Released on the full moon of August 10th, 2014!
Journey of The Heart: An Anthology of Spiritual Poetry by Women, edited by Catherine Ghosh and published this summer by Balboa Press, a division of Hay House, has woven together the voices of over 70 women of diverse ethnicities, nationalities and traditions. In meditative and insightful poems they offer us revealing glimpses of their sensitive souls engaged in meaningful dialogue with the world, others, themselves and divinity.
This spiritual poetry draws from the timeless wisdom, power and beauty residing deeply within the hearts of all women. Emerging within archetypal themes that deliver valuable messages, the inspiring and uninhibited chorus of voices beckons us to journey along with them into the wild, mysterious and uncharted territory of a woman’s heart.
This book emerged from an online project created by Catherine Ghosh, dedicated to encouraging and facilitating women to freely share their hearts, as they learned to express themselves through poetry. It is dedicated to the spirit of really listening to, and honoring, all women’s voices.
Available in paperback and e-book editions at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Balboa Press.
“In this beautiful volume of poetry, Catherine Ghosh gives us the voices of women’s spiritual expressions across cultures. The many women who contribute their hopes, fears, visions and life narratives to this volume fulfill the poet Muriel Rukeyser’s injunction to “Breathe-in experience, breathe-out poetry.” Every woman (and man) will find poetry that speaks to the heart and the soul. I highly recommend this volume to anyone who values the poetry of women’s lives and imaginations.”
Roberta Rosenberg
Professor of English and Co-Director of Women’s and Gender Studies
at Christopher Newport University, Virginia
"This beautiful book of verses speaks of the longings of the heart, of the habits of the mind, of the prayers often unspoken, silent cries in the dark to God, to the universe, to life itself—anyone who may listen and be moved. It is an ode to the muzzled yearnings of half of humanity. It gives voice to the voiceless, love to the unseen, opens up numinous possibilities for those seeking exodus from a shadow world of servitude and silence. At a time when female slavery is returning and trafficking in women is now counted in the millions, this poetic offering is at once a balm for the bent but unbroken sprit that is “woman” and a prophetic voice calling out to the men who can still listen and hear the truth."
Rita D. Sherma, Ph.D.
The Swami Vivekananda Visiting Professor
University of Southern California
"These women have discovered a truth: that poetry created from the fire of living, whether read aloud alone in our room or silently on the bus as we go to work, liberates us from walking asleep. It wakes up the spirit so we can re-member what we thought we would never forget, what is rooted in blood and bone. And poetry shared creates heart-family, community, a place for grace to find us."
Oriah Mountain Dreamer
Author of The Invitation
"These poems, by ordinary women in meditation with the divine, create an extraordinary experience that has the power to deepen spirituality. Their writing shows how language itself is the sacred vehicle that carries the voice forward with the means and courage to speak their ecstasy, love, grief, and hope. The poems create a unifying symphony of "soul sisters" from all ages and cultures to inspire other women to sing back in a unifying voice to speak their truths and make a difference in our struggling world."
Perie Longo
Santa Barbara Poet Laureate Emerita
Past President of the National Association for Poetry Therapy
"In Journey of the Heart, Catherine Ghosh takes us on a poetry trip into the hearts and minds of women. Originating in a blog, which invited women from all over the world to contribute, the women write from their hearts into ours, in 'boats returning from wild seas, delivering treasures from their depths.' Poetry arrives in 'Gauzy robes of there with 'milky white shoulders' and a 'delicate, arched neck'. They write from 'the bitter taste of trauma' and the merciless gravity of the world. They write about Darkness and Light, Relationships and Sisterhood-- just some of the themes Ghosh ties together like a beautifully wrapped gift. We hear the women share their process—what the poems mean to them, and what they were experiencing when they wrote them. I recommend reading this book to expand your own heart, and find your own words, following the example of the women in this book, who will inspire you."
Phyllis Klein, LCSW
Licensed psychotherapist and Certified Poetry Therapist,
specializing in empowering women.
San Francisco, California
This spiritual poetry draws from the timeless wisdom, power and beauty residing deeply within the hearts of all women. Emerging within archetypal themes that deliver valuable messages, the inspiring and uninhibited chorus of voices beckons us to journey along with them into the wild, mysterious and uncharted territory of a woman’s heart.
This book emerged from an online project created by Catherine Ghosh, dedicated to encouraging and facilitating women to freely share their hearts, as they learned to express themselves through poetry. It is dedicated to the spirit of really listening to, and honoring, all women’s voices.
Available in paperback and e-book editions at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Balboa Press.
