Helping to access the lost feminine.....
929968
I enjoyed this book.  It is easy to read and I had only one small quibble..... I go to the Goddess whatever my state of mind.  I do not wait until my mind is clear and peaceful - she hears everything!  This book helps one start along the path of connecting with the Goddess.  A good companion book is Wicca:  Elemental Magic as it goes into much greater details on how to access the Elements.  So much has been lost over the past couple of thousand years, but Kardia Zoe and others like her are helping us to rediscover and reconnect to the world around us.
3878247
....but Ms Sherrill  shows how it can be found.  I related to her words from the get-go and was comforted the learn that my spiritual journey is not unlike other women. I highly recommend and  have it in my Kindle as a "keeper".
1742142
Into the Heart of the Feminine
 Pat Webster, Ph. D.

This book is seminal for our time. It addresses how we have individually and collectively suppressed and buried an integral aspect of ourselves, the archetypal feminine. This feminine part, an equal fundamental part of our nature is that inner part of each of us that values relatedness, creativity and transformation. Our patriarchal culture has abused and banished this part of all of us, men and women alike. This abuse and banishment has left us living in a world in which we feel there is never enough, in which success does not lead to feelings of fulfillment, and in which we live with high levels of fear and insecurity. Many of todays self-help books offer steps that support this masculine aspect of our psyche, that continue to support our efforts at control and power while ignoring the life-giving feminine aspect of ourselves. This feminine must be healed and transformed.

One aspect of our feminine nature is the nurturing good-enough mother. The negative aspect of this is the Death Mother. The Death Mother can be present when our own mothers have not mothered us well, usually secondary to their own unknowing of their feminine aspects, and when the feminine in us is suppressed.

As a woman and a therapist with a strong Death Mother complex, I have worked for decades on this aspect of myself. This book, however, gave me new and different insights. I read it slowly; I needed time to process and digest it.  I became aware that insufficient and abusive mothering  were linked to my feelings of not-enough-ness, in which I have felt that I neither had nor was enough. I reflected on how my participation in the pioneer days of feminism exacerbated some disdain for the feminine aspects of myself. I learned at a deeper level how fearful I had become of expressing my rage. And in working at a deeper level with the suggestions in this book, I took another step in trusting life and its transformations.

Neuropsychology shows us beyond a doubt that we are born to be relational beings. The archetypal feminine of which Drs. Massimilla and Bud Harris write is foundational to living our lives relationally, creatively and trusting its transformations. I believe that healing and redeeming the archetypal feminine is critical for full-hearted, relational living in this time, and can play a major role in healing our collective relationship with the earth and each other. And we must start with ourselves. This book not only helps us understand this aspect of ourselves, but also provides a road map for healing and redemption.
3422398
Divinely Beautiful addresses the age-old struggle that women have with finding our value and worth in outward beauty. This is a great book for those who want to take journey to find their beauty comes from the inside and that our value is foind in God alone.
4954615
Today, more than ever, with the world suffering from extreme testosterone poisoning, and with our planet teetering on the precipice of destruction, we need women to step into the fray and offer our special genius for management and healing, guided by the wisdom and moral authority of the Feminine Divine. This book offers the inspiration that we need in these troubled times.
2770311
Along the way of life we seem to have forgotten some of the basics as far as manners go. This little book has more benefits than one can readily picture however, given the times, it could be a very effective tool in bringing back the lost art of femininity to a wayward daughter. It's a might dated but it is a genuine delight to review and ... read it with your daughter! It may prove invaluable.
178408
The book is part memoir, part self-help manual, part spiritual overview, with a distinct focus on the Divine Feminine. I learned so much about world religions and spiritual practices I didn't already know.

The author travels on two different pilgrimmages to Divine Feminine sacred sites in Europe and tales of those journeys are part of all of the awakenings in the book. She trumpets many times that she went all that way to find something that was inside herself the whole time.

That's what was most captivating for me reading this book. I wanted to find a way to not get so rocked to my core every time something happened "to" me or someone in my life left. I've done a lot of this work, through building my self-esteem and self-worth, but I know there's something in my spirituality leading me to that solid, unshakeable core as well. That is the ultimate destination in the relentless pursuit of my joy.

