The Pagan Man: Priests, Warriors, Hunters, and Drummers [ペーパーバック]

It is a truism that our society sends men a confusing array of contradictory messages about what they are supposed be, how they are supposed to behave, and what is expected of them. (And to be fair, women certainly suffer from the same phenomenon, as any checkout counter magazine rack sadly confirms). Within the Pagan community, men still feel the same tensions despite the ostensibly more open and accepting culture of Paganism. Bonewits argues that in fact some men may feel added pressures (and in the worst case some forms of discrimination) as much of modern Paganism emphasizes the feminine and that this doctrine, in hands of some, is used to justify pushing men to the margins of religious life in much the same way as some practitioners of the Abrahamic faiths marginalize women.

If this issue of alleged oppression of men in modern Paganism were the main focus of the book, it wouldn't be worth reading. Also, if it were a long tract of complaints about women, it wouldn't be worth the time. Luckily, while Bonewits does argue for the importance of men even in Goddess oriented religion, he also uses this book to present positive examples of the roles men fulfill in Pagan culture (as well as the names of some of the flesh-and-blood men who are fulfilling these roles) as artists, priests, warriors, fathers, brothers (to each other and the women in their community) and lovers. In addition to these positive examples, the book presents summary biographies of many influential men in modern Paganism without shrinking from indicating that many of these men also had their flaws. There are also several rituals for men (concerning issues more generally associated with men) that many practitioners would find of use. The book also features an excellent summary of the various streams of contemporary Pagan practice and the multifarious sources and influences upon Paganism today. This section is well worth reading for anyone interested in contemporary Paganism (and doesn't want to read all of "Drawing Down the Moon").

Lastly, I would like to assure the women of the Pagan community that this book isn't about attacking or denigrating you nor is it a book that defines men in antithesis to women. Rather, "The Pagan Man" is an attempt to give men a positive message that the masculine (but not the macho) is a part of creation that deserves to be honored. If you are man who feels confused about what it means to be "a good man" (and frankly you don't need to be Pagan for this book to be relevant) and are searching for role models, be they human or mythical, this book won't answer all your questions, but it will give you a great start on your journey and references to many resources to help you along the way.

And I love Isaac Bonewits book by that name. Originally I bought it as a gift for my partner, but while looking it over, I found I couldn't put it down. As I read the book, I found myself hoping that one day my sons will read it and learn from it, as they learn from their father. The book deepened my appreciation for every Pagan man I have ever known, and the Gods that reside within them. Things I love about this book:

*Isaac's courageous honesty in describing his experience of what being a Pagan man is like - and his use of quotes from the moving, inspirational experiences of the Pagan men he surveyed.

*The accessible language the book is written in - not a chore, it's an enlightening, insightful "pleasure read," yet it has a very satisfying "notes" section and bibliography, (which is thorough without being ponderous.)

*It doesn't "have to" be read in a linear fashion. I started with chapter 8, "Pagan Men As Fathers," because that's what interested me most in the moment, and then I enjoyed the rest of the chapters according to where my curiosity led me.

*The male insights presented on Paganism and the feminist movement - a thought provoking, discussion inspiring, exploration of the roles of enlightened men and women in modern Paganism.

I believe this book is written for Pagans at all levels of experience. Perhaps advanced Pagans will find that the academic knowledge presented isn't new, but Isaac has his own way of applying it - I am weary of reviews categorizing all Pagan books as either "novice," "intermediate" or "advanced," although occasionally I suspect that those reviewers who make such narrow categories are sometimes motivated to assert their own advanced knowledge.

This book is not just for Pagan men, but also for those who love and appreciate them. My husband will receive his gift a bit dog-eared - a word to the wise - get your own copy too!

I believe that any pagan, man or woman, can benifit from this book. The day that I recieved the book, I could not put it down. I literally stayed home all day and read it. Issac does a very good job at conveying the feelings and roles of men in modern paganism without a harsh tone or comming across as whiney. Another thing that I really appricated about the book is that he devotes a chapter to "queer" pagan men. He talks of us as fellow men, not as some seperate kind of feminized man.

Pagan men should read this book because you may find a lot of what Issac says to be true and it will most likely speak to your experiences and to your soul. Any pagan woman should read this as well in order to obtain a greater understanding of the minds and hearts of your spiritual brothers. Please pagans do yourself a favor and read this book ASAP!