Transforming Fire: Women Using Anger Creatively

by Kathleen Fischer

Anger is not the opposite of love, but an intrinsic element of loving well. This book explains anger as a complex reality with physical, intellectual, cultural, and spiritual components. Women are shown how to understand anger by naming it, choosing to feel it, then integrating it with love. Instead of suppressing anger, they are shown how to transform its fire, find its creative spiritual power, and direct its energies toward life-giving ends. Drawing from psychology, from science, and from major religions, the author addresses issues key to any honest look at anger. Just a few of these include self-esteem, boundaries, conflict, loss, societal expectations, and intimate relationships. She also examines violence against women, powerlessness, and forgiveness, considering examples from contemporary events around the world. With questions, exercises, and a meditation, this is powerful help both for individual and for group use, for the layperson and for the professional, for psychological and for spiritual healing. It's also a valuable resource for classes in women's spirituality and feminist studies. †

201 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent work on women and anger. It analyzes the sources of anger, the importance of identifying the source of one's anger, and ways to deal with anger positively and creatively. All of this discussion is set in the context of spirituality, primarily Christian spirituality. I found the suggestions useful and practical.

[Christina Cathcart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gets a little biblical.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book, clear, helpful, applicable, affirming, insightful.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Used in my women's group- a good book for discussion. Encompasses forgiveness as well as right action.
Explores the meaning of anger for women and how to direct its energy in a healthy way. I did a lot of underlining in the book!

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good book about using anger creatively. It is written for women but John is reading as well and really likes it.