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If Women Rose Rooted

If Women Rose Rooted

The Power of the Celtic Woman
by Sharon Blackie 2016 400 pages
4.28
4k+ ratings
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Key Takeaways

1. The Heroine's Journey: Reclaiming Our Stories and Feminine Power

If women remember that once upon a time we sang with the tongues of seals and flew with the wings of swans, that we forged our own paths through the dark forest while creating a community of its many inhabitants, then we will rise up rooted, like trees.

Reclaiming our stories. The Heroine's Journey begins with recognizing and reclaiming the stories that have been lost or suppressed in our patriarchal culture. These stories, often rooted in Celtic mythology and folklore, reveal women as powerful, creative, and deeply connected to nature and the land.

Embracing feminine power. This journey involves rediscovering and embracing the unique strengths and wisdom of the feminine. It's about moving beyond the limitations imposed by society and reconnecting with our innate power as women, which is often associated with intuition, nurturing, and a deep connection to the cycles of nature.

Rising up rooted. The ultimate goal of this journey is to become like trees - firmly rooted in our own strength and wisdom, while also being flexible and able to grow and change. This metaphor emphasizes the importance of both personal growth and maintaining a strong connection to our origins and the natural world.

2. Descent into Darkness: Confronting the Shadow and Embracing Transformation

To love a bog is to love what lies beneath, buried in the rich black butter. Will you go willingly, and sink into the welcoming dark?

Embracing the darkness. The journey often involves a descent into metaphorical darkness - a period of facing our fears, confronting our shadows, and grappling with difficult emotions or experiences. This phase is crucial for personal growth and transformation.

Transformation through challenge. Like the bog that preserves ancient artifacts, this dark period can reveal hidden aspects of ourselves and our potential. It's a time of gestation and rebirth, where old patterns and beliefs are broken down to make way for new growth.

Willingness to change. The key to navigating this phase is the willingness to engage with the process, to "sink into the welcoming dark" rather than resist it. This requires courage and trust in the transformative power of the journey.

3. Finding the Path: Navigating Challenges and Cultivating Allies

We all need allies to help us on our journey. Our European folk and fairy stories are full of them, and many come in human form: the wise old woman in the woods who offers advice, the fairy godmother who offers gifts . . .

Overcoming obstacles. The Heroine's Journey is filled with challenges and tests that help develop strength, resilience, and wisdom. These may come in the form of internal struggles or external obstacles.

Finding guides and allies. Along the way, the heroine encounters various helpers and guides. These may be:

  • Human allies: mentors, friends, or unexpected helpers
  • Animal allies: often representing different aspects of nature or personal qualities
  • Spiritual or magical allies: embodying wisdom or supernatural aid

Learning to ask for help. An important part of the journey is learning to recognize when we need support and being open to receiving it. This often involves developing trust and building relationships with others and with the natural world.

4. Unearthing the Buried Feminine: Reconnecting with Nature and Ancient Wisdom

We are wild creatures still, at heart, and if we listen to our hearts we will remember how to listen to the song of the fierce-beaked, wild-winged little wren who, hopping from tree to stump, shows us the way home.

Reconnecting with nature. A crucial aspect of the Heroine's Journey is rediscovering our deep connection to the natural world. This involves:

  • Spending time in nature
  • Observing and learning from plants and animals
  • Recognizing the cycles and rhythms of the earth

Reclaiming ancient wisdom. The journey often involves rediscovering and embracing ancient knowledge and practices, particularly those related to the feminine. This might include:

  • Herbal medicine and plant lore
  • Traditional crafts like spinning and weaving
  • Storytelling and mythology

Finding our wild selves. By reconnecting with nature and ancient wisdom, we begin to uncover and embrace our own wild, instinctual selves - the parts of us that have been suppressed or forgotten in modern society.

5. Restoring Balance: Integrating Masculine and Feminine Energies

What we need is encouragement for business leaders to demonstrate moral courage, to stand up and say this has to stop; it's not working. Because no matter how we look at it, commoditising the planet and destroying it for short-term profit makes no sense.