“In this beautiful volume of poetry, Catherine Ghosh gives us the voices of women’s spiritual expressions across cultures. The many women who contribute their hopes, fears, visions and life narratives to this volume fulfill the poet Muriel Rukeyser’s injunction to “Breathe-in experience, breathe-out poetry.” Every woman (and man) will find poetry that speaks to the heart and the soul. I highly recommend this volume to anyone who values the poetry of women’s lives and imaginations.”
Roberta Rosenberg
Professor of English and Co-Director of Women’s and Gender Studies
at Christopher Newport University, Virginia
"This beautiful book of verses speaks of the longings of the heart, of the habits of the mind, of the prayers often unspoken, silent cries in the dark to God, to the universe, to life itself—anyone who may listen and be moved. It is an ode to the muzzled yearnings of half of humanity. It gives voice to the voiceless, love to the unseen, opens up numinous possibilities for those seeking exodus from a shadow world of servitude and silence. At a time when female slavery is returning and trafficking in women is now counted in the millions, this poetic offering is at once a balm for the bent but unbroken sprit that is “woman” and a prophetic voice calling out to the men who can still listen and hear the truth."
Rita D. Sherma, Ph.D.
The Swami Vivekananda Visiting Professor
University of Southern California
"These women have discovered a truth: that poetry created from the fire of living, whether read aloud alone in our room or silently on the bus as we go to work, liberates us from walking asleep. It wakes up the spirit so we can re-member what we thought we would never forget, what is rooted in blood and bone. And poetry shared creates heart-family, community, a place for grace to find us."
Oriah Mountain Dreamer
Author of The Invitation
"These poems, by ordinary women in meditation with the divine, create an extraordinary experience that has the power to deepen spirituality. Their writing shows how language itself is the sacred vehicle that carries the voice forward with the means and courage to speak their ecstasy, love, grief, and hope. The poems create a unifying symphony of "soul sisters" from all ages and cultures to inspire other women to sing back in a unifying voice to speak their truths and make a difference in our struggling world."
Perie Longo
Santa Barbara Poet Laureate Emerita
Past President of the National Association for Poetry Therapy
"In Journey of the Heart, Catherine Ghosh takes us on a poetry trip into the hearts and minds of women. Originating in a blog, which invited women from all over the world to contribute, the women write from their hearts into ours, in 'boats returning from wild seas, delivering treasures from their depths.' Poetry arrives in 'Gauzy robes of there with 'milky white shoulders' and a 'delicate, arched neck'. They write from 'the bitter taste of trauma' and the merciless gravity of the world. They write about Darkness and Light, Relationships and Sisterhood-- just some of the themes Ghosh ties together like a beautifully wrapped gift. We hear the women share their process—what the poems mean to them, and what they were experiencing when they wrote them. I recommend reading this book to expand your own heart, and find your own words, following the example of the women in this book, who will inspire you."
Phyllis Klein, LCSW
Licensed psychotherapist and Certified Poetry Therapist,
specializing in empowering women.
San Francisco, California
"The book is a treasure chest of feelings and emotions poured onto paper. Each poet’s soul can be felt as their essence in the prologue leads the reader directly into the verses.If you are having one of those moments where you need a pick-me-up, or words to reaffirm what you are experiencing, Journey of the Heart will present you with an alluring way to let your imagination wander and soothe your soul."
Gerry Ellen
Author of Ripple Effects and A Big Piece of Driftwood.
Full review published by Rebelle Society on October 4, 2014.
Click here to read Gerry's full review.
"Perhaps the most important lesson of Journey of the Heart is the community in which women can and should operate. Mutual sharing, mutual encouragement. This book is a place where women can gather–even if only figuratively–in solidarity to what makes us special...Because Journey of the Heart is divided into “stages” and experiences of the feminine, this collection can and should remain at to your finger tips when you are need of an infusion of hope, commiseration, light, and love. Ghosh has offered a gracious invitation to the interior journey of the heart."
J. Dana Trent
Author of the interfaith memoir Saffron Cross
Click here to read Dana's full review.
Gerry Ellen
Author of Ripple Effects and A Big Piece of Driftwood.
Full review published by Rebelle Society on October 4, 2014.
Click here to read Gerry's full review.
"Perhaps the most important lesson of Journey of the Heart is the community in which women can and should operate. Mutual sharing, mutual encouragement. This book is a place where women can gather–even if only figuratively–in solidarity to what makes us special...Because Journey of the Heart is divided into “stages” and experiences of the feminine, this collection can and should remain at to your finger tips when you are need of an infusion of hope, commiseration, light, and love. Ghosh has offered a gracious invitation to the interior journey of the heart."
J. Dana Trent
Author of the interfaith memoir Saffron Cross
Click here to read Dana's full review.