Books to Read on Women’s Spiritual Journeys
Women’s journeys are mysterious and beautiful. An Author telling a tale of transformation or courage can help light the way, and provide a torch for the road ahead. Always books remind you, whether fact or fiction, they still require us, transport us. In honour of women journeys and pilgrimages I wanted to share a few that have spoken to me over the past twenty or so years.
Personally I am a fan of a spiritual book journey, yet I must admit, I mostly engage with women’s journeys however am open to any kind of story that throws caution to the wind and carries forward on a unique path. I have always gravitated to this kind of book and cannot help but wonder, were they lighting the way for me to write my own? Oh yes, no doubt they have been dropping bread crumbs for me to follow….. The road is vast, and books still have the ability to take us on a great adventure. Here are a few in no particular order that I have enjoyed tremendously and most likely read a few times….
Woman on the Verge - Art Journal and Memoir - Buy Book Here
“You are not crazy for wanting more out of life. You are not selfish or greedy either. You have been initiated" by Meggan Watterson
Reveal: A Sacred Manuel for Getting Spiritually Naked by Meggan Watterson
While taking pilgrimage to Europe to seek the sacred sites of Mary Magdalane, Watterson faces her fears (and her past) that often discouraged her from her path. Watterson explores her inner life and shares her experience of finding truth, wisdom and divine empowerment that gives her strength and insight into the mysteries of the divine feminine.
Watterson shares the journey of finding her own voice and spiritual values through seven chapters, or veils. A book of illumination and sacred teachings that helps anyone on a spiritual path needing support and encouragement along the way.
Meggan Watterson is a feminist theologian, teacher, advocate and mentor to all people through her work and books, and the House of Mary Magdalene….
Walking Home: A Pilgrimage from Humbled to Healed along the Camino de Santiago by Sonia Choquette
Sonia Choquette, best selling author and teacher of the spiritual arts (intuitive guide and mentor) travels to Spain to walk the Camino de Santiago, to figure out her life after her marriage implodes and the death of two close family members. Walking the Camino is full of pain, beauty, frustration and humour as she shares her commitment to self and the lessons she learns along the way.
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything by Elizabeth Gilbert
Gilbert’s world turns upside down when she realises she is deeply unhappy in her marriage and her self made life. Gilbert questions the roles of women post feminism and leaves it all behind…..The husband, the house, the history. Through studying the Italian language Gilbert felt a glimmer of joy trickle back in after a harrowing divorce and depression. This led her to make the decision to travel and embark on a year travelling solo to make peace with herself and her past.
I must say when the book came out I was pregnant and not feeling so energised and loved laying on the couch reading this book. I drank it in at the time and loved Gilbert for sharing her truths, disappointments and willingness to go the road less traveled….
Elizabeth Gilbert is a great seer these days and still continues her spiritual search, mentoring many of us with her Books, Interviews and TED Talks…
This One Wild and Precious Life: A Hopeful Path Forward in a Fractured World by Sarah Wilson
While traveling the world and going about life her own way, Wilson searches for answers on how to connect, change the world, pay attention and ultimately ask better questions… All the while sharing her concerns about the environment and the world we live in, and how we can live better and smarter while the climate catastrophe continues.
I love this book for its fierce loyalty to taking care of our planet, questioning the status quo and rustling lots of feathers. Wilson’s research is deep and true, her honesty and struggles with her mental and physical health are relevant and masterfully shared. Wilson wants us to wake up and get full fat spiritual and honest with ourselves! Wilson shares all of this while hiking and traveling the world…. A great book to listen to while on a road trip or walking up a hill in your neighbourhood!
All Sarah Wilson’s books are fantastic and great reads….
"Will we be brave enough to unlock ourselves? Will we be brave enough to set ourselves free? Will we finally step outside our cages and say to ourselves, to our people, and to the world, here I am" - Glennon Doyle
Untamed: Stop Pleasing, Start Living by Glennon Doyle
Well, the journey of becoming yourself is the wildest journey of all. This book I stayed away from for some time because I knew if I read it I was screwed. I knew Doyle would hold a glaring torch to all of my parts that are painful and raw. And she did, but I liked it because the truth is you have to do the work and you have to face the hard parts if you want the joy or peace or less resistance. Doyle reminds us that the patriarchy is within just as much as without. Best to move on from the dogma, unchain and set yourself free!
I loved reading about her meeting her wife. I thought that chapter was quite magical and beautiful to read. Stories, fragments, essays and truths that echo long after you read the words….
Woman on the Verge - Art Journal and Memoir - Buy Book HereWoman on the Verge - The Subject is Herself
by Michelle Johnston
Michelle shares her art visual diaries on a journey of poetry, photography, prose and creativity while reflecting on art, motherhood and being true to yourself. A book for seekers and heart centred souls who need a spirit ally in the form of a book…
This is not a book about Benedict Cumberbatch: On finding your thing and loving it like your life depends on it by Tabitha Carvan
Oh how I love this book. I must say when I realised what this was all about I knew I needed to read it and inhale it I did. As a woman with many passions this book was a great elixir and still continues to shape how I look at my Italian adventure I have had though writing and researching over the past few years.
Tabitha Carvan is in the middle of mothering two small children becomes obsessed with the actor Benedict Cumberbatch. Over time she realises that her obsession is slightly taking over her life. Fortunately her husband is cool with the obsession and the love of Mr Cumberbatch, but soon Carvan starts to question, why. Over the following years she works hard to unravel what caused or triggered this need and high passion.
Through research and interevews with others who have gone head first into an obsession or passionate interest to discover more than she bargained for. And this is where I was quite illuminated. Yes, something changed for me, and I had a fine epiphany in the process. This epiphany I am not quite ready to talk about I am still in the middle of a kind of spiritual awakening of sorts.
Anyway who said mid life was going to be boring? Far from it, it all just gets better. Read this book and smile, a lot.
Traveling with Pomegranates: A Mother and Daughter Journey to the Sacred Places of Greece, Turkey and France by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor
Sue Monk Kidd and her daughter Ann travel to Greece, Turkey and France and share their experiences and stages of life as the book weaves from one narrator/writer to the other. Both women are at pivotal stages of their lives and explore the reality of breaking through with their work and their lives. A great adventure of Mothers and Daughters and the places we need to go!
Medicine Woman by Lynn V. Andrews
This book I have had for a very long time and I still adore the wisdom and experience of Lynn Andrews. Andrews leaves behind her cool LA lifestyle to go on a spiritual quest in the wilds of Manitoba, Canada. At first she is searching for a sacred art object to add to her art collection, yet her mission becomes so much more. There she meets Agnes Whistling Elk and Ruby Plenty Chiefs and is iniatiated into Indian Medicine and the Medicine Wheel and the feminine ways of seeing.
A great rolicking, and often dangerous journey of spiritual insight, women’s power medicine and what’s more it is non fiction!
The Camino: A Journey of the Spirit by Shirley MacLaine
Shirley MacClaine is the author of many books about her personal and spiritual experiences. Never afraid to dance to the beat of a different drum her questions and seeking has taken her around the world to Peru and the Amazon for her earlier books sharing her experiences of transcendence and personal spiritual truths.
The Camino shares the story of spending two months in Spain and walking the Santiago de Compostela, the great pilgrimage walk under the Milky Way that has been taken by millions. Her search leads to mystical revelations and connections with past lives and memories. MacLaine walks for herself and a friend who is dying of Cancer, and explores the physical, mystical and the spiritual life while coming to terms with her past.
Waking up in Paris: Overcoming Darkness in the City of Light by Sonia Choquette
A modern tale of life and taking chances in new places. After walking ‘The Camino’ (twice) Choquette’s marriage officially falls apart. She picks up the pieces and moves to Paris with her daughter and begins again. Sonia Choquette Intuitive Mentor, Guide and Author shares the trials and tribulations of starting life in her new city - Paris…..
Women who Run with the Wolves: Contacting the Power of the Wild Woman by Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Estes weaves stories, archetypes, intuitive wisdom and Jungian analysis to delve deeper into the psychological journey of women’s lives…. A wonderful book if interested in creative and inner journeys of women….
Girl Awakened by Suzanne Adams
I listened to this on audible and had a great adventure enjoying the main character’s ordinary world of career success, money and party life. This all goes out the window when the character loses her jobs, open up to a divine connection and a spiritual search through books, people and places…… A book of fiction with the authors true experience weaving through the pages…. Fun, light and lots of wisdom bombs if searching for some missing ingredients on the spiritual planes. I like all the travels to places to visit shamans, seers and mystical energy hot spots…
Healing Journeys with the Black Madonna: Chants, Music, and Sacred Practices of the Great Goddess
by Alessandro Belloni
I have only just discovered the work of Belloni and am intrigued with the history and the mysterious icon of the Black Madonna. Alessandro Belloni grew up in Rome, Italy and moved to New York as a teen. Through a mystical encounter with the Black Madonna her life transformed. Following the path of a professional musician Belloni continues to return to Italy to visit Sicily and Campania to play music, heal herself and research the sacred calling of the Black Madonna.
A great weaving of personal story, mystical revelation and true life while searching and cultivating a sacred practise with the Divine Feminine. Belloni is a leader in Pilgrimage walks facilitating and guiding seekers to align with the Black Madonna in the South of Italy.
The Artist’s Way: A Course in Discovering and Recovering your Creative Self by Julia Child
If feeling like you need to reexamine the reason you are on the earth plane this book is the one! This is a twelve weeks journey of journal prompts, morning pages and artist’s dates that leads you to look at the things that give you joy and creativity from a fresh perspective. A wonderful intensive spiritual journey you can do at home exploring art and creativity as muse and mentor. A great way to heal negative beliefs and look at what is holding you back!
A book that changes people’s lives…..and certainly helps bring clarity if feeling dry and parched, directionless and needing more magic!
Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
A mother of four takes time out from her family and marriage and stays in a small shack near the sea. Here Lindbergh muses over the shells on the beach and reflects on women in the 20th century and who she is in the middle of life. A book of contemplation, beauty and meditation.
I think still some of her revelations are relevant and poignant to women today. A small book that has had many reprints and special editions with a forward written by her daughter reflecting on this chapter of her mother’s life.
