If Women Rose Rooted: A Life-changing Journey to Authenticity and Belonging
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- Create Date：2021-09-22 09:54:27
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Sharon Blackie
- ISBN：1912836017
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Summary
'Rising high up on the heather-covered moorlands， seeping through our bogs， flowing down our streams and into our rivers and out onto the sandy strands of the rock-strewn Atlantic seaboard， are the old Celtic myths and stories … waiting to be reclaimed and re-visioned for the modern world。'
Aged 30， Sharon Blackie found herself weeping in the car park of the multinational corporation where she worked， wondering if this was what a nervous breakdown felt like。 Somewhere along the line， she realised， she had lost herself - and so began her long journey back to authenticity， rootedness in place and belonging。
In this extraordinary book of myth， memoir and modern-day mentors （from fashion designers to lawyers）， Blackie faces the wasteland of Western culture， the repression of women， and the devastation of our planet。 She boldly names the challenge: to reimagine women's place in the world， and to rise up， firmly rooted in our own native landscapes and the powerful Celtic stories and wisdom which sprang from them。
A haunting heroine's journey for every woman who finds inspiration and solace in the natural world。
Aged 30， Sharon Blackie found herself weeping in the car park of the multinational corporation where she worked， wondering if this was what a nervous breakdown felt like。 Somewhere along the line， she realised， she had lost herself - and so began her long journey back to authenticity， rootedness in place and belonging。
In this extraordinary book of myth， memoir and modern-day mentors （from fashion designers to lawyers）， Blackie faces the wasteland of Western culture， the repression of women， and the devastation of our planet。 She boldly names the challenge: to reimagine women's place in the world， and to rise up， firmly rooted in our own native landscapes and the powerful Celtic stories and wisdom which sprang from them。
A haunting heroine's journey for every woman who finds inspiration and solace in the natural world。
Reviews
Sarah
，
2。5-3 starsI so wanted to 5 star this book before I'd even read it because I loved The Enchanted Life。 I did gain a lot from the book -- for instance， I do think it is certainly interesting to know about our heritage and find roots in the place we live。 I have an interest in the Celtic people and their ways。 I do enjoy stories for making sense of life and feeling connection to others。 I am a total tree hugger and believe that nature is a great healer and can be a place where we find ourselves （a 2。5-3 starsI so wanted to 5 star this book before I'd even read it because I loved The Enchanted Life。 I did gain a lot from the book -- for instance， I do think it is certainly interesting to know about our heritage and find roots in the place we live。 I have an interest in the Celtic people and their ways。 I do enjoy stories for making sense of life and feeling connection to others。 I am a total tree hugger and believe that nature is a great healer and can be a place where we find ourselves （apologies for the cliche） I love a good wander on the moors and I totally talk to plants。 I also appreciated her reflections on the cycles of women's life - on menstruation and menopause and how the 9-5， 5 days a week， working life is not helpful for women in many ways。 I also enjoyed the folklore and fairytale stories she interspersed the book with。 Hence the three stars because I did gain some worthwhile thinking points from the book and enjoyed the stories。But on the other hand her insistence that the Celts were basically women revering feminists， I mean， yes， it looks like they were often less patriarchal and oppressive to women than the Romans and Greeks， but I really felt she was stretching that point a bit too far because we don't actually know a lot about the ancient Celts and evidence suggests that they were fairly patriarchal。 It just feels like wishful thinking on her part as she labours this idea endlessly。 I totally agree though that the spread of Westernised Christianity has led to an excessive focus on the wonder that is the male and women have ended up categorised as either virgin， wife， mother， prostitute/temptress， witch。 The insidious idea prevalent in Christian teaching that woman was created FOR man， that woman was a second thought by God， that woman needs a man to 'cover' her。 I think that these are important points of reflection for Christians and hopefully changes are happening in that department！Some of her life story got a bit annoying to read。 But that's her life and to be fair if I rambled through my life and my life decisions and where I'd lived and what I did there， it would get a bit boring and most likely annoying I'm sure！ I really couldn't understand why she went back to work for a Tobacco firm in the USA， that boggled me， I mean make the mistake once， but to go back？？ Seriously？ I did appreciate her honesty though， that she did make mistakes and made the same mistakes more than once -- I think we can probably all relate to those facepalm moments of 'oh no， I did it again！'On the whole I gained some worthwhile things to think about， was introduced to ideas and ways of looking at life that have challenged me， particularly the way my faith relates to women （Christianity）， but big chunks of it just made me roll my eyes。 。。。more
Elissa
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Loved the message and the Celtic stories shared。 However， I didn’t expect it to be so autobiographical。 The many interviews seemed unnecessary and out of place。
Leah Peck
，
This book came into my life at a time I didn’t know I needed it， but the healing it brought was immense。 I absolutely love the take on the eco-heroines journey， the world needs this so desperately now。 Beautifully written， this book feels like stepping into a fairy forest where you learn about yourself and the earth while having stories whispered to you from each plant， animal， waterfall， and rock you pass。 Such a gorgeous piece of art。
Trisha Simmons
，
I loved reading this beautifully written book in little sips。。。letting the prose and conjured thoughts absorb into my being like little doses of deep understanding。
Dana
，
This book had a significant impact on me。 Right time， right book， but I think I would have liked the history and journey in the book even if I wasn't so ready to read it。 Lovely。 This book had a significant impact on me。 Right time， right book， but I think I would have liked the history and journey in the book even if I wasn't so ready to read it。 Lovely。 。。。more
Dodie
，
I was reading this book for the Sisterhood of Avalon book club。 I really enjoyed this book。 Sharon wrote this book to highlight women and their stories by using Celtic myth。 This book is very thought provoking。 There are serval idea that she explores that really interested me。 The idea of belonging， go beyond the idea to belong you have to be in a group。 Belonging to yourself， to where you live and the land you walk on。 There is so many benefits on belonging with nature。 This chapter really got I was reading this book for the Sisterhood of Avalon book club。 I really enjoyed this book。 Sharon wrote this book to highlight women and their stories by using Celtic myth。 This book is very thought provoking。 There are serval idea that she explores that really interested me。 The idea of belonging， go beyond the idea to belong you have to be in a group。 Belonging to yourself， to where you live and the land you walk on。 There is so many benefits on belonging with nature。 This chapter really got me to think about what belonging really means。 There was a chapter about being an elder， going through a transformation when menopause arrives。 How do I feel entering my menopause， my use of being a woman is over。 And another chapter that I liked of course a chapter about planting and growing herbs。 Sharon leave the last chapter to sums it all up。 The themes that where throughout the book she has a summarized paragraph with questions for you to think about after you have finished the book。 A good read。 。。。more
Sondra
，
I'd only read as far as the epigraph when I experienced that delicious swell of emotion that only rises up when I enter an astonishingly good book。 One that not only promises all the realities of magic， but transports me and makes me part of them。 I'd only read as far as the epigraph when I experienced that delicious swell of emotion that only rises up when I enter an astonishingly good book。 One that not only promises all the realities of magic， but transports me and makes me part of them。 。。。more
Katy
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Magical and fortifying。 A fantastic companion to “Belonging” by Toko-pa Turner and “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer。
April
，
Life changing。 A must read for women and men hoping to understand the nature and damage of the patriarchy and move towards a more balanced way of being in the world。
Bec Reno
，
A powerful journey in to the female psyche。 I have recommended to all of my friends and my copy is currently on loan to my mother。 Another treasure that will be kept in the family collection。
tonia peckover
，
Blackie reimagines the Hero's journey for women， showing that instead of slaying enemies and dragons， women go another way， towards union with the land。 Really lovely and encouraging。 I found Blackie's personal story a little tiresome occasionally， but I enjoyed the interviews with other women， especially the one with Sylvia Linsteadt at the end who wrestles with finding a way to be rooted and claim the stories of a place while living on stolen land。 "I began to wonder if I could walk with old s Blackie reimagines the Hero's journey for women， showing that instead of slaying enemies and dragons， women go another way， towards union with the land。 Really lovely and encouraging。 I found Blackie's personal story a little tiresome occasionally， but I enjoyed the interviews with other women， especially the one with Sylvia Linsteadt at the end who wrestles with finding a way to be rooted and claim the stories of a place while living on stolen land。 "I began to wonder if I could walk with old stories over these landscapes， plant them here， see how they take to the bobcats， the Douglas firs， the manzanitas and kestrels。 My heritage and the traditions of my "people" are based in lands far away。 But can we break open the old stories like we break open a fruit， find the seeds and regrow them here？ See if they can find their grey fox whiskers， their elk hooves。。。？" 。。。more
