Member Reviews
The Twelve Faces of Goddess: Transform Your Life with Astrology, Magick, and the Sacred Feminine by Danielle Blackwood
Pages
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications, Llewellyn Worldwide
Release Date:
Nonfiction (Adult), Spirituality, Religion, Astrology, Magic, Goddess, Divine Feminine, Personalities
The book is divided into the following parts.
Part one: Astrology and Magick: A Sacred Marriage Between Heaven and Earth
How to Work with this Book
What Exactly is an Archetype
What is Archetypal Astrology?
What is the Shadow?
Guiding Goddess Archetypes: Which Archetypes Reside in your Birth Chart?
You are Every Sign
The Basics of Astrology
The Elements
The Modes
The Signs
The Planets: The Ten Archetypes Alive in Your Psyche
The Houses: Areas of Experience
Magick and the Wheel of the Year
Ritual Basics
A Note on Pathworking in this Book
Clearing Space and Grounding and Centering
Music, Drumming and Movement
Casting a Circle
Creating an Altar
A Note of Recipes in This Book
A Bath to Ground and Center after Ritual or Divination
Part two: The Heroine’s Journey: Through the Signs with the Guiding Goddess Archetypes
What can I say about this book? It covers the basics and goes a little in depth into astrology. What I found of significant value was part two of the book. Each archetype is detailed, and I found myself nodding and agreeing with the author as I read. I saw me and several of my friends clearly in the different archetypes. The author has a conversational style of writing, so it is easy for the reader to understand the information without being overwhelmed. If you like astrology and working with a goddess, this is a book for you.
This book was absolutely fantastic. I've already added it to our library collection and will recommend it to students.
What a truly magnificent book.
I am still in awe...I don't know what I was expecting, but I got more than what I was expecting.
I will definitely be keeping this book and referring back to it; my copious kindle notes/highlights/and bookmarks will serve me well although if you read both ebooks and physical books this is one you will want on your shelf.
This is a book written for women...feminine spirits who truly wish to know about the goddess myth in its entirety divided into 12 facets that mirror astrology. Each astrological sign has a complete profile. Everything you want to know. Things you didn't know you wanted (needed) to know! Crystals, essential oils, the patron goddess, the ruling planets, the history and a little fantasy written...completely a breath (lungs-full breath) of fresh air. I truly hope others read this book, it contains wisdom that we all need.
Thank you to the author for writing such a beautiful book and bestowing the sacred knowledge upon us
thank you to Llewellyn Publications for providing me an advanced electronic copy for review consideration
Blackwell offers a well-grounded and insightful discussion, analysis, and application of astrology, magick, and astrological wisdom. Her focus on goddesses from a variety of traditions helps to balance the masculinist bias in much astrology and mythology. Highly recommended.
I became interested in this novel because of the cover. I have been a long time fan of Mucha so it caught my eye. Once I read the synopsis, I knew I was lost, however.
Do not be fool by the author’s easy style. The book is filled with deep, heavy topics. The author approaches such concepts in a way that makes them not only graspable but interesting as well.
It is difficult to write a review for such an informative and powerful book. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in astrology. It is stuffed with information and good for any level, whether beginners, expects, or just curious.
A fascinating book that combines Goddess energy with astrological cycles. The author takes the male-dominated imagery of astrology and shows the Divine Feminine that lives within these signs as well. The book also gives a lot of information on the 12 signs of the zodiac as related to the Goddess associated with the sign. She gives an easily understandable look at astrology and the planets associated with it. The author takes you through the magickal wheel of the year sharing information about each of the eight turning points of the Wheel and the cardinal signs associated with it as well as some of the things to consider in celebrating each.
In the author's laying out of the Heroine's Journey, she gives historical examples of the archetypical woman associated with the sign. She gives guiding goddess Archetypes, pathworking, meditations and rituals to help you connect with the energy of the divine feminine associated with your astrological sign.
