The Return of the Mother

Author: Andrew Harvey
Publisher: North Atlantic Books
ISBN: 1583948201
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 454

Book Description
Adapted from a series of lectures on the historical basis and current resurgence of the sacred feminine, given by Andrew Harvey at the California Institute of Integral Studies in Spring 1994, The Return of the Mother is a profound journey into the heart of the Divine Mother. In this comprehensive and groundbreaking work, mystical scholar Andrew Harvey unearths traces of the sacred feminine in major world religions—Hinduism, Islam (Sufism), Buddhism, Taoism, and Christianity—and in aboriginal and indigenous wisdom traditions. Harvey presents a scathing critique of the patriarchal distortions in religious history and doctrine that have obscured full knowledge of the Divine Mother, and shows how to reintegrate this vital aspect into the spiritual consciousness of humankind. The Return of the Mother offers a radical new perspective, balancing the historical overemphasis on transcendence by honoring the immanence of the divine in passionate engagement in the world. Only by cultivating a direct, respectful relationship with the transformative power of the sacred feminine can we alter our disastrous attitude of dissociation from nature, the body, sexuality, and the details of human life, and generate the energy and compassion needed to reverse the course of destruction we have set the planet—and all of life—hurtling toward. In lively question-and-answer sections, Harvey further illuminates these vital issues and takes a strong stand against our dependence on “gurus” and “masters,” proposing instead an egalitarian model of spiritual community based on intimate groups of mutually supportive guides and friends. The Return of the Mother is an eloquent and passionate call for all of us to rediscover and reclaim an authentic and empowering relationship to the divine, and recreate a sacred life-in-the-world.

The Book of Mother

Author: Violaine Huisman
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1982108800
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 224

Book Description
A New York Times Notable Book A Library Journal Best Book of 2021 A “marvelous…superbly effective” (The New Yorker) debut novel about a young woman coming of age with a dazzling yet damaged mother who lived and loved in extremes. Met by rave reviews in The New Yorker, The New York Times, and more, this stunning translation of Violaine Huisman’s “witty, immersive autofiction showcases a Parisian childhood with a charismatic, depressed parent” (Oprah Daily). Beautiful and magnetic, Catherine, a.k.a. “Maman,” smokes too much, drives too fast, laughs too hard, and loves too extravagantly, and her daughter Violaine wouldn’t have it any other way. But when Maman is hospitalized after a third divorce and a breakdown, everything changes. Even as Violaine and her sister long for their mother’s return, once she’s back Maman’s violent mood swings and flagrant disregard for personal boundaries soon turn their home into an emotional landmine. As the story of Catherine’s own traumatic childhood and adolescence unfolds, the pieces come together to form an indelible portrait of a mother as irresistible as she is impossible, as triumphant as she is transgressive. With spectacular ferocity of language, a streak of dark humor, and stunning emotional bravery, The Book of Mother is an exquisitely wrought story of a mother’s dizzying heights and devastating lows, and a daughter who must hold her memory close in order to surrender, and finally move on.

A Mother's Book of Blessings

Author: Natasha Fried
Publisher: National Geographic Books
ISBN: 1426218966
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 356

Book Description
"With ageless wisdom for every occasion, this elegant little book is the perfect gift for moms to share with their children -- and for themselves. Time-honored proverbs, enlightening parables, and inspiring poetry, illustrated with exquisite vintage art, encourage readers to contemplate and celebrate life's milestones. These uplifting words and their invaluable lessons, drawn from cultures around the world, will resonate with families of all walks. Whether commemorating a birthday, or celebrating a housewarming or a special holiday, this timeless treasure of 100-plus blessings provides guidance and encouragement for everyone: an enduring keepsake readers will turn to again and again."--Provided by publisher.

A Call to Power

Author: Sharon McErlane
Publisher: Netsource Distribution
ISBN: 9780978846800
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
A group of elderly women who call themselves 'The Great Council of the Grandmothers' appeared to the author as she was walking her dog. These wise women-who represent all cultures and races of humanity-revealed to her their mission: "Earth has suffered too long from an excess of yang and insufficient yin. We have come to correct this." Desperate times call for something new. As humans stand at the edge of the precipice, the winds of change blasting our backs, the universe throws us a lifeline. Help has appeared in the form of wise old women, the Great Council of the Grandmothers. "The present imbalance of energy on Earth has placed all life in danger," the Grandmothers declare. "It is time to return to balance, and for this, women must lead. Women must be empowered. This is why we have come." The Grandmothers have come at this crucial time to awaken the presence of the deep feminine, to bring men and women and all life back into harmony. A Call to Power is the story of the author's encounters with these wise women and the powerful and important message that they bring.

The Mother of All Jobs

Author: Christine Armstrong
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472956230
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 337

Book Description
The Mother of All Jobs is about the battle to make modern working parenting actually work. If not for our own sanity, then perhaps for our children's. Have you ever looked at the lengthy school holiday dates and silently screamed in desperation? Have you gone part time yet are still doing a full-time workload? Have you ever been too afraid to ask about maternity benefits or flexible working? Do you constantly feel guilty about missing school events and secretly envious of other mums at the school gates who seem to be doing it all better than you? If any (or all) of the above rings true for you, you are NOT alone. While the demands of work are increasing with longer working hours and more pressure to remain 'switched on' to our phones and computers, the needs of our children and the world of school and childcare have stayed the same. Something has got to change before we all reach breaking point. The Mother of All Jobs brings together the wisdom of women who opened up about their experiences into a manifesto to help working parents thrive.

