Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Her Blood is Gold by Lara Owen



I mentioned this fabulous book in my last post and that it was out of print.  I was pleasantly surprised when Ms. Owen read my post, and in her comment told me that her amazing book is back in print!  I can't tell you all how happy I am to hear this.  This is one of the most life-affirming, positive books for and about women that I have ever read.  Every girl and woman should read it.  Too often young girls lose their power when they reach puberty and begin menstruating.  This book celebrates us.  Oh, how I wish I'd had this book when I was eleven years old and scared to death about what was happening to my body.  My mother called it the curse, as probably did her mother.  It is not a curse.  It is a blessing and it is a gift and this book celebrates the power of our blood.  Here is the blurb from Amazon.com:

"We menstruate more now than at any time in human history. Girls are starting to menstruate earlier due to protein-rich diets and hormones in food; women are less likely to die young; we have fewer children and therefore spend less time not menstruating. Increased work and family stresses, in addition to more periods, mean that women are more physically and psychologically vulnerable to negative attitudes to menstruation. So it is more important than ever that we investigate ways to make our periods physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy."  ~From:  Amazon.com

I plan to buy several more copies of this book to pass along to my girls. 

I share with you a poem by Linda Gregg.  It seemed to want to be here.  :-)

Love & Blessings,  ~Marion~

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Precision
By Linda Gregg

There is a modesty in nature. In the small
if it and in the strongest. The leaf moves
just the amount the breeze indicates
and nothing more. In the power of lust, too,
there can be a quiet and clarity, a fusion
of exact moments. There is a silence of it
inside the thundering. And when the body swoons,
it is because the heart knows its truth.
There is directness and equipoise in the fervor,
just as the greatest turmoil has precision.
Like the discretion a tornado has when it tears
down building after building, house by house.
It is enough, Kafka said, that the arrow fit
exactly into the wound that it makes. I think
about my body in love as I look down on these
lavish apple trees and the workers moving
with skill from one to the next, singing.

~From:  "Things and Flesh"

12 comments:

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

Wow Marion, I am delighted that you have introduced me to this author/woman/poet, Linda Gregg. If her books are anything like this poem you will have a 'convert'. Thanks!

catvibe said...

She sounds wonderful as does the book. And the poem by Linda Gregg is astoundingly awesome.

Marion said...

Bonnie, you will love Linda Gregg. She's a force of nature, to be sure. She was married to the poet, Jack Gilbert, for 6 years and his poetry is amazing, too. So many poems, poets, books---so little time!!! You're welcome. Blessings!

Cat, the book is amazing, just amazing. I dug my copy out of the plastic bag I had it stored in for safekeeping and have been re-reading it. I'm just overjoyed that it's back in print. It's a book I wish every female on earth could read. Blessings!!

Woman in a Window said...

Lara Owens read your post and responded - that is so fricken cool. Good on you Lara! You too, Marion. You bring us some amazing voices.
xo
erin

Kelly said...

I agree with Erin... how neat that Lara Owens read and commented!!!

Renee said...

Dear one I was thinking that you, your Mom, me and my Mom would absolutely just love each other.

xoxox

Marion said...

Erin and Kelly, yes, it blew me away that she visited my lowly blog. LOL! It was karmic. I was able to take my only treasured copy of her book out to read because I can buy more! Blessings!

You know, Renee, I thought that very same thing yesterday. Two strong and beautiful women, our mothers. Oh, the stories they could tell each other! (Mama calls her friends 'old ladies' but God forbid you should say the "O" word around her! LOL!) I know one day they'll meet in heaven. I only hope there's caffeine up there or Mama might be pissed off. Tee-Hee... I love you, dearest friend, and pray for you, your beloved Mom and Jacquie daily. Love & Blessings!!

RNSANE said...

I do recall that, in my youth, we all hated having our periods and the way we thought that monthly time interfered with out enjoyment of life. I remember, being in nursing school at Charity Hospital in New Orleans and being initiated by classmates, in the dorm bathroom, into the use of tampons. That made periods less a torture to be born and gave us much more freedom!

Phoenix said...

I love how you're taking back the power of this - one of the most idiotic, senseless sentences ever created by a guy is "never trust anything that bleeds for five days and doesn't die." Yes, are we supposed to be ashamed of the fact that we can carry life and men can't? Like it's a weakness or a burden? And are we supposed to be impressed that guys act like ignorant assholes with that line and deem that because we menstruate, we aren't trustworthy?? Seriously, guys...stop looking stupid.

Unspoken said...

Marion, I am too far beind and had not realized I had been missing your blog. A feast to be had.

Rick said...

Marion-Phoenix has me scared. Does she bite? Nice post. Your friend, Rick

Marion said...

Carmen, yes, thank God for tampons. LOL!

Phoenix, you go girl! Let it all out. We should never let anyone take our power---EVER. This book is about owning our body's POWER! Girl's RULE! Yeah! Blessings, my friend!

Amy, I'm glad you enjoyed your visit. I hope you come back often. Blessings!

Rick, you'd better stay out of Phoenix's way. She's a force to be reckoned with: a strong, self-assured, intelligent, gorgeous woman!!! LOL! Blessings, friend!!