Customer Reviews

World Weary Woman: Her Wound and Transformation (Studies in Jungian Psychology By Jungian Analysts, 96)

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It is one thing for a psychologist to study and identify a particular type of person; in this case, dutiful women with not enough time, who cloak their pain and loneliness with high achievement, and the admiration of others. (In short, the American ideal.)

It is another thing for the same psychologist to follow these women over a ten-year period, describing the changes that age, therapy and growth bring.

It is quite another thing for a writer to describe the meaning of the changes (and lack of change) that these women experience as they explore the emptiness they feel and the fearfulness they experience in attempting to grow into balanced (happy) persons.

Cara Barker has accomplished all three tasks exceedingly well, and in doing so has held up a mirror that women can use to identify ways to move out of the loneliness and pain of high achievement and over-work. For men, the mirror reveals what happens when he allows his fear of closeness to shut down the very nurturing and support his partner needs, as well as suggesting ways to deal with his own emptiness and lack of balance. Having been a psychotherapist for more than twenty years, I am particularly pleased with Cara Barker's sensitivity and obvious clinical skills which have provided me with dozens of ideas for working with "World Weary Women".

I have summarized this wonderful book with the following poem:

World Weary Woman

With no time to enjoy/ she wears the crysaline coat of duty/ cloaking her wounds/ with other's admiration./

Will the hurt open her heart/ to take the path of play?/

Or will she, hardened by/ her manly feats, refuse the taste/ of nurture's cup?/

© 2001 by Walter Vesper

Cara Barker reveals the true essence of women in this inspiring and deeply moving book about the experience of women in a society that has lost touch with the true nature of women. Here, through the experiences of other women, Dr. Barker lets us touch what we have lost--our true natures--and be healed by the revelation of what that nature is. Despite seemingly successful lives, so many of the women I know are dissatisfied, even despondent at times--myself included--and here in World Weary Woman is the explanation for this experience of life, and a path to reclaiming a richer, more real experience revealed. Through our losses and a sense of abandonment by this strange, demanding world in which we live we can find our way back to the creative force that exists in all women, and heal ourselves, Dr. Barker says, and I believe her. I am changed simply from reading this gentle yet powerful book for and about women. I plan to share it with all my friends.

Dr. Cara Barker has amazing insight into "Type A" women and the difficulities they face in their lives. This readable and personal book is a must for anyone wanting to move from an intellectual/mind oriented way of living to a more spiritual/feminine way.

After having lost 140lbs I didn't know why maitaining it was so difficult. When losing weight, you are forced to confront issues that led you to eat yourself fat. "What's eating her?" I think if we can tackle the archetypes and keep them under wraps (only tapping into their powerful sides) we can overcome all of lifes ups and downs.

The book helped me analyse a part of me that I would have needed alot of sessions to reveal. I'm thankful for the book and will suggest it to all world weary women I know. We are many, but little by little the layers comes off to reveal a better more emotionally stable being.

My mother is a "World Weary Woman." Like many women in their twenties I have had issues surrounding my mother which could not quite be explained. As I read this book the relationship I have with my mother came into clearer focus. I feel that every daughter should read this book because it explains so much about the relationship many of us have with our mothers. It has given me an insight which is very positive. This book is a wonderful testament to the ever transforming relationship of the female. I highly reccomend this book, it is an excellent read and VERY insightful