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Ariadne's Thread: Awakening the Wonders of the Ancient Minoans in our Modern Lives
The myths of ancient Crete, her people, and their gods twine through our minds like the snakes around the priestess's arms in those ancient temples. They call to us across the millennia, asking us to remember. In answer to that call, Ariadne s Thread provides a window into the spirituality, culture and daily life of the Minoan people, and commemorates the richness of a world in which women and men worked and worshiped as equals. In these pages, the glory of Crete once again springs to life; the history, the culture, and most of all, the intense spirituality of these fascinating people and their gods can inspire and transform our modern ways of thinking, worshiping and being. The ruined temples and mansions of ancient Crete may crumble along the coastline of this tiny island, but Ariadne s thread still leads us into the labyrinth and safely back out again.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2001
29 people are currently reading
1971 people want to read
About the author
Laura Perry
2 books72 followersHi there! I'm Laura Perry. I'm the founder of Ariadne's Tribe, a worldwide inclusive Minoan spiritual tradition. I'm also a Wiccan priestess, a Reiki Master, an artist, and a longtime herbalist and fiber artist. I've been writing all my life, but my first book was published in 2001. I write pagan and magical-themed fiction and non-fiction and have also created a Minoan Tarot deck and coloring book. When I'm not busy writing, painting, or leading rituals, you can probably find me digging in the garden or giving a living history demonstration at a local historic site.
Find me on my website, Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky and Mastodon.
Find me on my website, Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky and Mastodon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 3, 2018
I was incredibly disappointed by this book.
I suspect a lot of that had to do with my expectations--I found this title in the Suggested Reading of another, more academic work, which seemed to indicate that this title was an academic overview of magical practice in ancient cultures. What I found here was a modern, Neopagan-friendly spellbook with charms and methods loosely based on ancient mythology.
At first, I was really impressed with some of the history presented here. Unfortunately, as I tried to dive into some of the more interesting factoids and learn more, I discovered that, in many cases, the majority of modern historians actually subscribe to an alternative interpretation of artifacts and events. I quickly began to believe that many of Perry's conclusions might actually be wishful thinking, particularly in regards to some of her assertions that religious groups had co-opted or suppressed the methods and symbolism of previous goddess-worshippers (in many cases, I found consensus on different explanations).
This concern also carried through to Perry's scholarship on the origin and significance of certain terminology. In one case, I was absolutely delighted by her history of a specific word. I went to see if I could find reference material on the subject, only to discover that she had the meaning of the word wrong, the form incorrect, had incorrectly attributed its usage, and that most linguisitic scholars appear to be in agreement that the connection she made would be totally irrelevant. By the time I was halfway through this book, I had stopped looking up the cool facts to learn more.
Sadly, my disappointment still deepened. The early chapters suggest that these methods are as close to authentic as possible and shouldn't be modified, as doing so might compromise their correctness. However, I am doubtful that the ancients were casting volcano spells in their kitchen sinks with baking soda and vinegar and would love to hear someone explain to the fire department why they had shut themselves in their coat closet with a rubber snake to burn bay leaves. Also, while I am not an expert on most of these ancient cultures, I am fairly well-read on one or two of those described here and noted that this work's divination methods were actually in direct conflict with other works that I had previously read. All in all, I felt that the integrity of many of these rituals and charms had been severely compromised.
I'm pretty disappointed and would not recommend this book. Sorry!
I suspect a lot of that had to do with my expectations--I found this title in the Suggested Reading of another, more academic work, which seemed to indicate that this title was an academic overview of magical practice in ancient cultures. What I found here was a modern, Neopagan-friendly spellbook with charms and methods loosely based on ancient mythology.
At first, I was really impressed with some of the history presented here. Unfortunately, as I tried to dive into some of the more interesting factoids and learn more, I discovered that, in many cases, the majority of modern historians actually subscribe to an alternative interpretation of artifacts and events. I quickly began to believe that many of Perry's conclusions might actually be wishful thinking, particularly in regards to some of her assertions that religious groups had co-opted or suppressed the methods and symbolism of previous goddess-worshippers (in many cases, I found consensus on different explanations).
This concern also carried through to Perry's scholarship on the origin and significance of certain terminology. In one case, I was absolutely delighted by her history of a specific word. I went to see if I could find reference material on the subject, only to discover that she had the meaning of the word wrong, the form incorrect, had incorrectly attributed its usage, and that most linguisitic scholars appear to be in agreement that the connection she made would be totally irrelevant. By the time I was halfway through this book, I had stopped looking up the cool facts to learn more.
Sadly, my disappointment still deepened. The early chapters suggest that these methods are as close to authentic as possible and shouldn't be modified, as doing so might compromise their correctness. However, I am doubtful that the ancients were casting volcano spells in their kitchen sinks with baking soda and vinegar and would love to hear someone explain to the fire department why they had shut themselves in their coat closet with a rubber snake to burn bay leaves. Also, while I am not an expert on most of these ancient cultures, I am fairly well-read on one or two of those described here and noted that this work's divination methods were actually in direct conflict with other works that I had previously read. All in all, I felt that the integrity of many of these rituals and charms had been severely compromised.
I'm pretty disappointed and would not recommend this book. Sorry!
January 5, 2021
I picked up this book on recommendation that it was a good place to start if you wanted to start learning more about the Minoans.
Unfortunately, that was very much not the case. It's less interested in describing the Minoan culture and history as it was, and more interested in converting people to what Perry *thinks* their religion is.
Perry makes a lot of baseless conjecture and gets many facts wrong. Things like calling the Minoans an egalitarian society, when they very much weren't, even if they didn't necessarily restrict women from places of power. And describing them as incredibly peaceful, even though they carried out sea-raids against the Myceneans. Perry can't even get the much better researched and well known Greek mythology correct when she brings it up, mixing up Cronos and Kronos(they're two different gods, yes I know it's confusing, but as the author she really ought to know the difference), and claiming that Ariadne was a proto version of Aphrodite, when Aphrodite's proto version is more apt to be the Phoenecian goddess Astarte.
The majority of the book ends up being devoted to describing the rites and rituals that Perry invented based on her own interpretations of Minoan archeological remains and modern western Paganism.
It's probably my own fault for not researching the author before buying, though I was able to figure out she was a pagan just based on the preface and the obvious disdain she gave for modern living religions. If you're a pagan then maybe this book will be more interesting and valuable to you, but as far as it being a history text goes, it's abysmal. I don't know what the point of the bibliography was, since the book is littered with misinformation. Don't buy if you want to actually learn more of what's factually known about the Minoans.
Unfortunately, that was very much not the case. It's less interested in describing the Minoan culture and history as it was, and more interested in converting people to what Perry *thinks* their religion is.
Perry makes a lot of baseless conjecture and gets many facts wrong. Things like calling the Minoans an egalitarian society, when they very much weren't, even if they didn't necessarily restrict women from places of power. And describing them as incredibly peaceful, even though they carried out sea-raids against the Myceneans. Perry can't even get the much better researched and well known Greek mythology correct when she brings it up, mixing up Cronos and Kronos(they're two different gods, yes I know it's confusing, but as the author she really ought to know the difference), and claiming that Ariadne was a proto version of Aphrodite, when Aphrodite's proto version is more apt to be the Phoenecian goddess Astarte.
The majority of the book ends up being devoted to describing the rites and rituals that Perry invented based on her own interpretations of Minoan archeological remains and modern western Paganism.
It's probably my own fault for not researching the author before buying, though I was able to figure out she was a pagan just based on the preface and the obvious disdain she gave for modern living religions. If you're a pagan then maybe this book will be more interesting and valuable to you, but as far as it being a history text goes, it's abysmal. I don't know what the point of the bibliography was, since the book is littered with misinformation. Don't buy if you want to actually learn more of what's factually known about the Minoans.
