Weaving the Visions: New Patterns in Feminist Spirituality by Judith Plaskow

by Judith Plaskow

Excellent Book

Genres: Religion, Spirituality, Feminism, Nonfiction, Judaism, Womens, Theology

Paperback

First published February 1, 1989

Reviews

[missy jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had to recommend just one text to someone interested in feminist spirituality, this would be my first choice because of the diversity of perspectives and religious backgrounds represented.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made my mind explode when I read it in the early 1990s. This book connected me to a history of women in religious life and to a more fuller and complex understanding of God's nature that I had ever previously thought possible. Would it hit someone with the same impact today? It depends upon your religious background. Explore God's feminine side, learn about the ways God has spoken and still speaks to women, and perhaps you, too, will strengthen your faith and your sense of self. Highly recommended for all women faithful to a patriarchal form of worship who think there's something missing in their religious and devotional life.

[Denise M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plaskow and Christ are great editors - lots of interesting texts in this book.

[P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though somewhat dated now, and while some of the power invoked is from an essentialist root, I found these essays quite lovely overall. They have given voice/language to things I’ve felt but didn’t have an appropriate/precise vocabulary to express and made me think of things in spirituality and religion like I’d never thought of before. I love that there is a balance of theory and somewhat personal essays (which also include theory) which makes the reading quite approachable (I’ve struggled w reading theory in the past). Highly recommend to (everyone, really) those who have long since left the church and are now finding themselves creating spiritual practices and rituals for themselves to feel connected to a divine energy that they believe is just as real as science.

Fav essays: “My Sister, My Spouse” by E. Ann Matter, “The Myth of Demeter and Persephone” by Charlene Spretnak, all of the “Naming the Sacred” section (esp “Artemis” and “The Goddess as Metaphoric Image”), “Womanist Theology” by Delores S. Williams, “Uses of the Erotic” by Audre Lorde, “Archetypal Theory” by Naomi R. Goldenberg, “Feminism and the Ethic of Inseparability” by Catherine Keller, “Sexuality, Love, Justice” by Carter Heyward, and “Ritual as Bonding” by Starhawk

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I really appreciated this book for all the obvious reasons. Slight disappointment in a few of the pieces-- while I was glad to see a variety of genres, some of the more "creative" pieces left me wishing for something more; some continuation of the editors' commentary, or a critical response. This isn't to say I favored a more rigidly academic structure, as the pieces that interested me the most were transgenre (i.e.: Anzaldúa). Further, a little more cohesion so there wasn't as much overlap between some of the pieces (I recall reading a few times the same arguments about the femininity of God) would have been useful. Nonetheless a powerful work in raising consciousness of different frameworks and practices.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for all women, an excellent reconnection to what has been lost over time

[Glitter · Rating 2 out of 5]