Madden, Kristin 1964-

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Madden, Kristin 1964-

PERSONAL:

Born December 12, 1964, in NC; married David Madden; children. Ethnicity: "White/Sami." Education: Studied at New Jersey Institute of Technology and State University of New York, Syracuse; Drew University, B.A., 1986; Prescott College, M.A., 2000. Politics: Green. Religion: Pagan.

ADDRESSES:

Home—NM.

CAREER:

Writer, environmentalist, conservationist, and spiritualist. Writer, 1999—. Dean of Ardantane School of Shamanic Studies; Druid and tutor in the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids; member of the Druid College of Healing; metaphysical and environmental educator and media commentator.

WRITINGS:

Shamanic Guide to Death and Dying: Includes Meditations and Rituals, Llewellyn (St. Paul, MN), 1999.

Pagan Parenting: Spiritual, Magical, and Emotional Development of the Child, Llewellyn (St. Paul, MN), 2000.

Pagan Homeschooling: A Guide to Adding Spirituality to Your Child's Education, Spilled Candy, 2002.

The Book of Shamanic Healing, Llewellyn (St. Paul, MN), 2002.

Mabon: Celebrating the Autumn Equinox, Llewellyn Publications (St. Paul, MN), 2002.

(With others) Exploring the Pagan Path: Wisdom from the Elders, New Page Books (Franklin Lakes, NJ), 2005.

(With Liz Roberts) Magickal Crafts, New Page Books (Franklin Lakes, NJ), 2006.

(With Dorothy Morrison) Dancing the Goddess Incarnate: Living the Magic of Maiden, Mother, and Crone, Llewellyn (Woodbury, MN), 2006.

SIDELIGHTS:

Kristin Madden is an American writer, environmentalist, and spiritualist. Madden published her first book, Shamanic Guide to Death and Dying: Includes Meditations and Rituals, in 1999. She followed this book with Pagan Parenting: Spiritual, Magical, and Emotional Development of the Child, in 2000. The book gives parents a Pagan guide to raising their children, complete with rites and rituals of passage. A contributor to the Cauldron Web site commented that the book "provides a thoughtful general overview of being a Pagan parent and raising a Pagan child in a Pagan family. It will not give you the answers, but it will give you ideas and activities." The reviewer also noted that the book talked about responsibilities and making decisions in a Pagan way, which "is something I think all parents should do." Aleesha Stephenson, writing on the Magis Magick Spells Web site, declared: "I fully enjoyed this book." Stephenson found the book thorough, noting: "I like the fact that Kristin starts in the womb and goes from there. No phase of life is left out." Stephenson mentioned all the different rites and rituals she would use with her children, concluding that "so much of it struck a cord within me," revealing: "I love this book."

In 2002 Madden published three books, including Pagan Homeschooling: A Guide to Adding Spiritualityto Your Child's Education and The Book of Shamanic Healing. She also published Mabon: Celebrating the Autumn Equinox. The book gives a description of important Pagan holidays and festivals around the world and the Pagan origins of many mainstream holidays. On the Spiral Nature Web site, Mike Gleason observed that the book "provides good basic information." Gleason remarked that "Madden writes in a clear, easy to understand, reader-friendly style." Concluding his review, Gleason said: "You won't find yourself scrambling to verify references, but neither will you find yourself feeling you wasted your money. Enjoy this book and use it to stimulate your own ideas."

Madden contributed to the publishing of Exploring the Pagan Path: Wisdom from the Elders in 2005. The book acts as a spiritual guide for practicing and fledgling Pagans, drawing on the experience and advice from a wide range of Pagan experts and elders. Writing on RebeccasReads.com, Marie D. Jones commented that she "highly recommend[s] Exploring the Pagan Path to any beginner, & any solitary Pagan looking for community, although even the most experienced can learn from the words of wisdom these leaders share." A contributor to the Wiccan Pagan Times Web site commented that "overall, this book has something to offer most readers. It is a lovely exploration of the Pagan Path, giving very broad brush strokes to the painting of the pagan paths." The same contributor concluded by saying that "for many, this book will entertain and possibly enlighten. I found it enjoyable overall."

In 2006 Madden published Dancing the Goddess Incarnate: Living the Magic of Maiden, Mother, and Crone with Dorothy Morrison. She also published Magickal Crafts with Liz Roberts. The book looks at the numerous ways to honor the gods and goddesses on significant days of the year. Lee Prosser, writing on GhostVillage.com, found the book "well-written and helpful." Prosser also called the work "a fabulous book, greatly illustrated, and simply a delight to read."