February 7, 2014
A fascinating book, it really rattles along and is difficult not to read in one go. It presents a reinterpretation of Minoan culture and spirituality in terms of the Goddess Ariadne. It is worth reading for the glossary of Minoan deities alone plus interesting revelations about the labyrinth, the Minotaur, etc.
January 30, 2014
A fascinating book where the author takes us on her own journey with the Minoan spirituality. She brings with her the magic of Crete through it's myths, mysteries and culture.
March 12, 2015
There are many books on spells and rituals on the market. There are some books that deal with magic without deities and some that deal with deities and spirits. Most of the spells you will find in those books that deal with the ancient deities are modern in origin. This book is a unique treasure among spell books. This book actually goes to the source for information on the spells and magical rituals of our ancient fore bearers.
There are nine sections in this book. There is the introduction and 8 chapters in the book itself. This book is well organized, though there is one chapter I may have placed in a different location because of a quote mentioned in that chapter. The rest of the book I feel is in perfect order. The first chapter is about spell casting the hows and whys and includes a little information about the deities involved. The second chapter covers the context of the cultures in the book. The next six chapters are full of spells and rituals that are simple, practical, and easy to perform.
The first chapter is one that should not be skipped. I know its easy when you are researching spells and rituals to jump right to the spells and rituals, which is fine once you know a bit about how magic work and the deities and spirits that are involved. If you are a beginner or just curious about spell crafting you really need to read this chapter. It covers the meaning of the word spell, the methods. getting into a magical mindset, and setting up your workspace. All of those items are important for effective spell casting techniques.
The second chapter like the first one should not be skipped. This section is all about the region and the cultures that the spells in this book come from. When you are working with deities and spirits it is important to understand them. This section talks to you about the different cultures, where they were, when they were in power, and a bit about their history. This information gives you a basic idea about the types of people that worked with the deities and forces mentioned in the book. This allows you to approach the powers within as respectfully as you can.
The third Chapter is where we finally start get into the meat of the book. This is where we start getting into spells and rituals for different needs. For me this is where the chapter on protection spells should be. The author states at the beginning of the chapter of protection: “There are more spells in this section of the book than in any other section of this book because protection is of paramount importance. If we are not protected, we will have no chance to enjoy prosperity, fertility, and all the rest” (Ancient Spell Craft pg 136 by Laura Perry) Instead the author start out with spells for prosperity.
At the start of each of the chapters on spells there is information on the different types of spells. There is prosperity of the fields, the business, and other aspects. The first few pages in the chapter on prosperity and money magic covers the different types. The author then provides several different spells on field prosperity and on money spells.
The fourth chapter is about Romance spells. Here the author discusses how while the concept of romantic marriages is new the practice of performing love magic has always been around. In the past they have been more about lovers outside of marriage or in the form of sacred lovers at the temples. There are several different spells in this portion, none of them based on targetting someone already in a relationship but in your own words one who will be right for you.
The fifth chapter is about spells for Fertility. Here the spells are as much about getting pregnant and having children as it is about the fertility of the land. Without fertile farmlands crops etc we can not have food to live on. In the ancient world crops were the way of life. Today those spells and rituals are still effective for personal home gardens and for larger farmers. The pregnancy spells also provide several different ways of asking for aid in that area of your life.
The sixth chapter is all about protection. The spells in this section cover protection of the home, your business, from theft, and several other things. As I said earlier because of the emphasis the author places on protection (in the beginning and at the end of the chapter) I feel that this should have been the first chapter on practical magic. The chapter ends with a discussion about spiritual protection which is necessary when one begins to work magic and perform rituals. It is for this reason I believe the chapter should be the first one. Other than that it has every sort of protection that you could ever need to use based on day to day life.
The seventh chapter in the book is my favorite section. I am a fond of healing spells and healing based magic. That is the focus of this chapter. This spell has a road opener spell (for those unable to move forward based on illnesses or issues) and spells about removing your illnesses. There are spells for emotional healing as well as physical healing. This chapter covers everything you would ever need to know for any sort of healing.
The last chapter is on divination. Reading oracles and divining the future has always been a part of religious and magical workings. There are many different traditions of divination from tarot cards to I-ching coins, to reading stones tossed in a blanket. This chapter provides several different spells and divination rituals of sorts. These simple to perform spells often allow for easy to read signs and omens to see if your works are going to come through and to see what needs to be done in a situation.
I want to compliment the author on their diligent research on the topic of ancient magic and the cultures. They have a substantial bibliography for such a small and informative book. The only other suggestion I would have to make this book better would be to have an appendix in new editions listing the deities mentioned and their associations so people have references for the deities when they decide to start making their own spells.
There are nine sections in this book. There is the introduction and 8 chapters in the book itself. This book is well organized, though there is one chapter I may have placed in a different location because of a quote mentioned in that chapter. The rest of the book I feel is in perfect order. The first chapter is about spell casting the hows and whys and includes a little information about the deities involved. The second chapter covers the context of the cultures in the book. The next six chapters are full of spells and rituals that are simple, practical, and easy to perform.
The first chapter is one that should not be skipped. I know its easy when you are researching spells and rituals to jump right to the spells and rituals, which is fine once you know a bit about how magic work and the deities and spirits that are involved. If you are a beginner or just curious about spell crafting you really need to read this chapter. It covers the meaning of the word spell, the methods. getting into a magical mindset, and setting up your workspace. All of those items are important for effective spell casting techniques.
The second chapter like the first one should not be skipped. This section is all about the region and the cultures that the spells in this book come from. When you are working with deities and spirits it is important to understand them. This section talks to you about the different cultures, where they were, when they were in power, and a bit about their history. This information gives you a basic idea about the types of people that worked with the deities and forces mentioned in the book. This allows you to approach the powers within as respectfully as you can.
The third Chapter is where we finally start get into the meat of the book. This is where we start getting into spells and rituals for different needs. For me this is where the chapter on protection spells should be. The author states at the beginning of the chapter of protection: “There are more spells in this section of the book than in any other section of this book because protection is of paramount importance. If we are not protected, we will have no chance to enjoy prosperity, fertility, and all the rest” (Ancient Spell Craft pg 136 by Laura Perry) Instead the author start out with spells for prosperity.
At the start of each of the chapters on spells there is information on the different types of spells. There is prosperity of the fields, the business, and other aspects. The first few pages in the chapter on prosperity and money magic covers the different types. The author then provides several different spells on field prosperity and on money spells.
The fourth chapter is about Romance spells. Here the author discusses how while the concept of romantic marriages is new the practice of performing love magic has always been around. In the past they have been more about lovers outside of marriage or in the form of sacred lovers at the temples. There are several different spells in this portion, none of them based on targetting someone already in a relationship but in your own words one who will be right for you.
The fifth chapter is about spells for Fertility. Here the spells are as much about getting pregnant and having children as it is about the fertility of the land. Without fertile farmlands crops etc we can not have food to live on. In the ancient world crops were the way of life. Today those spells and rituals are still effective for personal home gardens and for larger farmers. The pregnancy spells also provide several different ways of asking for aid in that area of your life.
The sixth chapter is all about protection. The spells in this section cover protection of the home, your business, from theft, and several other things. As I said earlier because of the emphasis the author places on protection (in the beginning and at the end of the chapter) I feel that this should have been the first chapter on practical magic. The chapter ends with a discussion about spiritual protection which is necessary when one begins to work magic and perform rituals. It is for this reason I believe the chapter should be the first one. Other than that it has every sort of protection that you could ever need to use based on day to day life.
The seventh chapter in the book is my favorite section. I am a fond of healing spells and healing based magic. That is the focus of this chapter. This spell has a road opener spell (for those unable to move forward based on illnesses or issues) and spells about removing your illnesses. There are spells for emotional healing as well as physical healing. This chapter covers everything you would ever need to know for any sort of healing.
The last chapter is on divination. Reading oracles and divining the future has always been a part of religious and magical workings. There are many different traditions of divination from tarot cards to I-ching coins, to reading stones tossed in a blanket. This chapter provides several different spells and divination rituals of sorts. These simple to perform spells often allow for easy to read signs and omens to see if your works are going to come through and to see what needs to be done in a situation.
