Sage, Huntress, Lover, Queen: Access Your Power and Creativity through Sacred Female Archetypes

by Mara Branscombe

Journey through the seven feminine archetypes to rediscover your essential self

• Discover the seven feminine archetypes that prevail in the modern psyche—Maiden, Mother, Sage, Huntress, Lover, Mystic, and Queen—and how each influences us

• Explores each archetype’s beneficial qualities, its connections to the physical-emotional-mental body, and its shadow aspects

• Engage in step-by-step creative practices, guided visualizations, mind-body rituals, and soulful poetry to help you embody each archetype and activate a life of fulfillment and happiness

Journey through the archetypal wisdom of the divine feminine to reclaim your authentic self and to follow your soul’s longing. Embodiment teacher Mara Branscombe takes an intriguing look at the seven feminine archetypes that prevail in the modern psyche—Maiden, Mother, Sage, Huntress, Lover, Mystic, and Queen—and traces their continuing influence throughout different stages of our life, sometimes dormant, sometimes prominent. As she explores each archetype’s beneficial qualities, its connections to the physical-emotional-mental body, and its shadow aspects, Mara highlights the positive impact these models can have if we embrace them and live them consciously. Step-by-step creative practices, guided visualizations, mind-body rituals, and soulful poetry allow you to embody each archetype, inviting in the light aspects as well as integrating the shadow. Embodiment techniques help you shift your consciousness and untangle from the habitual and unconscious patterns that dim your vital spark.

Weaving the fine strands of the archetypal wisdom into a rich tapestry, this guide provides soul-empowering mind-body formulas that become field notes on the visionary’s path. As the embodied feminine within comes alive, you will discover how each cycle and experience in life are part of the continuous unfolding of your own living ceremony.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Personal Development, Spirituality, Self Help

256 pages, Paperback

Published July 25, 2023

Reviews

[Jessica]

sure is a collection of words on a page... I'm just gonna accept that I don't want to finish this. it reads like water in your hands - nothing concrete enough for me to hold onto. but I can 100% see it being very powerful for the right person at the right time.

[Liesl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thought this would be a good companion read for the similarly named male archetype book 'King, Warrior, Magician, Lover' but it's not as good. I wanted more in depth archetype information from this book. It was filled with new age buzzwords and self-care (take a hot bubblebath) focussed, which is too 'eat pray love' yaass girl for me.

[Ilma · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this book, which is unusual for me as I typically complete almost every book I start. I had high hopes for it as I’ve been searching for a "female archetypes" counterpart to "King, Warrior, Magician, Lover."

Unfortunately, the book lacks structure and coherence, often meandering and filled with esoteric buzzwords that detract from its purpose. While I enjoy exploring archetypes and esoteric topics, this book fails to effectively flesh out the female archetypes or provide engaging stories and myths to enhance understanding.

I wouldn’t recommend it.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are lots of excellent activities to help the reader embrace the energies of the various archetypal feminine figures. I found that I had to read the book in very small doses because the text is a lot of inspirational phrasing that is difficult to read in a sustained way.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was just ok for me. This book felt a little too new-age fluffy with too many very cheesy western-spiritual wording like "trust that you'll be midwifed through this healing force", "Persephone holds the key to soul retrieving, shadow dancing, creative wildfire and timeless living and loving" and "the mystic moves through life's whirlwind of joys and challenges"....It just read too sickly sweet with cheese on top.

The archetype chapters bled into each other, different titles but samey over the top cheesey wording--- every one of them needs to let go of their childhood, external criticism, develop boundaries and do some journalling apparantly, there is no definition as to who these archetypes really are and how to apply their aspects to your life so I didn't get much out of this, I was a bit underwhelmed.

If you want a deeper (but digestible) look into arcehtypes for women, a really good book is "Goddesses in Every Woman" by psychiatrist, Jungian analyst Jean Shinoda-Bolan.

What was good about the book:
Enjoyed the meditation exercises
This is an ok book for beginners on the concept of feminine archetype self reflection work such as art therapy, shadow work and even women's circles who are new to these concepts.

[BohoAutumn · Rating 2 out of 5]

An amazing collection of spiritual buzzwords and phrases. If you're writing a self-help book or blog article and want some copy, this is a great resource to fluff it out.

Facetiousness aside, I think it could be useful to those who are new on their self-development journey. I see it as an emotional introduction to healing, a TED talk to whet the appetite. In that way, it could open your mind to what you never thought possible or dared to imagine for your life.

It's uplifting words might light a spark of longing with some people and get them started on choosing more for themselves and spark the emotional charge to do inner healing work. For actual psychological understanding and instructive substance to initiate actual healing, you'll need to look elsewhere. It's a vision, not a map.

For anyone having already done some psychological reading or spiritual work, it's merely preaching to the choir.

So it depends upon where you are located in your psychological work.

My real criticism is that each archetype spills into the next with only a handful of distinctions and the ways to connect to them are essentially indistinguishable. Archetypes by definition are distinct and they each require very different parts of ourselves, techniques, or methods to access.

[Esther Haasnoot · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Unlock and unleash your feminine power by discovering the feminine archetypes within yourself. Mara's latest book “Sage, Huntress, Lover, Queen” is a beautiful tribute to the sacred feminine. The archetypal insights and exercises in this book will give you a deeper understanding of yourself and guide you on the path to personal liberation. Read this amazing book and activate the wisdom of your feminine soul. Reclaiming your inner feminine power is truly a radical act of love for yourself and the whole world.”

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. Would have been a solid 4 stars if not for the spelling errors I found, along with some wonky formatting in the Kindle edition.

Do editors just…not do their jobs anymore?

Outside of that, a good - but somewhat superficial- introduction to some of the feminine archetypes. The mediations were solid, I will say. However, if you’re looking for deeper and a more scholarly view, read the incomparable Women Who Run with the Wolves. Because of course.

[Shannon Lough · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, the feminine archetypes and thought provoking words, was the companion I was looking for after my morning meditation. I loved the poetry woven throughout the sections. I read a couple of them in my yoga classes at the end and some students shared that the poem resonated with them.
I purchased this book a year ago, and when I first opened the pages it wasn’t the right time. This winter it was time to find a refreshed morning ritual and inspiration to call on my creative side.

[Holly P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great exercises to help break in to inner work and meditation. I had to read it in small doses, the writing ran on in some places. In others it was one spiritual buzz phrase after another. For a beginner to this type of practice this book would be great, for someone far along in their journey it’s more of a quick reference guide.

[Chuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mara’s books are SOOOO ACCESSIBLE. You don’t need to be an expert in the topics for her words to resonate. Her guidance and insight is so impactful and life changing. Would recommend to anyone interested in discovering their higher self.

[N T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful description of the archetypes and lyrically inspirational

Nice to hold a vibration of knowing that allows your higher dimensional thinking to come forth

Played in the background on audio is useful to consolidate prior knowing and learning

Good exercises too

[R.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the pretty language and flow of this book. It was fun to read and great for thinking about writing characters. It’s always fun to go on journeys of self-discovery as well.

[Elizabeth Bion · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book.