Lady Sabrina

Title:	Celebrating Wiccan Spirituality
Author:	Lady Sabrina
Publisher:	New Page Books
ISBN:	1-56414-593-X
Original Copyright:	2002
Reviewer:	Mike Gleason
Contact Information:	gleason.mike@verizon.net
Category:	Wicca, General Spirituality
Review:	Over the past quarter century, there have been numerous attempts to provide a listing of worldwide holidays. These attempts have ranged from a twelve page flip calendar (from the Shrine of Wisdom) in the early 1970s through The Pagan book of Days. This one contains information for every day of the year from a variety of traditions. When combined with other sources (such as the annual publications from Llewellyn and the Witches Almanac) and both editions of The Pagan Book of Days (also available on the net, if I remember correctly), it should be a much used reference tool to make it easy to check and see what can be observed on any given date. Lady Sabrina includes invocations and simple rituals and observances, thus offering a bit more than a simple listing of observed dates. Such additional notes are a pleasant addition. Many included suggested activities and simple charms. Each month begins with a listing of themes and correspondences, which is a pleasant touch. There are a couple of problems with this book which need to be noted, however. On a technical level, there is an abundance of typographical errors which should have been caught either by Lady Sabrina or the editors working for New Page. If the errors were in the realm of Pagan thought, it would have been Lady Sabrina's realm exclusively, but there are duplicated words, errors in spelling, as well as problems with capitalization, missing words and such. The other problem I have is with the choice of observances. Naturally, she includes all the Sabbats, and observances from many Pagan traditions (from ancient Greece, Rome and Mesopotamia), which is to be expected. HOWEVER she also includes over 50 Christian observances, and several modern American holidays (Memorial Day and Independence Day), some relatively modern British observances, and some which absolutely puzzle me as to their inclusion (the anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley and the anniversary of the September eleventh attacks on the United States). Perhaps the title of the book should have simply been Celebrating Spirituality without any qualifiers used. If it weren't for the typographical errors, I would recommend this book without reservation. The information I have checked has been accurate, but I do feel that the typos detract from an otherwise good book. I wouldn't put this one on the top of my list, but if you have the spare cash and want to add a reasonable reference work to your bookshelf, by all means pick it up.
Review submitted:	5 December 2002