What inspired you to write your first book?
The driving force behind the writing of The Evolutionary Journey of Woman: From the Goddess to Integral Feminism were questions that emerged in me after having an unexpected spiritual awakening in the midst of my party focused early twenties. I was playing around in the world of underground trance dance and psychedelic parties and suddenly found myself not just having profound state experiences but asking the big questions of who I was and what it was to be human. But I found that I could not begin to engaging these big spiritual and philosophical inquiries without asking why these questions had traditionally been both asked and answered by men.
Have you ever had writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?
Yes. I had a long period after finishing my PhD where I was totally burnt out. I also, periodically, suffer from writer's procrastination. While I think there is much to be said with just turning up and writing, I also like to consider these 'pauses' in terms of what has been called Kairos time. That is, a space in which ideas are being allowed to marinate until the timing is right for their emergence.
Who is your publisher?
The Evolutionary Journey of Woman: From the Goddess to Integral Feminism is published by boutique American press Integral Publishers. My next book, a co-edited anthology Integral Voices on Sex, Gender and Sexuality is published by the State University of New York Press (SUNY).
Did you learn anything from writing this book?
I learnt that women's history has been compromised for two reasons. On one hand women have been creating, teaching, producing and innovating forever, but their achievements have been under recognized. They been ignored, or lost, or hidden or repressed; on the other hand, women have been marginalized and prevented from these same opportunities to achieve. These two realities exist side by side.
What books have most influenced your life?
I count Clarissa Pinkola Estesphemonenal women's soul classicWomen Who Run With the Wolves as a book of great value and influence. In this book Pinkola Estes has drawn on her twenty years of practice as a Jungian psychoanalyst, as well as her history as a cantadora (keeper of the old stories), and you can tell. She beautifully weaves together, retells and explores the deep symbols of folklore and fairy tales with the desire of reigniting the lost sparks of women's intuitive and instinctive life.
Who is your favorite author and why?
Joseph Campbell. He was a remarkable scholar who examined mythology, religion and literature from around the world and saw in them a single unify story about the human journey. His writing is genuinely accessible and you can feel his love of teaching and great soulfulness. His writing has been a key source of inspiration, illumination and joy for me and I count him as a soul grandfather.
Can we expect any more books from you in the future?
You definitely can!
What are your current writing projects now?
I am in the process of writing a novel. Currently called Terma and is the story of Nin, a young Sumerian girl who, after being recognized for her special powers of divination, is sent to the newly emerging city of Ur to train as a priestess at the temple of Inanna. Terma is also the story of Liz who, in 2020 London, is bequeathed with an archaeological mystery. Terma is one part historical fiction, one part fantasy, one part sci-fi mystery and a whole heartedly, woman focused, page turner.
Are you reading any interesting books at the moment?
I am reading Sera Beak's Red, Hot and Holy. It is a wonderfully outrageous, playful, and soulful, spiritual memoir and I'm finding it is quite a journey to take with her!
Are there any new authors that have sparked your interest and why?
I recently read The Burial by new Australian author Courtney Collins. Her book is an exploration via historical fiction of a female bushranger (a type of outlaw or runaway convict in the Australian bush in early colonial times). It’s a wonderful read; combining an amazing true story with a strong heroine and told through rich, spell binding language.
The
story of human evolution that we've been commonly told is one built on
the shoulders of male heroism, competition and dominance; but, what if
it isn't the whole story? This book tells the lost story of women in
evolution.
The
Evolutionary Journey of Woman: From the Goddess to Integral
Feminism looks towards a future that brings together and
reintegrates women's wisdom traditions through establishing a spiritual
lineage for women that is traced all the way back to ancient Sumer with
the goddess Inanna. Marrying the ancient wisdom traditions with adult
developmental theory, this book charts a pathway towards the full
spectrum of possibilities for women's self-actualisation in the coming
Integral age. The Evolutionary Journey of Woman is academically
rigorous, historical, philosophical and spiritual, but, most
fundamentally, it is a narrative that will change the way you
think about woman as a heroine of history.
Buy Now @ Amazon
Genre - Non fiction, Women's Spirituality
Rating – PG
More details about the author
Website www.sarahnicholson.org
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