These are poems written between 1957 and 2010. Many of the shorter ones were published in various magazines; most of the longer and, I think, more important ones appear here for the first time. My poems are not intended to entertain, though I hope they will be enjoyed. They are intended to be epistemological explorations. Like theology and mathematics, poetry is a system for manipulating abstract symbols in order to generate maps of possible realities. Poetry is also a music for the solo voice. Hence the musical aspects of poetry--rhyme, meter, scansion, stanza farms--are essential disciplines, just as music theory and notation are for a musician. They are also fun to play with. I write about many things: love, sex, faith, cosmology, consciousness, religion . . . and whatever else I happen to find interesting.

When the first edition of this book was released, conservative Gardnerian Witches attempted to suppress it, claiming that it discredited their religion. Dr. Aidan A. Kelly has thoroughly investigated the history, rituals, and documents behind the evolution of modern Witchcraft, and has concluded that Gerald Gardner invented Wicca as a new religion. Although Wicca claims to be a persecuted pagan religion dating from before the rise of Christianity, it draws upon controversial historical sources, modern occult practices, including those of Alistair Crowley and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, 19th century translations of medieval grimoires, and the poetry of Gardner's priestess, Doreen Valiente.This extensively revised edition contains new research which was unavailable at the time, as well as detailed textual comparisons of Gerald Gardner's own manuscripts, magical books, and rituals that could not be included in the earlier edition.