Body of Wisdom

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY MAR 11, 2013

Hart (The Unknown She) explores how women's bodies are uniquely spiritual vehicles. Drawing on spiritual teachers, visionaries, and healers from diverse traditions, she establishes nine spiritual abilities that are integrated into women's bodies and energy systems: longing, appreciating beauty, synchronizing with the Earth, receiving, nourishing, purifying, recognizing life's sacredness, knowing all life as community, and working with creative space. She argues that these "powers" lie hidden in most women, and stresses the need for women to become conscious of their powers so they can regenerate their communities. As in her previous book, Hart relies heavily on women's mystical experiences and dreams. She grounds her work in the everyday realities of women, and is at her best when expounding on the spiritual nature of menstruating and breastfeeding. However, the book is also profoundly esoteric. Hart writes that "the Grandmothers," a group of women who claim to serve the Divine Mother, were "willing to contribute to book" and she quotes them. The arcane nature of the book won't appeal to everyone, but students of mysticism and women seeking a more embodied spiritual practice will likely treasure it.