I want to compliment the author on their diligent research on the topic of ancient magic and the cultures. They have a substantial bibliography for such a small and informative book. The only other suggestion I would have to make this book better would be to have an appendix in new editions listing the deities mentioned and their associations so people have references for the deities when they decide to start making their own spells.
January 27, 2014
I found this book intriguing because it tackles a topic very few other people write about; Minoan paganism. This was not a type of reconstruction that I was previously familiar with but I am really glad I took the time to read this book. It is a fascinating look at ancient Minoan religion and culture and the modern ways it can be practiced. The author begins by giving the reader a thorough understanding of ancient Crete so that we can move forward with the necessary knowledge of how the original religion worked. We learn about the evidence of the ancient religion and theories about its practice and power. From this base the author moves forward into her own modern reconstruction of the faith. She discusses the different deities, holidays that a Minoan pagan can celebrate and how to celebrate them. Although this is not my own cultural interest I found the book fascinating and more than worth reading. Highly recommended for anyone seeking to practice this religion or who is merely curious about this faith.
December 7, 2016
This book beautifully showcases the genre of WitchLit. The female protagonist, Liz, lives in the real world. Her parents are divorced while the sibling rivalry between herself and her sister Amanda is palpable. Her boyfriend, Jack, has proposed and while she likes him, marriage wasn’t in her plan. Giving up a good job to follow her heart and creative passion, upcycling and creating folk art, life is stressful enough but making a decision about a future with Jack while attempting to keep the peace in her family, sends Liz scampering to the safety of her flat over her shop.
Into this material world, the bed and other furniture of classics lecturer, Bill Fletcher arrives and a new world opens up to the sceptical, practical Liz. The carved figure on the headboard is a doorway to a different plane where we meet the fabulous…no spoilers!
This book is well-written and full of well-crafted characters, mixing the mundane and the magical into a page turner of a story.
Into this material world, the bed and other furniture of classics lecturer, Bill Fletcher arrives and a new world opens up to the sceptical, practical Liz. The carved figure on the headboard is a doorway to a different plane where we meet the fabulous…no spoilers!
This book is well-written and full of well-crafted characters, mixing the mundane and the magical into a page turner of a story.
July 26, 2016
When I sat down to read Laura Perry’s Ariadne’s Thread, I had no idea what I was getting into. I have no credentials in which to speak with authority on the subject matter of the ancient Minoans or no real prior knowledge, but I found this text to be both fascinating and an easy to read for a “normal person.”
Actually is was quite delightful.
Like the author states in her introduction, I have always been fascinated by the lore of ancient Greece and the mythology of the Gods. I had no idea that there was so much that predated and influenced the genesis of those ideologies. Especially that of the Cretans. Perry does a remarkable job weaving a natural story arc through an encyclopedia’s worth of fact, making you swim faster and faster through the sea of information. From the history of ancient Crete to the cultural and anthropological influences they’ve had on modern thinking – the tidal wave of information could have easily consumed the reader like an academic text, but the narrator’s voice has a clear point of view that reads more like a friend telling you stories than a professor force feeding you history:
“When Evans excavated Knossos and examined his finds, he was working from the viewpoint of a wealth, imperialistic chauvinistic Englishman.”
The book is enriched with wonderful illustrations of both ancient and modern origins which further help bridge the gap between these ancient people and today’s world. And the book concludes with numerous pages of rites and rituals especially crafted to pay homage to these deities and they land in which they were originally worshipped:
“ … [I’ve] incorporated the concept of the elemental orientations into these rituals, but rather than use one of the more familiar modern orientations, I have devised an element orientation specific to the island of Crete. I have placed fire and water in the east, since …”
Engaging story + informative encyclopedic chapters + detailed rituals for the modern practitioner. I highly recommend Ariadne’s Thread for any person who collects stories on ancient culture and religion, or who are like me, and simply want to get lost in the Mediterranean for a while.
Actually is was quite delightful.
Like the author states in her introduction, I have always been fascinated by the lore of ancient Greece and the mythology of the Gods. I had no idea that there was so much that predated and influenced the genesis of those ideologies. Especially that of the Cretans. Perry does a remarkable job weaving a natural story arc through an encyclopedia’s worth of fact, making you swim faster and faster through the sea of information. From the history of ancient Crete to the cultural and anthropological influences they’ve had on modern thinking – the tidal wave of information could have easily consumed the reader like an academic text, but the narrator’s voice has a clear point of view that reads more like a friend telling you stories than a professor force feeding you history:
“When Evans excavated Knossos and examined his finds, he was working from the viewpoint of a wealth, imperialistic chauvinistic Englishman.”
The book is enriched with wonderful illustrations of both ancient and modern origins which further help bridge the gap between these ancient people and today’s world. And the book concludes with numerous pages of rites and rituals especially crafted to pay homage to these deities and they land in which they were originally worshipped:
“ … [I’ve] incorporated the concept of the elemental orientations into these rituals, but rather than use one of the more familiar modern orientations, I have devised an element orientation specific to the island of Crete. I have placed fire and water in the east, since …”
Engaging story + informative encyclopedic chapters + detailed rituals for the modern practitioner. I highly recommend Ariadne’s Thread for any person who collects stories on ancient culture and religion, or who are like me, and simply want to get lost in the Mediterranean for a while.
December 2, 2018
If you pick up this book, it is important to remember that this is a book about Modern Minoan Paganism/Polytheism. We don't know everything about the ancient Minoans. We don't know the Minoan names of their gods, we don't know exactly how they worshiped, so we have to fill in the blanks with outside sources (the ancient Greeks) and modern interpretations. The author makes this clear at the beginning and it is important to remember this as you read this book.
With that said, Perry does know what she is talking about. She has done her research so we are not completely lost when it comes to the Minoans and their religion.
If you approach this book as a guide for modern pagans as it intends itself to be, this is an excellent book. Perry does a great job introducing us to the Minoan gods, explaining what we do know about them and then adding her own interpretations and experiences. She always introduces her own ideas as suggestions and never as facts.
The only part of this book that I personally did not like was her description of the Eleusinian Mysteries. I felt like she simplified the Greek Eleusinian Mysteries in favor of a female empowerment Minoan version. Perry talks about the Greek Eleusinian Mysteries as a myth showing the helplessness of women (Persephone was powerless against Hades, and Demeter needed Zeus' help). There are so many layers to the Eleusinian Mysteries such as the mother-daughter relationship, women becoming wives and Persephone changing from a maiden goddess to a powerful Queen equal to Hera, that I did not like this simplification.
At the same time, I am excited to look into a Minoan origin for the Eleusinian Mysteries. Can you tell Persephone's story is one of my favorite myths?
Overall, "Labrys and Horns" is a fantastic book full of facts and suggestions for modern day pagans interested in the Minoan gods.
With that said, Perry does know what she is talking about. She has done her research so we are not completely lost when it comes to the Minoans and their religion.
If you approach this book as a guide for modern pagans as it intends itself to be, this is an excellent book. Perry does a great job introducing us to the Minoan gods, explaining what we do know about them and then adding her own interpretations and experiences. She always introduces her own ideas as suggestions and never as facts.
The only part of this book that I personally did not like was her description of the Eleusinian Mysteries. I felt like she simplified the Greek Eleusinian Mysteries in favor of a female empowerment Minoan version. Perry talks about the Greek Eleusinian Mysteries as a myth showing the helplessness of women (Persephone was powerless against Hades, and Demeter needed Zeus' help). There are so many layers to the Eleusinian Mysteries such as the mother-daughter relationship, women becoming wives and Persephone changing from a maiden goddess to a powerful Queen equal to Hera, that I did not like this simplification.
At the same time, I am excited to look into a Minoan origin for the Eleusinian Mysteries. Can you tell Persephone's story is one of my favorite myths?
