Book of the Month: Dr. Christiane Northrup's "The Wisdom of Menopause"

Dr. Christiane Northrup's The Wisdom of Menopause - Now Richer than Ever!

You probably already know that the women involved in dance tend to be a little above-the-average (sometimes a LOT above-the-average) in terms of intelligence. Emotional intelligence, body-intuitive intelligence, expressive and movement intelligence, and good, old-fashioned, intellectual intelligence.

If you’re like me, you’ve been taking little imaginary “mini-vacations” using books lately. (That’s using our intellectual intelligence and creative, imaginative intelligence in tandem.)

Are you nearly over your “beach reads”?

I’ll confess – I’ve been doing a little “staycation” this week. Still “clocking in” to work (at my home office) every day – but have ripped through two totally “beach-read” novels in past two days alone. (Yes, that means staying up real late.)

But within a week or so, I’ll be over this, and interested in something more “solid.” Which brings me to Dr. Christiane Northrup’s books. Her loving endorsement of Unveiling (see below) has me re-reading her works again.

Dr. Christiane Northrup, New York Times best-selling author.

We have something in common, Dr. Northrup and I. We’re both professionals – she’s an Ob/Gyn practitioner, and my Ph.D. is in theoretical physical chemistry. She’s done a lot of mainstream medical work over her career, and I’ve been an inventor, with four patents in computer science and a book about neural networks (the computer sort; think the android “Data” from the later Star Trek series, with his “neural network brain”). But both of us have examined our inner worlds – gone on our own “inner journeys” – and have observed and inquired into what other people have been learning. And we’ve each put what we’ve learned in book form.

We’re similar also in that our “writing voice” is very warm, intimate, and personal. Somehow, we’ve each managed to escape from the dry, distant “academic voice” with which we were taught, and learned to write in a way that makes you – the reader – feel connected.

And you know what? I’m really enjoying reading her book, The Wisdom of Menopause. It feels like we’re having a cup of coffee together, and she’s telling me about her life.

Dr. Christiane Northrup's recently revised and updated The Wisdom of Menopause (Jan., 2012) is worth our time. (And I'm rereading it - and loving it more than ever!)

Her book is available in trade paper form from Amazon, and also as a Kindle download:

Dr. Northrup just sent me an email describing Unveiling as "delightful," and saying that it brings "divine sensuality to women." (Hooray for her! And hooray for me! So thrilled to get this accolade from an author as respected and loved as her!)

I reference The Wisdom of Menopause in Unveiling:

As described by Dr. Christiane Northrup in The Wisdom of Menopause, we become attuned to new pathways opening up for us at this time. With the monthly cycle of hormones diminishing, we have a more steady and consistent "baseline" for our self-observations. (Unveiling, p. 125)

If you're just beginning your "inner journey" - or are well into the midst of it - Dr. Northrup's book(s) and my own Unveiling make great hand-in-hand reads. Check us both out!

And as you make the transition from purely a "beach read" to something more substantial - what are you reading now? And what's "in your bag" for Labor Day weekend?

Comment below - nominate your favorite reads - and I'll select one to blog about the few days before Labor Day - so others will tune in to your favorite book!

"Unveiling: The Inner Journey" Celebrates First Year Anniversary!

The Unveiling Community Celebrates First Anniversary with Gala Party

On Saturday, July 28th, founding members of the Unveiling Community - and new ones as well - gathered at Alay'nya's home to toast the first anniversary of publication.

As featured in a McLean Connection article on "Pathways for Today's Heroine", by writer/photographer Lori Baker, guests each had a story to share about their own "inner journey."

From left to right, Kim Murray, Alay'nya (Alianna Maren), and Katherine ("Kate") Hanna. Photo by Lori Baker, McLean Connection. Used with permission.

(If this link doesn’t work, please go to: McLean Connection, click on “McLean” (upper right-hand corner of the title bar), and look for the article (central column) titled “A Pathway for Today’s Heroine.”

As described by Ms. Baker, writing for the McLean Connection:

"Last week, McLean author, Alianna Maren’s living room was filled with fascinating women. There were old friends, and new friends, several of whom edited or contributed to her recent book, "Unveiling: The Inner Journey."

"The women gathered in her home, on a wooded and peaceful neck of McLean, to celebrate one year of the book’s publishing. Each guest had a unique background, and a special reason for being there. Among them were authors, dancers, a women’s organizational consultant and life coach, and a spiritual teacher, just to name a few. Each had an opinion of the book’s message, and each articulated the need for such a book in today’s world."

Social commentator and activist photographer/videographer Kim Murray, whose thoughts on the Heroine's Journey were captured in Unveiling, advocated teaching young women to embrace their life's challenges. Her own story (for which her nom de plume Kirene is used) is featured in Unveiling's Chapter 6, "The Hero's Quest - and the Heroine's As Well!," pp. 72-74. As Kirene expresses it:

"If little girls were exposed to the female vision quest, and learned early on that life is full of victories and obstacles that must be overcome ... then girls growing into womenhood would be better able mentally and emotionally to navigate ... turbulent waters and resolve the perceived insurmountable."

Unveiling's editor, Katherine Hanna (seated right in the picture above) contributed to how Unveiling described the role of a Heroine's Journey, as distinct from the well-known Hero's Journey. Ms. Hanna offered the character of Lyra, in the movie The Golden Compass, and Sarah, in the movie Labyrinth, as examples of young women going on their Heroine's Quests. Lyra's goal was to rescue other children, including her friends. To do this, she had to do something in common with all Heroines - find and heal her most significant ally. Sarah likewise found and ennobled her allies. This characteristic of healing and empowering others is a distinguishing feature of the Heroine on her Quest.

Two other guests, Nicole Cutts, Ph.D., and Barbara Jewell, each spoke of how their lives had Heroic Quest aspects. Dr. Cutts (DC's "Success Doc") is a success coach for women who want to bringing their life-vision into reality. She was inspired by Unveiling's description of how Heroine's Quests are an important part of how we create our own success stories. She has hosted numerous women's Vision Quest Retreat, with her newest (the "Social Media Butterfly" event) to occur this weekend.

Nicole Cutts, Ph.D. (left) and Barbara Jewell (right). Photo by Lori Baker, McLean Connection. Used with permission.

Barbara, who has lived abroad extensively, talked about how the experiences of shifting from one culture to another created a Heroic Journey for many young people as they navigated cultural transitions. This same theme resonated with author Charise Hoge, who also attended the event.