What do you think?
Rate this book
Meditation Secrets for Women: Discovering Your Passion, Pleasure, and Inner Peace
Finally—an approach to meditation especially for women!
The benefits of meditations are manifold—but so few practices are tailored to the special needs and interests of women. Now, with Meditation Secrets for Women, you can discover how to love your body and find a time and place to tune into yourself and restore inner balance. Get in touch with your body's natural rhythms. Honor your instincts, and tap into your feminine power so that you can emerge nourished, revitalized, and joyful. Meditation Secrets for Women offers all the tools and insights necessary for women to design their own custom meditation techniques, without all the restrictions of traditional practices.
Learn How
Make use of sensual, pleasurable meditation techniques Gain a refreshing, rejuvenating rest that is deeper than sleep Relieve stress and promote good health Relax and be yourself as you reap life-affirming benefits Live in harmony with your world Enhance your relationships and creativity
The benefits of meditations are manifold—but so few practices are tailored to the special needs and interests of women. Now, with Meditation Secrets for Women, you can discover how to love your body and find a time and place to tune into yourself and restore inner balance. Get in touch with your body's natural rhythms. Honor your instincts, and tap into your feminine power so that you can emerge nourished, revitalized, and joyful. Meditation Secrets for Women offers all the tools and insights necessary for women to design their own custom meditation techniques, without all the restrictions of traditional practices.
Learn How
Make use of sensual, pleasurable meditation techniques Gain a refreshing, rejuvenating rest that is deeper than sleep Relieve stress and promote good health Relax and be yourself as you reap life-affirming benefits Live in harmony with your world Enhance your relationships and creativity
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 23, 2001
121 people are currently reading
328 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 29, 2013
To be honest, I found the book difficult to read and a load of hogwash. I was disappointed to find after the positive reviews here and on Amazon.com that the text appears to be loaded with cliches and nonsense sentences like: "Silence is not just the absence of sound but a rich and vibrant harmony that seems to underlie and support all other vibration." I was with the author up to the absence of sound part.
Or the text from the chapter regarding PMS, menopause, etc.: "Remember Earth as your home and let her hold you. Feel or imagine energy sliding down through your body, away from your head. Let the fullness of your belly and thighs empty through the channels of your legs, swirling through ankles and out your feet. When you relax into the downward ooze, the sensations often change to a balmy, sensuous connectedness." Uh, no.
Each chapter discusses different aspects of meditation with focuses in different areas (such as body rhythms such as PMS, menopause) and sleeping. But the text tends to become really repetitive after a while and I felt the author was basically saying the same thing over and over again.
Perhaps it's because I am relatively new to practicing meditation, yet I found it was impossible to get through the text. I could have gone without the hippie-talk. There are a few helpful suggestions, such as keeping a journal or meditating in what is essentially a groin stretch if you suffer from PMS cramps. But I couldn't muster any of the positive feelings this book seems to have elicited in other people. I guess this book just isn't for me, but if the above excerpts moved you, it might be worth at least thumbing through.
Or the text from the chapter regarding PMS, menopause, etc.: "Remember Earth as your home and let her hold you. Feel or imagine energy sliding down through your body, away from your head. Let the fullness of your belly and thighs empty through the channels of your legs, swirling through ankles and out your feet. When you relax into the downward ooze, the sensations often change to a balmy, sensuous connectedness." Uh, no.
Each chapter discusses different aspects of meditation with focuses in different areas (such as body rhythms such as PMS, menopause) and sleeping. But the text tends to become really repetitive after a while and I felt the author was basically saying the same thing over and over again.
Perhaps it's because I am relatively new to practicing meditation, yet I found it was impossible to get through the text. I could have gone without the hippie-talk. There are a few helpful suggestions, such as keeping a journal or meditating in what is essentially a groin stretch if you suffer from PMS cramps. But I couldn't muster any of the positive feelings this book seems to have elicited in other people. I guess this book just isn't for me, but if the above excerpts moved you, it might be worth at least thumbing through.
March 26, 2016
The overall intent of the book is great. I love the idea that meditation can be a beautiful visualization exercise or any number of other enjoyable experiences. I'm hoping that I will be able to develop a meditation practice because of this book.
However, there was a lot of repetition about why meditation should be free and not strict non-thought. While I agree with what the author is saying, it didn't need to be said so many times.
The other problem I have with the book is that it is written as though women are wild at heart and need to prowl around like an animal, panting and pawing. Literally. It suggests we let our menstrual blood flow onto the earth - as in run around naked in our backyard. While that may work for some women, I doubt it speaks to the masses. It certainly didn't speak to me.
