Crossing to Avalon: A Woman's Midlife Quest for the Sacred Feminine

This book really resonates with me. She talks about the offer to go on pilgrimage as being a synchronous event, I think that is what happened to me when I picked up this book. As I read, I'm having all those little "aha" moments and things are starting to connect for me.I love how she relates the places and things she experiences on her pilgrimage to The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. I have read that book many times and now I know why I have been so dawn to it.I'm still reading this book, but so far it's GREAT!

This book is not necessarily an easy read - however it is phenomenal. For women (and even men) in the midst of a mid-life crossroads this book is a MUST. It is also important to read through to the end of the book where the real explanations and wisdom is. The first part of the book sets up the author's journey and travels as she ventures out on a mid-life "pilgrimage" and covers a lot of descriptions of her travels and many symbolic events. I suspect this maybe where the author looses some readers. Keep going! - Read to the end you'll find treasure!

You know, I have to say - this book is awesome - especially if you are a woman.I am not.THIS BOOK IS --------------- P R E T E N T I O U S !!! -----------------as all get-out! I am reading this as a women's studies requirement at a "women's centered" university I attend (what can I say?)I am struggling to read this book and find parallels to the male journey... argh.If you are a guy, skip this book at all costs, even if someone offers to give it to you for free!I know all of you are going to click on the "no" helpful voting button for this review - I don't care.CLICK IT TWICE FOR ALL I GIVE A RATS TUSHY. I just spent more than 800 bucks AND WASTED 3 MONTHS OF MY LIFE to take this class called the 'Psychology of Women' that took me on a woman's mid life spiritual quest. We looked at the various ways the author's many visits to various Cathedrals and holy places and their labyrinths throughout Europe connected with a woman's innate sense of mystery and her calming force she envelops the world with. We talked about the parallels and the differences in a woman's and mans journey, with me being the single token guy who was expected to represent all male-hood. GROSS! If I could puke, I would.Men, stay away from this book. Women, bare your teeth and vote NO to this review because I am evil. Thank you.

Jean Shinoda Bolen, MD is one of my favorite authors and this book doesn't disappoint. She is a mistress of wisdom for the Divine Feminine, goddesses throughout history, and a teacher of archetypes as an exemplary scholar of Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung. This book is an older one but still just as relevant today, almost even more so when you think about all that has come to pass since she wrote this book in the late 20th century. A reawakening of the Divine Feminine was just beginning back then and it's a prophecy that is currently being fulfill throughout the world with the resurgence of pagan/wiccan worship of various Goddesses from ancient times. Bolen wrote this as a metaphor for her spiritual awakening in the vein of Percival's quest for the holy grail and writes to help you through your own grail quest. If you are currently going through a spiritual awakening, and especially if you are experiencing a dark night of the soul, this book will sing to your soul and help guide you through it. There is so much wisdom here for both men and women who hear the call of the goddess and have a desire to not only help themselves but also help the wider world become attuned to and heal the soul of the world, Anima Mundi, and bring about the rebirth of themselves and the Divine Feminine.Quote on book jacket: "A blueprint for passing through crisis to spiritual awakening." ~ San Francisco Chronicle Book Review

I have a friend who lives the book crones don't whine, and loved it, so I ordered this for her and bought an Adirondack one so we could discuss the book together. This is her personal journey but she lost me at the part that she believed that giving birth to a child was the gateway to avalon. As a woman who decided not to birth or have a child, this turned me off. I put the book Down and haven't picked it up again. I probably will finish it so I can discuss it with my friend and maybe with the different concept that trauma may lead to lifting the Mist into Avalon. There are so many other stories I've heard in people's lives and every day that I had much more impact in their Journey towards spirituality and finding themselves then this one. I don't mean to disrespect her experience I just find it a little Blaise. But if you have an interest in The mythos of Avalon, king Arthur, camalot, as I do, you might just add this to your collection and it's just my personal review I found I didn't really like her writing style either. Im picky. But I'm sure this was a ground breaking experience/ Book in the 70s and the feminist movement emerging.

A beautiful story of this woman's journey . I am transported to magical places and memories.

I bought this book when it was first published, and came back to reread passages from time to time over the years. Lent it to a friend a year ago, and she lost it. Thanks to amazon I have it again! A good read about how the author dealt with something like a midlife crisis. Or at least that's what it helped me through. Some very thoughtful ideas and advice, and also, I like Jean Shinoda Bolen's writing style.

Jean Bolen's story of finding the joy in your own soul caught me at precisely the right time, as these things do. I am renovating my whole life, learning to live again, developing what has always been there in my heart, yet had been buried under things I had been taught to believe were true & important....most of which are not.A book to remind you to be open to all experience & take what comes. All of life is relevant if our eyes are open.

May we keep this moving and keep voicing our stories ❤ I love this book and author!!

E' un altro bel testo ben scritto da Jean Shinoda Bollen cui può risultare molto interessante per coloro che si occupano di temi femminili, ma non solo; è arrivato nei tempi previsti e ben imballato.

I read this books years ago when it first came out, then picked it up again after a friend spoke about Glastonbury. This time it was an even more amazing read. Her story and insights are incredibly synchronistic for anyone going through their middle years who has some life under their belt.

Have enjoyed this book, will definitely read again. Love reading and on a tight budget, so bought used and arrived in very good condition.

One of the main themes of Jean Shinoda Bolen's work is her distinction between masculine and feminine spirituality. She maintains that the former is felt in the mind, the latter in the body. In "Crossing to Avalon" she takes us with her on a journey around the energy power points of Europe to find the source of that sacred feminine and to experience it first hand.It is on this pilgrimage that she moves out her usual role of guide and analyst and becomes the seeker and the guided; and in doing so she reveals to us Jean Shinoda Bolen the woman. She graphically explains the internal and external processes taking place, providing throughout an historical and mythological background, which serves to set both the scene and the task.This is a highly personal account but that adds to its readability and usefulness rather than detracts from it. Unlike many other books on finding personal meaning Jean Shinoda Bolen demonstrates to us that although the journey to find the Grail can be easily documented the actual travelling and arrival at the search departure point is as painful and enlightening for those who have gone before as it is for those who follow.