Overall, "Labrys and Horns" is a fantastic book full of facts and suggestions for modern day pagans interested in the Minoan gods.
December 25, 2016
An unassuming item we all own in some regard new or used, modern or antique. How a simple piece of furniture can be so underappreciated but in which we sleep, relax, love, bring life into the world and sometimes leave this earthly plain in death.
These items we use daily often become more than just an utilitarian piece. Memory, nostalgia, and emotion can draw us in or repel us. It is a simple magic to pick up a cherished item and remember a loved one. Sometimes though an item acts as a conduit.
Now enter an independent and lovable protagonist who has stumbled on such items. A birthday to remember, a overbearing family member, and throw in some otherworldly happenings and Liz finds her life spiraling out of her control. The journey and trials that await are intertwined in potential meddling forces that could destroy all the potential for love and friendship.
I highly recommend giving this book a read. The story is both intriguing and thought provoking.
February 22, 2020
Laura’s workings have been a part of my journey for some time now. Her knowledge of the Minoans and bringing forth their traditions for modern practice is astounding and I am so grateful. Ariadne’s Thread starts off by introducing the pantheon of Minoan Gods & Goddesses and explaining how each were revered, while also explaining some common misconceptions. The second half of the book explains in grave detail modern rituals that can be performed with deeply rooted Minoan elements. This book is a blessing to my practice!
February 6, 2017
Really enjoyed this! Magic? Ghost lovers? Vengeful archangels? What's not to love?
April 29, 2015
The Wiccan Wellness book is one of a kind. If you are looking just for spells and rituals for healing then this book is not for you. If you are looking for herbal remedies and solutions to your health issues this is not the book for you. If you are looking for ways to increase your health in all areas mental,physical, and spiritual this book is perfect for you. While the author comes from a Wiccan perspective the book is geared towards any and all philosophies or religious views. The goal of the book is to provide simple tools to allow a person to have optimum health in the mind, the body, and the spirit.
Right now my biggest complaint is that the book seemed to be too short and was missing a conclusion. I felt like the final chapter just left us hanging for more. I wasn't thinking another chapter, even though another chapter would have been useful but maybe a final word or two to tie everything we had read about in the book together. It just ended with no real tie to put it all together.
The rest of the book is great. There is excellent material in here. Several of the tips in one chapter have already made a huge difference in the way I approach my day to day tasks and my day job at the local CVS. It may be small but there is alot of information packed into this one book.
The book begins with an introduction. Here the author covers both her reasons for writing the book and how she connected her spiritual path with health, healing, and wellness. It is also here that we learn that the author wrote this book not just focusing on Wiccans but having it be open to any one open to holistic natural healing and natural spirituality.
The first chapter really sets the tone for the book. This is where the real concept of holistic person is. Right of the bat the book hits you with the biggest concept of all: Thou Art God and Thou Art Goddess. This is part of the concept core to the book. The belief that we have an inner divine spark and we can control how we heal and live. This is also how we learn we can serve the Gods we work with through our daily lives by honoring that divine spark within you.
The author gives us a few questions to think about right off the bat like how we react to stress and what sorts of foods are we eating in our diet. She asks us to take a look at how we stand and what our relationship with our body and the world really is at this point in our lives. After this the author discusses the Wiccan Rede and how it can be a part of healing the world around you and yourself. The chapter ends with a definition of what the path to health really entails.
The second chapter is one that you don't find in a lot of health books. This is a chapter on using writing or more specifically journaling as a healing tool for the mind, body, and spirit. I'll be honest. I originally laughed at the chapter concept having done some health journals before I wasn't convinced that it deserved to be in a book on wellness and healing.
After reading through the exercises I can see how it works in this context. This journal is more than a healing journal. It is a connection to your mind, your body, and your spirit. I found the spirit letter to be the most useful of the exercises in that section of the book. It is something I am going to start including in my practice. There are other exercises in this section that may be useful to others. Some I have tried and some I have not. I do advise at least trying the daily journal exercise if nothing else.
The exercise chapter is the third chapter in this book. The author gives us right off the bat an exercise to do in order to deal with the excuses people seem to come up with for not exercising. This was something I found useful as I know I am guilty of coming up with excuses not to do exercise.
The second part of the chapter goes over several types of exercises that can be done. Some at home with DVD's and minimal or no tools and others with joining classes or going to the gym. Two of the exercises she mentions I have to support which are the martial arts and yoga both of which have spiritual traditions behind them in many cases, which means you can exercise your body, your mind through awareness, and your spirit all together.
Chapter four is the one that I got the most about. This is a chapter about healthy surroundings. This chapter covers a technique/style that is often used called Feng Shui. That was something I expected. What I didn't expect was a detailed section on bringing joy, happiness and well being into a day job like working for CVS.
The section on bringing well-being into my day to day job was wonderful. The author mentioned two things that I took to heart and am now trying to do in work. Each of these items was a simple task that doesn't take much time. Together they provide a powerful spiritual and emotional exercise for day to day life.
The first is dedicate one single task during the work day to service of the Gods. The other is find one thing positive about your job (not thinking about paychecks, but other aspects like something you enjoy about your job). For me when I realized why I enjoyed my job at CVS was because I get to help people I was able to find much more enjoyment out of my shifts and it feels much more productive while I work. I have not done a task with the Gods in mind yet but I am going to try to do that during my next shift.
The fifth chapter is one that I found very useful. This was the section on versions of natural healthcare and health alternatives. Here the author covers several methods of health services some that we can practice ourselves with little or no formal training and others that require certifications and or licenses. The best part of this chapter was that is covers some traditional methods like acupuncture and herbalism but also covered Reiki and Polarity therapy. With each section of type of natural health care the author provides a resource so that you can find a practitioner in your area!
My favorite sections of the book though are the last two chapters. Chapter six is all about finding an herbal spirit partner to do healing work with. For me this gave me several ideas on ways I can connect to herbs I use in healing oils, incense, and tinctures better. For anyone interested in working with plants as magical and spiritual aids this chapter is really for you.
The final chapter is a chapter on several different healing rituals. This is where the religious/and spiritual connection really fits into the book. Most of these rituals have a Wiccan flair to them as the author is Wiccan herself. However if you don't follow Wicca but work with other Gods or No Gods you can still work many of these rituals with minor alterations.
In the end the best thing I can say about this book is not only does the author have an extensive bibliography she also added a book or two at the end of each chapter for the material in that chapter. This is where I am most impressed as there were minimal Wicca/Witchcraft books referenced and many healing and health or spiritual journals and books listed showing that author really did take a wide approach to spirituality, healing, and the connections that exist there.
Right now my biggest complaint is that the book seemed to be too short and was missing a conclusion. I felt like the final chapter just left us hanging for more. I wasn't thinking another chapter, even though another chapter would have been useful but maybe a final word or two to tie everything we had read about in the book together. It just ended with no real tie to put it all together.
The rest of the book is great. There is excellent material in here. Several of the tips in one chapter have already made a huge difference in the way I approach my day to day tasks and my day job at the local CVS. It may be small but there is alot of information packed into this one book.
The book begins with an introduction. Here the author covers both her reasons for writing the book and how she connected her spiritual path with health, healing, and wellness. It is also here that we learn that the author wrote this book not just focusing on Wiccans but having it be open to any one open to holistic natural healing and natural spirituality.
The first chapter really sets the tone for the book. This is where the real concept of holistic person is. Right of the bat the book hits you with the biggest concept of all: Thou Art God and Thou Art Goddess. This is part of the concept core to the book. The belief that we have an inner divine spark and we can control how we heal and live. This is also how we learn we can serve the Gods we work with through our daily lives by honoring that divine spark within you.
The author gives us a few questions to think about right off the bat like how we react to stress and what sorts of foods are we eating in our diet. She asks us to take a look at how we stand and what our relationship with our body and the world really is at this point in our lives. After this the author discusses the Wiccan Rede and how it can be a part of healing the world around you and yourself. The chapter ends with a definition of what the path to health really entails.
