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Face to Face: Women Writers on Faith, Mysticism, and Awakening
From the editors of the Sweet Breathing of Plants , a new anthology of women's writing on faith and spirituality
From the vantage points of diverse backgrounds and beliefs, the writings gathered here describe a vast range of spiritual searches and encounters. Sy Montgomery writes about shamans, Terry Tempest Williams about her Mormon heritage, and Starhawk about witchcraft. Mary Gordon captures the attractions of the contemplative life. Ursula Le Guin speaks about the feminine aspects of the Tao te Ching . Jane Goodall reflects on the symbiosis of science and religion after experiencing an ecstatic loss of self in the company of chimpanzees. Facet by facet, these essays and poems--by Molly Peacock, Anne Sexton, Kathleen Norris, Diane Ackerman, and Joy Harjo, among others--reveal and celebrate the special relationship of women to the spiritual realm in a volume that will comfort, provoke, and inspire.
From the vantage points of diverse backgrounds and beliefs, the writings gathered here describe a vast range of spiritual searches and encounters. Sy Montgomery writes about shamans, Terry Tempest Williams about her Mormon heritage, and Starhawk about witchcraft. Mary Gordon captures the attractions of the contemplative life. Ursula Le Guin speaks about the feminine aspects of the Tao te Ching . Jane Goodall reflects on the symbiosis of science and religion after experiencing an ecstatic loss of self in the company of chimpanzees. Facet by facet, these essays and poems--by Molly Peacock, Anne Sexton, Kathleen Norris, Diane Ackerman, and Joy Harjo, among others--reveal and celebrate the special relationship of women to the spiritual realm in a volume that will comfort, provoke, and inspire.
288 pages, Paperback
First published August 18, 2004
2 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Linda Hogan
79 books551 followersLinda K. Hogan (born 1947 Denver) is a Native American poet, storyteller, academic, playwright, novelist, environmentalist and writer of short stories. She is currently the Chickasaw Nation's Writer in Residence.
Linda Hogan is Chickasaw. Her father is a Chickasaw from a recognized historical family and Linda's uncle, Wesley Henderson, helped form the White Buffalo Council in Denver during the 1950s. It was to help other Indian people coming to the city because of The Relocation Act, which encouraged migration for work and other opportunities. He had a strong influence on her and she grew up relating strongly to both her Chickasaw family in Indian Territory (Oklahoma) and to a mixed Indian community in the Denver area. At other times, her family traveled because of the military.
Her first university teaching position was in American Indian Studies and American Studies at the University of Minnesota. After writing her first book, Calling Myself Home, she continued to write poetry. Her work has both a historical and political focus, but is lyrical. Her most recent books are The Book of Medicines (1993) and Rounding the Human Corners. (2008) She is also a novelist and essayist. Her work centers on the world of Native peoples, from both her own indigenous perspective and that of others. She was a full professor of Creative Writing at the University of Colorado and then taught the last two years in the University's Ethnic Studies Department. She currently is the Writer in Residence for her own Chickasaw Nation.
Essayist, novelist, and poet, Hogan has published works in many different backgrounds and forms. Her concentration is on environmental themes. She has acted as a consultant in bringing together Native tribal representatives and feminist themes, particularly allying them to her Native ancestry. Her work, whether fiction or non-fiction, expresses an indigenous understanding of the world.
She has written essays and poems on a variety of subjects, both fictional and nonfictional, biographical and from research. Hogan has also written historical novels. Her work studies the historical wrongs done to Native Americans and the American environment since the European colonization of North America.
Hogan was a professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of Oklahoma. She is the (inaugural) Writer-in-Residence for the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma. In October 2011, she instructed a writing workshop through the Abiquiu Workshops in Abiquiu, New Mexico.
(from Wikipedia)
Linda Hogan is Chickasaw. Her father is a Chickasaw from a recognized historical family and Linda's uncle, Wesley Henderson, helped form the White Buffalo Council in Denver during the 1950s. It was to help other Indian people coming to the city because of The Relocation Act, which encouraged migration for work and other opportunities. He had a strong influence on her and she grew up relating strongly to both her Chickasaw family in Indian Territory (Oklahoma) and to a mixed Indian community in the Denver area. At other times, her family traveled because of the military.
Her first university teaching position was in American Indian Studies and American Studies at the University of Minnesota. After writing her first book, Calling Myself Home, she continued to write poetry. Her work has both a historical and political focus, but is lyrical. Her most recent books are The Book of Medicines (1993) and Rounding the Human Corners. (2008) She is also a novelist and essayist. Her work centers on the world of Native peoples, from both her own indigenous perspective and that of others. She was a full professor of Creative Writing at the University of Colorado and then taught the last two years in the University's Ethnic Studies Department. She currently is the Writer in Residence for her own Chickasaw Nation.
