Magic and the Power of the Goddess: Initiation, Worship, and Ritual in the Western Mystery Tradition

I could almost say never mind the rest of the book - Knight's retelling and explanations of "The Chymical Marriage of Christian Rosencreutz" alone is worth hundreds of times the price of admission here. If you're a serious student of the Mysteries, this is one of the most important things you'll ever read.However that would be silly of me as this book is packed with wonderful information from start to finish. Knight is rightly lauded for his indispensable "Practical Guide to Qabalistic Symbolism" but this book has to be right behind it in terms of importance (if not necessarily scope).

Beautiful book about feminine Mystery, power and transformation!!!

Previously published as The Rose Cross and the Goddess, this is an updated version. Lots of Goddess information and mythic descriptions. I guess you could call it a text book of the Goddess, all of which makes it a bit of a grind to read. It comes across rather dry because it is so chock-full of myths and characters. Worth having as a reference.

I was so disappointed in this book. It has a few moments of genuine insight, but it is plagued by revisionist mythology and the kind of relentless syncretism that erases the individuality of myths and cultures. Knight buys into Graves's triple Goddess paradigm without question, and imposes that paradigm in places where it makes no sense--even touting the Virgin Mary as a triple Goddess figure. The chapter on Andromeda is a hot mess. Moreover, all of the rituals he provides are merely guided visualizations, which is true to form for Knight's brand of ceremonial magic but is disappointing nonetheless.There are a couple of bright spots in this book. The first 50 pages are a reflection on the symbolism of the magic circle, and Knight offers some genuine insight into the symbolism of the circle and how it connects to the Goddess. He also (unsurprisingly, given his background) has a couple of lovely Qabalistic insights sprinkled throughout the work. But all in all, this isn't worth the money.

Originally published in 1985 as "The Rose Cross and the Goddess," then later substantially revised and expanded under the title "Evoking the Goddess", this latest edition has a new preface by the author.In many ways, this book was, and still is, ahead of its time. For it presents the Western Mystery Tradition not as an inalterable secret "system" controlled by a hierarchy of reticent adepts, but as a dynamic, living approach to sacred lore. It is a way of transformation and spiritual service that is applicable to any religious or mythological tradition, yet is bound by none.The book is divided into two main parts, which taken together provide a rare opportunity to work magic from beginning exercises to advanced levels of service. Indeed, the book could well be taken as a course of training in and of itself and I would certainly wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone interested in the Magical Way.There are times in this book, particular in the practical segments, where Knight's literary style, already accomplished and impressive, seems overshadowed by yet a greater voice. A poetic muse or spiritual contact seems to speak with unusual power from those passages.In the chapter headed "The Faery Queen and the Magic Mountain,' Knight remarks more fully on an important theme running through the book. This is "the democratization of the Mysteries," which he rightly links to the power of the Goddess. He mentions the current spate of books and workshops on once secret doctrines and practices as evidence of this processThe book closes with a chapter on the Initiation of the Earth, in which Knight gives visionary examples of how this new priest and priestess-hood is undertaken in the context of the Goddess and sacred sites. Effective participation in this kind of spiritual service requires, the author tells us, "breadth of vision and largeness of soul" ~ a phrase which aptly sums up this book.

If you want a readable, down-to-earth book on the overall topic of "The Goddess" this bookshould be at or near the top of your list. It is a shame that many of those who will read this workwill not themselves have anything near the practical, "hands on" experience Knight has had.Since the Rishi first taught, thousands of years ago, knowledge concerning the feminine and masculineaspects of all causation, has anyone seriously set pen to paper to clarify and simplify this topicfor esotericists? Certainly Gareth Knight has now done so. We owe him a big "Thank You".

I would recommend the review of Coleston Brown who obviously knows Gareth Knight. This is a book for those dedicated to the Goddess or wish to be initiated in the mysteries. The practical work at the beginning of the book is helpful if you want to follow this path which is as veiled as Isis herself.The book is obviously scholarly, but needs concentration and dedication from the reader.

Didn't read it sofar, sorry!