The Living Goddess: Reclaiming the Tradition of the Mother of the Universe

by Linda Johnsen and Linda Johnson

Book Overview

This beautiful book takes us to India today and shows us a Goddess who flourishes in temples, festivals, and in the hearts of millions. Johnsen penetrates the heart of the tradition to reveal that it... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0936663286
• ISBN13: 9780936663289
• Release Date: June 2002
• Publisher: Yes International Publishers
• Length: 185 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.3" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Awesome!

Linda Johnsen brings the Goddess alive, revealed in an insightful narrative rich in lore that Western folk like myself can relate to. Her writing is so candidly fresh and startling that I could not put the book down. She rinses out the list of Western misperceptions about the Goddess, and brings fresh perspective re: how to realize compassion and tranquillity in our hearts and take an active role in improving conditions of the world. A must read.

Linda Johnsen is a wise wise woman!

This book is absolutly stunningly beautiful. Reading it is a spiritual experience in it self.The author has in mind not only the western student of Hinduism but also women of the Goddess Spirituality movement.6 goddesses get entire chapters devoted to them: Sarasvati, Lakshmi, Durga, Lalita, and Kundalini. But through out the book many many Hindu goddesses are covered in depth--including the goddess most misunderstood by westerners: the great goddess Kali.Johnsen points out the mistake made be western pagans of ivoking Kali as the embodiment of rightous anger. We have inherited from the classicists a tendency to assign goddesses a small sphere of influence (ex: "Aphrodite" is always followed by the description, "goddess of love") instead of understanding them as full and complete deities.Kali is first and foremost a Mother. She has many many aspects--one of which is a "slayer of demons"--but she is not an "angry" goddess.This book is enlightening. It is written in language that anyone can understand. It backs up every idea with examples and metaphors to help us understand. The author is incredibly knowledgable in many subjects.Although i did not agree with every word the author wrote--all of her words have enriched my spiritual life. I have come away from this book with a deeper understanding of Goddess. I know that i will read this book over and over again. It is scholarly, reverent, and all around mind blowing.This book contains four color plates of the goddesses Lalita, Durga, Sarasvati, and Lakshmi. It should not only be read by women but is totally accessable to men--and they don't have to worry about being put down or blamed for patriarchal abuses. It is feminist in perspective but in the highest sense of the word. You will also find information in here about the goddesses' consorts.Read this Book!!!

FABULOUS

This book blew my mind. I have been reading and studying truth for nearly thirty years. Head knowledge I have....what was missing was the heart devotion.Linda Johnsen's book provides a feast for both.She is a scholar , an outstanding writer , has had a moment of knowing herself....and devotion . What more is needed? I have never run across better explanation of this wonderful, LIVING tradition of the Goddess as worshiped in India for many thousand of years. Johnsen beautifully explains the deep issues illustrated in what seemed to be simple fairy tails . You'll see Hindu culture much diffirently after reading this book.The clarity and beauty of Johnsen's writing , plus her deep understanding of the subject, will make this book a favorite. Look for anything from this author . She never disappoints .

A beautiful introduction to The Divine Mother

Coming from the tradition of Divine Mother worshippers myself, i was pleased to see that Linda Johnsen's book has indeed brought out very beautifully various aspects of the Mother. The author also has referred to living embodiments of The Mother like the women saints Ammachi and Sree Ma. Highly recomend this book to all devotees of The Mother aspect of God.