However, there was a lot of repetition about why meditation should be free and not strict non-thought. While I agree with what the author is saying, it didn't need to be said so many times.
The other problem I have with the book is that it is written as though women are wild at heart and need to prowl around like an animal, panting and pawing. Literally. It suggests we let our menstrual blood flow onto the earth - as in run around naked in our backyard. While that may work for some women, I doubt it speaks to the masses. It certainly didn't speak to me.
August 6, 2021
If I had not read her husband's book first, this would not have felt so repetitious to me. Basically, they are all about what they call 'instinctive meditation', which you and I might call 'zoning out'. Now, there's something useful I think in looking at zoning out or daydreaming as not bad--we're so tied up in a cultural of productivity and DOing that, yes, we lose out sometimes in simply BEing. I'm 100% behind that notion.
The real quibble I have with her book is, well, it certainly is just as problematic as you'd expect in 2021. She has a VERY rigid idea of what 'women' are. I'm not saying she doesn't even address the trans issue (she does NOT and that would likely be a turnoff to some right there). She has a very biological notion of womanhood, and to be honest, it's a bit...regressive, even without the trans thing. Like she equates women with babymaking. Hm. Okay, I mean, that's not THAT bad, I guess? But then she has this constant thread running through her book that women are just so much more EMOTIONAL than men, and there's a lot of 'wild woman' type discourse that is peak wine mom. Lady, you are not a wild woman when you live in a mansion. It's just this notion that women just are not in control of our emotions and we live so much more from the heart and not the brain...which is so easily extended into 'women are irrational and too emotional to be taken seriously' that it's...toxic femininity, basically.
If I sound disgruntled I guess I'd expected more. My objections are not killers for the book--I did pick up a book that is about WOMEN, after all, so the author's definition of what a 'woman' is does not have to square 100% with mine and that's fine (I'm here to learn and be challenged). I just at the end of it find this very dated. It's very Women Who Run With The Wolves type stuff--from that era.
The thing is, I DID pick up a book about women, and so I'm not against the idea that meditation was created predominantly by male monks and thus might need some fixes and updates for the modern world--where most of us are not monks and many of us are not men. But this book failed to deliver--all her 'secrets' are...common sense pop psychology. I learned nothing new.
The real quibble I have with her book is, well, it certainly is just as problematic as you'd expect in 2021. She has a VERY rigid idea of what 'women' are. I'm not saying she doesn't even address the trans issue (she does NOT and that would likely be a turnoff to some right there). She has a very biological notion of womanhood, and to be honest, it's a bit...regressive, even without the trans thing. Like she equates women with babymaking. Hm. Okay, I mean, that's not THAT bad, I guess? But then she has this constant thread running through her book that women are just so much more EMOTIONAL than men, and there's a lot of 'wild woman' type discourse that is peak wine mom. Lady, you are not a wild woman when you live in a mansion. It's just this notion that women just are not in control of our emotions and we live so much more from the heart and not the brain...which is so easily extended into 'women are irrational and too emotional to be taken seriously' that it's...toxic femininity, basically.
If I sound disgruntled I guess I'd expected more. My objections are not killers for the book--I did pick up a book that is about WOMEN, after all, so the author's definition of what a 'woman' is does not have to square 100% with mine and that's fine (I'm here to learn and be challenged). I just at the end of it find this very dated. It's very Women Who Run With The Wolves type stuff--from that era.
The thing is, I DID pick up a book about women, and so I'm not against the idea that meditation was created predominantly by male monks and thus might need some fixes and updates for the modern world--where most of us are not monks and many of us are not men. But this book failed to deliver--all her 'secrets' are...common sense pop psychology. I learned nothing new.
January 18, 2012
I spent a whole year gradually reading through this book. I highly recommend it to any woman who has felt like there was something "missing" in traditional approach to meditation and to a Zen living approach. Maurine clearly explains how traditional approaches are some antethical to woman's natural ways of relating to the world and that traditions that encourage "transcending" the body, actually may mask hostility to the female body. This is a very earthy, grounded, practical, insightful book with a lot of great content.
May 23, 2016
A great easy read. I enjoyed the practice sessions, it was freeing to learn that I can meditate in a manner that is comfortable and easy. The solutions and techniques were easy on my body, and made me a more consistent practitioner.
By the way, I borrowed the digital version of this book from the local library, and ended up purchasing it. I need to always have this one nearby.
