Podcast appearances and mentions of christena cleveland

In this episode, I speak with Christena Cleveland about her journey with the Black Madonna. We explored her deep connection to this powerful figure, touching on themes of spirituality, resistance, and the nurturing power of the divine feminine. Christena shared her insights on how the Black Madonna serves as a symbol of empowerment, especially for marginalized communities. We also delved into the importance of prayer, the cosmic and earthly nature of the divine feminine, and the collective strength found in community. Christena offered a beautiful perspective on how we can all connect with the Black Madonna and the transformative healing that can unfold when we come together.   Discover her book God is a Black Woman here

In this episode of the In Her Image podcast, Dr. Christina Cleveland discusses her journey towards understanding the Divine Feminine through the lens of the Black Madonna. She explores the intersections of race, gender, and spirituality, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the sacredness in all individuals, particularly in marginalized communities. The conversation delves into the challenges of confronting white supremacy and patriarchy within religious spaces, the transformative power of embracing a Black female deity, and the vital role of allyship in fostering justice and healing. Dr. Cleveland's insights encourage listeners to reflect on their own beliefs and actions, ultimately advocating for a more inclusive and compassionate understanding of the divine.Dr. Cleveland's BioChristena Cleveland, Ph.D. is a social psychologist, public theologian, author, and activist. A weaver of Black liberation and the Divine Feminine, Dr. Cleveland embraces the archetype of the Black Madonna as she guides people of all races and genders into freedom, wholeness, and embodied justice. Her latest book is God Is a Black Woman which details her 400-mile walking pilgrimage across central France in search of ancient Black Madonna statues, and examines the relationship among race, gender, and cultural perceptions of the Divine. In addition to nurturing a virtual, global Black Madonna community, Christena is currently working on her fourth full-length book in which she is exploring the miraculous, liberating, and zany ways that the Black Madonna has protected, empowered, and nourished people around the globe and throughout history. An award-winning researcher and former professor at Duke University's Divinity School, Christena lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can discover more about the Black Madonna and Christena at www.christenacleveland.comKeywordsBlack Madonna, Divine Feminine, racial justice, spirituality, allyship, sacredness, intersectionality, healing, patriarchy, community

www.missingwitches.com/imbolc-2025-future-histories-of-black-magic-revolutionary-dreams-w-lilith-dorsey-loli-moon-christena-cleveland-zoe-flowers-thea-anderson-and-dr-beverly About Missing WitchesAmy Torok and Risa Dickens produce the Missing Witches Podcast. We do every aspect from research to recording, it is a DIY labour of love and craft. Missing Witches is entirely member-supported, and getting to know the members of our Coven has been the most fun, electrifying, unexpectedly radical part of the project. These days the Missing Witches Coven gathers in our private, online coven circle to offer each other collaborative courses in ritual, weaving, divination, and more; we organize writing groups and witchy book clubs; and we gather on the Full and New Moon from all over the world. Our coven includes solitary practitioners, community leaders, techno pagans, crones, baby witches, neuroqueers, and folks who hug trees and have just been looking for their people. Our coven is trans-inclusive, anti-racist, feminist, pro-science, anti-ableist, and full of love. If that sounds like your people, come find out more. Please know that we've been missing YOU. https://www.missingwitches.com/join-the-coven/

Author and broadcaster Chine McDonald has never seen a black representation of the Virgin Mary. Black Madonnas are statues or paintings of the Virgin Mary and the Infant Jesus, where both figures are depicted with dark skin. They can be found both in Catholic and Orthodox countries. There are thought to be at least 450 of them in the world and there are more Vierges Noires documented in France than any other country in the world. Chine visits the Queen of Peace in the convent church of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Paris, accompanied by expert guide Dr Christena Cleveland. She travels to Orleans to see the Black Madonna statue: Our Lady of Miracles in the Chapel Notre Dame des Miracles. And cultural historian and University of Oxford based author Prof Janina Ramirez explains current thinking about the origins and cultural significance of the Black Madonna.

Contrary to what you might think, many of us are living on plantations in the present day. The plantations look vastly different than our forebearers', but white supremacy continues to trap us within these violent systems. We don't have to remain disconnected from our needs, dignity, and freedom. In November 2021, Dr. Christena Cleveland, a social psychologist, public theologian, author, and activist, walked Jay through a guide exploring what leaving the plantation entails. __________________________ Black History Year (BHY) is produced by PushBlack, the nation's largest non-profit Black media company. PushBlack exists to amplify the stories of Black history you didn't learn in school and explore pathways to liberation with people leading the way. You make PushBlack happen with your contributions at BlackHistoryYear.com — most people donate $10 a month, but every dollar makes a difference. If this episode moved you, share it with your people! Thanks for supporting the work. Hosting BHY is Jay (2020-2023) and Darren Wallace (2024). The BHY production team includes Jareyah Bradley and Brooke Brown. Our producers are Cydney Smith and Len Webb for PushBlack, and Lance John with Gifted Sounds edits and engineers the show. BHY's executive producers are Julian Walker and Lilly Workneh. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cora Copeland, Tye Tribbett, and Christena Cleveland's "God Is A Black Woman" by 2Pastors - Kate and Eulando

Maria Minnis (aka Feminnis), OlaOmi Amoloku (aka Got2BOshun), Nadra Nittle, Christena Cleveland, Marcelitte Failla, Zoe Flowers, Sherry Shone (aka That Hoodoo Lady), Thea Andersonwww.missingwitches.com/ep-221-imbolc-future-histories-of-black-magic-black-witch-council-2024 About Missing WitchesAmy Torok and Risa Dickens produce the Missing Witches Podcast. We do every aspect from research to recording, it is a DIY labour of love and craft. Missing Witches is entirely member-supported, and getting to know the members of our Coven has been the most fun, electrifying, unexpectedly radical part of the project. These days the Missing Witches Coven gathers in our private, online coven circle to offer each other collaborative courses in ritual, weaving, divination, and more; we organize writing groups and witchy book clubs; and we gather on the Full and New Moon from all over the world. Our coven includes solitary practitioners, community leaders, techno pagans, crones, baby witches, neuroqueers, and folks who hug trees and have just been looking for their people. Our coven is trans-inclusive, anti-racist, feminist, pro-science, anti-ableist, and full of love. If that sounds like your people, come find out more. Please know that we've been missing YOU. https://www.missingwitches.com/join-the-coven/

