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Sacred Woman: A Guide to Healing the Feminine Body, Mind, and Spirit
The twentieth anniversary edition of a transformative blueprint for ancestral healing—featuring new material and gateways, from the renowned herbalist, natural health expert, and healer of women’s bodies and souls“This book was one of the first that helped me start practices as a young woman that focused on my body and spirit as one.”—Jada Pinkett Smith Through extraordinary meditations, affirmations, holistic healing plant-based medicine, KMT temple teachings, and The Rites of Passage guidance, Queen Afua teaches us how to love and rejoice in our bodies by spiritualizing the words we speak, the foods we eat, the relationships we attract, the spaces we live and work in, and the transcendent woman spirit we manifest. With love, wisdom, and passion, Queen Afua guides us to accept our mission and our mantle as Sacred Women—to heal ourselves, the generations of women in our families, our communities, and our world.
485 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2000
2809 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
January 13, 2013
If you want a sense of your true role and power as a woman get this book. This book is excellent for those like myself who have had certain teachings from young regarding African culture and rites. Nana Afua has written for all women but I feel your will grasp it immediately and see the benefits more easily if your view of the world is not just mainstream teachings. I picked up this book because I needed healing and it has done and is still doing that she offers some excellent tools. I can't praise her enough. The book can also be used as a rites of passage for young women. Which in my opinion is necessary. The book is a doing book you have be prepared to do the work to heal. You can't intellectualise this book. Watch life change when you embrace the guidance offered in this wonderful offering of a book.
August 7, 2007
This has to be taken with a grain (or two) of salt. The voice in which it is written is not what most of us are use to. There is a lot of wisdom within these pages, but it is very hard to disseminate at one sitting, without overload or unconsciousous resistance to what is written...
The idea of the Goddess is presented in a new view which does cause one to step back and reflect. This is not the end all definitive work, but a very informative view that should be considered and not dismissed. I am still reading this book after two years.
The idea of the Goddess is presented in a new view which does cause one to step back and reflect. This is not the end all definitive work, but a very informative view that should be considered and not dismissed. I am still reading this book after two years.
March 11, 2020
This book wasn't what I expected it to be, the layout of the text into columns and some of the italised font really didn't make it look that appealing to read.
I picked and chose different parts that spoke to me to read. There was a lot of information about ancient Egyptian history and African fashion (there's a whole section on how to dress your headdress) which I brushed past.
Its main premise is on caring for the womb space and discusses the 9 gateways of initiation to commit yourself to it. This is some of the information that was useful to me:
- Anoint self with high vibrational essential oils (rose, frankincense, myrrh, cinnamon, lavender or jasmine) including adding flower essences into water to drink or4 drops underneath the tongue
- Discusses the sacred clock (wake up 4-5am to Meditate, 6am write in journal, 9am have breakfast (light meal of fruit), 12pm total activity and productivity, 3pm heaviest meal of the day, 4-8pm a quiet time to retreat and relax, 8pm dinner (lighter than lunch), doesn't talk about when to go to sleep.
- Lots of prompting questions to consider the state of your womb and a rating system to consider your womb wellness - this I found interesting as me bleeding for 5 days each month gave me a rating of 3 for this section (the highest rating) it states that you should be aiming for 1-2 days of bleeding
- Meat totally disrupts our hormonal balance and thus our periods - states (what bleeds, when eaten, will make you bleed)
- Discusses mucus and mucus forming foods and how these destroy the life of the womb, debilitated you and put you to sleep, mucus can accumulate in the brain leading to headaches and poor memory, high mucus in the womb the longer you bleed, such as white items, pasta, and dairy as well as meat and to only eat whole grains at midday.
- Diet recommendation: do eat lentils, sprouts, soy , peas, do not eat shellfish, meat, and only eat starches 3-4 times a week.
