The Second Circle: Tools for the Advancing Pagan

In her excellent introduction, Rauls creates the term "cusp pagan" to describe the practitioner who is no longer new, but isn't yet experienced. The phrase describes the position of a reader who is beyond the multitude of 101 books, who feels as if no progress is being made in their spiritual studies, and who has recognized the interconnectivity between all things but isn't quite sure what to do with the knowledge. This is a state we all know well, and revisit again and again throughout our spiritual studies. Unlike Edain McCoy's Advanced Witchcraft, Rauls addresses the process of advancing, as opposed of "being advanced," and as such has created a much more valuable contribution to the shelves with more potential for application and use.

From the introduction alone it is evident that this is a serious book. In the first chapter Rauls talks about the correct way to approach a text and how to read constructively, one of the most valuable "tools" outlined in the book. She advocates the questioning of all current and future knowledge, instead of blind acceptance; the internalisation of the knowledge through practical application in useful, constructive fashion; and the connection of seemingly disparate pieces of information. Rauls points out that the texts for the advancing pagan are found in various sections of the publishing spectrum: mythology, philosophy, comparative religion, woodcraft and wildcrafting, anthropology, zoology, health, gardening, poetry, and so forth. The Second Circle makes clear that there's far from a dearth of material for the advancing pagan; on the contrary, there's an ocean of information, although not immediately obvious or found on the shelves next to the 101 books. The search for this material requires thought and application on the part of the reader.

The Second Circle offers a decent explanation of approaching the Divine, and an excellent argument that despite the knowledge contained in books, Nature is the ultimate teacher. Working through the Wheel of the Year is the most important tool a pagan has, through which a personal relationship with the natural world and cycle is forged. This interaction des not take place only once; part of the process of taking responsibility for your life involves understanding that everything changes, and a continual interaction with the natural cycles is necessary to further promote and deepen your spiritual study. Enacting the same traditions simply because they are traditions denies the process of growth and change that is encoded in the very nature of the Natural world. Tradition for the sake of tradition can often lead to an empty practice with little personal connection to the event being marked. Rauls recognizes that once the starry glow wears away, the practitioner can be frustrated and feel stonewalled and empty; this is the "cusp pagan" syndrome she refers to in her introduction. Throughout The Second Circle Rauls offers insight and clearly outlined techniques for working through this block.

The issue of specialization is given an entire chapter to itself. Common pagan paths such as healer, warrior, bard, researcher/scribe, oracle/seer, and the high priest/ess figure are each addressed and suggestions are made for further work within these paths.

All in all, The Second Circle: Tools for the Advancing Pagan contains admirable information and is a refreshingly open-eyed look at the process the advancing pagan works through. An excellent book to read whenever you feel as if you're in a spiritual slump.

(c) 2004 A. Murphy-Hiscock. Originally published in Wyntergreene, Samhain (October) 2004.