Enchanted Love: The Mystical Power Of Intimate Relationships [Paperback]

Marianne Williamson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 8, 2001

Three of Marianne Williamson's previous bestsellers -- A Return to Love, A Woman's Worth, and Illuminata -- explored the issue of relationships. Now, in this deeply personal collection of essays, prayers, and self-reflection, she turns to romantic love.

In Illuminata, Williamson wrote that "we experience God to the extent to which we love, forgive, and focus on the good in others and ourselves." Now, in Enchanted Love, she writes that "enchanted partnership begins with the conscious understanding, on the part of two people, that the purpose of their relationship is not so much material as spiritual, and the internal skills demanded by it are prodigious." High romance, she says, "is not about past or future. It is not about practicality. It is not about society or worldly routines. It is an audacious ride to the center of what is, at the heart of every person. It is a bold and masterful inquiry into what two people really are and how we might become, while still on earth, the angels who reside within us."

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Romance is one of the sacred temples that dot the landscape of life," writes Marianne Williamson (A Return to Love, The Healing of America). "We tend to lack humility toward love, to patronize it rather than bow before it, to put mundane considerations before the emotional need to hold someone in our arms." When we make routines and practicality more valuable than love, we deny ourselves the opportunity to experience true enchantment and a deeper connection with God. Ultimately, Williamson offers a compelling invitation to overcome fear of heartache and enter into the whirlwind mystery of romance. Chapters include topics such as "Removing the Ghosts," "Grace and Forgiveness," "Marriage, Monogamy, Safety and God," and "Bodies and Soul."

Some readers may find Williamson's theories about male-female dynamics validating, while others may find them offensive. For example, Williamson believes that males are natural-born hunters, which means men need the thrill of the hunt during courtship and beyond. "A man should never have to totally stop working to figure out his woman, not if the woman wants him to remain interested," she claims. In fact, she believes that a fascinating woman is like a "Mercedes" or "Jaguar"--she is "high maintenance and doesn't apologize for the fact." --Gail Hudson --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Musing about deeply passionate love in prose that's sometimes overwrought, spiritual thinker and bestselling author Williamson (Illuminata, etc.) pleads for a millennial movement toward "holy romance," based on deep spiritual connection between partners. Essentially addressing baby boomer women, she advocates a "new model of romance" and relationships containing "love, righteousness, compassion." Describing her blend of Christian-influenced belief tempered with goddess worship and myth as "mystical feminism," Williamson calls on women to help men find a similar cosmic rebirth. Cautioning women not to strategize or use manipulative tactics to gain a man's attentions (otherwise, he'll be the wrong one), she offers many insights, especially about forgiveness, healing and partnering. Williamson's views on monogamy, sexuality and male and female characteristics are provocative ("a woman should always be one step ahead of a man"). She often wraps her ideas in self-conscious, muddled prose, though her many fervent fans may not mind the overflowing images of mermaids, spaceships, angels and castles. Each chapter is accompanied by tender, candid entries from the author's journal and lovely prayers crafted for relationships. Women seeking the right relationship will find the book reassuring and ardent, if not always clear. Agent, Al Lowman. 14-city author tour; 20-city radio tour. (Oct.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1st Touchstone Ed edition (February 8, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684870258
• ISBN-13: 978-0684870250
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,813 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Her best book yet., November 16, 1999

By 

Tom (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Enchanted Love: The Mystical Power Of Intimate Relationships (Hardcover)

This is her best book yet. There is a mystical quality to the writing itself. Marianne creates a context for relationships in Enchanted Love, rather than just telling you what to specifically do to get them to happen. Without this context, it doesn't even matter what you do, in a certain kind of a way. With this book, Marianne goes more to the essence of what is needed in order for us to create the kind of relationships we all dream about. I read some of these customer reviews and I think a lot of people are maybe looking to this book as some kind of self-help book, having certain expectations for what it's supposed to be. You know, step one, do this...step two, do that. I think Marianne breaks that mold with this book. For me, just reading it shifted me, opened me. She is speaking to another part of our brain, I think. In other words, it's the kind of book that gets in there, even when you are not looking. For instance, I read Enchanted Love and then a couple of days later I found myself referring to certain ideas Marianne talks about in the book, while I was talking with a friend...concepts I didn't even know had particularly registered with me while I was reading them. I find myself doing that a lot...going back to sections of it over and over again. Almost everyone I know who's read it says they want to read it again. I am constantly amazed at how much more I can see about life, about love, and about romance since I read Marianne's remarkable book. Do yourself a favor, sit with it. Read it slowly. Let it sink in. Think about it. Savor it. It'll open doors. It did for me, anyway.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A heartfelt book by a great author, August 6, 2000

By 

Amazon reviewer (Montréal, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Enchanted Love: The Mystical Power Of Intimate Relationships (Hardcover)

If you want to have an idea of this book, i suggest reading the Amazon.com and the Booklist reviews, as i will add to those comments. It is right to point out that some of Marianne's theories about male-female dynamics are rather surprising of her. Such theories certainly do not stem from the teachings of A Course In Miracles and are misguiding. But, that putted aside, her teachings are very usefull in bringning light on many aspects of intimate relationships. To illustrate the principles exposed in her book, the author shares a text addressed to her lover (be he her true lover or an imagined one). These are by far the most touching and powerful parts of this whole work. Marianne's words come from deep within her heart and are very useful to put the reader in the spirit of the denser and more "practical" parts of the book. Booklist's reviewer don't seem to share this opinion, to make your mind on this topic and to have a good idea of the book, i recommend you read the two chapters that the author lets you read for FREE. On a closing note i would say to those who have read ACIM, that Marianne's new book's message seems to be that intimate relationships are not all "special relationships" and that they can be used as healing and holy relationships, and i can only agree with her. She comes to find a name for those relationships; Sacred Romance. I would give this book 4½ stars, but that being not not possible, i will give 4 stars, for its tiny flaws.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I think they missed the point..., November 29, 1999

By 

H. Hunter "huntbot" (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews

Oh, you silly willies! She says in the introduction that "ENCHANTED LOVE" is a collection of prayers, meditations, and little more than her own impressions about love - it's not a "book" in any sense of the word at all - and she didn't mean it to be. It's instead sort of an intimate evening at home discussing romantic love with Marianne. She's just sort of free-associating at times - and if this works for you, great! If not, well, there are plenty of "how to" books out there. This is a great book, if you're willing to "forget logic. Forget your head. Open your heart, and come with me," as she writes in the frontispiece. And I think the dedication is VERY classy!