Editing Drawing Down the Moon (book) (section)

==Synopsis==
[[File:Margot-adler-2004.jpg|thumb|right|Margot Adler in 2004.]]

Drawing Down the Moon chronicles the rise and diversification of contemporary Pagan religions across the United States from the mid‑1970s through the early 2000s. Adler divides her narrative into three broad phases:

* '''Origins and Foundations''' (Chapters 1–4): Adler traces the history of Neopaganism back to European occult revivals and the birth of Wicca under Gerald Gardner, then follows its transplantation to North America via figures like Raymond Buckland and Zsuzsanna Budapest. She profiles early covens, the role of feminist spirituality, and the publication of key works such as The Spiral Dance (1979) .<ref name="Buchanan2009">{{cite book |last=Buchanan |first=Judith |title=Shakespeare on Silent Film: An Excellent Dumb Discourse |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2009 |page=108 |isbn=978-1-107-40372-7}}</ref>

* '''Community Building''' (Chapters 5–8): Drawing on extensive interviews, Adler paints vivid portraits of regional gatherings (e.g., Pagan Spirit Gathering), coven life, and the emergence of specialized traditions—Dianic, Alexandrian, Reclaiming, and Heathenry. She highlights key festivals, ritual innovations, and the role of print and mail networks in fostering a national movement .<ref name="Pike1996">{{cite book |editor-last=Pike |editor-first=Sarah M. |title=Magical Religion and Modern Witchcraft |chapter=Rationalizing the Margins |publisher=SUNY Press |year=1996 |pages=353–372}}</ref>

* '''Institutionalization and Diversity''' (Chapters 9–12): Adler examines how Paganism matured into a pluralistic constellation of schools, from GreenCraft ecology‑focused covens to reconstructionist Heathen groups. She addresses internal debates over gender, race, and authenticity, and surveys Pagan involvement in ecological activism and interfaith dialogue .<ref name="Berger1999">{{cite book |last=Berger |first=Helen A. |title=A Community of Witches |publisher=University of South Carolina Press |year=1999 |pages=21–22 |isbn=978-1-57003-246-2}}</ref>