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Book
Review - The Second Circle: Tools for the Advancing
Pagan |
Back cover synopsis: Are you an experienced Pagan who's still hungry for more knowledge...no longer a novice, but unsure of where to find the tools you need to learn more? Written by a fellow searcher who has spent nearly two decades studying and practicing Paganism, The Second Circle was written especially with the journeyman (or -woman) in mind--moving past basic principles, and guiding you through the next phase of your spiritual adventure. And important resource for finding the books, tools, and teachers you nees, this warm, user-firnedly book will show you how to build upon what you have already learned as you:
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Rhaevyn's Synopsis |
The Second Circle is not a book that will hold your hand. It will not tell you "everything you need to know is between these covers" like a 101-book might try to do. There are no lists of correspondences, "advanced spells," or other information you can copy down into your BOS and claim to understand. What The Second Circle does have in it is good advice on where to find information that will help you help yourself to advance. It is the kind of book you will learn from because it explains Paganism in a deeper, more complex way, and then gives you exercises and ideas of where to find further information. Rauls' first visualization exercise casts you as a Journeyman about to start a new path on your own. That is exactly what you are doing. You are no longer learning by hand-holding, and the book does not give you all the answers so you can read it and claim to be a Master. It is more like a road map that includes points of interest, a legend of things you should understand, and general "road" conditions you will have to go through--but what destination you choose, direction you go, and how long it takes you to actually get there are entirely up to you. |
Entertainment Factor  |
| This is a well-written book, sprinkled with anecdotes and lessons, and is engaging enough to keep you reading. I found some of the sections a bit too sluggish for my taste (the section on the Hero's Journey, for example) but interesting nonetheless. Sometimes I felt it was a bit "lecturing," especially in the beginning. It took me a while to warm up to it, but I enjoyed it as I got further in. |
Content and Information |
| Some of the sections seemed to be obvious: If you've been practicing in such a way that Paganism is part of your daily life and not just something you "do" on 8 Sabbats and 13 Esbats every year, the content and information could drag. However, some sections were great in that they explained a lot more than you might have previously learned from 101-level books. The "Altered States of Consciousness" section in Chapter 8 rang a bell with me as it explained the "why" as opposed to the "do it this way" most 101-books will lead you through. Rauls purposely does not go too in-depth in what she presents in this book--the book is intended to let you decide what information you might be interested in learning more about, and this book gives you ideas of where you should go next to sate your hunger for that knowledge. |
Usefulness |
| This book was written for a particular audience: those who have just gleaned what they could from all the 101 books they could get their hands on, those who have started broadening their horizons, and those who are feeling frustrated because all they want now is an idea of where to go next. It is an incredibly useful book for people graduating from the 101-level into a level requiring more depth in their research and understanding. If, however, you have been studying mythology, psychology, and advanced techniques on your own and are still looking for more, you may find that this book is telling you what you already know and your use for this text is more limited. You might be better off with something like Carl McColman's The Well-Read Witch or by reading the books listed in bibliographies by authors you respect. |
Longevity  |
| As long as authors keep cranking out the 101-level books, The Second Circle will have a place. It is a jumping-off point for people who want more, but need a few clues on how to start their research into developing a more personalized path. For people who are even "beyond" this book in their practice, but are not yet Masters, there are still good ideas of where to go next if you feel like learning something new and just need a quick reminder of some of the other topics out there. We all need a gentle push onto our own path every so often, and Rauls has created a book that does just that. |
Final Analysis  |
| The Second Circle fills a gap that has been much ignored: that of the "Cusp Witches and Pagans." It is for those who are finally leaving the nest of the 101-level books. It helps you decide where to go next without leaving you out on your own. The only downside is that it can only help you learn so much--after you are actively practicing the exercises and learning what this book has to offer, you will eventually some to a point where you realize you are on a cusp again: still nowhere near "Mastery," but this book has done all it can. My only complaint about this book was that I wished it had more on personal spiritual development, but again, I think that is mostly because I am working towards that new cusp that is only touched upon in the end of this book: Specialization, which is found in the last chapter. |
Author:
Venecia Rauls.
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I'll admit a bias...I don't like a lot of the books that Pagan authors are putting out now. I try to give fair and honest reviews, but I really think that if we want the standards of Pagan reference and literature raised, we have to be incredibly critical of what is already on the market. Just wanted to warn you ahead of time... *grin*
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