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Urgent Message from Mother: Gather the Women, Save the World
The message to all women of the world is "Wake Up Arise Do not ask for permission to gather the women. What cannot be done by men, or by individual women, can be done by women together. Earth is Home." Jean Shinoda Bolen's life's work -- her Jungian-inspired insights in The Tao of Psychology, the blockbuster Goddesss in Every Woman, the empowering Crones Don't Whine and The Millionth Circle -- all lead up to this book. It is an urgent message and an empowering one. "When women are strong together, women can be fiercely protective of what we love." Bolen's poetic polemic explores the psychological, spiritual, and scientific aspects of women as collaborators for change. She begins with a Jungian examination of the idea of the Holy Grail archetype as "every woman's secret" and the transformative power of the sacred feminine -- the Goddess, Gaia, Earth Mother. Bolen explains Rupert Sheldrake's Theory of Morphic Resonance, which describes how societies and even species can undergo rapid evolution when they reach a tipping point. She explains that "we've learned that women gathering together in groups and telling the truth of their lives can actually change the world." She points to a fascinating UCLA study proving that women react to stress differently than their male counterparts. Instead of the "fight or flight" reaction, women have a "tend and befriend" response as a result of an increase in oxytocin, the maternal bonding hormone. While men become more adrenalized and aggressive, women nurture and protect -- biologically. From this and other compelling evidence Bolen makes a strongly convincing case that now is the time for women to lead -- to fiercely protect all that we love. Urgent Message from Mother offers a unique combination of visionary thinking and practical how-to and is Jean Shinoda Bolen's most activist work to-date. Written in a lyrical language that inspires, this book seeks to galvanize the still untapped power of women coming together to change our world. Listen to your mother; she is calling.
187 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
24 people are currently reading
375 people want to read
About the author
Jean Shinoda Bolen
59 books484 followersJean Shinoda Bolen, M. D. is a psychiatrist, Jungian analyst, clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco, a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and recipient of the Institute for Health and Healing’s "Pioneers in Art, Science, and the Soul of Healing Award". She is a former board member of the Ms. Foundation for Women.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 26, 2014
This book summarizes the history of women and how women are making their voices heard today.
The book explains how women have been relegated to a back seat role in their communities/countries, especially as it relates to establishing priorities, taking care of limited resources, stopping abuses of power and wars and most certainly exercising rights over their own bodies.
The book also expresses hope as more and more women realize what can be done individually and collectively to tip the scales towards creating a more just, peaceful and balanced world.
I was shocked to read how badly women have been and continue to be treated. The numbers are staggering. I wanted to jump for joy when some small groups of women fought back corruption or intimidation with little or nothing going for them.
And lastly, the book goes into some detail about the critical mass tipping point and why it's important for women to take action, such as getting involved in the political process or even lesser actions such as supporting one another.
It's an inspirational book and a calling. Perhaps there's hope for the world and it won't be destroyed after all.
The book explains how women have been relegated to a back seat role in their communities/countries, especially as it relates to establishing priorities, taking care of limited resources, stopping abuses of power and wars and most certainly exercising rights over their own bodies.
The book also expresses hope as more and more women realize what can be done individually and collectively to tip the scales towards creating a more just, peaceful and balanced world.
I was shocked to read how badly women have been and continue to be treated. The numbers are staggering. I wanted to jump for joy when some small groups of women fought back corruption or intimidation with little or nothing going for them.
And lastly, the book goes into some detail about the critical mass tipping point and why it's important for women to take action, such as getting involved in the political process or even lesser actions such as supporting one another.
It's an inspirational book and a calling. Perhaps there's hope for the world and it won't be destroyed after all.
