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Kuan Yin:
Accessing the Power of the Divine Feminine

by Daniela Schenker
with original paintings by Antonia Baginski



      Kuan Yin: Accessing the Power of the Divine Feminine is a beautifully illustrated book by Daniela Schenker, with original paintings by Antonia Baginski. The book itself is beautiful. It is a small hardcover, a little over six inches wide and almost 8 inches tall. It fits into a feminine hand quite nicely and can easily be tucked into a handbag.

The first two chapters of the book, about 30 pages, deal with Kuan Yin’s appearance in South Asian and Chinese cultures and how she evolved from a male image to a feminine one. These chapters also tell how Schenker, an astrologer, Feng Shui consultant, and holistic lifestyle consultant personally came to know Kuan Yin and become a devotee.

Over sixty pages, the heart of the book, offer 33 striking images of Kuan Yin drawn from various manifestations of the goddess throughout Asian art and religious practice. Each depiction contains an Antonia Baginski watercolor, a key word associated with the aspect of Kuan Yin, a folk story about her, and a meditation. Baginski has put several key components in each painting that are specifically tied to the aspect of Kuan Yin she has illustrated: specific colors, her dress, what she is holding, and other symbols. These pages are meant to be used for contemplation, either taking them one at a time or choosing one at random.

The last portion of the book offers other ways to connect with Kuan Yin. Schenker presents mantras, various meditations, ways to energize water, visualizations, sound and silence methods, and creating a Kuan Yin altar. The author also retells lots of tales about Kuan Yin and recounts where shrines to the goddess are located. There also are two appendices. One deals with a short listing of various aspects of Kuan Yin, and the other identifies symbols associated with her and what they mean.

I found this book a delight to possess and to read. The meditations and practices offered, though specific to Kuan Yin, are appropriate for other types of spiritual connection, even translating to other spiritual entities. The practices, though, do have a very feminine tone so they might not work with male spiritual aspects.

Schenker's Kuan Yin is highly recommended. It would be wonderful to see other books like this about other goddesses or the feminine Divine.

The Book

Sounds True
November 2007
Hardcover
1591796210 / 978-1591796213
New Age
More at Amazon.com
Excerpt
NOTE:

The Reviewer

Janie Franz
Reviewed 2007
NOTE: Reviewer Janie Franz is the author of Freelance Writing: It’s a Business, Stupid!and co-author of The Ultimate Wedding Reception Book and The Ultimate Wedding Ceremony Book. Coming Soon: The Ultimate Wedding Workbook.
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