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The Fertile Female: How the Power of Longing for a Child Can Save Your Life and Change the World
Written by an author whose expertise grew from an extensive counseling practice as well as personal experience. The Fertile Female offers a hope-filled view of reproductive difficulties, with a deeper understanding of the often-confusing messages of mind-body and alternative medicine. With an engaging mix of passion and humor the book initiates a public debate on the politics of infertility and its effect on our health care system. Includes practice exercises and a section on dietary recommendations, complete with recipes.
- GenresHealth
259 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 22, 2013
This is a book describing inner spirituality. As the mother of 5, I picked it up because of the title, thinking, "well that describes me!"
The subtitle got me thinking after I'd checked it out, and while reading it, I attached wee tabs when I came to a powerful thought. When I finished, my copy looked like a porcupine with all the tabs sticking from its pages.
Some favorite lines:
The mouth is the gateway between the inner and outer world. That which crosses to the other side reveals us startlingly to ourselves as the most impressionable of creatures. We may find that we've unwittingly ingested other people's beliefs the way one absentmindedly swallows an hors d'oeuvre at a cocktail party.
and...
Ironically, our own truest voice cannot rise up without humility. We have to give up our need to be right; we need to be willing to receive life as a series of sacred instructions from the kindest of invisible Teachers. This is something I wrestle with only about a hundred times a day. But the struggle is worth it. Because, after all these years, I have learned beyond any doubt that the more willingly I bow to this Teacher within me, the less I suffer.
and..
If I really worked at it, I could spend the rest of my time on earth feeling as little as possible. Then maybe I could keep out of harm's way and make it safely all the way to my grave. I'd get to have "a Near-Life Experience," which is what so many of us settle for.
and...
For me discipline has to do with learning something. And learning is meant to be a highly pleasurable activity.
So, perhaps to be truly disciplined means to cultivate a kind of patience with ourselves, to take ourselves by the hand and say, "Come, this is the trail we're gonna follow." And to whenever we're tempted to wander off, take ourselves by the hand over and over again. Gently. Lovingly. It means showing in our behavior that we are militantly on our own side.
The subtitle got me thinking after I'd checked it out, and while reading it, I attached wee tabs when I came to a powerful thought. When I finished, my copy looked like a porcupine with all the tabs sticking from its pages.
Some favorite lines:
The mouth is the gateway between the inner and outer world. That which crosses to the other side reveals us startlingly to ourselves as the most impressionable of creatures. We may find that we've unwittingly ingested other people's beliefs the way one absentmindedly swallows an hors d'oeuvre at a cocktail party.
and...
Ironically, our own truest voice cannot rise up without humility. We have to give up our need to be right; we need to be willing to receive life as a series of sacred instructions from the kindest of invisible Teachers. This is something I wrestle with only about a hundred times a day. But the struggle is worth it. Because, after all these years, I have learned beyond any doubt that the more willingly I bow to this Teacher within me, the less I suffer.
and..
If I really worked at it, I could spend the rest of my time on earth feeling as little as possible. Then maybe I could keep out of harm's way and make it safely all the way to my grave. I'd get to have "a Near-Life Experience," which is what so many of us settle for.
and...
For me discipline has to do with learning something. And learning is meant to be a highly pleasurable activity.
So, perhaps to be truly disciplined means to cultivate a kind of patience with ourselves, to take ourselves by the hand and say, "Come, this is the trail we're gonna follow." And to whenever we're tempted to wander off, take ourselves by the hand over and over again. Gently. Lovingly. It means showing in our behavior that we are militantly on our own side.
April 11, 2008
Beware skeptics! This book isn't for the scientifically-minded. It's definitely for those of us who espouse the earthy-crunchy, trust-your-own-body-to-heal-itself mentality.
Essentially it outlines the fertility-enhancing tools that Julia Indichova loosely described in her first book, Inconceivable, with particular focus on the mind/body work that she did with detailed descriptions of different exercises. What comes through the most strongly is that Indichova wants us to believe we are our own best guides to our fertility--that no one modality or treatment is the ultimate answer. We must trust our own instincts, and see our doctors, acupuncturists, naturopaths/nutritionists, yoga instructors, etc. as consultants and not as the ultimate experts.
I'll likely return to this as a sourcebook, as the mind/body work she outlines is intriguing.
Essentially it outlines the fertility-enhancing tools that Julia Indichova loosely described in her first book, Inconceivable, with particular focus on the mind/body work that she did with detailed descriptions of different exercises. What comes through the most strongly is that Indichova wants us to believe we are our own best guides to our fertility--that no one modality or treatment is the ultimate answer. We must trust our own instincts, and see our doctors, acupuncturists, naturopaths/nutritionists, yoga instructors, etc. as consultants and not as the ultimate experts.
I'll likely return to this as a sourcebook, as the mind/body work she outlines is intriguing.
November 13, 2008
thank you, natalie, for recommending such a powerful book. i cried within the first five pages...
...and found healing in the subsequent two hundred and fifty pages.
...and found healing in the subsequent two hundred and fifty pages.
July 27, 2009
I am rereading this book to more fully absorb it. It has given me A LOT to think about, as well as new hope in my quest for a second child. My thoughts have potentially sabotaged me in the past, and things said by others are resonating more fully after going through this book.
The book explains Ms Indochiva's journey for a second child and that of many of her Fertile Heart workshop participants. Various exercises and recipes for unblocking ones fertility are detailed. It is an easy and fast read.
The book explains Ms Indochiva's journey for a second child and that of many of her Fertile Heart workshop participants. Various exercises and recipes for unblocking ones fertility are detailed. It is an easy and fast read.
January 28, 2008
its like Christine Northrup says about this book, her words are like reading a prayer. Sweet, short read on infertility that I found inspiring and comforting... nice meditation practices, imagery, and body work. Indichova turns infertility into an adventure of learning oneself, and creating a want to understand the root of the why's and how's that having trouble conceiving inevitably precede.
February 12, 2011
A book that talks about the experiences of many women in taking control of their own fertility and what they did. It is filled with lots of information about dealing with stress and emotional issues that will influence your ability to conceive, as well as giving good nutritional and lifestyle information that is very helpful.
September 22, 2010
Just skimming this one, not reading intently
May 7, 2013
Highly recommend this book for all women. If you are searching to come home to yourself, read this book. Beautifully written and easy to read.
July 4, 2013
Very inspirational...love the idea of positive thinking to overcome fertility issues.
March 26, 2018
I liked this book so much more than Inconceivable. The last few chapters with specific exercises, techniques and diet were my favorites.
I do have a few issues with her assuming that all couples are heterosexual and have the possibility of conceiving a child on their own. For many of us in homosexual relationships, that’s just not possible. If you can look past her heterosexual-ism, this is a great resource!
I do have a few issues with her assuming that all couples are heterosexual and have the possibility of conceiving a child on their own. For many of us in homosexual relationships, that’s just not possible. If you can look past her heterosexual-ism, this is a great resource!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews