Returning To My Mother's House: Taking Back the Wisdom of the Feminine

by Gail Straub, Christiane Northrup (Foreword)

Gail Straub, a leader in the human potential field, had helped thousands around the world find meaning and purpose in their lives, all the while sensing that something fundamental within her was missing. Many years after the premature death of her mother, she undertook a period of soul searching and came to believe that, like her mother and so many women of our time, she had overcorrected in the direction of the masculine, her "successful" life of outer accomplishment and committed social activism having come at the expense of a rich and satisfying inner life.Her search took her around the globe--to Africa, Bali, Russia, China, and Ireland--where she encountered the longing to retrieve sacred female wisdom among the women she met. Finding her way back to her innate female wisdom restored a sense of balance between external and internal worlds, activism and contemplation, and public and private realms and gave her a sense of equanimity that had eluded her for decades. Gail's poetic and heartfelt story is for anyone who has ever struggled to build and sustain an interior life in our driven and fast-paced society--and for mothers and daughters everywhere.

264 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2008

Reviews

[Anne Reeder Heck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this at a time when I was open to examining myself in relation to my mother. This book elegantly shares a personal story that we all can relate to and one that is so necessary to explore.

[Amanda Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I never knew I needed. A beautiful tribute to her mom’s life and herself! May we all return to the divine feminine in us.

[Cynthia F Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend loaned me her copy of this book, and this sparked my involvement with the author, who runs the Red Thread journaling retreats, which I highly recommend.
I believe Gail has glorified motherhood somewhat, although she is very honest about her daughterhood, and how her mother appeared to her. Since she & her husband decided not to have children, she has never had the experience of motherhood, and as a mother myself, I was quite conscious of that. You tend to see things differently when you are no longer just a daughter.
To our great benefit, Gail's been 'mothering' those of us lucky enough to be part of her programs.
Makes me ask myself the question whether men 'father' other men like this?
Having returned to my own mother's home, on visits since, I see more of what has gone on our relationship, and hope this helps me do better with my own two grown daughters & son.
Nothing quite as humbling as raising children! What an education, and how crucial it is to reflect deeply upon our 'inheritances' as in child rearing practices.
Gail's book has definitely deepened my conscious awareness of what's going on.

[Patti Pugliese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relating very much to this fearless account of one woman's journey to reclaim the sacred feminine in her own family as she grieves the loss of her own mother. There is some comfort for anyone who has lost something they never felt they quite had. In our culture of seemingly endless opportunities for women, we forget a time not long ago when consequences were steep for actions we take for granted now. An excellent review of the struggle of the pioneers of spiritual questing. The teacher becomes the student in this stellar account of Gail's personal journey, and the love story of her husband's evolving role in her life and career. Love this book.

[Emillam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very personal and revealing story of one of my best friends and guides. Her story touches any women past 50 very deeply. She has a beautiful way of telling the feminine story that resonates so deeply with almost all of us as women. Very provocative!!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised that I enjoyed this book as much as I did. I thought it was going to be a little too New Age-y but it wasn't. It reminded me of Eat,Pray,Love...another women journeying to find a part of herself that was lost...very moving and inspirational! Beautifully written...

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ultimately I loved that the author was called to look back into her past in order to see how it was impacting her present reality. Found the writing style rather boxy and without a flow to the stories...Each held value, but would have loved to have seen them woven together in a more fluid way.

[Hadassah · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was a little pretentious and I was expecting something different...I couldn't even finish it.

[Yolanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful story, but I was often frustrated by the author , because her fear of not turning out like her mother limited her choices... Great book nonetheless every woman should read it...

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book spoke to my heart.