed since the book was first published but there is still a lot that can be learned from reading it.
Even if you don't work through the cycles over 13 months the book contains much information you can take away and if you wish you can adapt it accordingly.
So glad I have finally read it.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am currently rereading this book for a Book Club group. This is the 3rd or 4th time I am reading this for a Book Club.