Pain Perspective: finding meaning in the fire edited by kay Louise Aldred, Trista Hendren and Pat Daly

Pain Perspectives is a beautiful sharing of how the pain of existing in a heart-and-soul deprived patriarchal paradigm has been endured - and has contributed to women’s wisdom, gifts, and soul’s evolution. A must read for anyone who has lived with pain, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. Pretty much everyone. The women who traveled to the depths, transmuted their pain, garnered the wisdom, and rose to inspire others is an authentic depiction of the energy of the Goddess returning through each and every one of us. I recommend taking your time to receive each story in this book, as deeply as it was shared." -Mary Lane, author of Divine Nourishment & Meena

“When first approached to write an endorsement for this book I felt quietly confident. I have been a practitioner of Classical Chinese medicine and somatic therapies for forty years, and pain is my compassion language. I know pain in all its forms both professionally and personally. So, all good, right?

But the collection of essays, poems and art in this anthology is so visceral and on point that there was nothing easy about the read or the analysis. Chronic pain, institutionalized pain, cultural pain, all washing over us mentally, physically, and spiritually. All is beautifully explored and poignantly written here.

And while we are neurologically wired to retract from pain, I do believe we need to feel it, name it, and stare it down in order to move past it. This important anthology will help us all to do that. Read it and cherish the awakened sensations as you would with your tongue playing with a loose tooth. And then we get up tomorrow and do what needs to be done.”
-Gina Martin, author of the When She Wakes series (Sisters of the Solstice Moon, Walking the Threads of Time, She is Here), the Daughters of the Goddess series (Kiyia-Daughter of the Horse), and WomEnchanting, a compendium of sacred songs and chants