The Feminine Face of God: The Unfolding of the Sacred in Women

by Sherry Ruth Anderson, Patricia Hopkins

For many contemporary women, the old patriarchal models of religion are no longer relevant, forming a need to look beyond the male-oriented past to a wider, more fulfilling spiritual horizon. In this fascinating and thought-provoking book, Sherry Anderson and Patricia Hopkins show how many women have redefined spiritual beliefs and rediscovered their unique spiritual heritage - The Feminine Face of God.

Anderson and Hopkins guide you through the sacred garden of:
* Childhood - seedbed of life's sacred passage
* Leaving home - finding your own inner authority
* Relationships - new perspectives on intimacy
* Spiritual practice - the importance of guidance and discipline
* Sexuality - a wild card constantly cracking open the heart
* and much more.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Religion, Feminism, Womens, Goddess, Womens Studies

253 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Sherry Ruth Anderson, Ph.D. is a writer and speaker who started delving into the matter of growing old by the time she turned fifty. In her forties, settled in Northern California, she was writing about questions that wouldn't go away. Her latest book, also with questions at the core, is Ripening Time: Inside Stories for Aging with Grace (Changemakers Books, 2013). And there's a short film A Woman's Descent to the Sacred available through You Tube. Since 2000, she has also been a teacher of inner work that is, as you might have guessed, devoted to asking deep questions (the Diamond Approach to Spiritual Development®). You can find more on Sherry's website http://www.sherryruthanderson.com

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an invaluable if dated resource for navigating complex spiritual landscapes from a place of vulnerability and intuition. It can be bio-essentialist (exclusive of trans people) and approaches femme spirituality from the perspectives of "women" and not "femmes", womyn, feminine of center people and/or a myriad of other identities that need to be included but aren't necessarily within the title "women". But as a source of wisdom, strength, affirmation, encouragement, challenging and guidance, the authors have created an excellent resource, particularly the imagery of tending an inner garden that's woven throughout the text, and the stories they collected of these womens' lives, that resonates as much now as I'm sure it did then.

[Carla "Kar" Schmidt Holloway · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cisnormative, heteronormative, euro-centric. Includes the voices of people of color but seems to try to squeeze non-major religious traditions (like Native American traditions) into the authors' personal theories of a universal feminine spiritual experience. Sort of appropriative, but really more speaking over and attempting to speak for all women in all cultures and religious traditions.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enlightening book for me in college. Near the end of the book, the authors talk about women who have remained in their marriages versus those who have left to be alone or a few with women. My boyfriend now husband had broken up with me, and I remember thinking about this. An all female commune was starting to sound good...Also, this book is not a hard core male bashing read, which was a relief from the other feminist literature I was reading at the time.

[Doreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book about 25 years ago when I was co-leading a woman's study group. It led me on a quest to more deeply explore my own spirituality. Now after relocating from the east coast to California, I once again needed a connection to my spiritual side and THE FEMININE FACE OF GOD gave me the jump start that I didn't even know I needed. Just like the women in the book, my spiritual journey was personal, private, and ingrained deep in my body and soul. Over the years, I have given away my copy of this book to several women who were exploring their own spirituality over the years. But since settling into my west coast home, I decided to get a copy of this book again - and this time I will keep my copy. I have suggested this title to a friend who is exploring her own spirituality after having read Mitch Albom's The Stranger in the Lifeboat, and she immediately purchased a copy.

[Celía Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book over a year ago in a used bookstore and I'm so glad I did. Though this book is older, the concepts it presents are timeless. Seeking divinity in what is feminine is ancient, and I am not alone in wanting to explore my spirituality with this point of view. What I love about this book is that it emphasizes that everyone's spiritual journey is different, and though it offers stories of different women's experiences, there's always a reminder of taking your own path, or "tending to your garden." In a world where people are so quick to take sides and believe that everything is black and white, I live in the gray. These women do too, even those who follow a specific religious path. I truly appreciate that and find it refreshing. Because of this, it holds up even after almost 3 decades.

[J.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this in college. It was a real eye-opener to me, who was raised Catholic and unfamiliar with the feminine in religion, particularly feminine aspects of the Deity which retain sexuality (as opposed to being sexless or celibate). Very interesting read. I'd recommend it for any woman looking to find a sacredness she can better identify with in conventional religions.

[Athena Macmillan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book for what it is, but you can really tell it was written in the 90s, being very heteronormative and trans exclusionary. It also would have been nice to see accounts from Islamic women and those following earth based traditions. That being said, many of the ideas and questions they raise are still very much relevant today, with the emphasis that everybody's spiritual journey is unique.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been a great companion book to dip into for a page or two at a time for the late few months. Still very relevant and very generous with its depiction of a wide variety of women and their spiritual lives

[Melanie Beard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

[Liaken · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't finished this book, but I will someday. The preface is my favorite part. The description of the dream of the patriarchs passing the "only touched my males" word of God to the hands of the woman, and it being blank because what was to come would be different than what had gone before . . . it was such a beautiful dream. I wish I had had this dream.

I haven't been able to stay as connected to the rest of the book.

[Rae · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this back in my early college days when I was much more interested in feminist issues. I found it useful to examine the spiritual side of women and this gave me a lot to think about. Nothing earth-shattering though.

[Juniper Vaughn · Rating 4 out of 5]

My initial response to the book was much more profound than my feelings toward the end of the book. On the one hand, I found it validating of my own spiritual experience and I could deeply relate to several of the women who were interviewed for the book. It was valuable to me because it offers the stories of many different women of wildly differing backgrounds—from a prostitute to a nun— and the authors offer some insight into the similarities between their stories but for the most part it seems interpretation is up to the readers.

