I’m interested in a variety of topics in both the occult and world religion, so when I heard about this book from a friend in the elf community, I had to pick it up. It serves as an interesting anthropological look at the 90s Neopagan festival scene. The style is fairly academic, but not to the point of being unpleasant to read; it touches both on controversial issues (cultural appropriation, sexual harassment) and on the common day to day issues of the Neopagan community (arguments about how loud drumming should be at various hours of the night.)

Overall, it’s an enjoyable read, and well-cited. I think it does a good job discussing difficult problems objectively, unlike some books, which either throw objectivity aside or try so hard to be neutral that they throw aside the actual facts of the matter. I enjoy how it talks about the construction of identity. I think it’s a good take on the topic.

My biggest complaint is that there are many spots where I feel like he repeated himself a bunch, which is annoying. It’s still worth reading, but it could probably have a good 15% of the content cut without anyone noticing.

A heads-up: this is an older book, and it shows its age in places where it uses terms that were considered polite in the 90s, but offensive today (e.g. transgendered persons in the place of transgender person). If this is a sticking point for you, it may not be the right choice.

This review and others can be found on BW Book Reviews.

First, let me give my bias to you. I am a very nontraditional religious person and, at times, a pagan. When I was a teenager, I looked into Wicca as an option for myself and while I decided it wasn't for me, I do love the principles behind it. As I said, I'm nontraditional. While I have a quick answer for my religious beliefs since most people will understand a single religion as an answer, I'm very integrative. If I like a concept or a belief, I'll likely incorporate it into my personal theology. That means I'm a lot like neopagans, so I sympathize and understand them in a way many won't.

That out of the way, I'll start in.

I read this for my New Religious Movements class as the last big topic of ours after covering who knows how many religious movements now. We focused on the topics of self-identity and cultural appropriation, so I likely won't discuss them but more of the book itself.

I thought that Pike tackled the topic of neopaganism in a unique way. Instead of trying to categorize or create lines in this incredibly diverse group of people, she looked at a single concept that they all have in common: Festivals. They all have festivals and go to them. There are ones that are more specific, but all of them incorporate everyone. It's an individual religion but also extremely collective. It doesn't matter who or what you worship. Any god/goddess/fairy/etc can be included.

Then Pike shows the lines that they draw. Between shrines and altars. Between religious groups, namely Christianity. Between themselves against Satanists (which is not what you think, and if you want to know more I'd be happy to discuss). Within themselves for what is appropriate behavior during festivals, which is largely seen as a hedonistic event where everything goes.

It's an impressive job that Pike took on for herself, then finding the research to back up her claims and to reinterpret what they said. I definitely want to reread this to further understand this group that I, at least somewhat, belong to. It's a very interesting and easy to read book, even with the dense topics that are covered.

Read for: New Religious Movements