Title: Dance of the Sun Goddess: Pagan Folkways of the Baltic Coast
Publisher: Crossed Crow Books
Author: Kenneth Johnson
Pages: 220pp
Price: $24.95

I follow a number of authors on social media, many of whom are part of the broad Pagan/polytheist/witchy writing community. One such author is Alaric Albertsson, whose books on Saxon polytheism and magic happily grace my shelves. When he mentioned Johnson’s new book on Baltic spirituality — a Pagan tradition that has always interested me — I added it to my Must Buy list.

It took a few months, but I was finally able to purchase a copy.

First, the cover is gorgeous. I love the red and gold color scheme, and the central illustration of the dancing solar Goddesses and the twin stallions perfectly illustrates the theme of the book. Second, the table of contents is intriguing. The book is divided into five main sections: the world tree, Goddesses and Gods, lovers and heroes, the wheel of life, and “The End of Pagan Europe.” The section on deities lists each by their role in the table of contents, but goes into more depth in the body of the text; e.g., the chapter on “The Morning Star” discusses Aušrinė, her relationships with the Sun Goddess and Moon God, her personality, and her divine responsibilities. There is even a small illustration of her sigil. The chapter on “The Earth Goddess” contrasts Lithuanian and Latvian beliefs and stories, and offers two surviving examples of her sigils. These chapters also include magical workings, reproductions of classic artwork, excerpts from dainas (folk songs), discussions of how sacred myths relate to the natural world, cross-cultural comparisons with Greece and Egypt and India (among other places), and much more.

I am most curious to read the section on the Wheel of the Year. It has long been my understanding that the cycle of seasonal holidays was unique to Western Europe, with some tweaking by modern practitioners; other cultures definitely noted the passage of the seasons, but did so differently due to their different climates and religious beliefs. What are the Baltic festivals of Meteni and Úsini? I have no idea, and I look forward to finding out.

Based on a quick perusal, Dance of the Sun Goddess looks to be another fascinating addition to my growing Pagan library. Hopefully I’ll have a full review in the near future.

[Written by Rebecca Buchanan.]