Customer Reviews

Crafting the Body Divine: Ritual, Movement and Body Art

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's in the pagan section, it's by a pagan author - but like another review said, there's not that much specifically pagan content.

It's basically about loving your body, with the first section being mainly on accepting your body, nutrition, and cosmetics etc., section two is "Movement as Ritual" ie dance & belly-dance, and section three is on "Altering Body: Altering Spirit" basically all about tattoos, mainly her tattoos.

The book is mainly about what the author has dealt with (speaking from experience is good), so if you've ever had problems with the way you view your body (eating problems), you like paying attention to your appearance (it has cosmetic & shampoo recommendations), like belly-dancing or tattoos, this may be the book for you - unfortunately, none of the above applied to me, and she didn't do much research on anything *not* directly relating to her.
I.e. the interviews were with one friend who's disabled, another who did a marathon, *her* masseuse, and *her* tattooist.

Another example is from the body piercing section, something she didn't have a personal interest in:
In a list of 12 piercings, she mentions *9* genital piercings, and only 3 standard ones - ears, navel & nipple. What's with that? Why not mention more common ones such nose, lip, eyebrow, etc., etc.? They're more common than a 'hafada' or 'apadravya'.
She seemed very fixated on the sexual ones. She also mentions piercings may produce a 'psychic portal', but maybe doesn't realise that one of the *most* common traditional uses of piercings is to protect entrances to the body (most are near body openings, i.e. ears, nose, mouth etc.).

Her focus in the movement section was mostly dancing & yoga, which are ok, but, again, I would have appreciate more variety because while they're ok, they're not my thing.

Basically, speaking from experience is all very well, but some research might have been nice - I was starting to crave someone else's opinion - anyone's!

I think my major misconception about the book was that it would have a more pagan focus, as I ended up going to quite a bit of effort to get hold of this, and it is basically just a mainstream health & beauty book (which I would never have bought if I'd realised) with the addition of a focus on tattooing.

While I personally didn't get anything from the book (which was really disappointing, because I absolutely *loved* her other pagan books) if you're more similar in personality to the author, and not expecting an overly religious focus, you would probably get a lot more out of it than me.
:)

A frank, honest, and personal book about learning to live in and love your body, with a Pagan twist on the topic. Topics range from eating healthy to body modification (tattoos, piercings, etc).

Lots of great advice, a great attitude is presented here, and it's storylike enough to make it interesting from cover to cover. Doesn't come across preachy or "witchier-than-thou" in any way.

Thanks Yasmine! Keep up the good work!

This book caught my attention when I read that the author talked about body acceptance and body modification such as tattoos. (I love both subjects). In the end I learned more about that and more. I love Yasmine's way of writing, as if she's talking to you over a cup of tea...or coffee. She doesn't mind giving examples from her own life so the reader can relate. I also got some new rituals to try in this book and learned more about different gods and goddesses that I never learned about or are not widely known. As a result of reading this book, I am currently reading Sexual Ecstasy and the Divine by her. This book is under the Pagan catagory, but can be read by people who are not Pagan.

Crafting the Body Divine

Crossing Press

Yasmine Galenorn has begun a new revolution. Crafting the Body Divine brings us to a new level of spirituality through accepting and loving our bodies. No matter the shape, size or color, you can now learn to love your body, and through this, learn to truly love yourself.

Learn Rituals, Yoga and Dance. The movements of our bodies are expressions and these make our bodies feel good. In return, it wakes us up and we connect with our spiritual planes. Rejoice in the goddess through rejoicing in your body. Become as one to make yourself whole. Learn how to express yourself, using your body, with tattoo art or body piercings.

We all take care and pride in our homes, cars, and spiritual qualities. Now, Crafting the Body Divine shows us how to love, respect and take pride in our bodies, to truly become whole with goddess. Learn to accept your body as a gift, not as a curse.

Crafting the Body Divine has filled a void in a subject that has been lost, yet needed for so long. Look in the mirror, love thyself and let your Light shine!

Be sure to look for her next book Sexual Ecstasy and the Divine released in April 2002.

M.L. Benton, Publisher, Echoed Voices.
Copyright © December 2001