The Singing Web [Paperback]

The format is simple, which is always nice. For each of several categories (gemstones, rocks, metals, flowers, trees, land animals, birds, and fish, in that order) there are lists that include the name of the flower/animal/etc, its symbolic meaning, and its energetic influence. For example, an alligator symbolizes "spiritual aspects that are self-serving," and its influencing energy "helps to identify false logic of one's thinking." These lists are then followed by a question and answer section regarding the category, consisting of excerpts from readers' correspondence and Ms. Summer Rain's answers or comments. The last section of the book is about "Intuition, Wisdom, and Dream Symbology," and is constructed solely as a Q&A. Examples of questions include "I dreamed that my favorite charm was corroded. Can you help me interpret this?" and "Generally, in life, what wisdom can horseflies possibly teach us?"

Now before you start laughing (oh, alright, I did too), let me point out that the last question is actually a great starting point for thoughts about nature's wisdom. Really, did you ever think of horseflies as part of the Goddess? I swat those things on sight! But they are part of Her, just like us, and Mary Summer Rain reminds us (with that question and others) that everything in nature has something to teach, including ourselves. That's the best part of her book - that and the helpful lists, which, though I don't take them as the last word on anything, are very good for enhancing your everyday awareness of the natural world and its various layers of meaning.

So what isn't so great? Basically, the whole thing is a little disjointed. While there is certainly a connecting theme, it gets overstated instead of supported, so much so that it sometimes sounds as if Ms. Summer Rain is preaching, something we Pagans tend to take offense at. In addition, the writing itself can be choppy; occasionally the sentences are literally fragments, lacking the essential subject/verb structure. And to cap it off, now and then while reading I would get that "New-Agey" feel from the text, even though Ms. Summer Rain herself discredits or corrects many "New Age" concepts.

What all this adds up to is that I'm not going to read another of Mary Summer Rain's books unless someone gives me one - largely because of the writing style. By the same token, I feel sure I'll be referring to this one again and again for the lists. Whether you're planting a garden, healing with stones, or taking a hike, the correspondences listed here (in a single concise volume!) are invaluable for reference. The Singing Web is a celebration of the interconnectedness of life... but don't expect a whole lot of structured philosophical thought or even a free-flowing narrative. This celebration is in encyclopedia format.