Goddesses in Everywoman: Powerful Archetypes in Women's Lives (Paperback)

by Jean Shinoda Bolen (Author) "Everywoman has the leading role in her own unfolding life story..." (more)
Key Phrases: vulnerable goddesses, alchemical goddess, goddess patterns, Great Goddess, Queen of the Underworld, Goddess of the Hearth (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A glorious book. Jean Shinoda Bolen's weaving of myth, science and keen observation makes this an outstanding contribution to the humanities."--Rita Mae Brown

Product Description

Discover the Goddess Within You

Myths are fascinating stories that become even more intriguing when we realize that they can reveal intimate truths about ourselves and others. Esteemed Jungian analyst Jean Shinoda Bolen brings the Greek pantheon to life as our inner archetypes and applies the power of myth to our personal lives. Once we understand the natural progression from myth to archetype to personal psychology, and realize that positive gifts and negative tendencies are qualities associated with a particular goddess within, we gain powerful insights.

Depending on which goddess is more active within, one woman might be more committed to achieving professional success, while another more fulfilled as a wife and mother. Twenty years after its first publication, Goddesses in Everywoman continues to be deeply relevant, and with this twentieth-anniversary edition, this classic volume will continue to be celebrated.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks; 20 Anv edition (March 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060572841
• ISBN-13: 978-0060572846
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #32,621 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful insights for women & men, January 26, 2005

By	Michael P. McGarry (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Goddesses in Everywoman : Powerful Archetypes in Women's Lives (Paperback)

Dr. Bolen is one of my favorite modern authors. She is a Jungian who teaches in SF. This is a book written by an intelligent and empowered woman, in an attempt to give other women insight on their own strengths & inner gifts. She weaves the stories of 7 goddess of classical Greece (Athena, Artemis, Hestia, Hera, Demeter, Persephone, and Aphrodite) with observations of emotional & behavioral patterns culled from her years of clinical work. The result are truly compelling portraits --- almost every women will find at least one "aha!" of recognition in this book, and all of us can find some kind of "aha!" for the women dear to us in our lives. By casting these behavioral patterns as *goddesses*, Dr. Bolen is ennobling the internal & external struggles of women and underscoring their inherent strength & wisdom. It is a book of tremendous optimism, courage, and hope. This is a book I have often given as a gift to women, especially young women.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new perspective (or at least it was when 1st published), May 6, 2002

By	"seasidewanderer" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Goddesses in Everywoman: A New Psychology of Women (Paperback)

Bolen takes Jungian psychology one step further by positing that there is not just, but many, female archetypes, and that a well-balanced women should incorporate aspects from each into her personality. Bolen uses the Greek goddesses Artemis, Athena, Hestia, Persephone, Demeter, Hera and Aphrodite to illustrate aspects of feminity--including both strengths and weaknesses that come with certain characteristics. In the end, Bolen reminds women that choosing which archetype to draw from in any particular circumstance or learning to develop new aspects is critical. Absolutely fascinating!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Clear and Insightfull...., March 7, 2003

By	"sistermoon1" (SoCal, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Goddesses in Everywoman: A New Psychology of Women (Paperback)

To begin, I must praise Ms. Bolen, for writing in such a way as to have laypersons (such as myself) never feel as we are being talked down to. Many psychology books use technical terms for everything, as if tring to prove they have their degrees, bringing to mind the student who uses a thesaurus to write the term paper to impress the professor. However, this book explains any necessary technical terms quickly and concisely, and then continues on to the rest of the topic.

I found this book quite insightful, both with myself and my relationships with other women. I now understand why my closest friend is always trying to get me involved with political protests and 'acting for the Cause.' I also understand why my relationship with my boyfriend is so effected by my relationship/friendship with my mother. Our's being a definitive Persephone/Demeter relationship.

The uses of the seven Goddess archetypes (Artemis/Athena/Hestia, Hera/Demeter/Persephone, and Aphrodite) as a mode to understanding why a woman acts in a particular way. This book will definately help women to define themselves, and why they seem attracted to a specific type of lover/mate.

I definately recommend this book to all, women and men.