The second chapter is one that you don't find in a lot of health books. This is a chapter on using writing or more specifically journaling as a healing tool for the mind, body, and spirit. I'll be honest. I originally laughed at the chapter concept having done some health journals before I wasn't convinced that it deserved to be in a book on wellness and healing.
After reading through the exercises I can see how it works in this context. This journal is more than a healing journal. It is a connection to your mind, your body, and your spirit. I found the spirit letter to be the most useful of the exercises in that section of the book. It is something I am going to start including in my practice. There are other exercises in this section that may be useful to others. Some I have tried and some I have not. I do advise at least trying the daily journal exercise if nothing else.
The exercise chapter is the third chapter in this book. The author gives us right off the bat an exercise to do in order to deal with the excuses people seem to come up with for not exercising. This was something I found useful as I know I am guilty of coming up with excuses not to do exercise.
The second part of the chapter goes over several types of exercises that can be done. Some at home with DVD's and minimal or no tools and others with joining classes or going to the gym. Two of the exercises she mentions I have to support which are the martial arts and yoga both of which have spiritual traditions behind them in many cases, which means you can exercise your body, your mind through awareness, and your spirit all together.
Chapter four is the one that I got the most about. This is a chapter about healthy surroundings. This chapter covers a technique/style that is often used called Feng Shui. That was something I expected. What I didn't expect was a detailed section on bringing joy, happiness and well being into a day job like working for CVS.
The section on bringing well-being into my day to day job was wonderful. The author mentioned two things that I took to heart and am now trying to do in work. Each of these items was a simple task that doesn't take much time. Together they provide a powerful spiritual and emotional exercise for day to day life.
The first is dedicate one single task during the work day to service of the Gods. The other is find one thing positive about your job (not thinking about paychecks, but other aspects like something you enjoy about your job). For me when I realized why I enjoyed my job at CVS was because I get to help people I was able to find much more enjoyment out of my shifts and it feels much more productive while I work. I have not done a task with the Gods in mind yet but I am going to try to do that during my next shift.
The fifth chapter is one that I found very useful. This was the section on versions of natural healthcare and health alternatives. Here the author covers several methods of health services some that we can practice ourselves with little or no formal training and others that require certifications and or licenses. The best part of this chapter was that is covers some traditional methods like acupuncture and herbalism but also covered Reiki and Polarity therapy. With each section of type of natural health care the author provides a resource so that you can find a practitioner in your area!
My favorite sections of the book though are the last two chapters. Chapter six is all about finding an herbal spirit partner to do healing work with. For me this gave me several ideas on ways I can connect to herbs I use in healing oils, incense, and tinctures better. For anyone interested in working with plants as magical and spiritual aids this chapter is really for you.
The final chapter is a chapter on several different healing rituals. This is where the religious/and spiritual connection really fits into the book. Most of these rituals have a Wiccan flair to them as the author is Wiccan herself. However if you don't follow Wicca but work with other Gods or No Gods you can still work many of these rituals with minor alterations.
In the end the best thing I can say about this book is not only does the author have an extensive bibliography she also added a book or two at the end of each chapter for the material in that chapter. This is where I am most impressed as there were minimal Wicca/Witchcraft books referenced and many healing and health or spiritual journals and books listed showing that author really did take a wide approach to spirituality, healing, and the connections that exist there.
June 11, 2018
DNF
Intriguing idea, but just couldn't get through it. I won this novel through a Good Reads promotion; a read it before it's released event. I've learned it can be considered a WitchLit genre; not sure what that is, but that wasn't the reason I didn't connect. I was fine with the story line; the fantasy, the conspiracy, even ok when the Devil himself popped in, what lost me was the author's development though mediocre dialogue.
There was an inconsistency where the characters conversations would be deep, then shallow, then teenager-ish. I felt the author really hasn't found their voices yet. They need development to really narrow their personalities. This made the Devil input seem cheesier, rather than eerie. It made the obsession with the bed, and the jump to the rest of it all too fast. It made the way the sister and brother speak drive me crazy (Olivia talked to Liz, Liz talks to Jack, Jack quotes Olivia, Liz whines...over and over, reverse, redone, reused. I get it, the brother and sister share dialogue please stop repeating).
Overall, the novel does have some good ideas, but the novel as a whole seems like first draft execution. Like the author spilled all these thoughts on paper to get the story out, but now needs to work the story more.
Intriguing idea, but just couldn't get through it. I won this novel through a Good Reads promotion; a read it before it's released event. I've learned it can be considered a WitchLit genre; not sure what that is, but that wasn't the reason I didn't connect. I was fine with the story line; the fantasy, the conspiracy, even ok when the Devil himself popped in, what lost me was the author's development though mediocre dialogue.
There was an inconsistency where the characters conversations would be deep, then shallow, then teenager-ish. I felt the author really hasn't found their voices yet. They need development to really narrow their personalities. This made the Devil input seem cheesier, rather than eerie. It made the obsession with the bed, and the jump to the rest of it all too fast. It made the way the sister and brother speak drive me crazy (Olivia talked to Liz, Liz talks to Jack, Jack quotes Olivia, Liz whines...over and over, reverse, redone, reused. I get it, the brother and sister share dialogue please stop repeating).
Overall, the novel does have some good ideas, but the novel as a whole seems like first draft execution. Like the author spilled all these thoughts on paper to get the story out, but now needs to work the story more.
May 6, 2019
Paranormal romance, more V M Steele than Dion Fortune, but enjoyable enough. Could have done more to make me believe in the central romance. CW alcoholism, sexual abuse.
December 8, 2013
Ariadne's Thread takes the reader from the evidential basis of the Minoans in history, through to a reconstruction of their possible spiritual beliefs relating to the Great Goddess - Ariadne and her many faces; the second part of the book provides a practical and beautifully written collection of Minoan style rituals, from seasonal events to rights of passage, for the modern practitioner.
This is a book of two halves the first being founded on archaeological interpretation of the evidence - Linnear A, the script of the Minoans, remains a mystery to archaeologists to this day, so for now, the Minoans cannot speak to us directly. Hence since the discovery of the 'palaces' of Knossos and Phaistos et al by the Victorian archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans, the ruins and frescoes have been subject to the prevailing ideas and prejudices of the dominant culture. Initially chauvinistic, imperialistic Victorians who saw martial palaces run by macho kings, later by more feminist interpretations.
Perry argues strongly for the interpretation of Minoan culture as a peaceful mercantile society ruled not by kings, but by a clergy: both male and female, which created a more balanced and equal society. The focus of this society, she argues, was the Great Goddess or Ariadne (and the many faces of Ariadne: Rhea etc). 'Palaces' are reinterpreted as temples in which priestesses/priests and community gathered to engage in a very personal relationship with the goddess (the priestess and priest actually becoming the deities for the duration of the rituals). I found Perry's interpretation very appealing but perhaps that was the flaw. She succeeded in creating an almost idealised, if not matriarchal, then certainly female oriented society where men and women were equals. However, I am not so sure that simply because the presiding deity was female that necessarily equates with equality amongst the sexes.
Perry carried out a lot of research for the historical section of the book, which for anyone wishing to embark on the spiritual path of Ariadne and the Minoans is vital. However, I think that this section of the book would have benefited from footnotes to allow the reader to understand how the author drew her conclusions, and perhaps follow-up with some independent research of their own.
Perry provides a very comprehensive guide to the deities of the ancient Minoans and their associations with later Hellenized Greek gods - and even finds parallels within the Celtic tradition all of which is extremely helpful. My one bug-bear here is that there is an awful lot of repetition throughout this section: the story or Rhea's milk spurting out to create the Milky Way, and Romulus and Remus and the Wolf, being cases in point. Granted this repetition does mean that by the end of the book you have pretty much memorised large chunks of the Minoan Pantheon, nevertheless it was also a tad irritating.