- You should have a bowel movement after each meal you eat (thus 3 a day)
- If you don't, you will have an unhealthy colon, you should: not eat late, eat proper food combinations, drink enough water, exercise and express suppressed thoughts
- When detoxing following her diet suggestions you can develop symptoms like headaches, flatulence, fatigue, depression, dizziness
- Sacred words: be truthful, avoid sugar, perform a toxic word fast (gossiping)
- Eat red berries for womb health
- Take regular Epsom salt baths
- Beautify your home (kitchen: stainless Steel or cast iron pots and pans, aloe Vera plant, green colours) (living room: low furniture to connect to earth, display pictures of family) (receiving area: place cactus near door for protection, runner rug) (bedroom: futon bed, add small table and chairs for private drinks)
- Sacred relationships (importance of mother relationship - consider relationships with a substitute mother but she will always be the one who brought you life and honour that, list all your relationships and explore each one, practise forgiveness, process old hurts)
I picked and chose different parts that spoke to me to read. There was a lot of information about ancient Egyptian history and African fashion (there's a whole section on how to dress your headdress) which I brushed past.
Its main premise is on caring for the womb space and discusses the 9 gateways of initiation to commit yourself to it. This is some of the information that was useful to me:
- Anoint self with high vibrational essential oils (rose, frankincense, myrrh, cinnamon, lavender or jasmine) including adding flower essences into water to drink or4 drops underneath the tongue
- Discusses the sacred clock (wake up 4-5am to Meditate, 6am write in journal, 9am have breakfast (light meal of fruit), 12pm total activity and productivity, 3pm heaviest meal of the day, 4-8pm a quiet time to retreat and relax, 8pm dinner (lighter than lunch), doesn't talk about when to go to sleep.
- Lots of prompting questions to consider the state of your womb and a rating system to consider your womb wellness - this I found interesting as me bleeding for 5 days each month gave me a rating of 3 for this section (the highest rating) it states that you should be aiming for 1-2 days of bleeding
- Meat totally disrupts our hormonal balance and thus our periods - states (what bleeds, when eaten, will make you bleed)
- Discusses mucus and mucus forming foods and how these destroy the life of the womb, debilitated you and put you to sleep, mucus can accumulate in the brain leading to headaches and poor memory, high mucus in the womb the longer you bleed, such as white items, pasta, and dairy as well as meat and to only eat whole grains at midday.
- Diet recommendation: do eat lentils, sprouts, soy , peas, do not eat shellfish, meat, and only eat starches 3-4 times a week.
- You should have a bowel movement after each meal you eat (thus 3 a day)
- If you don't, you will have an unhealthy colon, you should: not eat late, eat proper food combinations, drink enough water, exercise and express suppressed thoughts
- When detoxing following her diet suggestions you can develop symptoms like headaches, flatulence, fatigue, depression, dizziness
- Sacred words: be truthful, avoid sugar, perform a toxic word fast (gossiping)
- Eat red berries for womb health
- Take regular Epsom salt baths
- Beautify your home (kitchen: stainless Steel or cast iron pots and pans, aloe Vera plant, green colours) (living room: low furniture to connect to earth, display pictures of family) (receiving area: place cactus near door for protection, runner rug) (bedroom: futon bed, add small table and chairs for private drinks)
- Sacred relationships (importance of mother relationship - consider relationships with a substitute mother but she will always be the one who brought you life and honour that, list all your relationships and explore each one, practise forgiveness, process old hurts)
September 14, 2012
If you are in search of a deeper journey regarding health - spiritual and physical, this is a great book to add to your list of must reads. Queen Afua writes from a unique perspective as she tries to teach us "wombman" how important the health and care of our wombs are. She nutures by providing us with spiritual reflections (not religion) to help us grow. This book can be a challenge for the novice readers especially if you are unfamiliar with many of the ancient teachings and customs she discusses, however a journey of awareness requires change. This is a book I recommend to all of my sisters who seek an awakening!
October 29, 2007
The book was not at all what I thought it was going to be. If you are looking to completely change your life and follow a new religion this is the book for you; but if you just want to have some insight into how to be a more empowering female then this is definitely not the book for you.
August 1, 2009
This book revealed to me how food has such an impact on us on so many different levels. I also learned how to further embrace my feminity and divinity.
January 11, 2023
I wanted to write a brief review of this book that I was kindly lent by a friend as I work with divine feminine energy so knew I would be interested in this book and as soon as I saw it I was quite excited to read it.
Having finished it, I have mixed feelings about this book.
