Slaying those sacred cows with style !
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The long awaited autobiography of Maxine Sanders does not pull any punches! Until now the only available works were the difficult to obtain Maxine: Witch Queen or the almost impossibly elusive Ecstatic Mother. The influence of Maxine Sanders on the development of the Wiccan tradition has long been overshadowed by Alex Sanders and others, when in fact Maxine has more claim to being the "first lady of Wicca" than any other high priestess in the history of the modern Craft movement.
This book reflects Maxine's character. It is not an easy read, and it certainly slays a herd of sacred cows! Nevertheless, shining through the humour and sadness found in equal measure, is a sense of the inspiration which flows through Maxine and has inspired so many people into the Wiccan path. As can be seen from the accounts of her life with Alex, if he was the mind, she was the heart. Maxine was the pre-eminent priestess during the decades when Wicca went from being a small elite club to being a global spirituality.
So what stands out in Maxine's tale of her magickal life and the people who have populated it? Her early life and the influence of her family in shaping Maxine's future are well documented. However it is when she reaches the influence of Alex and how the two of them interacted that things quickly become more revealing (happily this is from chapter 3 onwards!). Maxine is very honest about how her shyness was almost painfully clear during her early exposure to the media. What is more surprising is her revelation that Sharon Tate was initiated into Wicca during the filming of `Eye of the Devil'.
It would be too easy to recount lots of fascinating details from this book, presented from a unique perspective from the point of view of the development of Wiccan and modern paganism. However it is more appropriate to look at what the book says about Maxine. Here is a woman of courage, who has been to hell and back many times, and is still around to tell the tale. Not only that but she has grown strong in the fires of testing which she has been repeatedly exposed to through her life. Maxine is also very honest, admitting her own mistakes and failings in a way that many people would find difficult to.
Firechild is a wonderful book that is very difficult to put down. It will give you a completely different view of the development of Wicca, and many of the people within it. As such it is a very important book for everyone interested in the history of modern paganism (whichever tradition) and of course everyone whose work, beliefs and practices have been inspired, in one way or another, by Maxine - which quite possibly includes all of us.(Only those suffering from extreme arrogance or who prefer to bury their head in the sand, will tell themselves differently)
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The Craft book that everyone should read
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This (along with 'Triumph of the Moon' by Ronald Hutton) is the Craft book that everyone should read - in this age of dilettantes, it is instructive to find out just how hard working, disciplined, driven and sometimes ruthless these people were. Alex Sanders runs like a magical thread through the book, encompassing all the highs and the pitfalls that someone on the Path can encompass - a real Magician and medium with a breathtaking capacity for healing and generosity coupled with an equally dark magical past and destructive egoism.
Running along her day to day life as a Witch, Maxine had a foot in another, more formally ritualised Occultic world - the Egyptian Mysteries - a fabulously wealthy but deeply serious organisation led by a man who Maxine makes clear was as important a part of her life as Alex.
Joyous celebration with wild nature is coupled with a dark sixties undertow giving a new light on the Tate/Manson/Process connections that should be of interest to counter culture historians.
Recommended!
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A Magical Journey Through Time
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Professor Ronald Hutton's statement [on www.amazon.co.uk ] that "[t]his is one of the most important books ever published on modern paganism" is easily corroborated, even by the uninitiated: as disclosed at page two, the copyright of this very well written and highly readable book is jointly held by Mandrake (one of the leading Publishers in the subject area) and the author herself, Maxine Sanders.
We believe it is rare for a reputable Publisher (such as Mandrake) to share copyright except when the material is considered of great significance to the subject area and competition for the publishing rights is keen.
That should be enough to compel anyone with a genuine interest and natural curiosity to schedule the space to curl up with this great book - an amazing story of one very gifted person's journey through life that, for her, is not remotely over.
This autobiography is clearly not a memoir and Maxine Sanders is definitely no wilting lilly.
The trials and tribulations, the joy and sadness, the pain and elation are all courageously and objectively shared with wit, humour and valuable insights on the human condition.
It was both a genuine pleasure and real privilege for us to read this book.
Unlike Professor Ronald Hutton, whose valued opinion appears to yield out of Maxine Sanders' role as a teacher, ours is from direct experience as clients of Maxine Sanders over some thirteen years - more than enough time for even the most naïve to figure out the "real thing".
Over the years, we have consulted Maxine on a wide range of business as well as personal matters. In our experience, her timely and valued insights - oddly enough in the range of probability, never wrong, which is amazing by any reasonable standard and a huge credit to her Craft - would not have surfaced through any other medium, in every sense of that word on this or any other plane.
Tom and Laura, London.
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FireChild by Maxine Sanders.
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This long awaited book by Maxine does not disappoint! An extremely open and honest account of her life,before, during and after her marriage to Alex Sanders. She tells of her joys and sorrows of being a teacher of The Mysteries and High Priestess of The Temple of The Mother.Funny, moveing and challenging throughout, a MUST read for anyone interested in the Craft and the history of the Alexandrian Tradition.
Thank you, Maxine.
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Privileged to read a preview
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This is a fascinating book. Whether you were part of the group in the sixties and seventies, know Maxine from her recent talks or are simply interested in the roots of Modern witchcraft I guarantee you will learn something new. Written with candour and warmth every chapter reveals something new about Maxine, the times and the craft. I enjoyed this book immensely - as a great read and story itself as well having real depth. What a welcome departure from the previous books written about Alex and Maxine. Can't recommend it highly enough.
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