The second part of the book concentrates on the practical aspects of carrying out Minoan-style rituals. Perry clearly explains that because the archaeological evidence does not tell us what went on during actual Minoan rituals, the ceremonies within her book are not Minoan, but Minoan-style. This is an important distinction, the rituals are a modern interpretation of ancient traditions and draw on some familiar neo-pagan ritual practices; however this does not diminish the power and beauty of the ceremonies and rituals that Perry presents. At times her writing is almost lyrical and her passion for the healing nature of Ariadne and her practices shines through the whole book. Some of the rituals do suggest a lot of preparation, access to (private) open spaces and the participation of numerous individuals so may not be practical for solitary practitioners or those who do not have easy access to open spaces.
Although this book could have done with less repetition and a few more historical notes, it was an enjoyable read and contained a wonderful, if idealised, interpretation of the ancient world of the Minoans and their lost religion of the Great Goddess; as well as offering a practical guide to experience those rituals and connecting with Ariadne, the Great Goddess herself.
This is a book of two halves the first being founded on archaeological interpretation of the evidence - Linnear A, the script of the Minoans, remains a mystery to archaeologists to this day, so for now, the Minoans cannot speak to us directly. Hence since the discovery of the 'palaces' of Knossos and Phaistos et al by the Victorian archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans, the ruins and frescoes have been subject to the prevailing ideas and prejudices of the dominant culture. Initially chauvinistic, imperialistic Victorians who saw martial palaces run by macho kings, later by more feminist interpretations.
Perry argues strongly for the interpretation of Minoan culture as a peaceful mercantile society ruled not by kings, but by a clergy: both male and female, which created a more balanced and equal society. The focus of this society, she argues, was the Great Goddess or Ariadne (and the many faces of Ariadne: Rhea etc). 'Palaces' are reinterpreted as temples in which priestesses/priests and community gathered to engage in a very personal relationship with the goddess (the priestess and priest actually becoming the deities for the duration of the rituals). I found Perry's interpretation very appealing but perhaps that was the flaw. She succeeded in creating an almost idealised, if not matriarchal, then certainly female oriented society where men and women were equals. However, I am not so sure that simply because the presiding deity was female that necessarily equates with equality amongst the sexes.
Perry carried out a lot of research for the historical section of the book, which for anyone wishing to embark on the spiritual path of Ariadne and the Minoans is vital. However, I think that this section of the book would have benefited from footnotes to allow the reader to understand how the author drew her conclusions, and perhaps follow-up with some independent research of their own.
Perry provides a very comprehensive guide to the deities of the ancient Minoans and their associations with later Hellenized Greek gods - and even finds parallels within the Celtic tradition all of which is extremely helpful. My one bug-bear here is that there is an awful lot of repetition throughout this section: the story or Rhea's milk spurting out to create the Milky Way, and Romulus and Remus and the Wolf, being cases in point. Granted this repetition does mean that by the end of the book you have pretty much memorised large chunks of the Minoan Pantheon, nevertheless it was also a tad irritating.
The second part of the book concentrates on the practical aspects of carrying out Minoan-style rituals. Perry clearly explains that because the archaeological evidence does not tell us what went on during actual Minoan rituals, the ceremonies within her book are not Minoan, but Minoan-style. This is an important distinction, the rituals are a modern interpretation of ancient traditions and draw on some familiar neo-pagan ritual practices; however this does not diminish the power and beauty of the ceremonies and rituals that Perry presents. At times her writing is almost lyrical and her passion for the healing nature of Ariadne and her practices shines through the whole book. Some of the rituals do suggest a lot of preparation, access to (private) open spaces and the participation of numerous individuals so may not be practical for solitary practitioners or those who do not have easy access to open spaces.
Although this book could have done with less repetition and a few more historical notes, it was an enjoyable read and contained a wonderful, if idealised, interpretation of the ancient world of the Minoans and their lost religion of the Great Goddess; as well as offering a practical guide to experience those rituals and connecting with Ariadne, the Great Goddess herself.
November 6, 2013
"The myths of ancient Crete, her people, and their gods twine through our minds like the snakes around the priestess's arms in those ancient temples. They call to us across the millennia, asking us to remember. In answer to that call, Ariadne’s Thread provides a window into the spirituality, culture and daily life of the Minoan people, and commemorates the richness of a world in which women and men worked and worshiped as equals. In these pages, the glory of Crete once again springs to life; the history, the culture, and most of all, the intense spirituality of these fascinating people and their gods can inspire and transform our modern ways of thinking, worshiping and being. The ruined temples and mansions of ancient Crete may crumble along the coastline of this tiny island, but Ariadne’s thread still leads us into the labyrinth and safely back out again."
The tagline on the Moon Books site is "The Minoan world comes alive through seasonal rituals and rites of passage, honoring Ariadne and her Labyrinth." This immediately resonates with me as (as you may know) I am fascinated with the impact ancient culture has on modern people, in ways both large and small.
From the outset I am thrilled by the passion Laura shows for her subject. Clearly the Minoans have inspired her from an early age, and it's wonderful to see that fascination nurtured and blooming into the magical relationship she describes.
Crete comes alive for me; Laura's description of the island belies the fact that all this information comes from research rather than first-hand experience. Laura covers all the pertinent studies relating to the Minoans and while presenting all the possible facts, is keen to stress the most likely ones as her picture of how the Minoans lived and the key points in their society. This is an intelligent and open minded approach which sits well with me. As does the focus on the everyday Minoan and not just the priest/priestess; after all, ultimately we are the 'common folk', so reaching back through time we may find more links to our ancestors by focusing on everyday life: the mundane as well as the magical.
The magical though does play a huge part in this book. We hear about the Minoan pantheon; some are familiar but certainly for me, there is a great deal to learn and Laura keeps me turning the pages to do just that. I was astonished at the range of gods and goddesses included here! There are also the meanings of symbols, animals and how Minoan ceremony works within the Wheel of the Year. In the ritual work section, she is careful to explain the whys and wherefores of using certain symbols or not; the approach is inclusive with a hefty dose of common sense.
Rarely have I read a book that goes into so much detail about the spirituality and mythology surrounding one particular culture. The explanations of the symbolism of the Labyrinth are surprising and enlightening. Laura also looks at the similarities and differences between Ariadne and her 'equivalents' in other cultures, including mainstream religion. This book is truly comprehensive but what is more impressive is that it's also fascinating and entertaining. If you are interested in ancient culture at all, you will adore this. If not, you would still get a kick out of the beautiful descriptive paragraphs and analytical style.
Ariadne's Thread is a permanent addition to my 'regular reads' library and a triumph in what I consider the most necessary task of Pagan books: making it relevant. The thread Laura spins weaves all the way through time and is never broken. We can follow it either way, each page a new spool to turn.
December 7, 2014
I've always been interested in the Maya and Aztec cultures and Laura Perry has a wealth of knowledge which she's able to explain in ways that are really down to earth, practical and ping all the light-bulbs in the head :-). The Maya wisdom is so very similar to my own British Celtic ways. It's a delight to see the knowing of the universe through shamanic cultures all around the world showing us the same truths ... truths that modern western folk are only just getting a grip on through science.
Laura's writing is good, neat and concise - something I always need from a book. The plot evolves nicely too although i would have liked a deeper involvement much earlier in the story but I can see why she worked it the way she did and it does work. The characters sound like people, or parts of people, she knows and they all stand up and are consistent, congruent. I find myself liking the Maya people and finding them interesting, deep and sensible while wanting to slap all of the American characters at times LOL but that doesn't stop the page-turning quality of the story. I'm not a YA fan but this bridges the gap between young adult and adult, I kept on picking it up and reading whenever I got the chance, just had to get to the end.
