Sharon Blackie

‘Fairy tales matter because at the heart of every one of them is transformation.’ In this world in which all our old certainties seem to be crumbling, many women feel lost. In Ripening, Sharon Blackie insists that fairy tales are precisely the stories we need for such times. Long before they became bywords for people-pleasing princesses, these old stories – passed down to us through generations by our peasant ancestors – told us everything that women need to learn about the world. They might be set in difficult and dangerous times, but they require their heroines to face the unfaceable and dig deep for previously unimagined inner resources. They teach us to be savvy, inspire us to grow in confidence, show us how to be bold and claim the future we dream of. More than anything, fairy tales are soul-food. They show us how to take hold of our own personal narratives and transform them into stories that might begin with trauma, but end with empowerment. They offer us images of startling resonance and beauty, while showing us how to recognise and make use of the possibilities that rise to the surface when broken systems are cracked open.

‘Fairy tales matter because at the heart of every one of them is transformation.’ In this world in which all our old certainties seem to be crumbling, many women feel lost. In Ripening, Sharon Blackie insists that fairy tales are precisely the stories we need for such times. Long before they became bywords for people-pleasing princesses, these old stories – passed down to us through generations by our peasant ancestors – told us everything that women need to learn about the world. They might be set in difficult and dangerous times, but they insist that their heroines face the unfaceable and dig deep for previously unimagined inner resources. They teach us to be savvy, inspire us to grow in confidence, show us how to be bold and claim the future we dream of. More than anything, fairy tales are soul-food. They show us how to take hold of our own personal narratives and transform them into stories that might begin with trauma, but end with empowerment. They offer us images of startling resonance and beauty, while showing us how to recognise and make use of the possibilities that rise to the surface when broken systems are cracked open.

An unforgettable collection of retold myths and folk tales, celebrating the wisdom and power of women in midlife and beyond, from the award-winning author of Hagitude'An extra­ordinary selection of stories ... beautifully and vividly retold' TLS'Genius' Irish Times'Treasure it!' Shahrukh Husain'Wonderful' Victoria Smith'The book I've been longing for' Jill Dawson'Thrilling' Stella Duffy This dazzling array of not-to-be-messed-with characters from a lost tradition of European myth and folklore - from ungainly giantesses and sequin-strewn fairy godmothers to misunderstood witches and craggy crones - provides inspiration for how women can walk boldly and live authentically in the second half of life.'Features an exuberant cast ... The collection is precious, because it's the first time that these rare, patriarchy-surviving remnants of powerful elder female folk stories have been deliberately anthologised' Irish Times 'A fascinating collection of female myths and legends' Sara Sheridan'I adored Wise Women' Eleanor Mills, author of Much More to Come: Lessons on the mayhem and magnificence of midlife'Wondrously wise, clever and insightful as well as slyly funny' AG Slatter, author of The Briar Book of the Dead

A magical 48-card oracle deck from the best-selling author of If Women Rose Rooted and Hagitude, drawing on the transformative power of fairy tales to help you believe in the possibility of change.Humans are natural storytellers, making sense of the world through tales, especially those encountered in childhood. Fairy tales are the finest teaching stories, holding rich, deep lessons that show us a pathway toward change and how to live more fully in the world. At their heart is the theme of transformation.Sharon Blackie, an award-winning writer, psychologist, and internationally recognized teacher in the field of mythic imagination, has explored the power of fairy tales for over two decades. In The Fairy Tale Heroine Oracle, she distils this wisdom and knowledge into 48 cards that unlock the archetypal power of these tales. The cards are divided into four suits, each of which represents a critical aspect of the heroine’s journey, and your journey, because you are the heroine of your own life:· Tasks cards represent the work that must be undertaken by the fairy tale heroine to grow and transform, and ultimately to reach her goal.· Places cards depict the magical locations through which the heroine will have to pass—and in which she’ll be tested—during her journey.· Guides cards characterize the allies and antagonists she’ll meet along the way.· Tools cards portray the objects that empower her to fulfil her destiny.The archetypal images, characters and motifs at the heart of this deck act like keys to unlock your inner wisdom, and will offer comfort, guidance, and inspiration at every point of your long, winding journey through life.

An unforgettable collection of retold myths and folk tales, celebrating the wisdom and power of women in midlife and beyond, from the award-winning author of Hagitude'An extra­ordinary selection of stories ... beautifully and vividly retold' TLS'Genius' Irish Times'Treasure it!' Shahrukh Husain'Wonderful' Victoria Smith'The book I've been longing for' Jill Dawson'Thrilling' Stella Duffy This dazzling array of not-to-be-messed-with characters from a lost tradition of European myth and folklore - from ungainly giantesses and sequin-strewn fairy godmothers to misunderstood witches and craggy crones - provides inspiration for how women can walk boldly and live authentically in the second half of life.'Features an exuberant cast ... The collection is precious, because it's the first time that these rare, patriarchy-surviving remnants of powerful elder female folk stories have been deliberately anthologised' Irish Times 'A fascinating collection of female myths and legends' Sara Sheridan'I adored Wise Women' Eleanor Mills, author of Much More to Come: Lessons on the mayhem and magnificence of midlife'Wondrously wise, clever and insightful as well as slyly funny' AG Slatter, author of The Briar Book of the Dead

Unparalleled inspiration from fierce grandmothers, misunderstood witches, glamorous fairy godmothers, and hairy-chinned hags From early childhood, we learn about the world and its possibilities through myths and fairy tales. The heroines, though, tend to be young princesses or fair maidens, and the evildoers older women: wicked witches or unforgiving matriarchs. Yet a wealth of lesser-known European stories feature mature wise women with personality and power. Compiling many years of research, Sharon Blackie has reclaimed these tales, presenting them in evocative prose that will resonate with women of all ages. This dazzling array of not-to-be-messed-with older characters provides compelling role models for today's readers, who seek to redefine their relationship with aging. These women outwit monsters, test and mentor younger heroines, embody the cycles of the Earth, weave the world into being -- and almost always have the last laugh. Each story is accompanied by background commentary that highlights important themes and reveals its insights into how we might live meaningfully and authentically in the second half of life.

THE FIRST NOVEL BY THE AUTHOR OF THE WORD-OF-MOUTH BESTSELLER IF WOMEN ROSE ROOTED 'You and me against the world, you used to sing. In the days before it became you and me against each other.' Cat Munro - who has never taken a day off in her working life - quits her corporate job and starts flying lessons in a small plane over the Arizona desert, confronting her fear not only of death, but of life. Her mother, Laura, moves back to the Scottish village where she spent the first years of her marriage to Cat's abusive father. Though they are apart, the past connects mother and daughter, haunts them, binds them. From the excoriating heat of the Arizona desert to the misty flow of a Highland sea-loch, Sharon Blackie's soaring first novel presents us with the transformative power of landscape, and of storytelling, in women's lives. Above all, The Long Delirious Burning Blue is a story of courage, endurance and redemption. 'It is that rarity, a first novel that smacks of not merely confidence, but authority... powerful, filmic, and achieving the kind of symmetry that novels often aspire to, but rarely reach' Scotsman

Discover the transformative power of the hidden feminine with this beautiful oracle, and unlock spiritual nourishment, inspiration, and a deeper connection with nature.The Rooted Woman Oracle is a mesmerizing 53-card oracle deck from Sharon Blackie, an award-winning writer and internationally recognized teacher in the field of mythic imagination.Follow the path to unlimited creativity, greater strength and endurance, and create more flow in your life with this magical oracle.Distilling decades of knowledge and wisdom, Sharon has created a unique and magical oracle that entwines three different threads: Places, Allies, and Journey.From the inspirational 'Mountain' to the flowing 'River', you'll experience the archetypal qualities of specific places and take spiritual strength from the land. You'll feel supported by women from Celtic myth and folklore—your Allies—like initiatory Ceridwen and The Cailleach, protector of the wild; and you'll find Journey cards that reflect the different stages of the Heroine's Journey and help you follow your unique mythopoetic path through life.The Rooted Woman Oracle will help you to renew your sacred connection with nature, reclaim your power, and find authentic and meaningful ways of being in this world.

'A fascinating book... well researched, packed with stories and bursting with lovely descriptions of the natural world. There's plenty in it to inspire women of every age' Christina Patterson, Sunday Times What is Hagitude? It means being at ease with the unique power women embody in the second half of their life. It means having a strong sense of who we are and what we have to offer the world. And a firm belief in our place in the ever-shifting web of life. For the woman who wishes to flourish without chasing eternal youth comes Hagitude. International bestselling author Sharon Blackie (If Women Rose Rooted) interweaves myth, psychology, landscape and ecofeminism, reclaiming the mid years as an alchemical moment - from which to shift into your chosen, authentic and fulfilling future - and the elder years as a path to dynamic influence. 'Hagitude is already becoming a beloved cult classic, as a myth-infused manifesto for the possibilities for life from middle age onwards' Katherine May, author of Wintering

RADICALLY REIMAGINE THE SECOND HALF OF LIFE "There can be a certain perverse pleasure, as well as a sense of rightness and beauty, in insisting on flowering just when the world expects you to become quiet and diminish." -- from the book For any woman over fifty who has ever asked "What now? Who do I want to be?" comes a life-changing book showing how your next phase of life may be your most dynamic yet. As mythologist and psychologist Sharon Blackie describes it, midlife is the threshold to decades of opportunity and profound transformation, a time to learn, flourish, and claim the desires and identities that are often limited during earlier life stages. This is a time for gaining new perspectives, challenging and evolving belief systems, exploring callings, uncovering meaning, and ultimately finding healing for accumulated wounds. Western folklore and mythology are rife with brilliantly creative, fulfilled, feisty, and furious role models for aging women, despite our culture's focus on youthfulness. Blackie explores these archetypes in Hagitude, presenting them in a way sure to appeal to contemporary women. Drawing inspiration from these examples as well as modern mentors, you can reclaim midlife as a liberating, alchemical moment rich with possibility and your elder years as a path to feminine power.