Karen L Weiss
，
Good book based on the Celtic TraditionI liked how Blackie incorporated myths into the work， many of which I haven't heard before。 To me the book seemed long， but it was worth the read。 Good book based on the Celtic TraditionI liked how Blackie incorporated myths into the work， many of which I haven't heard before。 To me the book seemed long， but it was worth the read。 。。。more
Ginger Beer
，
A mix of autobiography， myth telling， and environmental conscious-calling。 A flowing narrative， conjuring imagery and emotions in its telling。 Ends with an invitation， an encouragement to participate， intentionally， in the heroine's journey。 I really enjoyed this and it has given me a scaffold for future thinking and writing。 A mix of autobiography， myth telling， and environmental conscious-calling。 A flowing narrative， conjuring imagery and emotions in its telling。 Ends with an invitation， an encouragement to participate， intentionally， in the heroine's journey。 I really enjoyed this and it has given me a scaffold for future thinking and writing。 。。。more
Ryan
，
This had some good stories within， but I had a hard time getting into this book overall。 Some parts were really repetitive and could do with some editing。
Elin Roberts
，
Loved the Celtic mythology and stunning descriptions of Ireland and Scotland。 But the message of the book did not resonate with me。 Implying that anyone who has an office job is living in a 'Wasteland' is unrealistic。 People can live true to themselves & the world in many different ways。 Loved the Celtic mythology and stunning descriptions of Ireland and Scotland。 But the message of the book did not resonate with me。 Implying that anyone who has an office job is living in a 'Wasteland' is unrealistic。 People can live true to themselves & the world in many different ways。 。。。more
Miz Lizzie
，
Part memoir， part storytelling， part sustainability manual， part inspiration， part folklore， part psychology 。。。 Sharon Blackie shares her story along with traditional Celtic tales and a template for an Eco-Heroine's Journey。 This is about connecting to the land and finding healing， both for ourselves and the land。 This is a mentor text for me， rich with meaning。 Book Pairings:Martin Shaw， also a storyteller， writes in a very similar vein about connecting to the land you are "of" and its stories Part memoir， part storytelling， part sustainability manual， part inspiration， part folklore， part psychology 。。。 Sharon Blackie shares her story along with traditional Celtic tales and a template for an Eco-Heroine's Journey。 This is about connecting to the land and finding healing， both for ourselves and the land。 This is a mentor text for me， rich with meaning。 Book Pairings:Martin Shaw， also a storyteller， writes in a very similar vein about connecting to the land you are "of" and its stories ， especially in Scatterlings。From a Potawatomi （and scientist） point of view， Robin Wall Kimmerer also writes about the wisdom and stories of the land and the other non-human people who inhabit it。 。。。more
Kelsey
，
This has been one of the best books I have ever read。 A long time fan of Sharon Blackies work - well， by reading her email newsletter with joy every time it came， and by listening to her podcast - I realised I had never read a book of hers。 Like all true medicine， it came at the right time in my life to be a remedy to personal circumstances。 This book was so rich is personal story， myth and musings and I believe I’ve raved about it to almost everyone I’ve spoken to these last few weeks。 Sharon - This has been one of the best books I have ever read。 A long time fan of Sharon Blackies work - well， by reading her email newsletter with joy every time it came， and by listening to her podcast - I realised I had never read a book of hers。 Like all true medicine， it came at the right time in my life to be a remedy to personal circumstances。 This book was so rich is personal story， myth and musings and I believe I’ve raved about it to almost everyone I’ve spoken to these last few weeks。 Sharon - thank you for following the call to write it。 I will treasure it， and come back to it， as the years go by。 。。。more
Janeal
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Life changing。 I really savored this book， and look forward to reading it again and again。
Madrona Bourdeau
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Amazing book。 Beautifully written。
Jessica Michael
，
This book， "If Women Rose Rooted，" was recommended to me very enthusiastically by a friend of mine。 The fact I completed it indicates it is definitely worth a read。 （I haven't completed a whole book in 。。。 years—I have twin toddlers）。The essence of this eco-feminist novel is that women have a deep connection with nature， and particularly with a sense of place （both location and culture）， and when we cut ourselves off from that sense of belonging we find ourselves lost in the "Wasteland。" We wome This book， "If Women Rose Rooted，" was recommended to me very enthusiastically by a friend of mine。 The fact I completed it indicates it is definitely worth a read。 （I haven't completed a whole book in 。。。 years—I have twin toddlers）。The essence of this eco-feminist novel is that women have a deep connection with nature， and particularly with a sense of place （both location and culture）， and when we cut ourselves off from that sense of belonging we find ourselves lost in the "Wasteland。" We women are of nature and the patriarchy via Christianity has oppressed the female nature。 Eve sought knowledge after communing with nature and look what happened？ The book lays out that female nature should work complementary to the masculine nature， and what we have now is an unhealthy domination of the masculine （i。e。， toxic masculinity）。 The author acknowledges the differences of men and women* but how both are necessary， like yin and yang， for a healthy society， in cooperation with each other。*When I use the terms men and women， whatever gender you identify with and whatever nature you may gravitate toward。 The book does not address the gender spectrum， but all of us have both the masculine and feminine inside of us。 Feminism must always respect and embrace that spectrum。Author Sharon Blackie could have used a much more heavy-handed editor。 I found her prose long-winded and repetitive at times， and I would have liked to have seen more analysis of how the ancient myths inform our modern lives。 She does weave in her own troubled past and how it informed her often flawed decision making， and we see that， even for a psychologist， this reconnection is not easy。 Her own struggle is important to the narrative， but it also makes it seem like reconnection may too hard。 The book focuses on Celtic mythology， as those are her roots， and she recognizes that those with other cultural backgrounds have other mythologies that will be important and instructive to them。 I understand that she does not want to appropriate other cultural myths， but typically these archetypal myths have universal meaning。 She is also of Scottish and Irish descent so， of course， she feels connected to that land。 It seems like the author believes Celtic myths may only be useful to those with Celtic roots， but likely those Celtic myths have roots that go even further in time and place to mankind’s origins in Africa。 In an attempt to be sensitive to cultural appropriation， she becomes somewhat exclusionary。Another criticism I have of the book is that the author focuses all of her stories but one on those who must live in the countryside to feel connected to land。 There is one story of a women who finds connectedness in London， but the author preaches isolation in the wilderness。 She worked a high-powered job at a tobacco corporation making a good salary before realizing the work was not nourishing her， triggering her to move from croft to croft in far-flung northern sea-battered landscapes。 I don’t know many women who can afford to retreat for years with no steady paycheck。 She is writing， for sure， from a place of privilege that I often found a bit grating。 She also has no children which affords her an opportunity to unroot herself from here and there （she does grapple with the mothering aspect of the feminine nature and her own choice not to have children， and she deftly handles the subject of nurturing not being confined to motherhood）。 But！ For all of my criticisms， I found it to be an impactful book because it really made me look at myself and my life。 Was I cut off from my creativity？ Was I feeling disaffected and disillusioned， drained？ The book angered me for awakening the realization that I， too， am mired in a creative wasteland of my own。 It put me in a bad mood。 It depressed me。 To use a pop culture reference， this book was like the red pill in the Matrix movie， waking me up to an unsettling truth。 Except now I must choose to either answer the “Call” or try to lose myself again in the status quo。 For this impact， the book is worth reading。 But I felt that it did not provide me enough guidance on what to do with these feelings。 Unlike the author， I am not going off to a remote Gaelic island to sing to rocks。 Her need to shed her “responsibilities” in this manner is not even remotely an option for most women。 The author is a writer and a psychologist。 At one point she owned an independent publishing company。 Her skillset lends itself to striking off on one’s own。 How many women could do the same？ Once I finished this book， I immediately picked up the eco-feminist novel “Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Women in Archetype，” by Dr。 Clarissa Pinkola Estés。 Her writing is much more concise， and she provides the analysis of these myths and how they relate universally to women reclaiming their power。 （The Bluebeard myth is brutal！） I’m only about 15% into the book （thanks， Kindle）， but so far I don’t see her advocating for life on remote islands。 Her guidance feels more practical。 Indeed， likely the reason this book landed on the New York Times Bestseller list at some point is its accessibility。 Although “If Women Rose Rooted” wasn’t perfect， it is useful and in its own way powerful， and I’m making changes in my life to accommodate this awakened call to become more rooted in the things that nourish me。 I’m trying to channel that anger into determination to change。 。。。more
Caitríona Ní C
，
I enjoyed reading this & will probably read it again。 I read it while living in Connemara during the pandemic and it helped me to appreciate being home。 I like how she weaves Celtic tradition with feminine power and has lived experience of the places where the stories she tells come from。 Tá sé cumhachtach， bheadh sé go deas leabhar cosúil leis a léamh as Gaeilge。
Lisa Moncur
，
There are so many powerful truths and stories in this book。 I came away with a whole new view of myself。 I wish I had words for what this book has done for me， but I’m not sure myself yet。 I have work to do to figure that out。 In the past year， I have awoken to realize just how much of a wasteland our world has become and it is making me sick。 I can’t stand to go with the flow of this line of thinking anymore。 We MUST stop the old ways of thinking and root ourselves back in the earth。 She has th There are so many powerful truths and stories in this book。 I came away with a whole new view of myself。 I wish I had words for what this book has done for me， but I’m not sure myself yet。 I have work to do to figure that out。 In the past year， I have awoken to realize just how much of a wasteland our world has become and it is making me sick。 I can’t stand to go with the flow of this line of thinking anymore。 We MUST stop the old ways of thinking and root ourselves back in the earth。 She has the truth for us and we can heal ourselves and the world if we all do our part。Patriarchy has taken enough from me already。 I must take a stand and this book has given me some new concepts and ways to root myself so that I can live the life I desire to and be that force of authentic power for those around me。 。。。more
Nette Jordan
，
I absolutely loved this book。 It has changed my life。 It brought me back to my centre and uncovered a longing I have to reconnect with my roots。 I will revisit it often。
Melanie Gilbreath
，
I very much enjoyed this book。 It wasn't at all what I expected。 Well， I expected it to be about women's empowerment， but it was a gentle journey。 The author uses a combination of myth， fairy tales， combined with the very personal story of her life and interviews with other women to lead the reader along a very enlightening path。 Or as the author calls it， "The heroines journey"。I've read a lot of books about women's issues and this has got to be one of the best I've come across。 I very much enjoyed this book。 It wasn't at all what I expected。 Well， I expected it to be about women's empowerment， but it was a gentle journey。 The author uses a combination of myth， fairy tales， combined with the very personal story of her life and interviews with other women to lead the reader along a very enlightening path。 Or as the author calls it， "The heroines journey"。I've read a lot of books about women's issues and this has got to be one of the best I've come across。 。。。more
Tamara
，
Rarely does a book recognize the dignity and grace of the elder woman。 This accomplishes all of that and more。 It digs down deep into the roots of respect and autonomy of women。 I have been transformed and will be forever grateful to the author。
Kirsten Frances
，
Important and transformative book， I think the themes and topics it will take some to fully sink in。
Gunilla
，
Mooi boek over vrouwen en Ierse mythologie。 Westerse vrouwen zullen de wereld redden！
Rhonda
，
A slow read with a lot of content in Celtic stories/myths woven into the context of a Heroines Journey。。。the feminine version of the classic Hero’s Journey by Joseph Campbell。 It was a great read and relatable/comforting on many levels for me。
Laurie Hiatt
，
Every once in a while I read a book that becomes so dear to me。 This is one of those books。 Once I hit my fifties， my spiritual awakening went on fast forward and I started questioning more about my life and purpose。 This book was so helpful in this journey， mostly in reminding me about "place"。。。my current spot on the earth。 My place in the world， no matter where， can truly help me if I know how to listen。 I loved the stories and wisdom， and I'm grateful for the author sharing so much。 This is Every once in a while I read a book that becomes so dear to me。 This is one of those books。 Once I hit my fifties， my spiritual awakening went on fast forward and I started questioning more about my life and purpose。 This book was so helpful in this journey， mostly in reminding me about "place"。。。my current spot on the earth。 My place in the world， no matter where， can truly help me if I know how to listen。 I loved the stories and wisdom， and I'm grateful for the author sharing so much。 This is the kind of sharing we can all do to make our world a much better place for all。 。。。more
Loretta
，