Women’s spirituality, suggests educator Harris, is a “dance of the Spirit” consisting of seven steps: “Awakening, Discovering, Creating, Dwelling, Nourishing, Traditioning, and Transforming”.
Each correction: The publisher informs us that the ISBN for Hyam Macco by and Wolf Mankowitz’s The Day God Laughed: Sayings, Fables and Entertainments of the Jewish Sages (LJ 6/1/89) is 0-86051-467-6. We regret the error. Step has its own chapter here, with introductory guidance in “Centering” (being still) and concluding exercises to help readers connect with insights. Very much an interfaith book (Harris draws on Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism), this is also quite feminist in a gentle, nonmilitant way and should appeal to questing women with a slightly New Age bent.
Each woman has a special spiritual destiny, as unique and inalienable as the rhythms that govern her life. Maria Harris teaches women how to dance to the music of their own souls and discover the spiritual steps that can transform their lives.
A rich book, full of metaphor, deep meanings and affirmation of women’s experience in the spiritual journey of life. Harris describes five that are commonly attributed to spirituality: awakening, discovering, creating, dwelling and nourishing. She adds to those the steps of traditioning and transforming.
It is a beautifully written book that speaks to women’s real spiritual issues and experiences. It is an excellent resource to use in a small group, as each chapter begins with a centering exercise and ends with spiritual practices designed for that particular step. The book is not an “instruction book” in the spiritual life, but more like a “field guide” to the movements of the spiritual life. Definitely worth reading and would be richly rewarding when used in a class or small group experience.
Related Books:
- Spirituality Simplified : Jeff Maziarek
- Essential Spirituality: The 7 Central Practices to Awaken Heart and Mind : Roger Walsh
- Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality : James M. Nelson
- Messy Spirituality : Mike Yaconelli
- CISSP Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Fourth Edition – By Shon Harris
- Sookie Stackhouse, Books 1-7 – By Charlaine Harris
- Dark Green Religion: Nature Spirituality and the Planetary Future : Bron Taylor