Meggan talks about her intense fear of flying that she was able to overcome with an integrated spiritual practice, ultimately learning how to replace her fear with faith. By the end of the book she mentions dancing down the aisle of the last commercial flight she was on. A stark difference from the white knuckled grip of fear she used to experience. I think a lot of folks can relate to wanting to unlearn fear that holds us back from our destiny.

The book is organized in seven main steps to "Reveal" the sacred truth within. For those out there interested in body liberation activism, her chapter on REVEAL: Your Sacred Body will especially resonate. Getting into your body and seeing it as sacred is essential work to living wholly integrated. She also talks about returning to the body after a childhood sexual assault and I thought it was a great chapter about embodiment.

I'm also particularly curious about how one listens to their soul-voice-that still, small voice that creates impressions or straight-up talks to you from the inside, telling you where next to go. There's a whole REVEAL: Your Soul-Voice chapter.

Bonus for all of you R. Kelly fans out there-she met him on a ship once.

Books like Reveal are necessary because so much of feminine energy and women's bodies are erased, ignored or subjugated from modern-day spirituality. I learned so much that piqued my spiritual interest. One of the signs of a good book is that it keeps sliding into my everyday conversations. Like talking to my roommate about my interest in the Gnostic Gospels, turns out she has a copy and it's in my living room waiting for me.
1977737
Chelsea...thank you for having the courage to share your story. I needed this ! I have been in many of the same places in my heart as you have and have been  stuck always feeling like i did not fit no matter where i am.  I too have a gypsy spirit..(it was one of the halloween costumes my mom made for me consecutive years..so i blame here.lol) i only got to share a few years of those costumes with her as she died when i was just 8 years old. I treasure those memories..your words have given me an insight and intense curiosity to step back into my heart again and create some od those ideas i have not been supported on.
Thank you ..thank you ..thank you!  You were recommended to me by a dear friend of 30 + plus who knew your story would help bring me back . i am grateful to you both!  You and i will meet one day soon! Healthy wishes to you and your family, trish garron.
3270014
I met Eileen McDargh recently at a Women's Conference sponsored by the Health & Wellness Div. of my hospital system. I was at a low point physically and emotionally. Eileen was the keynote speaker. She delivered to the many women present at that luncheon Joy, Insight, Tears of Realization, hysterical Laughter, and Hope. This book is like having Eileen sitting across the table from you. This is not one of those "re-inventing yourself" books that often just adds another heavy layer to our confusion. This book is an Excavation-for-the-Gold-and-Gems within that are hidden out of sight. It is a book about finding the buried Lost Treasure that is ours. But it is not an esoteric philosophical study. It is real and down to earth.. Personally I believe it is a book for women AND for men. I am sending my grown son a copy.
4495726
I enjoyed reading this book. It helped me find new ways to appreciate myself and figure out how to open myself up to being more receptive to help from other people. I hope there will be a second installment.
3810332
One of the gems  uncovered through reading Emily's book follows;

"Find the depth in you beyond just the beauty of your makeup. For that you must venture beyond just wearing makeup and begin to understand the depths of God inside of you."

Emily shares circumstances of life that we each have journeyed through or are journeying through. As I read there are treasures throughout the words she has so beautifully written and shared with humility and vulnerability. You will discover KEYS to unlock doors and ways to shut doors that need shut. I highly recommend this book   A great gift idea for all the ladies in our lives.
891221
My best friend let me borrow this book; the journey has been without parallel. The book is small, and for the most part, extremely easy to read. But like slow moving river, extremely deep. Though the book's audience appears to be targeted towards the feminine, that does not necessarily mean just woman. It inspires reflection, understanding, and compassion towards ourselves as well as those around us.

