Coming Into Your Own: A Woman's Guide Through Life Transitions

by Barbara Cecil

Google references 94,000,000 hits dealing with “Women in Life Transitions.” What if the throes of change provide access to one’s innate calling? Author Barbara Cecil's experience with thousands of women says that this is so, and that these women want help to align themselves with an inner truth. Coming Into Your A Woman's Guide Through Life Transitions helps organize the chaos inherent in change. It gives readers a path that is rightly their own. Personal stories from women around the world give hope.

Coming Into Your Own describes the inherent “field of possibility” that lives just under the storylines of our lives. This invisible field contains the potential that is uniquely our own. The book also outlines specific, universal phases of transition in what Cecil has named the "Wheel of Change." She calls these phases “Dwelling Places” because we must dwell in each one for as long as it takes to fulfill the promise of that stage. Identifying where we are on this map is greatly relieving. Once we know where we are, we understand how to make contact with the underlying field of possibility that will, in turn, inform our choices and give meaning to our lives.

222 pages, Paperback

First published May 20, 2015

Reviews

[Mark Valentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Cecil's wisdom profound, timely, and germane. She writes with clarity and sincerity, but more importantly, with substance. Each chapter has insights, multiple anecdotal stories that illustrate her teaching, and practical suggestions and resources. She draws wisdom from her own life experiences as well as from multiple women. She even provides a discussion guide for small groups.

Since all of us carry wounds, it applies. For me, her wisdom gave me revival and sustenance. Reading this was like taking a walk in the woods with a good friend; she has a tone that communicates genuine care--it's hard to express--it seemed like she was in the room while I was reading.

She uses the pedagogy of a wheel to illustrate her guide: a spiral of Ending, In-Between, New Beginnings, and Tending, all circulating around Being. Each position has a lengthy chapter full and enriched with joy ("wisdom is helpful but joy is essential").

Highly recommended!

[Seawitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read everything I can find on soulwork, life’s purpose, women and transitions, change cycles. This is a treasure of a book filled with carefully wrought wisdom on navigating transitions and living a life that remains true to your core self. Wonderful resource lists of other great books too.

[Hilary Case-archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book for anyone in transition during midlife. Easy to read and full of good suggestions as to what to do next. I highly recommend it.

[SeaShore · Rating 2 out of 5]

I never heard of this person/author before.
Did I need to know?
She like many of us is finding herself; doing the transitions dealing with pain in her life by helping others. She can be a good role model to many. She has made reference to Cheryl Strayed, the author of "Wild"- journey of healing by walking the Pacific Crest Trail.

Cecil's father was Eugene Magat, who arrived on Ellis Island and picked Edward for his middle name in honor of King Edward, who abdicated the throne for the love of his life.

Gene was born in Kharkov, USSR, in 1919 to Alexander and Zina Magat.
In 1939, with the winds of war blowing, he immigrated to New York. His studies led him to MIT, where he earned both his BS and PhD degrees; met Phyllis, a fellow PhD candidate, and they married.
He was hired by the duPont Co. as a polymer chemist in their Fiber Research Department and was part of the team that discovered Kevlar.
They retired in North Carolina to be close to their late son, Wesley Magat -died of a brain tumor at age 50-, a Duke professor.
Eugene lived with Parkinson's disease.
Barbara, herself has survived cancer as she writes in this book, Coming Into Your Own, (CIYO).