As with most books of this nature, I believe you should take from it what resonates with you and what doesn't. There was stuff in this book that didn't resonate with me at all- for instance it didn't feel right to me to say that the healthiest period would only last one day or less, and also I found some of the suggestions went quite far like suggesting women shouldn't really wear trousers as they constrict the womb. Also a few times my feminist self was a bit irritated with the requirements of the 'beauty' session especially (being well groomed all the time? We're all allowed some downtime now and again)! But I also understand this book was wrote from the perspective of a different tradition than myself and also a different cultural aspect, as I appreciate this was written with African women especially in mind, which was also interesting to read, as often books of this nature that are in the mainstream are written by white women so this was a refreshing change.
However there was also some very excellent ideas in this book that I am starting to implement and also use in my women's group. Womb Journaling, asking questions to your womb I found really enlightening and other exercises are very profound and I will be returning to these again and again :)
Having finished it, I have mixed feelings about this book.
As with most books of this nature, I believe you should take from it what resonates with you and what doesn't. There was stuff in this book that didn't resonate with me at all- for instance it didn't feel right to me to say that the healthiest period would only last one day or less, and also I found some of the suggestions went quite far like suggesting women shouldn't really wear trousers as they constrict the womb. Also a few times my feminist self was a bit irritated with the requirements of the 'beauty' session especially (being well groomed all the time? We're all allowed some downtime now and again)! But I also understand this book was wrote from the perspective of a different tradition than myself and also a different cultural aspect, as I appreciate this was written with African women especially in mind, which was also interesting to read, as often books of this nature that are in the mainstream are written by white women so this was a refreshing change.
However there was also some very excellent ideas in this book that I am starting to implement and also use in my women's group. Womb Journaling, asking questions to your womb I found really enlightening and other exercises are very profound and I will be returning to these again and again :)
January 10, 2021
I had heard a lot about this book, but it was not what I expected. I really can't see why a lot of people rated it 4 or 5 stars. It's very dense, like a textbook with a soft cover. I don't like the texture of the pages, which are like a workbook, or that the pictures are in black and white. And I don't like that the text is sometimes in columns. This book seems to be more for women who want/have children, which is not me.
I don't like how we're all supposed to have a meatless diet. Even if I am open to meatless alternatives, I am still a meat eater. Allegedly, if we follow a completely vegetarian/vegan diet and adhere to womb cleansings, that our menstrual cycles will be no longer than two days? I really don't think that's realistic. And apparently some foods cause specific emotions?
I've had this book for about a month and half and I have only flipped through it a few times. There may be a few things worth paying attention to, so I guess I'll keep it. In short, a good bit of the book's material should be taken with a grain of salt. I honestly think the lady is nuts. 🤷🏽♀️
Update on 1/9/20: I ended up returning this book. 🤷🏽♀️😂
I don't like how we're all supposed to have a meatless diet. Even if I am open to meatless alternatives, I am still a meat eater. Allegedly, if we follow a completely vegetarian/vegan diet and adhere to womb cleansings, that our menstrual cycles will be no longer than two days? I really don't think that's realistic. And apparently some foods cause specific emotions?
I've had this book for about a month and half and I have only flipped through it a few times. There may be a few things worth paying attention to, so I guess I'll keep it. In short, a good bit of the book's material should be taken with a grain of salt. I honestly think the lady is nuts. 🤷🏽♀️
Update on 1/9/20: I ended up returning this book. 🤷🏽♀️😂
June 13, 2008
A sistas "Bible". A continual read!
August 10, 2010
I never thought I would return to this book after my young twenties where I was decidedly a vegetarian. I never read this book straigh through but its a great resource for food cures of common women's ailments. Hoping for baby # 2 so I'm back to Castor oil packs and cayenne pepper flushes. Queen Afua knows her stuff.
September 21, 2018
no sources
April 1, 2013
This is a VERY dense book. I attempted to read it a couple of times but it was just too much. I enjoyed the beginning with background on our history I also enjoyed the poems and affirmations but I just didn't have the time or money to do all the things she writes about. Mainly I wanted to see more evidence. Of course raw fruits and veggies are best for you but where is her evidence to back up her claim that flesh foods make you feel anger? How does she know eating dairy makes all women lonely? All in all I just could not take this book too seriously because it just requires you to do way too much without the guarantee that you will in fact heal your womb even if you somehow manage to do everything the book says.
December 31, 2010
This book was very informative in helping me get on the path of nurturing my body and spirit in a holistic manner. I continue to use this book as a resource and have even bought a copy for my mother because I feel it has so much important information and great advice regarding women's health.
March 12, 2020
For me, this was a "use what applies to you and leave the rest" kinda book. Lots of great jewels throughout, but also plenty of ideas and suggestions that didn't resonate with me. There were also lots of suggestions for various purchases throughout the book, which I found to be a bit excessive (and even prohibitive for some).
Currently reading
November 26, 2007Queen Afua taps into that sacred place within the feminine principle! I would suggest that the guys read this too!
December 3, 2021
(just made it till the Relationships chapter but reviewing anyway)
This book was very much what I needed at this stage of my life. It's not written the way how-to books usually are. The structure is repetitive (but soothing in its repetition, to me) and each chapter can be visited on its own. I would say this book is ideal for those who are comfortable with divine feminity from pre-monotheistic times and reconciling it with whatever their belief system is. It's incredibly fascinating to me how the author re-connected with her ancestors' ancient Egyptian religion but the level the book gets into it just wasn't for me...so it would be a 4.5 and not 5 stars.
I did love her description of the Bitch as something that possesses a woman and needs to be treated as separate from her, even if she seems to be exhibiting "Bitch"iness constantly. She highlights that there is no ending to the epigenetic trauma we have suffered and sometimes it just expresses itself as it does...we just need to hold it with love while protecting ourselves. I was literally half asleep as I was reading this chapter but it still made such an impact on me.
Overall, this book is an amazing resource and is motivating me to do a reset of my diet and be mindful of whatever can spiritually taint me, including my own patterns and vices.
This book was very much what I needed at this stage of my life. It's not written the way how-to books usually are. The structure is repetitive (but soothing in its repetition, to me) and each chapter can be visited on its own. I would say this book is ideal for those who are comfortable with divine feminity from pre-monotheistic times and reconciling it with whatever their belief system is. It's incredibly fascinating to me how the author re-connected with her ancestors' ancient Egyptian religion but the level the book gets into it just wasn't for me...so it would be a 4.5 and not 5 stars.
I did love her description of the Bitch as something that possesses a woman and needs to be treated as separate from her, even if she seems to be exhibiting "Bitch"iness constantly. She highlights that there is no ending to the epigenetic trauma we have suffered and sometimes it just expresses itself as it does...we just need to hold it with love while protecting ourselves. I was literally half asleep as I was reading this chapter but it still made such an impact on me.
Overall, this book is an amazing resource and is motivating me to do a reset of my diet and be mindful of whatever can spiritually taint me, including my own patterns and vices.
April 1, 2021
I learned so much from this book and I will be referencing back to it for a long time... but it is not a simple read. There are “gateways” you go through week by week where you do exercises and activities that will help you become a sacred woman. This is not a “sit down and read and be done with it” kind of book. It’s a journey. Make sure you are ready to go through this journey before picking this one up, or read over it first to familiarize yourself with the info before you start. I will say I just went through all the gateways and completed them and I’ve learned so much about myself and gained so much knowledge along the way. This is like my new bible, so much value and love are within these pages. Highly highly highly recommend to anyone who wants to elevate themselves and connect more to their divine feminine energy.
Also, this book was written to be in the hands of a black woman but I think anyone can benefit from this book.
Also, this book was written to be in the hands of a black woman but I think anyone can benefit from this book.
July 2, 2014
Meeting the author and reading this book totally changed my life. I really enjoy the different outlooks on how to connect with your higher self. Queen Afua was a breathe of fresh air. This book holds many secrets that many women do not know. I say this is a MUST add to your book self.
-Empress Yana Jay
-Empress Yana Jay
June 25, 2008
This is a FABULOUS book. It gives tonics and ideas to cleanse your body, your mind, and your spirit. A must have for any woman, especially a woman that has African traditions.
January 23, 2013
Excellent! This book started me on my path to better Heath, refinement and womb healing. I lost all my books in a hurricane and this was the FIRST book I replaced.
January 29, 2019
For the most part, it was a lovely book, but I wasn't really into the passages on veganism, douching and enemas.
May 19, 2020
I honestly don’t think I’ll finish this book it’s not what I was expecting it reminds me of a history book
August 11, 2020
♥ everyone has to live their own life for them & them only.
January 3, 2023
I’ve had this book for at least 2 years & finally decided to read it. I don’t agree with everything in this book; but I still feel it deserves 5 stars. I still would recommend it to all women because I did take a lot away from it. I would definitely say read it, take what you need & leave what you don’t! She’s seems to be very passion about women & our health so I can’t do anything but respect it & feel proud to be a woman.