The end is satisfying and not happy-ever-after which is very good, it's real and still has problems, things that will be difficult. I very much like it that Maddie grows, and grows up, setting her feet firmly on the adult path and understanding the responsibilities she takes on. There's a good opportunity for a follow-up book here and I'd very much like that :-)
Laura's writing is good, neat and concise - something I always need from a book. The plot evolves nicely too although i would have liked a deeper involvement much earlier in the story but I can see why she worked it the way she did and it does work. The characters sound like people, or parts of people, she knows and they all stand up and are consistent, congruent. I find myself liking the Maya people and finding them interesting, deep and sensible while wanting to slap all of the American characters at times LOL but that doesn't stop the page-turning quality of the story. I'm not a YA fan but this bridges the gap between young adult and adult, I kept on picking it up and reading whenever I got the chance, just had to get to the end.
The end is satisfying and not happy-ever-after which is very good, it's real and still has problems, things that will be difficult. I very much like it that Maddie grows, and grows up, setting her feet firmly on the adult path and understanding the responsibilities she takes on. There's a good opportunity for a follow-up book here and I'd very much like that :-)
January 25, 2014
Before reading Ariadne's Thread I knew nothing at all about Crete or the Minoans but I found this a fascinating insight into both. I found myself drawn in by the author's enthusiasm, knowledge and very clear love for her subject, a subject she has been fascinated by since childhood. Through the written word I discovered a world I had been totally unaware of. I learnt about the history, daily life, spirituality, deities including goddesses, mythical beings and of course ritual.
The author is clear that the rituals she describes are not Minoan for these are unknown, rather she has based them on modern neo pagan rituals intermingled with her own interpretation of the way in which the elements and mythical creatures connect with the directions. The rituals themselves, all tried and tested, are though based on historical evidence and the choices she has made with regard to the form and the content are clearly explained.
The rituals themselves are given in two parts, the first of these being The Wheel of the Year: Moon Rites and Seasonal Festivals. The second is given over to Rites of Passage: From Birth to Death and Beyond. All of the rituals contain precise and clear instructions and are easy to follow. The reader is encouraged to follow the format given rather than interpret the rituals in any way so as to ensure safety and respect for the Minoan deities.
There is also an extensive bibliography for anyone who's appetite for Minoan society has been awakened and who wishes to delve deeper.
The author is clear that the rituals she describes are not Minoan for these are unknown, rather she has based them on modern neo pagan rituals intermingled with her own interpretation of the way in which the elements and mythical creatures connect with the directions. The rituals themselves, all tried and tested, are though based on historical evidence and the choices she has made with regard to the form and the content are clearly explained.
The rituals themselves are given in two parts, the first of these being The Wheel of the Year: Moon Rites and Seasonal Festivals. The second is given over to Rites of Passage: From Birth to Death and Beyond. All of the rituals contain precise and clear instructions and are easy to follow. The reader is encouraged to follow the format given rather than interpret the rituals in any way so as to ensure safety and respect for the Minoan deities.
There is also an extensive bibliography for anyone who's appetite for Minoan society has been awakened and who wishes to delve deeper.
April 22, 2014
In Ariadne’s Thread: Awakening the Wonders of the Ancient Minoans in our Modern Lives, Laura Perry does an excellent job not only educating, but also inspiring readers. Her work is thoroughly researched, and she draws connections from the gods of the early Minoans through to Crete, Greece, Rome, and beyond. Perry is talented at making ancient wisdom relevant to our modern lives.
The bulk of the book is made up of rituals that we can include in our modern Pagan calendar. The Minoans valued individuality, and each of the rituals can easily be adapted to the needs of your own community. She offers a lovely blend of the ancient and modern in each rite. For example, in the ritual to the ancestors, she retains the old custom of smashing the goblet that you’ve used to toast the ancestors, but suggests that the modern version of burying offerings of food might mean adding them to your garden compost pile.
My favorite parts of Ariadne’s Thread were those about the labyrinth. The author focuses on “the role of the goddess in personal initiation and enlightenment. It is in this role that Ariadne heals, and it is this function that inspired the concept of the labyrinth.” The initiation ritual, which involves setting up a personal labyrinth in a darkened room for the initiate to navigate, is delightful.
I recommend this book for anyone interested in ancient Greece and its foundations, as well as Pagans who are interested in exploring the myths, deities, and rituals of other cultures. You’ll discover much food for thought and implementation!
The bulk of the book is made up of rituals that we can include in our modern Pagan calendar. The Minoans valued individuality, and each of the rituals can easily be adapted to the needs of your own community. She offers a lovely blend of the ancient and modern in each rite. For example, in the ritual to the ancestors, she retains the old custom of smashing the goblet that you’ve used to toast the ancestors, but suggests that the modern version of burying offerings of food might mean adding them to your garden compost pile.
My favorite parts of Ariadne’s Thread were those about the labyrinth. The author focuses on “the role of the goddess in personal initiation and enlightenment. It is in this role that Ariadne heals, and it is this function that inspired the concept of the labyrinth.” The initiation ritual, which involves setting up a personal labyrinth in a darkened room for the initiate to navigate, is delightful.
I recommend this book for anyone interested in ancient Greece and its foundations, as well as Pagans who are interested in exploring the myths, deities, and rituals of other cultures. You’ll discover much food for thought and implementation!
January 21, 2015
Ariadne’s Thread Awakening the Wonders of the Ancient Minoans in our Modern Lives is based on the great history of the Minoan civilization, their way of life, culture, religious beliefs and rituals. Laura Perry explains how the Minoans demonstrated a peaceful life unlike other civilizations throughout time. Instead of war the Minoans focused on living in harmony and maintaining equality between men and women.
Perry provides much information about the connection of the Minoans with the Gods. In this way educating through her extensive research about the early Minoan civilization and ancient wisdom.
Perry states that the Minoans inspired her as a child and she demonstrates that inspiration passionately in her writing throughout her book by revealing the Cretan island and its ancient people thoroughly along with all the mystical and magical qualities.
The Labyrinth, symbols, gods, cultures and spirituality all become real in the reader’s eyes through Perry’s extensive but unique descriptions. It is obvious that the author did major research on the Minoan civilization and as a result she successfully educates the reader about the Minoan’s life,their wisdom, rituals and much more.
In a nutshell, as I am from the island of Crete myself I found Aridne’s Thread to be a wonderful experience. I recommend it not only to those interested in ancient history, Cretan mythology and Minoan civilization but to anyone who wants to educate themselves in general. Ariadne’s Thread by Laura Perry is definitely a must!
Perry provides much information about the connection of the Minoans with the Gods. In this way educating through her extensive research about the early Minoan civilization and ancient wisdom.
Perry states that the Minoans inspired her as a child and she demonstrates that inspiration passionately in her writing throughout her book by revealing the Cretan island and its ancient people thoroughly along with all the mystical and magical qualities.
The Labyrinth, symbols, gods, cultures and spirituality all become real in the reader’s eyes through Perry’s extensive but unique descriptions. It is obvious that the author did major research on the Minoan civilization and as a result she successfully educates the reader about the Minoan’s life,their wisdom, rituals and much more.
In a nutshell, as I am from the island of Crete myself I found Aridne’s Thread to be a wonderful experience. I recommend it not only to those interested in ancient history, Cretan mythology and Minoan civilization but to anyone who wants to educate themselves in general. Ariadne’s Thread by Laura Perry is definitely a must!
March 5, 2019
This is a gentle, beautiful and caring book, well put together and offering the reader a host of ideas and options for ultimate wellbeing. The author’s knowledge and experience is evident throughout the book, but more than that, her intuition and spirituality shine through, giving the reader the experience of being healed and nurtured.
The Wiccan Wellness book is an interesting read in its own right, the author paying heed to all aspects of our lives that have a bearing on our wellbeing. However, I can see it being a wonderful reference book in the future too. The reader is able to select a specific section or chapter, depending on their needs at that moment, finding help from the author, or links to other books or societies who can offer more help.
The concept that mind, body and spirit working in harmony leads to well-being, is the basis of this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed exploring all the possibilities to seek further balance in my own life.