I enjoyed this book and it's information very much. It has made me more interested in astrology enough to want a hard copy of this book. I have always had an interest in goddess energy, this book shows it in a new way. The author was spot on when describing many of the astrological traits of my sign and the archetypical goddess that the author associated with that sign.
Danielle Blackwood's book intrigued me by uniting different themes and fields into her book. On the one hand she looks at Jungian archetypes, something I myself have done to mediocre success, and astrology, but also at magick and folktales. Bringing these different elements together is ultimately quite a challenge, especially if you want to make it accessible to novice readers like myself as well.
I really enjoyed the first few chapters in which Blackwood explained both her own story, the purpose and use of the book, and the basics of astrology. It was the first time I was every really able to wrap my head around the different astrology concepts like 'ascendants' and 'houses'. I really enjoyed Blackwood's description of the different signs etc. and this was the part of the book where I really felt like I was learning. The rest of the book is dedicated to the twelve different signs and faces of the goddess. Of course I frst went to my own star sign and unfortunately I didn't really recognize myself in some of the details.
The trick with books like these is to both read them earnestly and with a grain of salt. I really enjoyed the kindness with which Blackwood writes, how serious she clearly is about this subject and about her belief that knowing your stars, so to say, can help you know yourself. As I read 'The Twelve Faces of the Goddess' I became convinced enough of this as well to really take on board some of Blackwood's notions, but some were unfortunately still a bridge too far for me.
Overall, however, I would definitely recommend this book to those interested in astrology and feminine magick.
*Thanks to NetGelley for this ARC that I read voluntarily*
I honestly wasn't too sure about this one but I wanted to give it a go. I'm glad I did, I loved learning about the feminine side of the zodiac. I loved using the exercises and just reading through each Goddess. This is a book that I think I will be flipping through often.
Will go live on my blog: 4/14/2018
Beautifully written, accessible and multi-faceted information on how magic, tarot, and astrology weave together.
"Astrology is a symbolic language of energy."
The author offers a fresh perspective and deep insights. She keeps the text flowing for easy reading while exploring complex topics, including astrology concepts and the archetypal feminine face of each sign. The sense from reading is expansiveness, as the author encourages connecting with elements and goddesses throughout the wheel as needed by the individual reader.
"In this book, you will learn how to personally connect with the twelve faces of the Goddess through astrology, story, ritual, and guided meditation."
Between pages of wisdom, resources, and how-to, the author encourages the reader to honor her own truth and way.
"Connecting with your guiding goddesses will reignite a sense of mystery in you life and help you forge a connection with the Divine."
Way beyond astrology 101, this book can be used as a primer, or for in-depth study. Highly recommended -- though I suggest buying a hard copy as flipping back and forth and marking pages will be easier.
I received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A very interesting and unusual book with interesting reflections about our astrological characteristics and the female archetype identified by a goddess. There explanations, examples and exercises to help to get in touch with the characteristics of the female archetype we want to discover in ourselves.
Strongly recommended.
I need more stars for this book. I kid you not. Five stars is not nearly enough. I need at least fifteen. Fifteen stars at a minimum.
THE TWELVE FACES OF THE GODDESS is one of those books that I desperately need the physical copy of, because it impacted me so beautifully that I need to hold it in my hands. From the authors obvious wealth of knowledge, to the warm and inviting way that she writes. To the amazing research she did for each zodiac, to all the time and attention given to each sign. And for introducing me to Artemis (and to Nott, though the author didn't plan on that!). This whole book is lovely and wonderful from start to finish. I highly, highly recommend.
Dear Danielle Blackwood,
Thank you for introducing me to myself.
Love,
Stacie
I thoroughly enjoyed the pathworking section of the book, the visualizations are kind, healing, and empowering, it was a delightful experience encountering the featured goddesses in this book. The astrology sections gave me a deeper insight into the various signs as well. More importantly though, the book serves as a catalogue of personality traits that gives us the vocabulary to write our own narrative. Like the author accurately pointed out, "all of us have every sign in our birth chart". By adopting an expansive stance over a limiting one, the book helps bring to awareness various behaviours and their associated thought patterns, giving us the opportunity to confront and assess whether these behaviours serve us or detract from us.
