Ariadne's Thread
The Minoan world comes alive through seasonal rituals and rites of passage, honoring Ariadne and her Labyrinth.
The Minoan world comes alive through seasonal rituals and rites of passage, honoring Ariadne and her Labyrinth.
The Minoan world comes alive through seasonal rituals and rites of passage, honoring Ariadne and her Labyrinth.
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.
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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. 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. ~ Mabh Savage, author of A Modern Celt: Seeking the Ancestors
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. ~ Morgan Daimler, Druid and Irish reconstructionist Pagan and author of Where the Hawthorn Grows and By Land, Sea and Sky
Ariadne's Thread: Awakening the Wonders of the Ancient Minoans in our Modern Lives is an incredible book that really brings to life the ancient Minoans in both a day to day aspect as well as in their spiritual lives. Written by Laura Perry, this book includes information about their society, caste system, what they wore, how they made their living as well as their religious, spiritual and magical practices...Throughout this entire book is it plainly obvious that Perry has worked very hard to keep this information as culturally and historically accurate as possible. There are sections where she ensures to state that historical finds are inconclusive but seem to point in a certain direction. She also ensures to point where other cultural influences have come in to play. This is wonderful and refreshing. I highly recommend this book. ~ Jessica Elizabeth, Facing North
Within the contemporary world of earth-based spirituality, there has remained a void, until now. Laura Perry, who has brought insightful works on spellcraft and wellness to spiritual seekers, has aimed her sites on the archetypal and has snagged something wondrous and profound with Ariadne’s Thread. In it, Perry guides us, like a skilled and cunning shaman, safely through the labyrinth of history, myth, symbolism, deities, ritual and magic of Crete. And once we reach daylight, she teaches us how to make use of this wisdom. Readers looking to weave their spiritual practices with the sage teachings of the ancient Minoans will return to the marvelous loom of Ariadne’s Thread again and again. ~ Timothy Roderick, Author of Wicca: A Year and a Day
Knowing very little about the Minoan civilization, I perused this unique book with interest. Packed with information, Ariadne's Thread spins a tapestry of knowledge, history and practice that are relevant to modern researchers and practitioners alike. This is not reconstructionism, but is a bridging between Neopagan spirituality and the surviving practices of pagan Crete. Built on sound research and visionary ritualism, I fully recommend Ariadne's Thread to Neopagan seekers of Graeco spirituality! ~ Raven Digitalis, Author, neopagan priest and cofounder of Opus Aima Obscurae