The Heroine's Journey

Woman's Quest for Wholeness

By: Maureen Murdock

Narrated by: Laurel Lefkow

“Anything is possible for women as we find our voice, honor our identity, work together for a common goal, and stand unapologetically with our arms wide open to the skies in a stance of pride and acknowledgment of the sacredness of the feminine.” (from the preface to the 30th anniversary edition)

The Heroine’s Journey describes contemporary woman’s search for wholeness in a society where she has been defined according to masculine values. Drawing on cultural myths and fairy tales, ancient symbols and goddesses, and the dreams of contemporary women, Murdock illustrates the need for — and the reality of — feminine values in Western culture. This special anniversary edition, with a new foreword by Christine Downing and preface by the author, illuminates that this need is just as relevant today as it was when the book was originally published 30 years ago.

©1990 Maureen Murdock (P)2021 Shambhala Publications

An Essential Read

A book everyone should read when they are ready to receive it. I have found it resonates with so many and is a beautiful outlay of our ongoing growth path.

Required Reading

This should be required reading for everyone in high school English. I can't imagine a more transformative, powerful book to combat the patriarchy.

Validating and empowering

I think any female going through transitions in their life should read this book. There are so many moments throughout where I recognized, yes that is what I’m feeling! This book also gave me the language to speak about my feminine nature and embrace how to just be.

I also enjoyed the references to many stories and mythology about strong female characters.

A classic, made easier to digest via Audible

A must for any woman, especially ones going through their dark night of the soul

Every woman should read this

This book brought such beautiful light to what it means to navigate this world as a woman. The explanation of the journey inward was beautifully described. It was like there were words for what I had experienced during my descent inwards.

Lots of Good Stuff with a Caveat

So much food for thought in this book. If you’re at all familiar with earth based spirituality or feminism or eco feminism you’ve heard most of this. The one section that felt really dated and problematic was the section on daughters purportedly abandoning their mothers. Children cannot abandon their parents. I found this section really challenging and even triggering to listen to especially after nodding along to the prior material. It just felt like the author did some bad math but alas psychology evolves and this wasn’t something that a little Bethany Webster reading couldn’t rectify. Otherwise a nice top line intro to feminine principles and living in relationship with oneself and the world vs attempting to mutilate ourselves to fit in w bro culture.

Must Read For Women…and Men

As a man I read this to better understand my wife, ex-wife, daughter, mother, boss and other women in my life. I’ve read Joseph Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey”, and it deeply resonated with me. I thought the framework applied well to both men and women, which it does…but there are some significant differences between how men and women’s experiences are painted. They were mind blowing and heart opening to me! I am deeply grateful for the chance to see the world women and men share through a lens of the many experiences that we do not share. This is a must read!

every woman and every man needs to read/listen in order to have a deeper understanding of themselves.

an amazing narrative and explanation of the women’s psyche. a heroine’s journey is a must read for every women and every men.

A must for writers creating female characters!

This book is a must if you write about women. and really just a great read in general. It reorient women's experience within a modern, historical, and mythological context and breaks out of traditionally masculine molds of storytelling and success.

as a young mother

this was beautiful, painful and eye opening. great book for all women. I am going to share it with my mother. a lot of understanding and healing.