I wish that it had ended with a clearer picture of what this “sacred unfolding” is. This is my biggest critique: one of the main points of the book, and a central issue for the authors’ research, is that a woman’s spiritual process and understanding of the world is so different from that of men’s that we have very little groundwork to go off of. The authors, despite years of studying and interviewing women, provide no such framework, which I feel would have been the greatest takeaways from a project such as this one. Though some of the messages from the women were inspiring and moving, my overall disappointment in the lack of conclusion and “call to action” from the authors made me not want to ever pick it up again.

As far as women’s spiritual unfolding goes, I understand it after reading this book as a living, evolving process rather than the linear “do this and you shall know god” type of patriarchal religious dogma. Women’s spirituality is more rooted in the mundane, a current that runs throughout her relationships (human and those of the natural world, spirits, etc.), and is highly individualized to her. The path is different for every woman, but all of them share a devotion to it.

Overall, a great read for anyone interested in the topic.

[Joann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twenty years ago when I read this book, my concerns were individual and much different than they are today. This time when I read the book, I was interested in spirituality, my own and that of my country. While it is true that changes have been made in the last twenty years, much remains the same. We have yet to elect a woman to the office of president or Vice President. Most CEOs are still male and only Title IX has succeeded in opening athletic doors for women. (Though sport is not specifically included in this Act, it has bled into the field of sport allowing women more support). Religion still has a stranglehold on people and policies. Most likely there would be a full scale riot if a temple honoring goddesses was erected and provided solace for some.

Do I have answers about spirituality, even after reading this book? Not really, but I will keep looking for myself and for this Planet.

[Viki Sonntag · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've just reread this after some 20- 25 (?) years. Wow. Very impressive in its humanity and scholarship. Considering it was published in 1991, there is good representation of women of color and lesbians "in their own words". Profoundly, I believe the book values deep questions, not for seeking definitive answers but to explore the essence of women's sacred unfolding in everyday life. Speaking finally to how we, as individuals, as women and women-identified folks, find ourselves in community and within each other, I felt was powerfully inclusive, even to revealing the space for our collective mind to consider the more complex issues of our times. Quoting one community, "in our diversity is our strength".

[Jeanne Thornton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book for free on the street in Bushwick; I took it home based on randomly turning to the part where Meinrad Craighead leaves the convent after starting to uncontrollably paint birds in her work: "an archetype of flight." The rest of the book did not disappoint. The coauthors' introduction alludes to some kind of conflict between them at some point during the process of researching and writing the book: I wish I knew more about this, because the moments when they show up--conducting interviews in isolated forest trailers, etc.--bring much life.

[Lelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thoughtful, insightful book. Instead of a rigid how-to that delineates the steps along a spiritual path, Anderson and Hopkins share different women’s stories about their unique spiritual journeys, emphasizing that life in all its variety - wholeness rather than goodness - is the spiritual path.

Maya Angelou’s presence in the book is an unexpected delight.

The last chapter on relationships seems to be the most outdated. Self/other is still an issue, but we have made some progress in our attitudes toward sex and women’s role in marriage.

[Lori Neff · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting, broadly spiritual look at the inner lives of women. I've been interested in finding books that express spirituality for women specifically... and more specifically, middle-age and up. There were several portions of this book that helpfully put words to my experiences (metaphors, creativity, intuition, etc). I didn't relate to other parts, but I appreciated reading the perspectives of other women.

[SusanAhh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most books of this type... it stimulates helpful thinking. By no means is it a transformative or revolutionary approach to the divine in femme energy. There is so much more. So much scared femme history lost to religious, societal and even spiritual patriarchy. It is worthwhile to read for some of the ideas...half complete as they may be.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate the time these women authors put into interviewing other women who have been on faith journeys. Some things didn’t resonate with me, but many things did. I loved the sisterhood I felt with the courageous women in this book who walked away from patriarchy and connected with the feminine divine. That’s been my journey recently and so this gave me encouragement and hope!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important today and timeless

I was somewhat skeptical that this book would seem dated and reminiscent. It is so relevant and so deeply resonant for our current times. It just kept getting better and more interesting until the brilliant end.

[Carrie Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It gave me such an array of other journeys to spirituality. It is reassuring that there is no "right" way to shine your soul into the world. I especially loved the last few chapters that created action in our modern world!

[Chury · Rating 4 out of 5]

i finished it a while ago just never logged, such a great book with amazing stories from real women. i think it’s a bit dated and theres definitely allot more topics they could cover if it was written today, but still a great start to my understanding of spirituality as a woman. loveee

[Fernanda Navarro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book, full of inspiring sroties. Perfect for finding your own spiritual path, your own inner garden.

[Em Eichner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super interesting theory/idea, but a little vague in application.

[Constance Chevalier · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking for more.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate the topic and authors’ efforts, but I was bored by the end.

[Sylvie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one I picked up and out down when I felt called to delve back in. Really enjoyed it, lots of spiritual wisdom

[Gemma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been carrying this book around for a good many years now. I really enjoyed. Appreciated the weaving together of their research and personal journeys.

[Theresa · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is nothing I thought it would be. Not recommended.

[Elsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful! The authors cover a wide range of possibility for women to understand how spirituality may work in their lives. The garden imagery with its 1,000 gates is very apropos.