This is a book to read and re-read.
683417
MY PERSONAL SPIRITUAL PATH WAS MADE RICHER FOR THE EXPERIENCE OF THIS BOOK.I HAVE RECOMMENDED IT TO OTHER "LIKE MINDED" SOULS. IT BROUGHT TO ME A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF MY OWN POWER AS A WOMAN; A REVELATION OF THE URGENCY TO ENCOURAGING OTHERS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN, THE DEEP NEED TO ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER AND TEACH EACH OTHER AND HOLD EACH OTHER IN THE HIGHEST OF ESTEEM.
SO MANY WOMAN (INCLUDING MYSELF) DIDN'T/DON'T UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF CONNECTING WITH EACH OTHER ON A PURE, DEEP, LIFE ENHANCING LEVEL; TO REVEL IN EACH OTHER'S WOMANHOOD AND TO EXCHANGE KNOWLEDGE FOR THE HIGHEST GOOD OF ALL. MY MIND IS EXPANDING IN DELIGHTFUL & UNEXPECTED WAYS AS I SEEK TO RECOGNIZE MY "TRIBE". I BEGAN MY SECOND READ OF THIS WONDERFUL TOME JUST THIS MORNING) so THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU WROTE. POWERFUL!!
4273408
I greatly enjoyed reading Ms Rossetti's book Woman and Transition.  Having been through transition a couple of times, I found support in knowing that many woman face this and we do so differently then men, and probably more often than men.  As I am looking to my next transition, this one by choice, I am looking at the structure the book offers to help guide my next steps. The book is easy to read with many of Ms Rossetti's own transitions but contains examples of many others which help to relate it to yourself.  I hope her next step - in addition to her blog - is to find a forum to help women form these groups in which to mentor each other.
3448718
This book is helpful if you are a lost soul. It lets you see many ways of viewing your self. Of course you have to be an open minded person to consider many of the ideas here.
2571418
Stephanie Marston is one of the most sought-after experts on women and midlife. She interviewed a large number of women for this book and combined it with her own experience for a book that sheds a lot of light on what it means to be a woman during that mystical and misunderstood phase of life, menopause.
In one part of the book, the author describes how she goes through her closet, tossing out designer high heels that pinch, clothes that are too tight in the waist, that itch, and replaces them with comfortable clothes that reflected her new feelings about herself. This is a wonderful metaphor for what many of the women in "If Not Now, When?" go through in their relationships. Marriages are suddenly confining, "going-along-to-get-along" no longer works. Passive acceptance of all kinds of things, from being the chief organizer of holiday dinners to shutting an eye to infidelity is no longer tolerable. Women who are at the age of menopause may feel a simultaneous burst of anger and liberations. It's not all bad. In fact, it can be pretty darn good!
This book talks about the psychology of maturity for women. It expands on what Christine Northrup calls "the lifting of the veil of hormones" and shows what positive changes lie ahead for women who may have suppressed their true identity for most of their lives. Women who once relied on beauty to manipulate the world look in the mirror and realize that despite the best that exercise, diet, cosmetics and surgery can give them, they are no longer youthful goddesses. Their entire way of dealing with and being dealt with changes
Marston describes how women are socialized from birth to bury part of their true selves, to be "good girls," to willingly lose games to boys, to place their light under a bushel. This is why girls who do well in elementary school suddenly drop behind the boys as they go to middle school and reach menarche. A quote in the book from Emily Hancock remarks that there is a "buried core of women's identity...a root identity that gets cut off in the process of growing up female." At the time of menopause, women begin to regain this identity, fueled by the lifting of the veil of hormones and the completion of the phase of life where motherhood and physical attractions are the main thing women are valued for.
There are 40 million women, baby boomers, facing menopause. Up until now, medicine has viewed menopause, like childbirth, as a medical condition to be "treated." Now women are redefining what it means to be a complete, mature woman and they are a powerful presence.  If you are a woman of any age old or young, this book will be of incredible value to provide insights into what it means to be a woman and to be yourself.
1824331
As I began reading this book with a group of ladies, the group withered away. Thus giving me the ability, or reasoning, to put the book aside and no longer read it. Besides I didn't seem to interested at first- so I thought. Long story short, God placed this book on my spirit and showed me it was important for me to read. I am beyond grateful! Blessed and filled with hope, once more! While I know it isn't a "quick fix." I do know that the wisdom, encouragement and love expressed through each page has truly helped get me on the path that I need to be on to make that "imperfect progress." I believe this book will help women understand why they have many struggles they face. More importantly, I believe it will help sit you on a solid ground and get you moving in the right direction covered by the grace of God. 5 stars!!!