June 14, 2022
“Gather the women, save the world” is the urgent message that Jean Shinoda Bolen has for us in this inspiring call to action. In a world that is mostly ruled by men, Dr. Bolen makes a magnificent case for the unique gifts and talents that women possess to make valuable contributions, whether in leading roles themselves or by coming together in smaller circles of harmony to work at solving some of our biggest challenges. Achieving world peace and reversing climate change are still at the top of the agenda as much as they were when this book was first published in 2005. And woman are perfectly suited to lead the way on these issues as embodiments of “The Mother Archetype”, bringing compassion, empathy and a desire to create community and harmony to the table at a time when these values are needed the most. From someone who has walked her talk and already done much to lead the way through her work with the UN and her Millionth Circle organization, Bolen’s book is a must read for activists, community organizers and anyone desiring to a play a role in a better future for us all.
January 10, 2009
I saw this book in a catalog and had to order it right away because the topic was on theme with my current activism with Mothers Acting Up AND because the author is a favorite of mine since reading her 'Goddess in Everywoman' book in high school. I don't think I've read anything of hers since high school, but I remember really liking that book.
This book is a call to action for women to take their particular and innate skills to help heal the earth environmentally and the world's culture of violence today. Every part of that message, I believe. Every example she offers is proof that a small group of brave women (or not brave but called to action women) CAN make a difference. Unfortunately, there were parts of the book that indicated men, inherently, can NOT be this way, think this way, bring these same results about. Indeed, history and current day events proves that patriarchy has failed to protect the earth and all life upon it. That I too, believe. I just don't believe that it is inherently a problem within men. The author fully acknowledges that not all women are this way, but the same is true of men. I think patriarchy maintains itself by promoting a system of values and power that influences our men to be the way they are. It doesn't take physical or childhood abuse to perpetuate that system of power. But it does NOT need to be this way. I am not hopeful that it'll change in my lifetime, but I am hopeful that it will be different in the future.
Now you may ask, why do I believe it is inherent in women and not in men. I believe that women whose bodies have the physical function of nurturing and bringing life to this world (whether they do or not) have a compassion that is inherent and critically needed in order to change the direction things are going. Not every single woman, but most of them. Women's general absence from positions of power (in the current power structure) is limiting the ways we (men and women) respond to crisis. The rest of the message in this book is important and valuable and very much hit home for me.
I loved the message of circles and the positive energy they create in the world. It confirmed a thought of mine that even if we don't feel we are making any progress in some of the activism meetings that we have... that we still need to meet and develop that energy. I also loved the image of how little it took. I tell three people who tell three people and a mere 19 steps later... we've reach over a billion people. It reminded me of a recent non-profit holiday bazaar that I went to where I was so proud of the fact that each person in the room was representing an organization that is benefiting people on this earth for one reason or another. Each one of us was personally passionate about some cause and working toward making it better. That fact gave me hope that we can help our mother earth and the multitude of lives upon it.
Back to the book... I thought there would be more environmental aspects to this book (I think from the title), but there wasn't. I was also bummed that she didn't specifically mention Mothers Acting Up as an organization even though she mentioned other mother groups. Then, after finishing the book, I turned to the first week of this year's MAU calendar which features the author and mentions this book. How is that for synchonicity? Highly recommended.
This book is a call to action for women to take their particular and innate skills to help heal the earth environmentally and the world's culture of violence today. Every part of that message, I believe. Every example she offers is proof that a small group of brave women (or not brave but called to action women) CAN make a difference. Unfortunately, there were parts of the book that indicated men, inherently, can NOT be this way, think this way, bring these same results about. Indeed, history and current day events proves that patriarchy has failed to protect the earth and all life upon it. That I too, believe. I just don't believe that it is inherently a problem within men. The author fully acknowledges that not all women are this way, but the same is true of men. I think patriarchy maintains itself by promoting a system of values and power that influences our men to be the way they are. It doesn't take physical or childhood abuse to perpetuate that system of power. But it does NOT need to be this way. I am not hopeful that it'll change in my lifetime, but I am hopeful that it will be different in the future.
