For years I have seen quotes and excerpts by Marianne Williamson on the web. I've always been captivated by the fluent poetic nature of her prose and her beautiful thoughts so wonderfully explained. As my mentor and I were discussing the nature of love a few weeks ago, I decided it was time for me to read some of Williamson's work once I finished off the other book I was reading at that time. I pulled Enchanted Love: The Mystical Power of Relationships off of my bookcase and proceeded to read 2/3 of it in the first sitting because it is such a smooth and easy read. The concepts contained within are deep and powerful, but Williamson explains them so clearly that it feels like reading a work of fiction.
Enchanted Love is a series of short essays, prayers and poems around finding a sacred romantic love. Along the way, Williiamson describes judgemental relationships that fall far short of a sacred ideal. She talks about sex, divorce, God, and the reflections of love on the greater world. Beneath all of her ideas are the concepts that we partner with others to work on our deepest wounds and that the love we exchange with each other is actually the love of the Divine. While strongly disagree with some of her discussions about gender in relationships, the majority of the book was powerful to read and contemplate.
As I read through the earlier part of the book, the part that discussed relationships done wrong, I saw my former marriage with my ex-husband very clearly in her words. We were judgmental of each other, we did not and in some cases could not support each other in the ways that each wanted to be supported, and we didn't help each other grow as individuals. The relationship was not one that could have ever achieved enchanted love status. Yet as I read through Williamson's statements about midlife, divorce, and sacred love, I very clearly saw the relationship I want to have with my next husband. If he hasn't read this book by the time we've met, I'm going to hand him my copy and say, "This! This is what I am looking for in a relationship!"
I've already recommended this book to one friend as she works to heal wounds from a previous partner because I thought it would be very useful to her to understand the "why" of her relationship's demise. I also thought that the book coould greatly help her and her current partner grow in their relationship. I definitely expect to be recommending Enchanted Love to many others in the future.
© 2015 Elizabeth Galen, Ph.D., Green Heart Guidance, LLC
Enchanted Love is a series of short essays, prayers and poems around finding a sacred romantic love. Along the way, Williiamson describes judgemental relationships that fall far short of a sacred ideal. She talks about sex, divorce, God, and the reflections of love on the greater world. Beneath all of her ideas are the concepts that we partner with others to work on our deepest wounds and that the love we exchange with each other is actually the love of the Divine. While strongly disagree with some of her discussions about gender in relationships, the majority of the book was powerful to read and contemplate.
As I read through the earlier part of the book, the part that discussed relationships done wrong, I saw my former marriage with my ex-husband very clearly in her words. We were judgmental of each other, we did not and in some cases could not support each other in the ways that each wanted to be supported, and we didn't help each other grow as individuals. The relationship was not one that could have ever achieved enchanted love status. Yet as I read through Williamson's statements about midlife, divorce, and sacred love, I very clearly saw the relationship I want to have with my next husband. If he hasn't read this book by the time we've met, I'm going to hand him my copy and say, "This! This is what I am looking for in a relationship!"
I've already recommended this book to one friend as she works to heal wounds from a previous partner because I thought it would be very useful to her to understand the "why" of her relationship's demise. I also thought that the book coould greatly help her and her current partner grow in their relationship. I definitely expect to be recommending Enchanted Love to many others in the future.
© 2015 Elizabeth Galen, Ph.D., Green Heart Guidance, LLC
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