In this Christmas devotional podcast, Dr Christena Cleveland explores the symbolism of the Black Madonna. In times of dysregulation and uncertainty, the Black Madonna has provided Christena a powerful symbol of love, nurture and connection, allowing her to move from a spirituality of fear to one of trust. Following Christena's refection, Anna Robinson creates a contemplative space for us to more deeply reflect and experience this womb-like space of safety and trust. Jay Hulme then reads a poem about Julian of Norwich, the 14th Century mystic who experienced a radical connection with the divine feminine. All this is beautifully woven together with the music of Jon Bilbrough (musically known as Wilderthorn).  Full instrumental tracks of the music featured in this episode (and more) are available here. Show Notes → The creation of Nomad's thoughtful, wonderfully ad-free content is entirely funded by our equally thoughtful, wonderful listeners. Supporting us gives access to Nomad's online communities through the Beloved Listener Lounge, Enneagram Lounge and Nomad Book Club - as well as bonus content like Nomad Contemplations, Nomad Devotionals and Nomad Revisited. If you'd like to join our lovely supporters head to our Patreon Page to donate and you may even be rewarded with a pen or Beloved Listener mug! If you're hoping to connect with others who are more local, you can also take a look at our Listener Map or join our Nomad Gathering Facebook page. Additionally, we share listener's stories on our blog, all with the hope of facilitating understanding, connection and supportive relationships.

In this episode, Keli talks about Project Reclamation's book club and its deep dive into how the fuck we got here in the very specific intersectional blend of patriarchy, white supremacy, Christian supremacy, etc. we find ourselves living in today. She talks about books the club has read so far, such as "When Women Ruled the World" by Kara Cooney and "Women and Other Monsters" by Jess Zimmerman, as well as upcoming books "Cassandra Speaks: When Women Are the Storytellers, the Human Story Changes" by Elizabeth Lesser, "God Is a Black Woman" by Christena Cleveland, and "Fearing the Black Body" by Sabrina Strings. Want to join the conversation? Join Project Reclamation at https://kelilynjewel.com/reclamation

www.missingwitches.comwww.christenacleveland.comwww.oracleoflosangeles.comShow notes: www.missingwitches.com/ep-201-mabon-2023-collaborating-with-our-ideas-w-christena-cleveland-and-amanda-yates-garcia

"How is Jesus emptying himself as a human for other humans?" Sermon by Dr. Christena Cleveland, recorded live at the 10:00am service on Sunday, September 10, 2023.

What does it mean to experience grace? As guest Hannah Wallace shares in this episode, it's often in our most challenging times that the gifts of grace present themselves to us. Hannah is the host of the podcast Finding Grace, where she holds space for conversations about what it means to find grace in the world we live in today. As someone who lives with a life-altering genetic condition, her mission is to guide people to integrate their darkness and light by finding grace in the space that they're in. Hannah is also a disability model and advocate, a writer, blogger, speaker and priestess. On the latest episode we explore:How a life-changing illness radically changed the trajectory of Hannah's life at the age of 17Hannah's extensive exploration of healing modalities, and the moment when she realized that she needed to stop trying to be the spiritual "A-student" and simply just beHow toxic spirituality can convince us that if we are good enough, we will be rewarded with healing (and why this type of thinking is still rooted in patriarchy)The gifts that the Divine Mother has offered to Hannah along her journeyThe role grace has played in Hannah's life Show NotesIf you'd like to know whose ancestral tribal lands you currently reside on, you can look up your address here: https://native-land.ca/My book, “Home to Her: Walking the Transformative Path of the Sacred Feminine,” is now available Womancraft Publishing! To learn more, read endorsements and purchase, please visit  https://womancraftpublishing.com/product/home-to-her/. It is also available for sale via Amazon, Bookshop.org, and you can order it from your favorite local bookstore, too.Please – if you love this podcast and/or have read my book, please consider leaving me a review! For the podcast, reviews on iTunes are extremely helpful, and for the book, reviews on Amazon and Goodreads are equally helpful. Thank you for supporting my work!You can watch this and other podcast episodes at the Home to Her YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@hometoherGot feedback about this episode or others you've heard? Please reach out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/hometoher/ ), Facebook  (https://www.facebook.com/hometoher)I would love to see you at the upcoming Parliament of the World's Religions! Register and learn more here: https://parliamentofreligions.org/parliament/2023-chicago/ You can learn more about Hannah on her website:  www.hannah-wallace.com You can listen to Hannah's podcast, Finding Grace, (including my episode) here:   https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/finding-grace/id1441430338. Follow her on social: IG @thehannahwallace Facebook: @thehannahwallace Twitter @hannahwallace_ Hannah mentioned the cross associated with Mary Magdalene - you can learn more here:  http://www.magdalenepublishing.org/blog/camargue-cross-origin/ Hannah also shared a Rumi quote during this episode. You can find the full poem here: https://poetrysociety.org/poetry-in-motion/out-beyond-ideas-of-wrongdoing-and-rightdoingOther relevant Home to Her podcast episodes:The Portal of the Divine Feminine with Sophie StrandThe Sacred Black Feminine with Christena Cleveland

Episode Topic: The Black Madonna for Racial Liberation Join the Medieval Institute, the Initiative on Race and Resilience, and the departments of Africana Studies, Program of Liberal Studies, and Theology for the final webinar in our series on Pilgrimage! Can the embodied practice of pilgrimage move us toward healing and racial liberation? Christena Cleveland, Ph.D., joins us to discuss her new book, God Is A Black Woman (2022), which chronicles her 400-mile walking pilgrimage across France to the ancient shrines of Black Madonnas. Cleveland tells of the spiritual transformation she experienced as she encountered a God who affirms the sacredness of all Black people.Featured Speakers: LaRyssa Herrington , 4th year doctoral student in Systematic Theology at the University of Notre Dame Christena Cleveland, Ph.D., founder and director of the Center for Justice + Renewal Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND: go.nd.edu/88c9cb.This podcast is a part of the ThinkND Series titled Pilgrimage for Healing and Liberation. Thanks for listening! The ThinkND Podcast is brought to you by ThinkND, the University of Notre Dame's online learning community. We connect you with videos, podcasts, articles, courses, and other resources to inspire minds and spark conversations on topics that matter to you — everything from faith and politics, to science, technology, and your career. Learn more about ThinkND and register for upcoming live events at think.nd.edu. Join our LinkedIn community for updates, episode clips, and more.

On this episode, we are joined by Christena Cleveland, a social psychologist, public theologian, author, and activist. She is the founder and director of the Center for Justice + Renewal as well as its sister organization, Sacred Folk. Christena has been on a living pilgrimage of transformation recently—the decolonizing pilgrimage. One of the products of this transformational journey was Christena's awe-inspiring book, God is a Black Woman, which dropped onto bookstore shelves in February 2022. She's also built a powerful Patreon community that is doing the work of decolonizing their faith and their minds.  This is the era we are in. It is time to decolonize our minds. We'd love to hear your thoughts. Tweet to Lisa @LisaSHarper or to Freedom Road at @FREEDOMROADUS. We're also on Substack! So be sure to subscribe to The Truth Is... And, keep sharing the podcast with your friends and networks and letting us know what you think! www.christenacleveland.com www.justiceandrenewal.org www.christenacleveland.com/god-is-a-black-woman twitter.com/lisasharper twitter.com/FreedomRoadus lisasharonharper.substack.com/

About Madang: Madang is the outdoor living room of the world. Here, we invite you to sit and tune into unreserved, remarkable conversations with renown authors, leaders, public figures and scholars on religion, culture and everything in-between. This has been a dream of mine for many years and now it is. reality. Please join me at Madang. This is the 26th episode of Madang where I converse with Dr. Reggie Williams on his book, Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus, Rev. Dr. Reggie Williams is Professor of Christian Ethics at McCormick Theological Seminary. He is the author of Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus which was selected as a Choice Outstanding Title in the field of religion. He is a member of the board of directors for the Society for Christian Ethics as well as the International Dietrich Bonhoeffer Society. So excited to have him today to discuss his book and his work. This was part of an event at the Southern Lights Conference and this episode is co-hosted with Brian McLaren. It was wonderful to co-host this special episode of Madang podcast with Brian McLaren. We had a lively conversations on Bonhoeffer, Black Jesus, racism, sexism, evil in society and more in front of a live audience. I am so grateful to Diana Butler Bass and Brian McLaren for allowing me to do this live podcast at the Southern Lights Conference. I am thrilled to announce that Madang podcast is hosted by the Christian Century. Please visit their website for the latest Madang podcast as well as current articles on Christianity, culture and society. I have written several pieces for the Christian Century and welcome this new partnership. https://www.christiancentury.org/madang You can also listen to the podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0fSZ... and Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast... I am grateful to Homebrewed Christianity, McCormick Theological Seminary, Wild Goose Festival, Dr. Christena Cleveland, Baylor University Press for their sponsorship of this episode. Please check out their website for their work, events and to donate. Please reach out to me if you would like to sponsor the next episode of Madang podcast. Or simply support me here: https://anchor.fm/grace-ji-sun-kim --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/grace-ji-sun-kim/support

Amy is joined by Dr. Christena Cleveland to discuss her book God is a Black Woman and unpack our assumptions about divinity, gender, and race.Christena Cleveland Ph.D. is a social psychologist, public theologian, author, and activist. She is the founder and director of the Center for Justice + Renewal as well as its sister organization, Sacred Folk, which creates resources to stimulate people's spiritual imaginations and support their journeys toward liberation.A weaver of Black liberation and the sacred feminine, Dr. Cleveland integrates psychology, theology, storytelling, and art to stimulate our spiritual imaginations. She recently completed her third full-length book, God is a Black Woman (HarperOne), which details her 400-mile walking pilgrimage across central France in search of ancient Black Madonna statues, and examines the relationship among race, gender, and cultural perceptions of the Divine.Dr. Cleveland holds a Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of California Santa Barbara as well as an honorary doctorate from the Virginia Theological Seminary. An award-winning researcher and author, Christena is a Ford Foundation Fellow who has held faculty positions at several institutions of higher education — most recently at Duke University's Divinity School, where she led a research team investigating self-compassion as a buffer to racial stress. Though Dr. Cleveland loves scholarly inquiry, she is also a student of embodied wisdom. She recently completed the Art & So

Our guest Dr. Christina Cleveland talks about her theological and personal journey to re-think her images of God's divinity, particularly the "whitemalegod," to discover a God that could honestly relate to the experience of Black women Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christena ClevelandDr Beverly SmithMarcelittle Failla

This week, Sah welcomes Christena Cleveland, Ph.D., a social psychologist, public theologian, author, and activist. She is the founder and director of the Center for Justice + Renewal as well as its sister organization, Sacred Folk, which creates resources to stimulate people's spiritual imaginations and support their journeys toward liberation. An award-winning researcher and former professor at Duke University's Divinity School, Christena lives in Boston, Massachusetts.In this episode, Sah and Christena discuss...the quest for perfection and how anti-spiritual that mentality can behow we can take back our sovereign power over how we interact with the world.somatic awareness as a pathway to emotional freedomsetting healthy boundaries in a loving, spiritual, self-aware wayhow the pathways to liberation vary depending on your privilegeChristina's book, God is a Black Woman, and her walking journey across France, to meet Black Madonnasthe patriarchal and colonial impact on how we perceive spiritual history and our Godshow to pray to the Black Madonna and access her wisdomand more...✨✨✨This podcast was brought to you by the Somatic Activated Healing Method — a revolutionary wellness practice combining the healing modalities of somatic movement, rhythmic breath, positive affirmations + dynamic meditation, developed by Sah D'Simone.Enrollment is open for our next teacher training session! Join now + start 2023 on the path to becoming a certified SAH Method movement healer. Get 10% off your tuition with our exclusive discount code: PODCAST at http://sahmethod.com✨✨✨Get more Sah in your life:

Our final episode of Season 7, I'm Too Sacred for That, features Dr. Christena Cleveland. Christena Cleveland Ph.D. is a social psychologist, public theologian, author, and activist. A weaver of Black liberation and the sacred feminine, Dr. Cleveland integrates psychology, theology, storytelling, and art to stimulate our spiritual imaginations. She recently completed her third full-length book, God is a Black Woman, which details her 400-mile walking pilgrimage across central France in search of ancient Black Madonna statues, and examines the relationship among race, gender, and cultural perceptions of the Divine. This episode is a gift to the Jesus Has Left the Building community, as Christena reminds us in this conversation that we are allowed, even called, find ourselves in the divine. We're grateful for this perfect finale that calls us into relationship with ourselves, our neighbors and with God as we continue to think about Ritualizing Relationships.

In the penultimate episode of Season 7, Marta & Mandy chat about what they've learned about Ritualizing Relationship in conversation with the many and varied guests. We hear from Angie Hong & Jennifer Guerra Aldana, two of the co-founders of Kinship Commons, a collective for artists of color creating experiential worship experiences. Be sure to listen to the end for a sneak peek of our final episode with Dr. Christena Cleveland.

An act of desperation often leads us to revelation, which was also the case for Dr. Christena Cleveland as she set out for a solo 400-mile track across rural France in search of The Black Madonna. This conversation was so rich and powerful. I absolutely loved unpacking Dr. Cleveland's story and her future vision for what is possible in the world where women permit themselves to find their divinity within their own female bodies. Christena Cleveland, Ph.D., is a social psychologist, public theologian, author, and activist. She is the founder and director of the Center for Justice + Renewal and its sister organization, Sacred Folk, which creates resources to stimulate people's spiritual imaginations and support their journeys toward liberation. An award-winning researcher and former professor at Duke University's Divinity School, Christena lives in Boston, Massachusetts. What made Christina walk 400 miles across rural and deep France in search of Black Madonna Statues? The world events that became the catalyst for Christena's activism The kinship and devotion Christena encountered in her search for the Black Madonna through the various townspeople and the activation of "the village phone tree." How the Black Madonna has become a center of french village culture and what she offers for those who have reached a state of desperation. How the Black Madonna has helped Christena to unburden herself and why she is symbolic of helping others to lay their burdens down. How Christena's emotions took a role in leading her to pursue the Black Madonna. How Christena unraveled her trauma of white male God and how it impacted her relationship with her family and community We are taught that if there is a problem- it's us vs. the system that conditioned us. How much spiritual and social homelessness we have to go through as we "unbecome" from our cultural and religious conditioning. The process of letting go of patriarchal influences of certainty and perfection and how "she who cherishes the hot mess" became one of her chapter titles. The trap of patriarchal security and how it dampens our creativity and our sense of adventure What happened when Christena began to reclaim her spiritual autonomy and her theological imagination

Today, we buckle up and hit the skies with the Oakland Flyers flight training school. We learn what it takes to become a pilot in the Bay Area. Then, theologian Christena Cleveland takes us on the spiritual journey from the Bay Area to France that inspired her book, “God is a Black Woman.” And, we hear a reading from Berkeley author Ian Mitroff. Plus, local music from Megan Slankard.

We're so excited to kick off a winter guest series with an amazing line up of insightful and inspiring interviews. […] The post God is a Black Woman with Dr. Christena Cleveland appeared first on Queer Theology.

“The Spirit of God, She has made me, and the breath of the nursing God, She gives me life.” - Job 33:4When you close your eyes and envision God, who do you see? Like me, you probably envision God as an old, white male sitting on a throne looking down from on high with an air of judgment and anger toward the world. This is the god of authoritarianism, patriarchy, domination, and purity culture and he's been entrenched in our hearts and minds for years. But what if we've gotten God wrong all along? What if instead of a Divine dictator, God is Creator and Mother, the Sacred sustainer of life? The Divine Feminine is the spiritual concept that there exists a feminine counterpart to the patriarchal and masculine worship structures that have long dominated organized religions. The Divine Feminine extends well beyond one belief system, and instead can be used as a spiritual lens to balance our perspective on what it means to envision the Sacred. She shows up in all of the world's great religions including the Black Madonna, the Black Kali, and the Black Tara. It is high time we recovered God in female form for the sake of everyone. BioChristena Cleveland, Ph.D. is a social psychologist, public theologian, author, and activist. She is the founder and director of the Center for Justice + Renewal as well as its sister organization, Sacred Folk, which creates resources to stimulate people's spiritual imaginations and support their journeys toward liberation. An award-winning researcher and former professor at Duke University's Divinity School, Christena lives in Boston, Massachusetts.A weaver of Black liberation and the sacred feminine, Dr. Cleveland integrates psychology, theology, storytelling, and art to stimulate our spiritual imaginations. She recently completed her third full-length book, God is a Black Woman, which details her 400-mile walking pilgrimage across central France in search of ancient Black Madonna statues, and examines the relationship among race, gender, and cultural perceptions of the Divine. Dr. Cleveland holds a Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of California Santa Barbara as well as an honorary doctorate from the Virginia Theological Seminary. An award-winning researcher and author, Christena is a Ford Foundation Fellow who has held faculty positions at several institutions of higher education — most recently at Duke University's Divinity School. A bona fide tea snob, lover of Black art, and Ólafur Arnalds superfan — Christena makes her home in Boston.Quotables“It's not just white Jesus that I hate, it's male Jesus too.”“What does God do all day? God Gives birth.”“Whitemalegod is the spiritual or religious organizing principle behind this white patriarchy that flows in our land.”“It's scary to see how whitemalegod has poisoned so much of global Christianity.” “As a Black woman, I couldn't even show up (in church) as both Black and female.”“No one person has broken my heart like the Church has.” “I had no idea Saints across history have seen Jesus as female and feminine.” “I trust Black women to get the job done.”“I can relinquish a lot of the need to control others because God is a Black Woman, and She has it handled.” “I'm passionate about people finding themselves in the Divine.”“Gosh, wouldn't it be amazing if white men actually knew they were Sacred? That would solve pretty much all the problems in the world.” “The idea of God as a Black woman is the only thing that can only heal white patriarchy.” If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and a review

This conversation Jonny and I had with that Jonny and I had with Christena Cleveland was eye opening and enlightening. It helped us to see the world from another person's perspective.Before Tamir Rice, George Floyd, and so many others - we had this conversation with Christena. We know you'll be encouraged and learn...Christena's book - DisUnity In Christ - Uncovering the hidden forces that keep us apart...  is HERE.

In this episode of Henri Nouwen, Now & Then, Dr. Christena Cleveland, author of "God Is a Black Woman", opens up about her crisis of faith and challenges us to reimagine God's colour and gender. * EPISODE PAGE: https://henrinouwen.org/listen/christena-cleveland/ To PURCHASE "God Is a Black Woman" by Christena Cleveland Amazon USA: https://amzn.to/3r8SvtA Amazon Canada: https://amzn.to/3SjYoA3 ____________ * TO WATCH FEATURE LENGTH DOCUMENTARY "Journey of the Heart: The Life of Henri Nouwen": www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U8M1gx5Rk4&t=1808s * LISTEN on iTUNES: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/henr…ty/id1468489942 * LISTEN on SPOTIFY: open.spotify.com/show/2Cxu6BwtNHlzFT7RzlixWJ * WATCH the PODCAST on YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iObxkzRYD…hJK5NW-5ERuN2XAH0 * TO SIGN-UP FOR FREE DAILY E-MEDITATIONS: henrinouwen.org/meditation/ * FOR HENRI NOUWEN SOCIETY CAREGIVING RESOURCES: henrinouwen.org/caregiving/ * MORE FREE RESOURCES: www.henrinouwen.org * READ HENRI NOUWEN BOOKS: henrinouwen.org/read/

Interested in knowing whose Native lands you're currently residing on? You can find out for yourself at native-land.ca.My new book, “Home to Her: Walking the Transformative Path of the Sacred Feminine,” is available for pre-order from Womancraft Publishing. You can learn more and order at www.womancraftpublishing.com.Stephanie's podcast is “The Black Madonna Speaks,” which you can find on Anchor, Google Play, and Apple Podcasts.Here YouTube Channel, “The Heart of the Black Madonna,” is here: https://www.youtube.com/c/theheartoftheblackmadonna.You can learn more about the Camino de Santiago de Compostela: https://santiago-compostela.net/.The Interfaith Mary page shows the location of many Black Madonnas:  https://www.interfaithmary.net/Stephanie discussed her background in anthroposophy – you can learn more here:https://anthroposophy.org/Here are a few other books and resources we discussed:“Cult of the Black Virgin,” by Ean Begg“Longing for Darkness,” by China Galland“Healing Journeys with the Black Madonna,” by Alessandra Belloni“God is a Black Woman,” by Christena ClevelandThe University of Dayton's Marian LibraryFinally, here are a few previous podcast episodes that also explore the wisdom of the Black Madonna:The Secrets of the Black Madonna with Alessandra Belloni:   https://hometoher.simplecast.com/episodes/the-secrets-of-the-black-madonna-with-alessandra-belloni“The Black Madonna's Song” with Mat Osmond and Kate Walters: https://hometoher.simplecast.com/episodes/the-black-madonnas-song-with-mat-osmond-and-kate-walters“The Sacred Black Feminine” with Christena Cleveland: https://hometoher.simplecast.com/episodes/the-sacred-black-feminine-with-christena-cleveland

Christena Cleveland joins Lurie to discuss her new book, God is a Black Woman. This book is part theology, part sociology, and part spiritual narative. Christena artfully uncovers and shares her journey to studying the Black Madonna and discusses how it is that the White Male God took over Christianity. You can find out more about Christena's work here: https://www.christenacleveland.com/god-is-a-black-woman Enjoy this episode and as always, we talk about sensitive topics so be mindful of who's nearby if you're listening without headphones. Want to connect with us more? You can find us on Instagram @sexpositivechristianfeminists; @luriekimmerle; and @rachel.alba.coaching. Have any comments, questions, or ideas for future episodes? Contact us at: spchristianfeminists at gmail dot com.

Are you open to a new vision of God? Dr. Christena Cleveland joins Jacqui for the first episode of the third season. In this revolutionary conversation, Rev. Jacqui Lewis and Christena Cleveland, author of God Is a Black Woman, talk about the power of encountering embodied symbols of the Divine that can move us toward greater expansion, hope, and love for one another. Together, they invite you, the listener, to let go of a vision of God who is small minded, fearful, and oppressive in exchange for an expansive God who encourages us to live in an overflowing river of love.  Christena Cleveland Ph.D. is a social psychologist, public theologian, author, and activist. She is the founder and director of the Center for Justice + Renewal as well as its sister organization, Sacred Folk, which creates resources to stimulate people's spiritual imaginations and support their journeys toward liberation. A weaver of Black liberation and the sacred feminine, Dr. Cleveland integrates psychology, theology, storytelling, and art to stimulate our spiritual imaginations. She recently completed her third full-length book, God is a Black Woman (HarperOne), which details her 400-mile walking pilgrimage across central France in search of ancient Black Madonna statues, and examines the relationship among race, gender, and cultural perceptions of the Divine.  Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. Christena's new book, God is a Black Woman can be found here. A transcript for this episode can be found here. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Dr. Christena Cleveland Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Join Natasha Beckles and Natalia Nana in conversation with Christena Cleveland. Dr Cleveland is a social psychologist, public theologian, author, and activist. She is the founder and director of the Center for Justice + Renewal as well as its sister organization, Sacred Folk, which creates resources to stimulate people's spiritual imaginations and support their journeys toward liberation. An award-winning researcher and former professor at Duke University's Divinity School, Christena lives in Boston, Massachusetts. Her new book is entitled God is a Black Woman. Her new book is entitled God is a Black Woman.Dr. Cleveland's website: https://www.christenacleveland.com/Dr. Cleveland's Patreon learning community: https://www.patreon.com/cscleveSacred Folk website: https://www.sacredfolk.comLifeUni can be found HERE.Download more Tent Courses and Resources HERE. Has anything we make been interesting, useful or fruitful for you? You can support us by becoming a Fellow Traveller on our Patreon page HERE.

On today's episode, Ashley completes her 4 part series on Christena Cleveland's  essential book "God is a Black Woman." In this episode Ashley talks about evangelicalism's tiny terrifying circle of acceptability, Tim Wise's book "Between Barack and a Hard Place" and how white women use their femininity to silence the needs and concerns of black women.This podcast is in no way a replacement for purchasing Cleveland's book and reading it yourself. Ashley believes Cleveland's book is essential reading for anyone deconstructing toxic evangelical theology. For more on Christena's work you can find her at christenacleveland.com

In this episode we chat with Christena Cleveland. Christena Cleveland Ph.D. is a social psychologist, public theologian, author, and activist. She is the founder and director of the Center for Justice + Renewal as well as its sister organization, Sacred Folk, which creates resources to stimulate people's spiritual imaginations and support their journeys toward liberation. A weaver of Black liberation and the sacred feminine, Dr. Cleveland integrates psychology, theology, storytelling, and art to stimulate our spiritual imaginations. She recently completed her third full-length book, God is a Black Woman (HarperOne), which details her 400-mile walking pilgrimage across central France in search of ancient Black Madonna statues, and examines the relationship among race, gender, and cultural perceptions of the Divine. You can follow Christena on: Facebook     Twitter     Instagram You can find all things Christena Cleveland related at her website You can purchase Christena's books at Amazon.com You can connect with us on    Facebook     Instagram      Twitter     TikTok Also check out our Linktree for all things This Is Not Church related Each episode of This Is Not Church Podcast is expertly engineered by our producer The Podcast Doctor Eric Howell. If you're thinking of starting a podcast you need to connect with Eric!

What happens when you step into your truest self? Kayla Craig interviews fellow Upside Down Podcast host Patricia (aka Patty) Taylor with Alissa Molina and Lindsy Wallace in our second-to-the-last episode.  In this episode, we:Hear Patty describe the growth she has experienced since becoming a co-host and how it's deepened her confidence in who God created her to beTalk about how the podcast has provided a space to show up fully as yourself and what it's like being with people who are not just willing but eager to be on the journey with youDiscuss her significant shift on social media to becoming an anti-racism educator with #somethoughtsfromyourblackfriendHear the wisdom she has to impart to those who resonate with her storyAcknowledge the sacrifices and losses that can come from walking out one's convictions—and how it's still worth itLearn what episodes inspired her, affirmed her, and broadened her faithDiscover everyone's hot takes on raw tomatoes  Join us for our last couple of episodes and hear insights and stories from our hosts that you don't get from our regular episodes or social media.  News, Notes, and Links:Want to listen to or revisit some of Patty's favorite episodes? Check them out here: The Enneagram For Justice Seekers, The Gender & Ethnicity of God with Dr. Christena Cleveland, Native with Kaitlin Curtice, and Maternal Justice with Cessilye Smith.You can continue to support the Upside Down Podcast! Please visit us, where you can pledge a few dollars of monthly support to help keep this podcast accessible.Learn more at Upside Down Podcast.We're on Instagram, too. You can find us individually at @patricia_a_taylor, @kayla_craig, @from_here_sessions, and @lindsy.wallace.Support the show

The Podcast for Nerdy Christians, where faith meets fandom. In this episode we're talking about Captain America: The First Avenger, and how Steve Rogers makes a great super hero specifically because he grew up with less privilege than the other soldiers who could have become Cap. We're also continuing our book club, reading Becky Chambers's award-winning sci-fi novel The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. Head to facebook.com/nerdychristians to to talk to us, and please leave a rating or review on your podcast platform. Check out Adam's fantasy novels on his website adamthomas.net. Join hosts and Episcopal priests Carrie Combs and Adam Thomas for this podcast for progressive Christians who love Hogwarts, Hobbits, Jedi, and Jesus. For more about Dr. Christena Cleveland, please click here: https://www.christenacleveland.com/

In today's episode, Ashley continues her series on examining key concepts in Dr. Christena Cleveland's new book "God is a Black Woman." Be sure to purchase a copy of her book and to support Dr. Cleveland work by visiting her website: https://www.christenacleveland.com/In this episode, Ashley unpacks what Cleveland describes as the "beauty shame game" of white supremacy and the whitemalegod.  In efforts to be free from the beauty shame game, Cleveland had to change her belief system about her body and her blackness. She wrote many affirmations to provide for herself a liberating mindset. We should all affirm Cleveland's life-giving creed:-        I am worthy of a Higher Power who loves my Blackness.-        I am worthy of a Higher Power who listens to, values and validates my Experiences as a Black woman.-        I am worthy of a Higher Power who is fiercely nurturing.-        I am worthy of a Higher Power who is engaging and relatable.-        I am worthy of a Higher Power who is a giver of joy!-        I am worthy of a Higher Power who demands nothing from me, yet freely offers every spiritual treasure to me.-        I am worthy of a Higher Power who embraces my emotions no matter how loud they are.-        I am worthy of a Higher Power who honors my process no matter how messy it may seem.-        I am worthy of a Higher Power who loves all my body sizes.-        I am worthy of a Higher Power who rejoices in my imperfections.In this episode, Ashley also talks about Marabel Morgan, author of "The Total Woman." To watch the full special report that Ashley features in this episode, click here.Ashley Lynn Hengst is the proud host of the Unlearning Podcast. To connect with Ashley, you can find her on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengst or you can visit her website at ashleylhengs.com

In today's episode, Ashley continues her series on examining key concepts in Dr. Christena Cleveland's new book "God is a Black Woman." Be sure to purchase a copy of her book and to support Dr. Cleveland work by visiting her website: https://www.christenacleveland.com/According to Dr. Cleveland, the whitemalegod of the evangelical Church has "adopted toxic masculinity's idols of knowledge: logic, reason, tradition, certainty, and consensus."  But when we see God as a Black Woman, we are invited to reject these idols and to trust our intuition. With God as a Black Woman we are encouraged to be open to the beauty and mystery of life.Instead of asking ourselves, “What can I prove? What is orthodox? What can be substantiated by history or scripture?" We should ask:What nurtures hope in my Black female embodied soul? What gives life to my Black female embodied soul?What heals my Black female embodied soul?What liberates my Black female embodied soul?What helps my Black female embodied soul love itself and others well?Ashley Lynn Hengst is the proud host of the Unlearning Podcast. To connect with Ashley, you can find her on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengst or you can visit her website at ashleylhengs.com

One of the best ways to maintain that healthy understanding of God is to understand God as a Black woman, who, as Christena Cleveland powerfully explains: "declares that all living beings are sacred. She is the God who smashes white patriarchy and empowers us to join in her liberating work. She is the God who has a special love for the most marginalized because she too has known marginalization. She is the God who cherishes our humanity and welcomes our fears, vulnerabilities and imperfections.” What a wonderful, healthy vision of God. In this new series, we will be exploring the womanist theology of Christena Cleveland in her book "God is a Black Woman." You can find her book wherever books are sold and you can connect with Cleveland on Instagram @christenacleveland and on her website at https://www.christenacleveland.com/This podcast is written and produced by Ashley Lynn Hengst. You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengst or on her website at ashleylhengst.com

If you stand in the Sistine Chapel and look up at Michelangelo's depiction of God, you'll see the archetype. God is white, old, and male. Always male. Theologian and activist Christena Cleveland believes that image is limiting and even harmful. Her new book, “God is a Black Woman,” seeks to recover the sacred, Black feminine, thanks to a pilgrimage she undertook in 2018 to visit some of the 450 Black Madonnas scattered throughout Europe. Christena Cleveland Three photos of Black Madonnas taken by Christena during her pilgrimage. Ancient and revered, the Black Madonnas are sources of strength and miracles. Joan of Arc prayed before the Black Madonna of Moulin. At the Black Madonna of Vichy, thousands of sick came to pray and be comforted. Cleveland. herself, found strength and healing during her pilgrimage. She writes in her book, “Imagination is theology. We can only believe what we can imagine. And our cultural landscape hasn't given us many tools to imagine a non-white, non-male God.” On this week's Big Books and Bold Ideas show, MPR News host Kerri Miller talked with Cleveland about her book, her pilgrimage and why the white, male depiction of God is both constricting and corrosive to seeing the divine in everyone. Guest: Christena Cleveland is a social psychologist, public theologian and the founder and director of the Center for Justice + Renewal. Her new book “God Is a Black Woman.” To listen to the full conversation you can use the audio player above.  Subscribe to the MPR News with Kerri Miller podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or RSS. Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.

For centuries, the white American church enabled and even embraced racism. Many Christians say that's in the past. Jemar Tisby doesn't agree. MPR News host Kerri Miller talked to the theologian and author in 2019 about his book, "The Color of Compromise," and again in 2021, in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder. This week, as we look ahead to a conversation with Christena Cleveland, about how her Christian faith changed when she viewed it through the lens of being a Black woman, we are listening to Miller's 2021 program with Tisby. Here, they discuss his book “How to Fight Racism” and talk about how the white evangelical church in America could do more to heal the wounds it caused. Guest: Jemar Tisby is a historian of race and religion. He recently released a young reader's edition of “How to Fight Racism.” To listen to the full conversation you can use the audio player above.  Subscribe to the MPR News with Kerri Miller podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or RSS. Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.

Dr. Christena Cleveland joins Tommy, Olivia, and Becka for a conversation centered around her past and current healing journey guided by the Sacred Black Feminine.  During their conversation Dr. Cleveland also talks about her new book, "God is A Black Woman." For this episode's show notes and to learn more about the work Dr. Christena Cleveland is doing, go to  PermisisonToBePodcast.com

God is a Black woman. No we will not be taking questions. Follow Christena Cleveland, PhD., on Twitter, Instagram, and on ChristenaCleveland.com. Get her book everywhere! Follow @theKevinGarcia across social media. Join the Crowded Table! A dope online spiritual community: thecrowdedtable.mn.co Get BadTheologyKills at BadTheologyKills.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Madang! Madang is the outdoor living room of the world. Here, we invite you to sit and tune into unreserved, remarkable conversations with renown authors, leaders, public figures and scholars on religion, culture and everything in-between. This has been a dream of mine for many years and now it is. reality. Please join me at Madang. This is the fifteenth episode of Madang where I converse with Dr. Christena Cleveland. She is a social psychologist, public theologian, author, and activist. She is the founder and director of the Center for Justice + Renewal as well as its sister organization, Sacred Folk, which creates resources to stimulate people's spiritual imaginations and support their journeys toward liberation. An award-winning researcher and former professor at Duke University's Divinity School. Conversations on whitemalegod, fatherskygod, Black women's beauty, Imagination is theology, black madannas, her pilgrimage in France and so much more. I am thrilled to announce that Madang podcast is hosted by The Christian Magazine. Please visit their website for the latest Madang podcast as well as current articles on Christianity, culture and society. I have written several pieces for the Christian Century and welcome this new partnership. https://www.christiancentury.org/madang --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/grace-ji-sun-kim/support

We're back with a fourth episode in this powerful series; For the Love of Faith Shakers. As many of us who might have come from a Western evangelical Christian community, we were presented a God that has a strong patriarchal presence. As we dig into the history of that, we learn that this image has been crafted, held together and governed by men, as those in power tend to shape the deities as they want to see them. However, history–the same written and oral history that gives us the basis for the Bible–tells us that Jesus likely wasn't caucasian with blue eyes as we often see him depicted, but that he was Jewish, born and raised in the middle east and  more than likely, was a person of color. But the image of white Jesus took root, as well as God as a white man, his father, also a man, emerging from  The clouds in a fury–ruling with an iron fist. This generally serves one group of people in one gender, but  has been so painful and difficult for black and brown and female and LGBTQ+ communities to see themselves in their creator; and to feel safe with this God, to feel cherished, to feel protected, to feel included. And so to give us some insight toward moving beyond this narrow, potentially abusive and oppressive view of God, we're talking with Dr. Christena Cleveland. Dr. Cleveland is a social psychologist, an author and activist who grew up in white evangelical spaces and was a popular speaker and influencer in that world for many years. As a researcher and former professor of Divinity at Duke University, she's done some amazing study around the patriarchal forces in Christianity and other religions, which led to some dismantling of this practice of silencing the feminine side of God's intimate presence in our life. It wasn't until she looked at her own history of being “othered” by the white leaders in her religious background that she began to understand the tension she felt about her relationship to God as a black woman. This led to a journey of figuring out who God was to her and how we all–no matter our gender or our color–can find ourselves in the Divine.  * * *   Thank you to our sponsors!   Cavatica | Head to cavatica.co and fill out the "Let's Talk" form using code FORTHELOVE to get $100 off your site   ABLE | Head to livefashionable.com and save 15% sitewide using code JEN. MeCourse | Register now at mecourse.org and use the code FORTHELOVE to save $10.

In this episode we speak with social psychologist, theologian, activist and author of God Is a Black Woman, Dr Christena Cleveland. Christena speaks with us about her journey of unmasking the white male image of God and the hurt, hopelessness, and racial and gender oppression it has caused. Christena shares with us the intellectual and spiritual journey that led her to the sacred black feminine and the discovery of a new and hopeful way of connecting with the divine and honouring the sacredness of all black people. Interview starts at 14m 51s  Show Notes → Nomad is able to produce episodes like this one because a group of faithful listeners help us pay the bills. Our supporters gain access to the Nomad community - which manifests as Nomad Book Club and The Beloved Listener Lounge - and bonus episodes, such as Nomad Contemplations, Nomad Devotionals and Nomad Revisited. And you may find yourself the proud owner of a Beloved Listener mug! Head over to our Patreon page and our own members page to donate. You might also want to have a look at our blog, which we use to share the stories of the evolving faith of our podcast listeners. And if you're looking for other people to share this journey with, then register on our Listener Map and our Nomad Gathering Facebook page, and see if any other nomads are in your area.

Christena Cleveland Ph.D. is a social psychologist, public theologian, author, and activist. She is the founder and director of the  Center for Justice + Renewal as well as its sister organization, Sacred Folk, which creates resources to stimulate people's spiritual imaginations and support their journeys toward liberation.A weaver of Black liberation and the sacred feminine, Dr. Cleveland integrates psychology, theology, storytelling, and art to stimulate our spiritual imaginations. She recently completed her third full-length book, God is a Black Woman (HarperOne), which details her 400-mile walking pilgrimage across central France in search of ancient Black Madonna statues, and examines the relationship among race, gender, and cultural perceptions of the Divine. Click here to read more of Dr. Cleveland's bio & support her work. ---You can support this podcast through:  PatreonSubstack Newsletter: "A Gentle Landing w/ Rose J. PercyFind Rose on the internet:  IG Twitter Website--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rose-percy5/messageSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rose-percy5/support Get full access to A Gentle Landing at agentlelanding.substack.com/subscribeSupport the show

Welcome back public theologian, writer, and activist Dr. Christena Cleveland to the Noize! Christena' new book God Is A Black Woman is out now and she returns to the podcast to talk about it. We talk about her journey finding the Black Madonnas, the revelations that come from accepting her sacredness, and how art and theology intersect with our spiritual beliefs. We talk more about her love for art and some of her favorite creators. Listen, subscribe, and share!Episode 132 topics include:God Is A Black Women book Black Madonnas in Francespirituality and artovercoming programmed beliefsDelita MartinHarmonia Rosales accepting your sacrednessChristena Cleveland, Ph.D. is a social psychologist, public theologian, author, and activist. She is the founder and director of the Center for Justice + Renewal as well as its sister organization, Sacred Folk, which creates resources to stimulate people's spiritual imaginations and support their journeys toward liberation. An award-winning researcher and former professor at Duke University's Divinity School, Christena lives in Boston, Massachusetts.See More: www.christenacleveland.com + Dr Christena Cleveland IG @christenaclevelandFollow us:StudioNoizePodcast.comIG: @studionoizepodcastJamaal Barber: @JBarberStudioSupport the podcast www.patreon.com/studionoizepodcast

Join Us for our Season One Finale! It is with extreme pride and tremendous gratitude that I was able to record the last episode of the debut season with my dearest friend Retonia Brashier of Race Talk with Retonia. She is a partner, mother, grandmother and an antiracist educator! In this episode, Retonia and I deeply share why we refuse to let Whiteness kill us! We commune and labor together in deep ways  reflecting our shared sisterhood. We are vulnerable in sharing our internal struggles with Anti-Blackness and internalized white supremacy. Retonia shares personal testimony on how she'd rather be kind than nice and gives powerful elder wisdom about the urgency required for Black Liberation. We both testify that Black liberation is a liberatory movement for all of humanity!  Additionally, I spend some time sharing a framework that can help non-Black people honor the upcoming Black History month. I also share some thoughts on how Black people can also honor themselves during the month as well. Lastly, I announce that our spring book exchange selection is God is a Black Woman by theologian, social psychologist, and activist Dr. Christena Cleveland. Please make sure you check out my website or The AntiBlackness Reader or Divesting from Whiteness Instagram platforms to find out more. You can find Race Talk with Retonia on Instagram. 

We sat down with Christena Cleveland Ph.D. to talk about her new book "God is a Black Woman".  She shared how her recovery journey with Bulimia led to being able to name the God she needed, expedited her deconstruction and instigated a pilgrimage to know more deeply the Sacred Black Feminine.  Then we reimagined Genesis 16:7-14 and the extraordinary dignity honored in Hagar and the invitation to personal spiritual authority. Follow Christena on instagram @ChristenaCleveland and learn more about (AND PRE-ORDER) "God is a Black Woman" at https://www.christenacleveland.com/  Check out our new website https://www.thekinshipcollective.com​​ and join our newsletter community to take the conversation further and learn about upcoming live conversations you can participate in.  The conversation won't be the same without YOU! You are loved! We are family!

Whitney talks to Shannon Evans, author, mother, and contemplative Catholic, about an embodied feminine spiritual practice and perspective. Shannon's book, “Rewilding Motherhood”, is available here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1587435381/ref=dbs_a_w_dp_1587435381 References: “Dance of the Dissident Daughter” by Sue Monk Kidd, Other references: Carl Jung, Christena Cleveland, James Hollis, Randall O'Brien