Women in Praise of the Sacred: 43 Centuries of Spiritual Poetry by Women

Women in Praise of the Sacred spans over 4,000 years of spiritual poetry written by women across cultures and traditions. The collection includes works from ancient Sumerian priestesses to 20th century mystics, translated and compiled by poet Jane Hirshfield. The poems represent Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Native American, and other spiritual perspectives through deeply personal expressions of devotion and enlightenment. Hirshfield provides historical context and biographical details for each poet, creating a framework for understanding their unique circumstances and contributions. Each selection reveals the enduring role of women as spiritual voices and religious leaders across civilizations. The collection draws connections between different eras and beliefs while preserving the distinct elements of each tradition's approach to the sacred. These works explore universal themes of divine love, suffering, wisdom, and the search for meaning through the specific lens of women's religious experience. The anthology demonstrates how spiritual poetry has served as a vital form of expression for women throughout history.

Readers appreciate the diverse range of spiritual voices across cultures and time periods, from ancient Sumerian priestesses to modern poets. Many note the book gives space to lesser-known female mystics and spiritual writers alongside more familiar names. Readers liked: - Quality of translations - Biographical context for each poet - Organization by chronological order - Mix of accessible and complex poems Criticisms: - Some translations could be more literal - Western/Christian perspectives dominate latter sections - Limited representation from certain traditions From a Goodreads reviewer: "The brief bios help place each woman in her historical context without overshadowing the poems themselves." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.34/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (90+ ratings) Many readers use it as a reference book, returning to specific poems or sections rather than reading cover-to-cover. Several mention discovering new favorite poets through the collection.

The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry by Stephen Mitchell This collection presents spiritual verses from both male and female mystics across cultures, providing a broader context for readers interested in devotional poetry.

Love Poems from God: Twelve Sacred Voices from the East and West by Daniel Ladinsky The text features translations of mystical love poetry from Christian, Muslim, and Hindu women saints, including several poets featured in Hirshfield's collection.

The Essential Rumi by Coleman Barks These translations include Rumi's spiritual poems about the divine feminine and his relationship with female mystics, complementing the themes in Women in Praise of the Sacred.

Mirabai: Ecstatic Poems by Robert Bly and Jane Hirshfield This collection focuses on the works of the 16th-century Hindu mystic who abandoned her royal life to become a poet-saint, expanding on her entries in Women in Praise of the Sacred.

The Poetry of Arab Women: A Contemporary Anthology by Nathalie Handal This compilation presents spiritual and secular works by Arab women poets from ancient times to present, offering another perspective on women's sacred literary traditions.

🌟 Jane Hirshfield spent eight years living as a Zen Buddhist, including three years in intensive monastic practice, which deeply influenced her approach to collecting and translating spiritual poetry. 📚 The anthology spans four continents and 43 centuries, featuring works from Ancient Sumer (2300 BCE) to contemporary times, making it one of the most comprehensive collections of women's spiritual poetry. ⭐ Many of the featured poems were translated into English for the first time specifically for this collection, bringing previously inaccessible works to English-speaking readers. 🌺 The book includes works from Buddhist nuns, Christian mystics, Hindu saints, Jewish poets, Native American shamans, and Taoist sages, demonstrating the universality of women's spiritual expression across cultures. 📖 Several of the poems were preserved only because they were written by aristocratic women or those associated with religious institutions, as most women's writings from ancient times were lost due to cultural and social restrictions.