The Moon and the Virgin: Reflections on the Archetypal Feminine

by Nor Hall, Ellen Kennedy (Illustrator)

Nor Hall writes with a strikingly original perspective on women in myth and literature, examining and giving new meaning to the underlying archetypes. She explores such principles as androgyny and virginity, freeing them from the limited social context in which we have trapped them, and argues the necessity of feminine rituals in history. In her search for the original forms of the feminine, Hall guides us on a journey though myths and symbols, confronting them not in the rational mode of the language itself, but on the deeper level of the unconscious life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality, Psychology, Feminism, Mythology, Womens, History

284 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Andrew H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a classic. Its re-publication by the Women's Press established it as a key work of Second Wave Feminism. It is also a detailed and imaginative study of poetic creativity. Nor Hall binds Jungian thought and literature in a binding spell as she examines the mythological structures of the Archetypal Feminine. She explains ideas with great sensitivity, pulling the reader into the mothering roots of language. Most importantly, she points out how culture uses terms carelessly. A stereotype is the opposite of an archetype. One fixes, like a printer's metal letter. The other expands and opens life to deep flows within the world. Archetype has become confused with typical, a firm example. It is anything but. Nor Hall sees the Feminine as a circle, Psyche's story, circling around poles of existence. The strength of this book is its writing -- it lives what it claims -- it expands and breaks down strictures. A stunning book.

[Frankkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me rethink a lot of the meanings behind the roles of different female historical and mythological figures. It helped me better understand the origins of cultural ideologies and perceived gender roles. I was able to see the cycles of my own life reflected in the writings of this book. Though sometimes I found myself having to trudge through some examples and anecdotes, the ideas an references in this book helped reshape of my feminist points of view.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was recommended reading by Lama Tsultrim Allione. There are many bits in here that I liked. There were many threads she started and wandered off from - it reads like stream of concsiousness in many ways - which is okay with me in theory - but often she references things that she knows that maybe are also common knowledge for others in her field, but for the lay reader, I sometimes had no idea what she was pointing to.

It is a reverie, a meditation, and I think that is fine, but do approach it as such and you'll get more out of it. To be fair, I would read it i pieces before bed at night, which probably affected my sense of the moment vs the whole as well.

[margot · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of interesting myths are talked through in this book and it's really interesting to read. This book emphasizes the importance of female rituals and symbolization of life in death in so many different representations of femininity and femaleness in myth. Definitely a useful book, but I felt that it was kind of a slog and had too much information, could have been clearer and more accessible. However I loved many of the short stories and poetry included.

[Elisa Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

dreamy

[Sarahc Caflisch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Transformative reading.