The Twelve Faces of the Goddess by Danielle Blackwood is a deep journey into goddess archetypes. First Danielle explains the zodiacal archetype, and then goes on to explain what the modern day archetype looks like. Next, an exploration of the guiding goddess archetype is explored by using lesser known goddesses. For instance, how many people have heard of the goddess Macha? I know I never have. Next, how we can incorporate the lessons of the goddess are discussed by using very relatable examples. Guided meditations, rituals and correspondences of the zodiac and goddeses are also included.
What I most loved about this book was that Danielle was able to show very clearly how we can tap into our own inner goddesses for self empowerment. Too often in goddess studies there is a disconnect between the archetype and our modern day applications. This book does the exact opposite. It is made obvious that we all possess the twelve goddess archetypes within us, it’s just that we don’t always know how to activate them either because of patriarchal conditioning or because we have lost touch with ourselves. This book does a beautiful job of reminding us that we as women are multi faceted beings on our own unique journeys. Empowering the sacred feminine begins with honouring our authenticity and wide array of emotions. There are going to be times when we need to be the warrior Athena, and there are times when we will call upon Aphrodite. Goddess spirituality has less to do with invocation rituals and more to do with conscious awareness of our multi dimensional energies as women. The Twelves Faces of the Goddess are not some ancient mythological figures. They are within us.
This book is a must read for astrology lovers, women and men, priestesses, those new to goddess spirituality, and for those who are on a self-discovery journey.
How fascinating is this: a book that takes the usually male=dominated imagery/vernacular of astrology, and combined it with the Divine Feminine forms of the goddess! The author is quite knowledgeable about archetypes and shadow, as well as the Hero/Heroine's Journey, and uses this in the main content of the book which devotes a great many pages to each of the 12 signs of the zodiac as related to one guiding goddess. Having been born in May, I especially loved reading about the "Taurus Woman," and found everything she wrote about "me" spot on (also I love being connected to Aphrodite in this way)!
For each zodiac sign/goddess, there is a section called "Pathwork" which is a guided inner journey, as well as ideas and suggestions for ritual, essential oils, and more.
This was a new genre for me. I wasn't sure what to expect but it was a pleasant experience. The area on candles and rituals was a bit fascinating. I don't know if I'd try this out for myself but it was a nice change of pace to explore something I am unfamiliar with.
I love the fact that it includes goddess exercises and a connection to the twelve signs of the zodiac. It also includes the moon cycles and rituals to perform during the phases, I loved it!
The Twelve Faces of the Goddess is a very beautiful work. It's not your e-zine or magazine kind of astrology, it's the opposite. First the book covers a lot of basic concepts of astrology and then it moves further to cover each sign in more detail. It has a lot of historical facts on different ancient festivals and myths.
“In Celtic and ancient Germanic society, it wasn't only the men who went to battle. Women fought alongside men with just as much ferocity, courage and valor. Lagertha, the formidable shieldmaiden made popular on History Channel's Vikings, is a female protagonist who embodies the archetype of the Aries woman.” ― Danielle Blackwood, The Twelve Faces of the Goddess
Moreover, it also ties each sign with own goddess and that makes this book stand out from all the other ones.
I would recommend this book to female readers. As you can tell from the title, it focuses more on feminine
aspect of astronomy. And as author writes: "As I have written this book for women, I have chosen to refer to the journey through twelve signs as the heroine's journey: the quest toward individuation from a feminine perspective. Not really sure how male readers would find this.
If you love astrology, this is a must read for you. And even if you don't believe in astrology, this still is a great book because it is very informative and very clearly written in case you want to know what is the meaning of birth charts, rising signs and what is the meaning of different phases of the moon in astrology.
4/5 stars
Thank you Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.