Good-Enough Mother

Author: René Syler
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 141695127X
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 294

Book Description
In an ideal world, mothers would have time to hand-sew their kids' costumes for the school play, prepare all-organic meals, and volunteer in the classroom at the drop of a hat. In reality, most moms have to settle for plopping their little ones in front of SpongeBob so that they can prepare yet another chicken nugget-based dinner, guiltily convinced they're falling down on the job. In Good-Enough Mother, René Syler pulls back the curtain to reveal the truth about modern mothering and reassure time-stressed moms that even if their children are strangers to made-from-scratch cookies, they can emerge as happy, well-adjusted, fully functioning members of society. Mother to two great kids of her own, Syler explains how she learned to chuck perfection for practicality -- in short, how she became a Good-Enough Mother. She shows other women seeking to balance family, work, and some semblance of a personal life how to happily join the ranks of Good-Enough Mothers, who occasionally serve breakfast for dinner yet give their children plenty of what really matters -- love, time, and support. Each essay provides welcome empathy and sage advice on navigating life's different obstacles, whether it's dealing with annoying Supermoms, bluffing through a third grader's math homework, or coping with the words that strike terror into every parent's heart ("Your son's teacher on line one"). Offering real wisdom tempered with humor and warmth, Good-Enough Mother will have every modern mom laughing in relief and recognition.

Return of the Divine Mother

Author: Prashant Saxena
Publisher: Notion Press
ISBN: 9352067894
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 325

Book Description
"This is a story of two disciples – who are trained in martial arts, yogasanas and the science of Brahmsutras – taught and nurtured by two sages who themselves had attained yogic siddhis. The story starts with a dream of one of the disciples, who peeks into the world of timeless reality. Trying to seek answers, he discovers a secret kingdom – an ocean of eternity – beneath the realm of earthly existence. Does consciousness exist because of the material world, or do time and space exist because of consciousness? The thought releases the river of higher knowledge which leads to the realization of the Divine Mother, the eternal Prakriti; the saga of creation; the paradoxical world of Brahma; the transformations of energy; the nectar of immortality, whereby, the journey emerges with a twist, magnifying the perception of endless possibilities. Inspired by Mahabharat, where the divine song of Krishna unfolds in the midst of an epic battle, this book embraces the wisdom of Devi Mahatmya, Devi Suktas of Rig Veda, Garbh Upanishad and Yog Sutras of Patanjali to reveal the ancient science of India. "

Motherland

Author: Fern Schumer Chapman
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 9780140286236
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 212

Book Description
A moving account of a mother and daughter who visit Germany to face the Holocaust tragedy that has caused their family decades of intergenerational trauma, from the author of Brothers, Sisters, Strangers Finalist for the National Jewish Book Award In 1938, when Edith Westerfeld was twelve, her parents sent her from Germany to America to escape the Nazis. Edith survived, but most of her family perished in the death camps. Unable to cope with the loss of her family and homeland, Edith closed the door on her past, refusing to discuss even the smallest details. Fifty-four years later, when the void of her childhood was consuming both her and her family, she returned to Stockstadt with her grown daughter Fern. For Edith the trip was a chance to reconnect and reconcile with her past; for Fern it was a chance to learn what lay behind her mother's silent grief. Together, they found a town that had dramatically changed on the surface, but which hid guilty secrets and lived in enduring denial. On their journey, Fern and her mother shared many extraordinary encounters with the townspeople and—more importantly—with one another, closing the divide that had long stood between them. Motherland is a story of learning to face the past, of remembering and honoring while looking forward and letting go. It is an account of the Holocaust’s lingering grip on its witnesses; it is also a loving story of mothers and daughters, roots, understanding, and, ultimately, healing.

The New Return to the Great Mother

Author: Isa Gucciardi
Publisher: Sacred Stream
ISBN: 9780989855426
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 102

Book Description
Since publishing Return to the Great Mother in 2013, numerous mothers, partners, and birthing attendants have come forward to share with me their stories and to express gratitude for helping them connect with the power of the Great Mother. Some are continuing to strengthen their relationship with this ancient and ongoing source of power, calling upon her whenever they are faced with situations that require them to step outside of their comfort zone and into a new way of knowing themselves or life. Within this book, you will read about these and other stories and how the Great Mother was there, always supporting-sometimes sustaining-the women and children as they moved through the sacred initiation of childbirth.In this updated edition, I have included information about the importance and power of initiations. While the focus of the book is on childbirth (the one initiation we can choose whether to participate in), it is just one of seven key steps we take on the path toward personal growth. Men have their own essential initiation processes, of course, but because this book highlights the uniquely female endeavor of giving birth, I have spoken only to the initiations of girls and women.It is through the discussion of the seven initiations of birth, puberty, menses, first sexual encounter, childbirth, menopause, and death that I hope to shed light on the life-altering effects that initiatory experiences can have on us. Like rungs on a ladder, each initiation can serve as a sturdy step upon which we feel supported as we climb upward toward greater awareness and understanding of ourselves and our place in the world.

The Best Mother

Author: Cynthia Surrisi
Publisher: Abrams
ISBN: 1683351290
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 32

Book Description
When Maxine wakes up on the wrong side of the bed one morning, she wonders if the problem might be her mother. What if she could try out a new mom who doesn’t make her brush her teeth or comb her hair? Enlisting Mom to help her with the search, Maxine interviews various prospects to be her new mother at the park, the toy store, and the zoo. Unfortunately, these other mothers present a host of new problems and concerns. Maybe her “old mother” was the best mother of all? For every child who’s ever wondered if the grass is greener, The Best Mother affirms that there’s nothing better than your own mother’s love.