Recognizing imbalance. The journey involves recognizing the imbalance in our current society, where masculine qualities like competition and domination have been overvalued at the expense of feminine qualities like cooperation and nurturing.

Integrating energies. The goal is not to reject the masculine, but to restore balance by integrating both masculine and feminine energies within ourselves and in society. This involves:

  • Valuing traditionally feminine qualities
  • Encouraging a more balanced approach in leadership and decision-making
  • Fostering cooperation rather than competition

Promoting sustainable practices. By restoring this balance, we can create more sustainable and nurturing practices in business, governance, and our relationship with the environment.

6. The Return: Bringing Gifts and Wisdom Back to the World

We do not do this alone. We do not do this without the world, which listens in its turn as we tell the stories back to it. The world does not see that we are 'other', that we have made ourselves separate.

Returning transformed. After the journey of transformation, the heroine returns to the world, bringing with her the wisdom and gifts she has gained. This return is not an end, but a new beginning.

Sharing wisdom. A crucial part of the return is sharing the insights and knowledge gained during the journey. This might involve:

  • Telling stories
  • Teaching or mentoring others
  • Creating art or writing
  • Engaging in activism or community work

Reconnecting with community. The return often involves finding new ways to engage with and contribute to one's community, bringing a more balanced and nurturing approach to relationships and societal structures.

7. Becoming Elder: Embracing the Crone and Cultivating Wisdom

'She is older than time,' a local guidebook says of her, and indeed it is told that she is the Hag of Beara. 'She is older than time,' a local guidebook says of her, and indeed it is told that she is older than time.

Embracing age and wisdom. The final stage of the Heroine's Journey involves embracing the role of the elder or crone - a figure of wisdom and power in many traditional cultures.

Cultivating wisdom. This stage involves:

  • Reflecting on and integrating life experiences
  • Deepening one's connection to nature and ancient wisdom
  • Taking on roles of mentorship and guidance in the community

Honoring the cycles of life. Embracing the crone archetype means honoring the full cycle of life, including aging and death. It involves recognizing the value and power of each stage of life, and the unique gifts that come with maturity and experience.

Last updated:

FAQ

What's If Women Rose Rooted about?

  • Exploration of Feminine Identity: The book explores the relationship between women and the land, focusing on reclaiming feminine stories and identities that have been suppressed over time.
  • Celtic Myths and Stories: Sharon Blackie uses Celtic mythology to illustrate the deep connections women have with nature and the wisdom these ancient tales offer.
  • Journey of Transformation: The narrative follows the Heroine’s Journey, involving a descent into darkness, self-discovery, and a return to the light with newfound wisdom and strength.

Why should I read If Women Rose Rooted?

  • Empowering Perspective: It offers a unique view on women’s roles in society, encouraging readers to reclaim their stories and identities.
  • Connection to Nature: The book emphasizes reconnecting with the natural world as vital for personal and collective healing.
  • Richly Layered Narratives: Blackie combines personal anecdotes with mythological stories, appealing to those interested in feminism, mythology, and environmentalism.

What are the key takeaways of If Women Rose Rooted?

  • Reclaiming Stories: Women need to reclaim their narratives and understand their historical roles as guardians of the land and wisdom.
  • The Heroine’s Journey: Blackie outlines a journey for women focusing on community, connection, and the feminine experience.
  • Environmental Responsibility: Women’s empowerment is linked to environmental stewardship, advocating for sustainable practices and respect for nature.

What are the best quotes from If Women Rose Rooted and what do they mean?

  • “We are bleeding at the roots...”: Highlights the disconnection from nature and its impact on women’s identities and well-being.
  • “If we surrendered to earth’s intelligence...”: Suggests growth and strength come from reconnecting with the earth’s wisdom.
  • “To change the world, we women need first to change ourselves.”: Emphasizes personal transformation as essential for societal change.

What is the Heroine’s Journey in If Women Rose Rooted?

  • Distinct from Hero’s Journey: Focuses on community, connection, and the inner life of women, contrasting with the action-oriented Hero’s Journey.
  • Stages of Transformation: Includes stages like the Call to Adventure, Descent into Darkness, and the Return, emphasizing personal growth.
  • Emphasis on Relationships: Highlights the importance of relationships with other women, nature, and the self for healing and empowerment.

