Customer Reviews

Dancing in the Footsteps of Eve: Retrieving the Healing Gift of the Sacred Feminine for the Human Family through Myth and Mysticism

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A stunning book about feminine spirituality, Dancing in the Footsteps of Eve throws open the doors that have held women captive in hierarchical, patriarchal, religious traditions. Perhaps it's time to safely put away the shameful Eve once and for all. This is a highly researched and brilliantly written book which proposes that we all accept a healing gift to the world through inclusivity rather than exclusivity. Thank Goddess for Heather Mendel!

Dancing in the Footsteps of Eve is a profound spiritual journey through mysticism, myth and intellect. Heather captivates the reader with her ability to weave a tapestry leading to discovering the power of the feminine aspect which has been diminished in the patriarchal world. For me, it brought back deep memories of ancient times where there was balance and harmony. I feel more inspired to explore and honor my own female nature and support the women and men in my life to do the same. Dancing in the Footsteps of Eve is truly a must-read book for all people seeking a deeper level of spiritual awareness.
~Vishara Veda, author of The Joining...From the Silence Beyond Time

This book should be required reading for any Introduction to Judaism class. There's so much more too it than the title implies, though the rebbetzin does a great job expounding on her idea of the Sacred Feminine.

This book is timely as in the last few weeks in the media, I have seen several different articles about efforts to empower women--(Maria Shriver, Hillary Clinton, and Oprah). When women are empowered, they put their efforts into children and the future and from there into their community and society as a whole. Men put their efforts into safety and growth. As a society, we need both influences. Like a surfer, Heather Mendel is "catching the wave."

As a non-Jew, I found it informative as well as interesting to learn about some of the practices within the Jewish religion; there is a compelling story for others who are non-Jews.

In our western tradition, Eve is the mother of us all, and has been blamed for everything mothers get blamed for, plus a good deal more. But does this usual view of Eve sour our view of women and ultimately our view of ourselves, whether men or women, because we are all born from women? What if the Biblical Eve's curiosity were seen in a wholly different light - not as evil, but rather as the natural, God given quality and agent of advancement of human intelligence and understanding? Isn't it curiosity and the pursuit of possibility that lead us to explore our world and that drive scientific inquiry? Exploration leads to technological advances and greater understanding of ourselves as intelligent physical and social beings, and lays the groundwork on which we can develop a healthier society. America was founded on the dream of possibility, of forming a society free from all tyranny. The natural spirit of curiosity and positive engagement with the world can be seen as a response to a divine call, for both women and men.
It is this positive engagement with the world that Heather Mendel explores in Dancing in the Footsteps of Eve. She gives an introduction to Jewish scriptures that makes them accessible to Jews and non Jews alike. She looks at the early writings through lenses of history, myth, culture and practical application.
Mendel applies left and right brain, mind and heart to wrestling with the all important questions of who or what is God and what is our true nature as men and women, being made in the image of God. Christians and Jews, and those of any or no religious persuasion who would like to start from a healthy and positive concept of the human being can relate to this well researched and heartfelt "Yes" to our common scriptural roots.

Kathy [...]

I can't think of anything more necessary in today's world than the kind of thinking Heather Mendel does in her new book, Dancing in the Footsteps of Eve.

With deep respect for her sources, Mendel leaves behind literalist assumptions and explores deeper and broader interpretations of basic concepts in our sacred texts.

Surely Western civilization has matured enough to move beyond blaming its mother.

Join Heather Mendel in welcoming Eve back to her rightful place of honor in our mythos.

MS. MENDEL HAS WRITTEN A BOOK THAT SHOULD BE READ BY ALL WOMEN (& MEN) WHO LOVE FEMALE ENERGY, HISTORY & EVOLUTION

What a delight to find Heather Mendel's "Dancing in the Footsteps of Eve", a scholarly work that keeps the reader eagerly turning pages to find - more!

My mind is pleased with new knowledge, new books to explore, the use of myth and a warm and welcoming writing style.

My heart is pleased with the idea of the Midrashim and God as a verb, "I shall be that I shall be", and many other new ideas.

More, Please.