Title: The Wiccan Minister’s Manual
Author: Kevin M Gardner
Reviewed: 2010 Cat Treadwell
Author’s Website:
Kevin M Gardner appears to be working virtually alone, fulfilling a valuable need in the Pagan community. He has written several books now that go far beyond the usual ‘Wicca 101′ shelf, delving instead into the pastoral needs of those acting publicly as clergy within the Wiccan and Pagan community.
While a lot of pagan literature insists that we are all our own priests and priestesses, that is admittedly only good so far as we are ministering only to ourselves. When the time comes to strap on the big robes and get into the community, it’s a very different scenario. This is where Mr Gardner’s books come in.
Although to my mind it is unlikely that any of us would be an effective priest ‘out there’ in the world without having some specialist contacts, Elders or other teachers to call on, this book does not claim to act as substitute. It is a ‘Guide’, a helping hand when the pressure to fulfil a role becomes too great, especially for those taking their first steps into the public eye. There are many similar books of support for the Pastoral community of other faiths, but while Druidry encourages independence, sometimes you need a bit of backup to be reassured that others have trod this ground before and survived!
Although the perspective here is (obviously) Wiccan, the advice is sound and heartfelt: LISTEN to your community, understand the value of patience, learn what is needed to truly heal. Some in fact reminded me of Granny Weatherwax’s advice in Terry Pratchett’s marvellous novels – the practical foundation beneath the cosmic wand-waving.
If you’re out there doing it, I commend you for your bravery. But you could do a lot worse than taking this brick along as part of your own foundation.