How does If Women Rose Rooted address environmental issues?

  • Interconnectedness of Feminism and Ecology: Women’s empowerment is linked to environmental stewardship, advocating a holistic approach.
  • Celtic Wisdom and Nature: Draws on Celtic myths emphasizing the sacredness of the land and women’s roles as its protectors.
  • Call to Action: Encourages engagement with local environments, promoting sustainable practices for personal and planetary health.

What role do Celtic myths play in If Women Rose Rooted?

  • Cultural Heritage: Serve as a source of wisdom and identity, celebrating feminine strength and connection to the land.
  • Framework for Understanding: Illustrate historical roles of women as guardians of nature and wisdom, contrasting with modern narratives.
  • Inspiration for Transformation: Act as guides for personal transformation, encouraging readers to reclaim their identities and power.

What is the significance of the title If Women Rose Rooted?

  • Metaphor for Growth: Suggests women can achieve strength by reconnecting with their roots in nature, like trees rooted in the earth.
  • Call to Reclaim Identity: Emphasizes reclaiming feminine narratives and identities for authenticity.
  • Connection to Nature: Reflects the central theme of the relationship between women and the natural world for healing.

How does Sharon Blackie suggest women can reclaim their stories in If Women Rose Rooted?

  • Engagement with Nature: Advocates spending time in nature to rediscover identities and cultural wisdom.
  • Storytelling and Sharing: Emphasizes sharing personal stories as a means of reclaiming power and fostering community.
  • Exploration of Myths: Encourages exploring myths for inspiration and guidance in reclaiming roles as wise and powerful beings.

What challenges do women face in If Women Rose Rooted?

  • Cultural Narratives: Pervasive narratives depict women as inferior, hindering their ability to reclaim identities and power.
  • Internalized Oppression: Women struggle with beliefs about their worth, preventing them from embracing their potential.
  • Environmental Crisis: Addresses broader environmental challenges, suggesting women’s empowerment is crucial for sustainable practices.

How can the lessons from If Women Rose Rooted be applied in daily life?

  • Mindful Connection to Nature: Cultivate a deeper relationship with nature through outdoor activities or time in green spaces.
  • Community Building: Form supportive communities among women, sharing stories and fostering connections.
  • Personal Reflection and Growth: Encourage self-exploration and reflection to confront narratives and reclaim identities.

What personal experiences does Sharon Blackie share in If Women Rose Rooted?

  • Journey of Self-Discovery: Shares her struggles with identity and belonging, serving as a backdrop for the book’s themes.
  • Connection to Place: Recounts her deep connection to landscapes, illustrating how they shaped her identity.
  • Empowerment Through Community: Discusses building community and supporting women, highlighting the importance of connection.

Review Summary

4.28 out of 5
Average of 4k+ ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

If Women Rose Rooted received mixed reviews. Many praised its exploration of Celtic mythology, feminine power, and connection to nature, finding it inspirational and life-changing. Critics appreciated Blackie's beautiful prose and personal journey. However, some found it repetitive, privileged, and exclusionary in its portrayal of womanhood. The book's emphasis on Celtic heritage resonated with some readers while others felt disconnected. Some reviewers criticized the author's writing style and wished for more focused content. Overall, the book sparked deep discussions about feminism, environmentalism, and personal transformation.

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About the Author

Sharon Blackie is a writer, psychologist, and mythologist with Celtic roots. Born in England, she has Scottish and Irish ancestry. Blackie's career spans neuroscience, psychology, and creative writing. She lived on crofts in Scotland, embracing a self-sufficient lifestyle. Sharon Blackie founded a literary press and magazine focused on nature and environment. Her works include novels and non-fiction books exploring women's connection to Celtic mythology and place. Blackie runs courses and retreats on myth and storytelling for personal transformation. She currently resides in Ireland, where she keeps bees and grows vegetables, maintaining her deep connection to the land.

Other books by Sharon Blackie

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