As a woman in midlife, I really hoped this book would speak to me. Unfortunately, I didn’t really connect with it or find it relatable. I think we are coming from very different approaches, though I admire the work that went into this. Thanks for the opportunity to review this title.

I received an ARC of this ebook by the publisher via Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review.

In the past year I've really delved into Jungian psychology and the concept of archetypes. Archetypes being universal concepts of patterns of behavior and personalities that we see repeat throughout time. These archetypes appear in stories, mythology, art, etc. across many different cultures and societies. Examples of archetypes include the maiden, mother, orphan, and the jester. During my deep dive in archetypes I've explored the archetypes of womanhood: the maiden, mother, and crone. (Note: the mother period doesn't automatically equate to motherhood. It symbolizes more the period in a woman's life where she's more centered and mature from her growth out of maidenhood.) And I also came to the realization that I might have some wounds regarding my maiden phase and that, as a woman in her early 30s, needed to turn my attention to my progress into the mother archetype.

It's well-known that society looks down upon aging (especially for women), and that we're programmed to try and stay as young looking as possible. So when I saw that a book was being released to explore the transition from maiden to mother, and provides techniques and rituals to explore this period, I was very excited. Durham Wilson provides a guide to this transitory period and uses the myth of the Sumerian goddess, Inanna, to illustrate this process.

I enjoyed reading about some of the techniques to ease the transition and advice on how to deal with trauma that was experienced in maidenhood. There were certain parts that I felt like were repetitive, but overall I enjoyed the knowledge that was imparted. There's a strong emphasis on fourth-wave feminism and self-empowerment. However, if you're not a fan of books that lean into the "woo", then this might not be for you. Overall I'd rated Maiden to Mother 3.5 stars rounded up.

I love the author’s voice. She communicates her experiences so well and with such insightfulness, it’s hard not to get sucked in to hear what she has to say. I love the exercises in this book. The chapters aren’t so long that I need to block out time for my sessions either. I can do several chapters in a day if I have time or even chip away a bit at a time. I have learned so much about the Maiden to Mother journey and enjoyed the period of self-reflection that came with my enjoyment of this book.

Maiden to Mother uses the author’s own spiritual and coming-of-age journey, in addition to other archetypal narratives, to illustrate how living in a patriarchal society forces most women to remain in a perpetual state of maidenhood when we should be embracing a transition to motherhood. By “motherhood”, I don’t mean being a mother to children in the literal sense, but rather a stage of maturity that enables us to see beyond surface-level worth and to escape the constant need to meet expectations carved by a society governed by men for thousands of years. In the mother stage, we develop a sense of self-confidence and autonomy that allows us to embrace eternal truths and rise into our own power. Maiden to Mother is a guidebook for all women and is full of visualization exercises, guided meditations, and journal prompts for developing self-awareness. It’s one the reader will revisit often over a lifetime, as I have already.

Maiden to Mother by Sarah Durham Wilson is the perfect book to add to my collection. This book explores the ancient passage from maiden to mother, guiding us through a sacred and crucial initiation, and helps us ignite the powerful, safe, compassionate, full-bloom feminine life force that exists within all of us. Becoming a mother is any woman’s birthright—regardless of whether or not she raises children. The Mother is who we wanted as a child, who we were intended to be in this life, and who the planet requires us to be now.

Maiden to Mother is an absolute must read for those looking to connect with the Divine Feminine in the transitional period of life towards later adulthood, most commonly known in the traditional spaces as the 'Mother'. This book does a good job explaining that the transition to Mother from Maiden does not require the birthing of a child, a path that is not for everybody who is looking to connect with the Divine Feminine. The journal prompts and exercises are well rounded and the author does a good job about interspersing their own personal experiences without it coming across too much like a memoire rather than a tool to aid others in their own personal journey. While I am not at this transitional time yet, I can see myself picking up a finished copy and rereading it and completing the exercises and journal prompts.

THIS is the book I've been searching for.

A little background:

Two years ago I left an extremely patriarchal, high demand christian religion. Since then, I've desperately been seeking out the divine feminine in any way I can. But something had always felt to be missing. This book is what was missing!

Wilson gives instruction on how to heal your maiden wounds and access and live in the Mother. She teaches through stories, poems, meditations, journal prompts, and more. The clear cut path of working towards Mother is so appreciated. I will be purchasing this book when it's published and working through each of the prompts and assignments.

The only reason I took one star away is for the stories included about healing cancer through joy. I may just not be ready to accept that as a part of my own personal journey. Having come from a religion that promoted speaking to a god, it was easy to believe that if my prayers weren't being answered that it was my fault. I don't have room in my healing at the moment to believe fully in a being that is real and has the capability to heal physical wounds. I can very much believe in synchronicities and intuition, but the physical healing halted me a bit.

Overall, I'm truly looking forward to spending more time with this book when it is released!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4364420942

I don't think I'll be ready for this journey for another decade or so, but for those who are, Wilson provides a variety of exercises and journal prompts to aid you through the transition.

As a nonbinary person I went into reading this books without knowing what I would think about it, but let me tell you. This book has awoken so many thoughts and feelings inside of me that I had to take breaks between the chapters. The book is fillied with exercises and journal prompts to help you on your own journey and yes, I plan on doing them all.

Sarah Durham Wilson really brings you along on her own journey from her time as the maiden to her time as the mother as well as giving you examples from other women. Its a great book that I really wish that I could've read when I was younger and I will definetly make sure to give a copy to my sister once its published.