By the way, I borrowed the digital version of this book from the local library, and ended up purchasing it. I need to always have this one nearby.
February 13, 2011
A relief to read a book that empowers our humanness instead of chastising us for not upholding rigid ways of thinking and living. Offers many creative ways to become more open to the inner and outer world of our experiences.
August 19, 2014
Meditation Secrets for Women is for the person who thinks outside the box.
There are virtually endless ways to meditate according to Camille. She has an abundance of suggestions and you are bound to find more than one that is a great fit.
There are virtually endless ways to meditate according to Camille. She has an abundance of suggestions and you are bound to find more than one that is a great fit.
May 29, 2008
Tailored to women's interests and needs, these meditation techniques are more Western than Eastern in approach. Creative ways to meditate are presented.
Currently reading
January 6, 2009Loving it so far...focuses on why traditional meditation practices don't work for women who live and work in the world. Gives many ways of meditating that truly work with a woman's spirit.
January 13, 2015
Only read up to page 6, can't get into it right now.
April 3, 2012
Lorin Roche GAVE me this book! What a treat. I can't wait to read it.
January 17, 2015
I skimmed this book, as most of the ideas were too complicated and involved for me. Some useful ideas too, however, and the main idea to find something which works for you is a good one.
June 10, 2019
Camille Maurine invites to embrace the whole of our being. Not an image of what meditation looks like from the outside. She meets us in the world where we live without giving us austere practices designed for monastic men. This book contains a wealth of her personal meditative knowledge, as well as synthesizing patterns and experience gleaned from other women on the path.
This precious book invites us to connect to our own inherent wisdom and recognize diverse ways to engage with our ever-changing inner experience. Over the last 20 years, my meditation practice has changed considerably. This book marvelously addressed what I had been finding in my own practice, that the more I tried to fit one method or consistently adhere to one approach, the more limited, stifling, and unfulfilling my meditations would become, the more often I would find a drift in my dedication to practice.
This book deals specifically with meeting yourself exactly where you are in practice as as reflection of your life. It does not ask you to dwell in serene abiding when you're pissed off and hopeless. It allows the validity of the difficult experiences and emotions for when we are in most need of the unconditional compassion of meditative awareness in order to honor our instincts and celebrate the senses.
This precious book invites us to connect to our own inherent wisdom and recognize diverse ways to engage with our ever-changing inner experience. Over the last 20 years, my meditation practice has changed considerably. This book marvelously addressed what I had been finding in my own practice, that the more I tried to fit one method or consistently adhere to one approach, the more limited, stifling, and unfulfilling my meditations would become, the more often I would find a drift in my dedication to practice.
This book deals specifically with meeting yourself exactly where you are in practice as as reflection of your life. It does not ask you to dwell in serene abiding when you're pissed off and hopeless. It allows the validity of the difficult experiences and emotions for when we are in most need of the unconditional compassion of meditative awareness in order to honor our instincts and celebrate the senses.
April 20, 2021
In het Nederlands gelezen. Meditatie is lang het domein geweest van mannen. Zij ontwikkelden echter technieken waar vooral kluizenaars - die hartstocht, emoties en seksualiteit hadden afgezworen - baat bij hadden, maar die voor moderne vrouwen ongeschikt zijn. Om hier verandering in te brengen, schreef het echtpaar Maurine-Roche Meditaite voor vrouwen: een opgewekt boek vol tips, oefeningen, meditatie en overpeinzingen. Het boek is onderverdeeld in twaalf geheimen of thema’s. Niet alle thema’s spreken mij evenveel aan maar het boek is juist zo opgezet dat je wordt geïnspireerd en uitgedaagd om er jouw eigen ding mee te doen. Veel meditaties doe je misschien al wel een beetje maar door ze bewuster te gaan doen en ze uit te breiden haal je er meer uit. Er wordt veel uitgelegd over verschillende soorten meditaties maar ook niet te veel. Vooral ook veel uitprobeerdingen zodat je langzaam groeit in de voor jouw perfecte meditaties, voor elke stemming een paar!
July 21, 2019
This book is amazing. A good read for anyone knew to mindful living.
August 22, 2021
Brilliant all-around. I loved this book so much.
August 14, 2023
My FAVORITE meditation book of all time! I have read this book multiple times and I’m still able to take something new from it every time. If you enjoy meditation, I highly recommend this read!
Read
October 23, 2007This is a really different take on meditation, one I found really helpful.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews