The Woman Awake: Feminine Wisdom for Spiritual Life

Regina Sara Ryan, a former Catholic nun, began her search for the feminine face of God in 1983; this book is the result of that search. The stories of her own journey are intersected by those of other women of spirit, including Sufi master Irina Tweedie, and humanitarian Dr Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. Read more Continue reading Read less AMAZON.COM REVIEW
When former Catholic nun Regina Sara Ryan set out to find the feminine side of God, she didn't exactly expect a face to face meeting. But as she began to approach exemplars of feminine spirituality, she found herself invited warmly into the world of the Divine Feminine. In Woman Awake, Ryan recounts her experiences with 24 great women from across the spiritual spectrum: Joan Halifax of Zen, Irina Tweedie of Sufism, Mother Tessa Bielecki of Christianity, Lalitha of Baul tantra, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, plain old humanitarian. Whether it be the path of service, solitude, art, the body, or the warrior, each woman manifests the Divine Mother in a unique and challenging way. Ryan, a tireless seeker, sees these women's lives and teachings in the light of wider spiritual and women's concerns while also weaving separate patterns of female deities and past masters, such as Tara, Kali, Hildegard, and Mirabai. As Ryan points out, waking up is a fearsome confrontation with our own complacency. Woman Awake sounds the alarm. --Brian Bruya FROM PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Embracing spiritual teachers from among an eclectic group of women, Ryan looks into both the past and present as she strives to portray ways in which women can awaken into a new life, enlightened and knowing the Divine Mother. Ryan explores the different paths that the Divine Mother uses to call forth such life in women: solitude and prayer, surrender, power, motherhood and compassion. She selects a variety of writings from different teachersAe.g., Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, Simone Weil, Hildegard of BingenAto illustrate the number of paths available to those seeking to follow the path of the Divine Mother and become a "woman awake." Ryan also indicates the difficulties of taking this path to enlightenment: "A woman awake...a woman with a fierce and awesome commitment...is a fearsome confrontation of our mediocrity and casualness inspiration is a cheap substitute for life! If we want the goods, we're going to have to pay a price...that's why the path is hard." Ryan, a former Roman Catholic nun, is now a member of the Bauls of Bengal, India, an ecstatic sect of singers.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. FROM LIBRARY JOURNAL
Western spirituality fails to nourish many women and men in their search for the feminine face of God. Ryan, a theology and psychology professor, former Catholic nun, and author, sought beyond the confines of her own religious background to discover aspects of the Divine Feminine in every spiritual tradition she has studied. This book brings together a wealth of inspiration from the lives of women, past and present, such as Mary, the Mother of Jesus; Simone Weil; Buddhist teacher Joan Halifax; Mother Teresa; and Hindu poetess Mirabai, who exemplify the creative spirit of divine love and wisdom. Ryan brings a balanced perspective to her reflections, recognizing that both feminine and masculine elements must be nurtured fully to achieve spiritual wholeness. Women and men will find this exceptional book thought-provoking.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Regina Sara Ryan is a former Catholic nun who has studied contemplation and mysticism for over 40 years. In the early 1970s, Regina began to explore many religious traditions, particularly inspired by the lives of the great women of Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism and Sufism. Since meeting the Western Baul master Lee Lozowick in 1984, Regina has continued to follow what she calls a path of "unashamed devotion" in which she works to bring her life of contemplation into action. She conducts seminars and retreats in the U.S. and Europe. Read more Continue reading Read less