Storied Selves: Shaping Identity in Feminist Witchcraft / Edition 1

by Chris Klassen

Overview

Storied Selves focuses on feminist Witches and their constructions of identities through the use of opposition and speculation as technologies of identity, particularly (post)colonial, maternal, and holistic identities. Through these identity formations, feminist Witches are invested in changing consciousness to create a just and sustainable world—an act which is fundamental to their practices of magic.

Looking at three novels—Barbara Walker's Amazon, Cynthia Lamb's Brigid's Charge, and Starhawk's The Fifth Sacred Thing—Klassen asks three questions: how are technologies of identity deployed; where are feminist Witches most successful in promoting and/or creating models for a just and sustainable world; where and how can feminist Witches push these technologies of identity even further to create continuing oppositional and speculative identities which could lead to a just and sustainable world?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739123157
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	06/19/2008
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	150
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Chris Klassen is assistant professor of religion and culture at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Chapter One: Feminist Witchcraft and Ritualized Speculation
Chapter 3 Chapter Two: (Post)Colonial Identity
Chapter 4 Chapter Three: Maternal Identity
Chapter 5 Chapter Four: Holistic Identity
Chapter 6 Conclusion

Editorial Reviews

"[Storied Selves] presents an arresting critique of strategies of religious identity formation through an analysis of popular novels.. .. This unusual move is really quite clever in many respects, as it presents an analysis of one of the religious studies scholar's favorite things—texts—in a religious form that defines itself as not text-based.. .. Storied Selves fills a noticeable gap in both religious studies scholarship and the feminist study of religion. Far too rarely do feminist works seriously and responsibly engage any aspect of Pagan studies."

Nikki Bado

While this book is not intended as a primer on Witchcraft, it can serve to introduce non-practitioners to some of its history, beliefs, practices and practitioners. But the appeal of the book is not restricted to those who practice or study Witchcraft. Its descriptions of the processes by which identities are formed are applicable to any constituency....Storied Selves is recommended for undergraduate and graduate students of religious, women’s and cultural studies.

Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses

"[Storied Selves] presents an arresting critique of strategies of religious identity formation through an analysis of popular novels. . . . This unusual move is really quite clever in many respects, as it presents an analysis of one of the religious studies scholar's favorite things--texts--in a religious form that defines itself as not text-based. . . . Storied Selves fills a noticeable gap in both religious studies scholarship and the feminist study of religion. Far too rarely do feminist works seriously and responsibly engage any aspect of Pagan studies."--Nikki Bado, Iowa State University

While this book is not intended as a primer on Witchcraft, it can serve to introduce non-practitioners to some of its history, beliefs, practices and practitioners. But the appeal of the book is not restricted to those who practice or study Witchcraft. Its descriptions of the processes by which identities are formed are applicable to any constituency....Storied Selves is recommended for undergraduate and graduate students of religious, women's and cultural studies.--Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses

From the Publisher

While this book is not intended as a primer on Witchcraft, it can serve to introduce non-practitioners to some of its history, beliefs, practices and practitioners. But the appeal of the book is not restricted to those who practice or study Witchcraft. Its descriptions of the processes by which identities are formed are applicable to any constituency....Storied Selves is recommended for undergraduate and graduate students of religious, women’s and cultural studies.

Studies In Religion/Sciences Religieuses