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Meeting the Madwoman: An Inner Challenge for Feminine Spirit

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AMAZED ME THE FIRST TIME THROUGH AND UPON REREADING I DOVE MORE DEEPLY INTO A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF MYSELF, MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY MOTHER, AND THE MANY ARCHETYPES AND PERSONAS SO STRONGLY PRESENT UPON MY PATH. MS. SCHIERSE LEONARD HAS THE ABILITY TO AFFECT LIVES DRAMATICALLY WITH HER AMAZING KNOWLEDGE AND CREATIVITY. NEVER DULL, ALWAYS POINGNANT, SHE WELCOMES US TO DESCEND INTO THE UNDERWORLD, CONFRONT, AND BEFRIEND THE WILD SHADOW IN ALL OF US. IF YOU WANT TO HEAL YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOURSELF OR YOUR MOTHER YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK.

I picked up this book for a research project I am doing--Portrayals of Women in the 19th Century, and How They Compare to Portrayals of Women Today. The book was wonderful! It's written beautifully, and really gives a deep look at the lives of women. I loved the analysis of movies like Thelma and Louise, Fatal Attraction--it makes you see what really was the message in films like that. I recommend this book to everybody that is interested in the history of women.

I'm not much into reading non-fiction..normally pick it up for a bit and then file it away..but this has kept me captivated. I would recomend it to anyone, especially younger women trying to figure themselves out, and men trying to figure women out (ha ha). A very empowering book.

The highest compliment I can pay Dr. Leonard is that this brilliant book catalyzed transformation in my life, and those whom I shared her premise with. I was spurred on, upon reading this book to create a dynamic workshop, which has led to a philanthropic theater project to be brought to girls coming of age in residential group care.

The basic message Leonard imparts is that in the journey of spiritual and Self-realization the stage of `madness' precedes surrender and acceptance. Spiritual madness/ Breakdown is a potential path to truth, as it is a descent into darkness where all illusions are stripped away and an old consciousness and old belief system can be released. Essentially this state of madness involves a prolonged descent into the unknown. Intense suffering, disillusionment, and loneliness generally characterize this experience. During this intense prolonged crisis, one may feel abandoned, terrified and out of control. Initially the challenge is to turn within, and away from seeking direction from others, yet concomitantly remaining attuned to synchronicity and the principle of faith. Ultimately we are challenged to find communion from a new place of integration and perspective, in which paradox is embraced.

The plight of the the woman struggling to actualize parts of the self that have been rejected, involves a descent into madness. Leonard emphasizes that it is essential to differentiate between the divine madness that involves an inner descent/journey that can lead to integration, from that which can be referred to as destructive craziness. The inner Madwoman erupts, in an effort to confront inner and outer oppression, and subjugation. When the oppressive forces of order and control are challenged, the Madwoman emerges as an impulse towards freedom. The repression of life-giving creative energy can result in a destructive madness, when the victimization is prolonged. The courage and determination to live in one's truth, requires the strength of a Madwoman. The creative aspect of madness, can potentially manifest as extreme creative outbursts, activism, visions, etc. However, when one's suffering is denied and avoided, the Madwoman can take over in a destructive way. It is then that her energy can be experienced as negative resigned stagnation, which stultifies creative life.

Leonard introduces us to the many `faces' of the Madwoman. She helps us to to identify the madwoman within, by asking us what we are trying to break free from. What is the form of our rebellion? What are the internal and external oppressors in our life subjugating? She encourages us to examine what confines our spirit. How is energy trapped? Is there a symbiotic cord with a mad mother that needs to be cut? Do you need to reclaim you voice and vocalize rage? Are you an outcast, a visionary, an addict, a shrew/hysteric, a bitch, a feral child, a warrior, a whore, and a destroyer of self or others, a victim, a recluse/loner?
We see in mythology the `Madwoman' is often depicted as a creator and destroyer. In fairy tales she is often depicted as a witch, catalyzing in the maiden great power when she faces the darkness within. We all live out our own personal myths and can relate to these archetypes on personal and transpersonal levels. It is by elevating our own stories to archetypal and mythical levels that we infuse the profane with the sacred. In so doing, we open up to transformative possibilities.

What we ultimately discover through this dark journey is the gift is of paradox. The `destroyer' is the `creator'. The mythic and the mundane are interconnected. Polarities join. The Ego meets God and fantasy is removed. For those who endure and integrate the wisdom found within the descent into madness, it is also recognized that the Madwoman within is the Holy Spirit.

Meet all of your internal madwomen & embrace them all. This book was really a find. It led me on a journey uncovering so much about women & the need to create, to embrace totally the Goddess within myself & other women as well. I really got into reading up on all the goddesses & all of their abilities & reclaimed my own. Own up to your power ladies.

THE BOOK REALLY GAVE AN INDEPTH LOOK AT WOMEN IN BOTH THE PRESENT AND PAST, AS WELL AS FROM OTHER CULTURES THAN THE UNITED STATES. I PARTICULARLY ENJOYED READING THE PORTION IN THE BOOK ABOUT THE CELTIC WOMEN AND HER RIVALRY WITH HER MORE CIVILIZED SON.

I loved this book for a lot of reasons and I could re-read and re-read it. I'm feeling it. Many people - and especially women - are in the torturous position of having real love in their hearts, wanting that perfection, and being in the world where you have to adapt to systems that are the opposite of love. We bury it, we deny it, we try to be oblivious, but it's always there underneath lurking away. For some of us, it bleeds right out onto the surface. Truly sane women must go mad sometimes, because you can't despise systems of cruelty and make it in this world. Nature opposes us, the world often opposes us, as do the powerful, our own nature and whoever created all this. The closer you look at truth the more real pain gets the more "mad" you get. Sometimes only oblivion or cold detachment makes you "happy" and "normal." Crazy people have tapped into reality - which is why they're crazy in the first place.

I like the different archetypes in here - The Recluse, The Visionary, The Bag Lady, The Muse, The Revolutionary, also - Ice Queen, Rejected Lover, Caged Bird, Dragon Lady. I relate to all of those on different levels, especially Recluse, Visionary, Revolutionary.

I think they should've added the Angry Amazon, The Hunchback ( a male madwoman, but I definitely relate) and also the Adapter, strangely enough. I know a lot of women who are "adapters" and they have much inner madness bubbling around in their guts. Their smiles are cracking, their anger and torment just under the surface, they join patriarchal institutions, they tow the line, they talk about "soft" power in their attempt to manipulate the people that rule and/or abuse them, but they're very, very angry, I'm not so sure she's that oblivious either. I relate to her too, she's trying to gentle the world down, by joining it and manipulating it from within. Beauty and the Beast. It doesn't work that well either, she'd be better of a Dragon Lady and Revolutionary which actually does work a little better and you don't have to suck as much d*ck. If you know how to control that power and not make the mistake of using it against the small, you can protect your castle (what you love) with wisely used fierce power. If you don't let Bag Lady or Hunchback get you, that is. Too late for some unfortunately - but someone out there take heed. Men can also be madwomen if they feel that inner torment and have a fierce desire to protect the small and helpless.

Having said that, I hope my inner Goddess rules over my inner madwoman most of the time. I'd rather that than my inner crazy because the same things that inspired madwoman behavior can easily slip into the same behaviors that inspired it - cruelty, tyranny etc.... Being so depressed you can't function doesn't help what you love, being so mad you can't deal with the world doesn't ultimately help your cause. The most positive madwomen are visionary and revolutionary.