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Rayneonthemoon
02-01-2007, 11:43 PM
Have you all ever read "Imagine a Woman in Love with Herself" by Patricia Lynn Reilly (sp?) This was one of the most amazing books I had read during my recovery, and continues to be a huge inspiration to me. It has nothing to do with eating disorders per-se, but it has to do with embracing being a woman, something that alot of us who have/do struggle with eating disorders very much struggle with. I was wondering what you all thought of the book?

The poem, which she wrote, opens the book and is of the same title:

:butterfly :butterfly :butterfly :butterfly :butterfly

IMAGINE A WOMAN

Imagine a woman who believes it is right and good she is a woman.
A woman who honors her experience and tells her stories.
Who refuses to carry the sins of others within her body and life.
Imagine a woman who trusts and respects herself.
A woman who listens to her needs and desires.
Who meets them with tenderness and grace.
Imagine a woman who has acknowledged the past's influence on the
present. A woman who has walked through her past.
Who has healed into the present.
Imagine a woman who authors her own life.
A woman who exerts, initiates, and moves on her own behalf.
Who refuses to surrender except to her truest self and to her wisest
voice.
Imagine a woman who names her own gods.
A woman who imagines the divine in her image and likeness.
Who designs her own spirituality and allows it to inform her
daily life.
Imagine a woman in love with her own body.
A woman who believes her body is enough, just as it is.
Who celebrates her body and its rhythms and cycles as an exquisite
resource.
Imagine a woman who honors the body of the Goddess in her changing body.
A woman who celebrates the accumulation of her years and her wisdom.
Who refuses to use her precious life energy disguising the changes in her
body and life.
Imagine a woman who values the women in her life.
A woman who sits in circles of women.
Who is reminded of the truth about herself when she forgets.IMAGINE YOURSELF AS THIS WOMAN.

chinapink
02-02-2007, 12:39 PM
I remember Renfrew making us read this aloud a lot, so I had assumed THEY wrote it, which of course led me to dismiss it as too cheesy at the time. :winky Seeing it now, I really, really like the message and will definitely check out the book. Thanks, :hugon Rayne :hugoff

LittleIdabee
02-02-2007, 04:46 PM
I've read this book and loved it! One of my T's had me read it when I was IP and I found it to be really motivational. I absolutely adore that poem, too, which I had hangiing on my wall for a long time - it is so good! Thank you, Jesika, for sharing it with us! :gimmehug :gimmehug