January 11, 2024
I got this book because I thought it was about femininity and women empowerment- which in a way it is… but totally not what I excepted. This is way more spiritual/religion based which made me disinterested after a while. It did have some great holistic advice and guidance for health I enjoyed. Totally not what I expected.
February 17, 2024
i've been in the longest reading slump lately
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March 29, 2025DNF - Started to read this because of the diety known as fka twigs but my spirituality is more animal crossing and less ancient herbal oils from amazon iykyk
October 12, 2022
Wow, this is perfect. I can’t express the joy reading this made me feel, including the pictures, the prayers and obviously the appreciation for women. I’ve heard women say that this book changed their life and I definitely get that. I can’t wait to live my life through this book <3
February 1, 2022
This book is a must-read for all women. It's so lovingly written, well-informed, and positive. It's a healing of the mind, body, and soul. A rediscovery of feminity for sistars and sisters alike. She gives beautiful details and descriptions. I recommend this book to any woman out there wanting to enhance their self-care, beauty rituals, or just need a boost in self-awareness. Lovely! Thank you so much! :)
August 4, 2014
As an African American women interested in living a more spiritual, intuitive lifestyle, there are very few books that cater specifically to us and our culture.
Most spiritual and goddess-oriented books focus on the perspective of ancient Europe and white women, taking looks into a history that is not necessarily shared by all women. While these books provide valuable information, sometimes you desire a book that was written by someone like you, for you specifically in mind.
Sacred Woman: A Guide to Healing the Feminine Body, Mind, and Spirit is written for the Black woman looking to know herself, her world, and her place in the Universe. This book provides valuable insight into healing spiritually, mentally, and physically, and is chocked full with practical information to start you on your spiritual journey.
I also applaud this book for it's non-Eurocentric, white-washed version of ancient Egypt and ancient Egyptian magic, although being African American, there is a strong chance that my ancestors came not from there, but from the countries in West Africa. A breath of fresh air, regardless.
There were a few things I didn't see necessarily eye to eye with with Queen Afua, and I was hoping for less of an emphasis on East African and maybe more information on the Orisha. Some things I didn't quite feel was the emphasis on living a strictly vegetarian lifestyle, fasting, and colon cleansing.
The good thing about this book is that you don't necessarily have to follow everything in Queen Afua's program- there's a wealth of information provided, including divination, healthy vegan recipes, prayers, affirmations, natural hair care, and natural beauty. Truly a treasure for the natural Black woman.
The best part of the book for me was the compiled lists of ancient and contemporary Black women in which we can aspire to. The idea of having an altar in which you can honor your ancestors, ancient Black women, and women today is truly a healing experience.
I highly recommend this book. Simply take it with a bit of salt.
Most spiritual and goddess-oriented books focus on the perspective of ancient Europe and white women, taking looks into a history that is not necessarily shared by all women. While these books provide valuable information, sometimes you desire a book that was written by someone like you, for you specifically in mind.
Sacred Woman: A Guide to Healing the Feminine Body, Mind, and Spirit is written for the Black woman looking to know herself, her world, and her place in the Universe. This book provides valuable insight into healing spiritually, mentally, and physically, and is chocked full with practical information to start you on your spiritual journey.
I also applaud this book for it's non-Eurocentric, white-washed version of ancient Egypt and ancient Egyptian magic, although being African American, there is a strong chance that my ancestors came not from there, but from the countries in West Africa. A breath of fresh air, regardless.
There were a few things I didn't see necessarily eye to eye with with Queen Afua, and I was hoping for less of an emphasis on East African and maybe more information on the Orisha. Some things I didn't quite feel was the emphasis on living a strictly vegetarian lifestyle, fasting, and colon cleansing.
The good thing about this book is that you don't necessarily have to follow everything in Queen Afua's program- there's a wealth of information provided, including divination, healthy vegan recipes, prayers, affirmations, natural hair care, and natural beauty. Truly a treasure for the natural Black woman.
The best part of the book for me was the compiled lists of ancient and contemporary Black women in which we can aspire to. The idea of having an altar in which you can honor your ancestors, ancient Black women, and women today is truly a healing experience.
I highly recommend this book. Simply take it with a bit of salt.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews