‘Descent to the Goddess: A Way of Initiation for Women’, by Sylvia Brinton Perera.
What’s it about:
The individuation of women through the lens of ancient texts and dreams. You’ll need to have an understand of the work of Jung as it is quite theory-heavy and can be complex at times.
What Lynn learned:
It’s not just me that struggles with the perfectionistic standards of the ego – this is a wounded feminine common trait.
Honestly, I did not absorb much about the myths and Goddesses – I much preferred the analysis and interpretations.
That the journey to becoming yourself, as a woman, can be long and painful, and you may need a therapist to go into these depths with you. Well, I learned that when training to be a therapist but I was reminded of this.
I learned a lot about inner-wilderness and the dark feminine… but this is complex stuff so I want to explore these topics more.
Fave quotes:
‘Constricted, the joy of the feminine has been denigrated as mere frivolity; her joyful lust demeaned as whorishness, or sentimentalized and maternalized; her vitality bound into duty and obedience. This devaluation produced ungrounded daughters of the patriarchy, their feminine strength and passion split off, their dreams and ideals in the unobtainable heavens, maintained grandly with a spirit false.’
‘For what has been valued in the West in women has been too often defined only in relation to the masculine: the good, nurturant mother and wife; the sweet, docile, agreeable daughter; the gently supportive or bright, achieving partner.’ (P. 12)
Why relevant right now:
Patriarchal societies are not working for anyone. This is a way to reclaim the feminine in a masculine, toxic at times, orientated society.
Interest factor: 4.5/5
Coffee table cred: 3/5
Ignorance of external world while reading: 4/5
Book cover design: 2/5
Help the existential crisis: 5/5