Now you may ask, why do I believe it is inherent in women and not in men. I believe that women whose bodies have the physical function of nurturing and bringing life to this world (whether they do or not) have a compassion that is inherent and critically needed in order to change the direction things are going. Not every single woman, but most of them. Women's general absence from positions of power (in the current power structure) is limiting the ways we (men and women) respond to crisis. The rest of the message in this book is important and valuable and very much hit home for me.
I loved the message of circles and the positive energy they create in the world. It confirmed a thought of mine that even if we don't feel we are making any progress in some of the activism meetings that we have... that we still need to meet and develop that energy. I also loved the image of how little it took. I tell three people who tell three people and a mere 19 steps later... we've reach over a billion people. It reminded me of a recent non-profit holiday bazaar that I went to where I was so proud of the fact that each person in the room was representing an organization that is benefiting people on this earth for one reason or another. Each one of us was personally passionate about some cause and working toward making it better. That fact gave me hope that we can help our mother earth and the multitude of lives upon it.
Back to the book... I thought there would be more environmental aspects to this book (I think from the title), but there wasn't. I was also bummed that she didn't specifically mention Mothers Acting Up as an organization even though she mentioned other mother groups. Then, after finishing the book, I turned to the first week of this year's MAU calendar which features the author and mentions this book. How is that for synchonicity? Highly recommended.
December 4, 2009
"Like an unexpected pregnancy, you may be carrying the seeds of something that will change your life and the world. Take that seed and bring it into a circle of women, nurture it with wisdom, give it energy, prune what needs pruning, let the tap root go down into the energy field of Mother, to draw from and contribute thought and action into the morphic field, and then take it out into the world to blood and bear fruit."
- Jean Shinoda Bolen, p. 163 Urgent Message from Mother
In Chapter 5 of "Urgent Message", Antidote 1: The Visible Power of Women Together, Bolen share stories of specific situations where women working together created powerful solutions to environmental issues, terrorism and date rape. At the conclusion of each story/scenario a summary antidote is provided, highlighting ways women's circles effect change. That chapter alone makes this a must read for any woman interested in helping her family, her community and her planet.
Read the book and share it with another women you know carries a seed inside.
- Jean Shinoda Bolen, p. 163 Urgent Message from Mother
In Chapter 5 of "Urgent Message", Antidote 1: The Visible Power of Women Together, Bolen share stories of specific situations where women working together created powerful solutions to environmental issues, terrorism and date rape. At the conclusion of each story/scenario a summary antidote is provided, highlighting ways women's circles effect change. That chapter alone makes this a must read for any woman interested in helping her family, her community and her planet.
Read the book and share it with another women you know carries a seed inside.
May 12, 2017
This is an amazing book that I return to again and again.
March 2, 2024
read for my thesis but soooo good would recommend to all my friends !
May 24, 2009
A good, quick read. Covers the history of women, the feminine nature, and what the feminine and masculine have to offer. Some of these parts are a bit over simplified for my taste. However, the book is worth reading and it calls women to create circles, to gather, to organize. My favorite part of the book gave examples of grass roots movements often started by poor women around the world, who have and are making real change!
For instance, in 2005 a group of Nigerian women invaded a corporation that was polluting their land and not employing any the men in their village. They demanded to be heard, threatened to take their clothes off (in their culture this is the place of womans power) and after negotiations, these mothers won as the corporation committed to employing a certain amount of local men, building schools, and cleaning up their mess. Empowering, inspiring, important.
For instance, in 2005 a group of Nigerian women invaded a corporation that was polluting their land and not employing any the men in their village. They demanded to be heard, threatened to take their clothes off (in their culture this is the place of womans power) and after negotiations, these mothers won as the corporation committed to employing a certain amount of local men, building schools, and cleaning up their mess. Empowering, inspiring, important.