It’s a versatile and informative book, while still being a magical read. A perfect ‘pick me up’ when you need a personal, spiritual boost.
The Wiccan Wellness book is an interesting read in its own right, the author paying heed to all aspects of our lives that have a bearing on our wellbeing. However, I can see it being a wonderful reference book in the future too. The reader is able to select a specific section or chapter, depending on their needs at that moment, finding help from the author, or links to other books or societies who can offer more help.
The concept that mind, body and spirit working in harmony leads to well-being, is the basis of this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed exploring all the possibilities to seek further balance in my own life.
It’s a versatile and informative book, while still being a magical read. A perfect ‘pick me up’ when you need a personal, spiritual boost.
September 28, 2023
So, this is a book about Modern Minoan Paganism (MMP), which is something that I, myself, have begun to learn about and practice. The pantheon includes some familiar faces from Hellenism (Dionysus, Minos, and Rhea to name a few) but also gods and goddesses that are strikingly unique.
This book covers:
- The history and culture of the Ancient Minoans (as far as we can tell from what little information we have)
- Mythology
- A full list of the pantheon, including their domains and relationships to each other.
- Offerings and altar set-ups
- Preferred divination methods / guides for each deity
- Devotional prayers and ritual formats (both group and solitary)
This is definitely more of a pagan book than a witchcraft book, but it's a fascinating read, nonetheless. Especially for ancient history buffs. The book also includes other sources of information for your reading pleasure, and even contains illustrations (not photographs, sadly) of some ancient Minoan art pieces.
Overall, a very informative read. I'll be incorporating a lot of this information into my personal practice going forward.
This book covers:
- The history and culture of the Ancient Minoans (as far as we can tell from what little information we have)
- Mythology
- A full list of the pantheon, including their domains and relationships to each other.
- Offerings and altar set-ups
- Preferred divination methods / guides for each deity
- Devotional prayers and ritual formats (both group and solitary)
This is definitely more of a pagan book than a witchcraft book, but it's a fascinating read, nonetheless. Especially for ancient history buffs. The book also includes other sources of information for your reading pleasure, and even contains illustrations (not photographs, sadly) of some ancient Minoan art pieces.
Overall, a very informative read. I'll be incorporating a lot of this information into my personal practice going forward.
June 26, 2019
This book takes a truly holistic approach to maintaining good health, but it’s also fairly generalized. If you’re searching for detailed recipes for home remedies and herbal healing, for example, or in depth information about Wicca, then this isn’t the book for you. It is a helpful beginners guide to start you on the path to overall wellness. Some of the topics include journaling, exercise, and creating healthy environments at home and at work.
The section on methods of natural health covers a wide range of topics but again, gives only two or three page explanations and descriptions for each. There’s a little more depth to the section on performing various rites and rituals.
For me, there was a little too much detail on cleaning and exercise methods, but I’ve been doing both for a long time. Still, the emphasis on the importance of spirituality and exercise made me consider both in a new way. For me, the book’s strength is in demonstrating how everyday activities and basic common sense can lead to a healthier life.
The section on methods of natural health covers a wide range of topics but again, gives only two or three page explanations and descriptions for each. There’s a little more depth to the section on performing various rites and rituals.
For me, there was a little too much detail on cleaning and exercise methods, but I’ve been doing both for a long time. Still, the emphasis on the importance of spirituality and exercise made me consider both in a new way. For me, the book’s strength is in demonstrating how everyday activities and basic common sense can lead to a healthier life.
February 5, 2017
It all started on Liz's birthday. A drunk mother spoiling the celebration, and a best friend/lover offering a life she just didnt know how to refuse.
The book starts a bit slow, and I honestly wanted to give up, since my tastes prefer faster pace. But, I persisted and it was well worth it. I don't regret any second or any word I have read.
The story slowly folded into itself, as Liz researched her haunted furniture, and her strange connection to it's previous, now dead, owner. She also discoveres a whole knew, rather daunting world, run by Archangles.
And then, it all unfolds into this beautiful butterfly.
It is not your typical story of humans, angels and ghosts. I found it quite unpredictable and refreshing, definitly an enjoyable and worthy read.
I will recommend it to my bookworm friends
The book starts a bit slow, and I honestly wanted to give up, since my tastes prefer faster pace. But, I persisted and it was well worth it. I don't regret any second or any word I have read.
The story slowly folded into itself, as Liz researched her haunted furniture, and her strange connection to it's previous, now dead, owner. She also discoveres a whole knew, rather daunting world, run by Archangles.
And then, it all unfolds into this beautiful butterfly.
It is not your typical story of humans, angels and ghosts. I found it quite unpredictable and refreshing, definitly an enjoyable and worthy read.
I will recommend it to my bookworm friends
December 25, 2015
This was written by an N.D., so instead of suggesting a tinfoil hat she literally tells you to sleep on a tinfoil bed to escape the toxins. Didn't you know that, since we're Pagans, we're gullible about anti-science health scams, bigfoot and UFOs too? Well, maybe bigfoot. It's sad when you're hurrying through the snake oil chapter to get to the chapter about little green people that is more believable. Speaking of my life choices, I had a hard time figuring out her audience for this book, and throughout most of it I thought it should be called The Pagan Self-Esteem Book. That said, she chose some pretty wording for her rituals and there's enough zany ideas in here to jog somebody's creativity regarding one of their interests surrounding health, wellness and fitness.
March 5, 2020
A truly wonderful book that is easy to read and comprehend. Ive always considered myself a spiritual person, participating in meditation and other mindful practices but still always felt a little lost or uncertain. "Just keep at it." Has always been my attitude as i continue to learn and grow my practice. Having connected with Laura over social media and discovering her works, i am confident that i have found a place for myself to feel more accomplished. Labrys and Horns has done an exceptional job of educating me on Modern Minaon Paganism while also fuelling my desire to learn more about these people and how their culture deeply influences my journey.
May 25, 2020
I’ve been a supporter of Laura Perry for some time now and I have several of her works. She is, without a shadow of a doubt, an extremely well versed modern day priestess when it comes to the Minoans. Her workings have fed my hunger for knowledge of this ancient people and this book did not disappoint. To someone who is not so keenly aware of the importance of rituals in this time period, it may be redundant. To those, I urge you to continue. This book has no shortage of precise detail, and will no doubt transport you 3500 years ago to the temples of ancient Crete. I deeply enjoyed this book!
December 12, 2015
Over all I very much enjoyed this book.
It started kind of slow, and at first I did not like the character Maddie at first. I found her kind of naive even for a collage student. Thankfully she grew as a character as the book progressed.
I really enjoyed the explanation and the help pronouncing the Mayan words. As a person who knows little to nothing about the Maya culture or religion I found it amazingly insightful. It has inspired me to learn more about the culture. I look forward to looking up some nonfiction books as well.
I will be looking for more books by Laura Perry!
It started kind of slow, and at first I did not like the character Maddie at first. I found her kind of naive even for a collage student. Thankfully she grew as a character as the book progressed.
I really enjoyed the explanation and the help pronouncing the Mayan words. As a person who knows little to nothing about the Maya culture or religion I found it amazingly insightful. It has inspired me to learn more about the culture. I look forward to looking up some nonfiction books as well.
I will be looking for more books by Laura Perry!
February 19, 2016
This is the second book by Laura Perry that I have read. I love her writing. This book is nonfiction, unlike the other book by her I read.
There is so little known about the Minoans, and I feel she has done them justice in this book. This book is a great starting point for people interested in the Minoan culture and religion.
This book has given me so much understanding to even the Greek Culture. I look forward to learning more. I have had the pleasure of talking to the author online, and I look forward to reading more of her books.
There is so little known about the Minoans, and I feel she has done them justice in this book. This book is a great starting point for people interested in the Minoan culture and religion.
This book has given me so much understanding to even the Greek Culture. I look forward to learning more. I have had the pleasure of talking to the author online, and I look forward to reading more of her books.
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