Drawing Down the Moon (book)

Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today
The first edition cover of the book.
AuthorMargot Adler
LanguageEnglish
SubjectSociology of religion, History of religion
PublisherViking Press
Publication date
1979
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (Hardcover & Paperback)
OCLC515560
299.94
LC ClassBF1573

Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today is a sociological study of contemporary Paganism in the United States written by the American Wiccan and journalist Margot Adler. First published in 1979 by Viking Press, it was later republished in a revised and expanded edition by Beacon Press in 1986, with third and fourth revised editions being brought out by Penguin Books in 1996 and then 2006 respectively.

According to The New York Times, the book "is credited with both documenting new religious impulses and being a catalyst for the panoply of practices now in existence"[1] and "helped popularize earth-based religions."[2] Adler was a Neopagan and "recognized witch"[1] herself and a reporter for National Public Radio.[3]

The book is an examination of Neopaganism in the United States from a sociological standpoint, discussing the history and various forms of the movement. It contains excerpts from many interviews with average Pagans, as well as with well-known leaders and organizers in the community.

The first edition of the book sold 30,000 copies.[4] Successive versions have included over one hundred and fifty pages of additional text and an updated contacts section. It has been praised by Theodore Roszak, Susan Brownmiller, The New York Times Book Review and the Journal of the American Academy of Religion.[5]

  1. ^ a b Goldscheider, Eric. Witches, Druids and Other Pagans Make Merry Again in the Magical Month of May, The New York Times, May 28, 2005.
  2. ^ Ramirez, Anthony. Another Hit Could Give Witches a Bad Name, The New York Times, August 22, 1999.
  3. ^ NPR. 2006. Margot Adler, NPR Biography, NPR website, accessed August 27, 2006 [1]
  4. ^ Orion 1995. p. 130.
  5. ^ 0807032530 – Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler – 9780807032534