September 24, 2012
The work is important. The need for people to live empowered and active as bearers of love, peace and hope remains critical to the health of the planet and we who dwell upon and with it. Yet there is heavy emphasis on gendered claims of being that leaves me and many, many others outside. I have no doubt that parenthood can change a person's perception of what is important. I do not doubt that gendering in every culture affects how we live. The way forward, though, needs to be one that is open to our different experiences and how we are each called to the work of sustaining life and growing and building peace. I believe that's also part of what Bolen is arguing for, through her own life's work. People attending and working together with care and with hope can and do change the world.
May 4, 2009
the first mother's day was a proclamation to gather all the women of the world. women need to add their voice of a devastated earth, ruined by wars and powerful man.
Empowered maternal concern is a untapped resource that could transform and balance aggression.
men in war unlearn all the charity, mercy and patience that their mothers taught them.
we are as sick as our secrets.
we can understand that earth is like a womb, and we are her children. She nurtures us with warmth, connection and food. as soon as we acknowledge that Gaia(our mother earth)is being destroyed, we can save her by changing our actions.
Empowered maternal concern is a untapped resource that could transform and balance aggression.
men in war unlearn all the charity, mercy and patience that their mothers taught them.
we are as sick as our secrets.
we can understand that earth is like a womb, and we are her children. She nurtures us with warmth, connection and food. as soon as we acknowledge that Gaia(our mother earth)is being destroyed, we can save her by changing our actions.
July 6, 2007
I had the privilege of hearing Ms. Bolen speak Jean Shinoda Bolen just as this book was coming out. Her message is deeply rooted in her own spiritual practice and earth insight. Our Mother is in trouble, and Bolen eloquently speaks of our archetypal and physical needs to care for her.
June 18, 2008
This book made me feel empowered to take more action against the things that are wrong in the world today. The author describes how simple it can be to change the world by changing our mindset and influencing those around us. It is time for women to realize how much the planet needs us and our compassion. It is time for us to act and realize how strong we are when we act together.
January 18, 2009
This is a topic whos time has truly come.
This world is swiftly experiencing the critical mass that Ms. Bolen speaks of. I want to purchase a copy for every woman I know!
Truly, one of the most timely works I've ever read.
This world is swiftly experiencing the critical mass that Ms. Bolen speaks of. I want to purchase a copy for every woman I know!
Truly, one of the most timely works I've ever read.
December 26, 2007
I give this book 10 stars (minus the slow part in the middle that droned on about christianity's misgivings, skip this part if and get to the super inspiring stuff past it). The rest of the book is inspirational, pure and simple. A MUST READ!!!!
December 17, 2011
She has some very bright comments about how women can help and wonderful examples of women helping, but the underlying argument is based on simplistic ideas. And so it fails. The blame for the problem should not so tidily assigned and a solution is not so obviously coming to pass.
October 29, 2015
Rocked my world. Mother Earth has called me to aid her. I am answering: I will be a standing woman mother's day 2016. I will d I a small official part for the Mother.
Strongly suggested all my Earth sisters.
Strongly suggested all my Earth sisters.
September 17, 2007
GATHER THE WOMEN, SAVE THE WORLD!
This book inspired me. I feel empowered and hopeful again. I need to get my own copy, so I can read it when I feel discouraged...as a reminder.
This book inspired me. I feel empowered and hopeful again. I need to get my own copy, so I can read it when I feel discouraged...as a reminder.
December 10, 2007
Arise all women who have hearts say firmly, our sons will not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of patience, mercy and love. JWH
April 9, 2008
This book inspired me to organize a women's drum and prayer circle to be held on Mother's Day. It's very clear and concise.
January 8, 2009
This is a book that every women and enlightened men should read. We know not the power that we have should we choose to use it.
September 16, 2012
Women have a lot to do in helping the world. The feminine inside must emerge.
August 4, 2013
Jean Shinoda es un antes y sobretodo un después en mi vida. Con este libro asumo la responsabilidad que me corresponde desde mi trinchera.
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September 27, 2018Among the most important books I've read. A resource for our times.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews