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Jean Shinoda Bolen
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Crossing to Avalon: A Woman's Midlife Pilgrimage Hardcover – January 1, 1994

by Jean Shinoda Bolen (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 92 ratings
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The author of Goddesses in Everywoman reflects on her youth as a Japanese-American, struggle to become a physician, awakening to the archetypal feminine, and pilgrimage to the sacred sites of Europe on a feminine quest for the holy grail. $50,000 ad/promo.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    303 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Harpercollins
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 1994
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1.5 x 8.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0062501127
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0062501127
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In 1986, in the midst of a midlife crisis, Bolen (Ring of Power, HarperSanFrancisco, 1992) received an invitation to a pilgrimage to sacred sites in Europe. With three other women, she traveled to places such as Chartres Cathedral, Iona, and Glastonbury-where traditionally "one crossed the mists to Avalon, the realm of the Goddess." Bolen interweaves her personal spiritual journey and midlife passage with a discussion of the psychological significance of mythic quests and a reinterpretation of the Grail Legend that illuminates its feminine aspects. While lacking the storytelling immediacy of Clarissa Pinkola Estes's Women Who Run with the Wolves, Bolen's narrative has a sweetness that lingers with the reader. Many will respond to the author's hopes that her story will remind others of the importance of their own "soul journey." An essential purchase for public libraries; important also for academic libraries with popular psychology, women's, and religious studies collections.
Carolynne Myall, Eastern Washington Univ. Libs., Cheney
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

This compilation of experiences, thoughts, scholarly research, and, above all, the feelings of a woman at midlife amounts to a revelation. On pilgrimage to sacred sites including Chartres, Glastonbury, and Iona, Bolen, a physician, Jungian analyst, and professor of clinical psychiatry, traces their histories and significance. She relates these places' earliest uses by societies with earth-based belief systems to the concept of key energy centers all about the globe, and she links her inner journey of the spirit to her physical travels and the primal knowledge of the sacred that women have experienced for thousands of years without naming it. This quest for the holy grail involves more than a personal transformation; it is, she says, everywoman's secret, potential pathway to the roots of her strength and wisdom. An essential addition for collections concerned with women's spirituality and goddess worship. Whitney Scott

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harpercollins; First Edition (January 1, 1994)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 303 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062501127
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062501127
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.5 x 8.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 92 ratings

About the author

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Jean Shinoda Bolen

Jean Shinoda Bolen

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Jean Shinoda Bolen, M. D, is a psychiatrist, Jungian analyst, and an internationally known author and speaker. She is the author of The Tao of Psychology, Goddesses in Everywoman, Gods in Everyman, Ring of Power, Crossing to Avalon, Close to the Bone, The Millionth Circle, Goddesses in Older Women, Crones Don't Whine, Urgent Message from Mother, Like a Tree, Moving Toward the Millionth Circle, and Artemis, with over a hundred foreign editions. All of her books are in Spanish. She is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a former clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California at San Francisco, a past board member of the Ms. Foundation for Women and the International Transpersonal Association. She was a recipient of the Institute for Health and Healing's "Pioneers in Art, Science, and the Soul of Healing Award", and the Asssociation for the Study of Women and Mythology's Demeter Award for her lifetime achievement in women's spirituality. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She was in two acclaimed documentaries, the Academy-Award winning anti-nuclear proliferation film Women--For America, For the World, and the Canadian Film Board's Goddess Remembered. The Millionth Circle Initiative (www.millonthcircle.org)was inspired by her book and led to her involvement at the UN. She is an advocate for a 5th World Conference on Women (www.5wcw.org). The Secretary General and the President of the General Assembly on March 8, 2012, jointly asked for a resolution from the General Assembly which did not happen. Instead, momentum is growing for 5WCW India 2022. Jean's website is www.jeanbolen.com.

Event schedule: http://www.jeanshinodabolen.com/schedule.html

Most current and past newsletters: http://www.jeanshinodabolen.com/newsletters/index.html

2014 New Publications: 30th Anniversary Edition of Goddesses in Everywoman, 25th Anniversary Edition of Gods in Everyman (both from HarperCollins, July 2014), and Artemis: The Indomitable Spirit in Everywoman (Conari Press, an imprint of Red Wheel Weiser, September 2014).

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
92 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

SLoop
5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing journey to spiritual awakening
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2020
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Jean Shinoda Bolen, MD is one of my favorite authors and this book doesn't disappoint. She is a mistress of wisdom for the Divine Feminine, goddesses throughout history, and a teacher of archetypes as an exemplary scholar of Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung. This book is an older one but still just as relevant today, almost even more so when you think about all that has come to pass since she wrote this book in the late 20th century. A reawakening of the Divine Feminine was just beginning back then and it's a prophecy that is currently being fulfill throughout the world with the resurgence of pagan/wiccan worship of various Goddesses from ancient times. Bolen wrote this as a metaphor for her spiritual awakening in the vein of Percival's quest for the holy grail and writes to help you through your own grail quest. If you are currently going through a spiritual awakening, and especially if you are experiencing a dark night of the soul, this book will sing to your soul and help guide you through it. There is so much wisdom here for both men and women who hear the call of the goddess and have a desire to not only help themselves but also help the wider world become attuned to and heal the soul of the world, Anima Mundi, and bring about the rebirth of themselves and the Divine Feminine.
Quote on book jacket: "A blueprint for passing through crisis to spiritual awakening." ~ San Francisco Chronicle Book Review
5 people found this helpful
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Jung At Heart
5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2018
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This book is not necessarily an easy read - however it is phenomenal. For women (and even men) in the midst of a mid-life crossroads this book is a MUST. It is also important to read through to the end of the book where the real explanations and wisdom is. The first part of the book sets up the author's journey and travels as she ventures out on a mid-life "pilgrimage" and covers a lot of descriptions of her travels and many symbolic events. I suspect this maybe where the author looses some readers. Keep going! - Read to the end you'll find treasure!
5 people found this helpful
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Meghan
5.0 out of 5 stars We are the daughters of...
Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2022
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A beautiful story of this woman's journey . I am transported to magical places and memories.
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HYPNOJADE
3.0 out of 5 stars Not 4 me
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2016
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I have a friend who lives the book crones don't whine, and loved it, so I ordered this for her and bought an Adirondack one so we could discuss the book together. This is her personal journey but she lost me at the part that she believed that giving birth to a child was the gateway to avalon. As a woman who decided not to birth or have a child, this turned me off. I put the book Down and haven't picked it up again. I probably will finish it so I can discuss it with my friend and maybe with the different concept that trauma may lead to lifting the Mist into Avalon. There are so many other stories I've heard in people's lives and every day that I had much more impact in their Journey towards spirituality and finding themselves then this one. I don't mean to disrespect her experience I just find it a little Blaise. But if you have an interest in The mythos of Avalon, king Arthur, camalot, as I do, you might just add this to your collection and it's just my personal review I found I didn't really like her writing style either. Im picky. But I'm sure this was a ground breaking experience/ Book in the 70s and the feminist movement emerging.
10 people found this helpful
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Biggie Man - Last man standing
4.0 out of 5 stars I am a man, watch me roar (if I have to I can do anything - I am stong, I am invincible...I am mannnnnnn)
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2006
Verified Purchase
You know, I have to say - this book is awesome - especially if you are a woman.

I am not.

THIS BOOK IS

--------------- P R E T E N T I O U S !!! -----------------

as all get-out!

I am reading this as a women's studies requirement at a "women's centered" university I attend (what can I say?)I am struggling to read this book and find parallels to the male journey... argh.
If you are a guy, skip this book at all costs, even if someone offers to give it to you for free!

I know all of you are going to click on the "no" helpful voting button for this review - I don't care.

CLICK IT TWICE FOR ALL I GIVE A RATS TUSHY.

I just spent more than 800 bucks AND WASTED 3 MONTHS OF MY LIFE to take this class called the 'Psychology of Women' that took me on a woman's mid life spiritual quest. We looked at the various ways the author's many visits to various Cathedrals and holy places and their labyrinths throughout Europe connected with a woman's innate sense of mystery and her calming force she envelops the world with. We talked about the parallels and the differences in a woman's and mans journey, with me being the single token guy who was expected to represent all male-hood. GROSS! If I could puke, I would.

Men, stay away from this book. Women, bare your teeth and vote NO to this review because I am evil. Thank you.
18 people found this helpful
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Willow Catkin
5.0 out of 5 stars Crossing to Avalon: A Woman's Midlife Quest for the Sacred Feminine
Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2010
Verified Purchase
This book really resonates with me. She talks about the offer to go on pilgrimage as being a synchronous event, I think that is what happened to me when I picked up this book. As I read, I'm having all those little "aha" moments and things are starting to connect for me.

I love how she relates the places and things she experiences on her pilgrimage to The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. I have read that book many times and now I know why I have been so dawn to it.

I'm still reading this book, but so far it's GREAT!
One person found this helpful
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charlene64
5.0 out of 5 stars Crossing to Avalon
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2014
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Jean Bolen's story of finding the joy in your own soul caught me at precisely the right time, as these things do. I am renovating my whole life, learning to live again, developing what has always been there in my heart, yet had been buried under things I had been taught to believe were true & important....most of which are not.
A book to remind you to be open to all experience & take what comes. All of life is relevant if our eyes are open.
6 people found this helpful
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Lizarts99
5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book.
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2013
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I bought this book when it was first published, and came back to reread passages from time to time over the years. Lent it to a friend a year ago, and she lost it. Thanks to amazon I have it again! A good read about how the author dealt with something like a midlife crisis. Or at least that's what it helped me through. Some very thoughtful ideas and advice, and also, I like Jean Shinoda Bolen's writing style.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Veronique
5.0 out of 5 stars Women stories
Reviewed in Canada on August 26, 2021
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May we keep this moving and keep voicing our stories ❤ I love this book and author!!
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Sue Aran
5.0 out of 5 stars This time it was an even more amazing read. Her story and insights are incredibly synchronistic ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 15, 2015
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I read this books years ago when it first came out, then picked it up again after a friend spoke about Glastonbury. This time it was an even more amazing read. Her story and insights are incredibly synchronistic for anyone going through their middle years who has some life under their belt.
3 people found this helpful
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Holisand
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 11, 2013
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Have enjoyed this book, will definitely read again. Love reading and on a tight budget, so bought used and arrived in very good condition.
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Chris
4.0 out of 5 stars Inspiration, Encouragement, Validation - its all here.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 16, 2000
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One of the main themes of Jean Shinoda Bolen's work is her distinction between masculine and feminine spirituality. She maintains that the former is felt in the mind, the latter in the body. In "Crossing to Avalon" she takes us with her on a journey around the energy power points of Europe to find the source of that sacred feminine and to experience it first hand.
It is on this pilgrimage that she moves out her usual role of guide and analyst and becomes the seeker and the guided; and in doing so she reveals to us Jean Shinoda Bolen the woman. She graphically explains the internal and external processes taking place, providing throughout an historical and mythological background, which serves to set both the scene and the task.
This is a highly personal account but that adds to its readability and usefulness rather than detracts from it. Unlike many other books on finding personal meaning Jean Shinoda Bolen demonstrates to us that although the journey to find the Grail can be easily documented the actual travelling and arrival at the search departure point is as painful and enlightening for those who have gone before as it is for those who follow.
29 people found this helpful
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R. Kenyon
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 3, 2015
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For someone who works with womens' spirituality this is rather stuck in male based arthurian myth.
4 people found this helpful
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