After celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Dianic Tradition with Z at Winter Solstice of 2001, I decided to take a look again at Summoning the Fates. Weaving myth and story with astrology, Z simplifies a complex system through the voice of the Fates.

This book is filled with ritual for women's life passages and celebrating women's blood mysteries blending ancient future wisdom into the present.

If you are looking for a book that applies magic to every day life, you will throughly enjoy this book. Check out what the Fates have in store for you...

Those of us who know the Fates are probably most familiar with the Greek versions. Clotho, the Spinner, spinning the threads of life, Lachesis, the Disposer of Lots, measuring the length of threads, and Atropos, the Inevitable, with her golden shears, cutting mans' destiny. When they are good, they are the Graces, when angry, they are the Furies.

Z. Budapest, in her book "Summoning the Fates" introduces us to the Northern European versions of the Fates. They are called the Norns (Germanic) and they are: Urdh (what went before), Verdandi (that which is becoming) and Skuld (that which must be). Ms. Budapest introduces us to these Fates, and shows us the Cycle of Life as it applies to these Fates.

I originally picked up this book, having read Ms. Budapest's interview, and was looking for an introduction to her works. I found this book refreshing, and a wonderful read. I was delightfully surprised.

In this book, Ms. Budapest mixes a magical blend of folk tales, personal insights, and ritual to give us a picture of how the Fates work in our lives, how we can approach them and work with them. She also gives us a sort of "personal autobiography" of her own introduction and workings with the Fates, that lends a personal touch to the book.

Ms. Budapest introduces us to each of the Fates and their characteristics. She uses folk tales, some from Hungary, some with a gypsy flavor, or a personal story, to show the influences the Fates have on a persons life. She offers a special lesson, combined with true country common sense, to show how we can apply these Fates to our daily lives. She also provides rituals to be used to introduce ourselves to the Fates, to incorporate them into our daily lives, and for the general enrichment of our spiritual lives.

Ms. Budapest has compiled a unique book of material here, using stories/lessons of childhood tales and personal stories to illustrate the basic laws of working with the Fates. Her insight into the meanings and purposes of these stories are wonderful, clear and easy to understand. And her rituals, as free flowing as Ms. Budapest herself, are simple yet elegant, making it easy for each of us to reach and touch the Fates in our spiritual lives.

This book is for those seeking to get in touch with their Spiritual Path as it applies to the Fates. This book offers contact with the three Goddesses who have laid our our lives for us. It enables us to better understand the Cycles of our lives in relation to the Fates, so we can utilize these cycles and better understand ourselves and each other.

This book practically leaped off the shelf, into my hands, and I'm so glad that it did! Easily one of Z's best, and she shares well-researched ideas that others often overlook, despite their importance. Her map of what happens in what years of your life... well, that proved amazingly accurate. Almost spooky. I wish I'd had this info fifteen years ago. This is a must-read, must-own book, in my opinion.