Essayist, novelist, and poet, Hogan has published works in many different backgrounds and forms. Her concentration is on environmental themes. She has acted as a consultant in bringing together Native tribal representatives and feminist themes, particularly allying them to her Native ancestry. Her work, whether fiction or non-fiction, expresses an indigenous understanding of the world.
She has written essays and poems on a variety of subjects, both fictional and nonfictional, biographical and from research. Hogan has also written historical novels. Her work studies the historical wrongs done to Native Americans and the American environment since the European colonization of North America.
Hogan was a professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of Oklahoma. She is the (inaugural) Writer-in-Residence for the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma. In October 2011, she instructed a writing workshop through the Abiquiu Workshops in Abiquiu, New Mexico.
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 22, 2025
This collection of essays is uneven in quality. Although the topic was open to any area that touches on a form of spirituality, the approach was mostly from the personal experience of the writers. There were a few academic essays, such as Rebecca Goldstein's analysis of the story of Lot's wife, and Elaine Pagels on 'What Became of God the Mother,' but generally the writers spoke of their own search for spiritual connection. Some of the essays were painfully honest to the point of oversharing, some were heavy on the self-dramatization, and some accounts were relatively pointless where the writer had nothing cogent or inspirational to say, but said it at great length. On the positive side, Jane Goodall's essay on a transcendent experience that she had while researching chimpanzees was worth the price of the book (it was an excerpt from Reasons for Hope: A Spiritual Journey) and underlined what a significant loss the world experienced in her recent passing.
Common themes include being present in the moment, connecting with nature, looking beyond traditional organized religion to connect with the Lost God Mother, and Indigenous spirituality. There were several poems, and an interview with Ursula Le Guin on her research on the Tao.
Overall, the book is an OK starting point for anyone who is interested in examining spiritual issues, however, if you have had some life experience with faith and feminism, you may find that reading this book is a retread of paths that you walked before.
Common themes include being present in the moment, connecting with nature, looking beyond traditional organized religion to connect with the Lost God Mother, and Indigenous spirituality. There were several poems, and an interview with Ursula Le Guin on her research on the Tao.
Overall, the book is an OK starting point for anyone who is interested in examining spiritual issues, however, if you have had some life experience with faith and feminism, you may find that reading this book is a retread of paths that you walked before.
December 5, 2021
Not every piece in this volume was five stars, but overall I love the idea for and contributions to this collection. I loved seeing such a wide variety of personal anecdotes about and relationships with faith and religion. I was incredibly moved by several of the stories, and that was exactly what I was hoping to find when I picked this up. I can't say I enjoyed any of the poems (with one exception), but I think it's a nice idea to include poetry.
I could review the individual pieces, but I think the gestalt is part of the appeal. Yes, some stories impacted me more than others, but I wouldn't say that those stories were better, just that they resonated with me more. I imagine that will be a different set for everyone, and that's one of the beautiful things about curating a collection like this. I picked it up based on its subject matter first and only later got excited to see an interview with Ursula K. LeGuin and an essay by Jane Goodall.
Highly recommend, regardless of your current spiritual path or religious beliefs.
I could review the individual pieces, but I think the gestalt is part of the appeal. Yes, some stories impacted me more than others, but I wouldn't say that those stories were better, just that they resonated with me more. I imagine that will be a different set for everyone, and that's one of the beautiful things about curating a collection like this. I picked it up based on its subject matter first and only later got excited to see an interview with Ursula K. LeGuin and an essay by Jane Goodall.
Highly recommend, regardless of your current spiritual path or religious beliefs.
October 10, 2024
Linda Hogan has become one of my favourite authors. This wonderful collection of stories by women on faith, mysticism and the origins of their deep connection to the Earth is very inspiring.
February 19, 2017
a collection of writers resulting in an uneven book, with some very basic writing and a few (jane Goodall) amazing ones. This book is meant to be inspirational, and rarely was for me.
September 28, 2013
Enjoyed the Ursula Le Guin interview and the essays on Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey and the woman who studied orangutans, and a charming piece about a young girl who decided to fast for Ramadan (she managed four days) but found a new relationship with her father in the process. Also liked the Quaker piece. 3 stars for these and 2 star for the rest.
June 22, 2009
a series of essays by women - musings on spirituality. Very good, so far!
August 20, 2011
Another great resource of awakening the spirit within to a more harmonious life.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews