Aphrodite's Daughters: Women's Sexual Stories and the Journey of the Soul [Paperback]

Jalaja Bonheim (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 4, 1997

Incorporating a wide variety of women's voices and relationships, including ancient goddess archetypes, this unique volume takes an intimate look at the transformative power of women's sexual experiences. Original. 25, 000 first printing".

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In the early 1980s, Bonheim traveled to India to study classical dance and, as it happened, to be introduced to an aging devidasa, a woman who had served as a sexual priestess in the Hindu tradition of Tantra. That meeting sparked in Bonheim a previously unacknowledged interest in discovering the role of sexuality in women's spiritual lives. Now a therapist, Bonheim has interviewed dozens of women for this profound and moving exploration of how body touches soul. Here is a nun who found love with another woman and, eventually, turned back to celibacy. Here is a woman who, raped as a teenager, descended into a personal hell from which truly sensuous love saved her. While these and the other stories are gripping as stories, Bonheim's poetic commentary provides the threads of meaning that bind them together into an excellent, unusual, passionate book. Patricia Monaghan

Review

How does a woman's sexual experience affect her spirituality? Bonheim invited dozens of women from various spiritual backgrounds to tell their stories of their sexual experiences: the result is a collection which reflects upon connections between sexuality, spiritual and social development. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone; Original edition (June 4, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684830809
• ISBN-13: 978-0684830803
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #279,522 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Aphrodite's Daughters, October 23, 2002

By 

Nissa (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aphrodite's Daughters: Women's Sexual Stories and the Journey of the Soul (Paperback)

In the introduction of this book Jalaja Bonheim tells the incredible story of her journey through India and her discovery of the history of Indian dance.

I continued to read the book and suddenly I could not put it down. She tells the sexual stories of many women: pregnancy, rape, incest, bisexuality, marriage, relationships, polyamory, passionate monogamy etc. Jalaja writes about different woman's experiences and doesn't try to push her opinions onto the reader. While reading the stories you can explore your own sexuality, and what it means to you personally. Jalaja's insights were incredible, and had a profound impact on my life (at a time when I really needed a deeper understanding of sexual abuse and intimacy). This has become one of my favorite books on women's sexuality.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars With _Aphrodite's Daughters_, the personal is mythical, March 28, 2002

By 

WitchGrrl (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aphrodite's Daughters: Women's Sexual Stories and the Journey of the Soul (Paperback)

This book is completely amazing. Bonheim interviews "ordinary" women about the connections they perceive between sex and the divine in their lives, and explores the themes of their stories using myths and philosophy from around the world.
It's easy to read, moving, and inspiring. I couldn't put it down. Without a doubt the best book I've read in the past year, and I've read a lot! I can't recommend it highly enough.

A must-read for any sexual woman on the spiritual path!

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Expect to be changed!, January 24, 2002

By 

HooDooGirl (Santa Fe) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Aphrodite's Daughters: Women's Sexual Stories and the Journey of the Soul (Paperback)

Unbelievable! An avid reader, this is the ONLY book I own that I, selfishly, refuse to lend out from my personal collection. (I have however, bought a copy for at least 5 different friends!) Through a series of spiritual and sexual accounts nationwide, Jalaja encourages, no, make that -demands- us, as women, to re-evaluate, not only the role of sexuality in our lives, but the ineffable link between body and spirit; between passion and God. Expect to be changed by this book. It will challenge you, provoke you, and in the end, comfort you. No matter what your history, your sexual orientation, your desires from Self or Life, you will put this book down with a sigh, revelling in the wonder of who you are as a woman.