'A fascinating book... well researched, packed with stories and bursting with lovely descriptions of the natural world. There's plenty in it to inspire women of every age' Christina Patterson, Sunday Times What is Hagitude? It means being at ease with the unique power women embody in the second half of their life. It means having a strong sense of who we are and what we have to offer the world. And a firm belief in our place in the ever-shifting web of life. For the woman who wishes to flourish without chasing eternal youth comes Hagitude. International bestselling author Sharon Blackie (If Women Rose Rooted) interweaves myth, psychology, landscape and ecofeminism, reclaiming the mid years as an alchemical moment - from which to shift into your chosen, authentic and fulfilling future - and the elder years as a path to dynamic influence. 'Hagitude is already becoming a beloved cult classic, as a myth-infused manifesto for the possibilities for life from middle age onwards' Katherine May, author of Wintering

Taking the inspiration and wisdom that can be derived from myth, fairy tales and folk culture, The Enchanted Life offers a set of practical and grounded tools for reclaiming enchantment in our lives, giving us a greater sense of meaning and of belonging to the world. An inspiring, beautifully written call to re-engage with the natural world.

'A book for all the wild women... Foxfire, Wolfskin is simply the most perfect thing. I love each and every placement of each word. Love the wildness, the shapeshifting, the fearsomeness of it' Jackie Morris, co-author of The Lost Words Charged with drama and beauty, this memorable collection by a master storyteller weaves a magical world of possibility and power from female myths of physical renewal, creation and change. It is an extraordinary immersion into the bodies and voices, mindscapes and landscapes, of the shapeshifting women of our native folklore. Drawing on myth and fairy tales found across Europe, from Croatia to Sweden, Ireland to Russia, these stories are about coming to terms with our animal natures, exploring the ways in which we might renegotiate our fractured relationship with the natural world, and uncovering the wildness and wilderness within. Beautifully illustrated by Helen Nicholson, Foxfire, Wolfskin and Other Stories of Shapeshifting Women is Blackie's first collection of short stories.

'A book for all the wild women... Foxfire, Wolfskin is simply the most perfect thing. I love each and every placement of each word. Love the wildness, the shapeshifting, the fearsomeness of it' Jackie Morris, co-author of The Lost Words Charged with drama and beauty, this memorable collection by a master storyteller weaves a magical world of possibility and power from female myths of physical renewal, creation and change. It is an extraordinary immersion into the bodies and voices, mindscapes and landscapes, of the shapeshifting women of our native folklore. Drawing on myth and fairy tales found across Europe, from Croatia to Sweden, Ireland to Russia, these stories are about coming to terms with our animal natures, exploring the ways in which we might renegotiate our fractured relationship with the natural world, and uncovering the wildness and wilderness within. Beautifully illustrated by Helen Nicholson, Foxfire, Wolfskin and Other Stories of Shapeshifting Women is Blackie's first collection of short stories.

A life-changing journey from the wasteland of modern society to a place of nourishment and connection. If Women Rose Rooted has been described as both transformative and essential. Sharon Blackie leads the reader on a quest to find their place in the world, drawing inspiration from the wise and powerful women in native mythology, and guidance from contemporary role models who have re-rooted themselves in land and community and taken responsibility for shaping the future. Beautifully written, honest and moving, If Women Rose Rooted is a passionate song to a different kind of femininity, a rallying, feminist cry for the rewilding of womanhood; reclaiming our role as guardians of the land.

Taking as her starting point the inspiration and wisdom that can be derived from myth, fairy tales, and folk culture, Dr. Sharon Blackie offers a set of practical and grounded tools for enchanting our lives and the places we live, so leading to a greater sense of meaning and of belonging to the world.Enchantment. By Dr. Blackie's definition, a vivid sense of belongingness to a rich and many-layered world, a profound and whole-hearted participation in the adventure of life. Enchantment is a natural, spontaneous human tendency -- one we possess as children, but lose, through social and cultural pressures, as we grow older. It is an attitude of mind which can be cultivated: the enchanted life is possible for anyone. It is intuitive, embraces wonder, and fully engages the mythic imagination -- but it is also deeply embodied in ecology, grounded in place and community.To live this way is to be challenged, to be awakened, to be gripped and shaken to the core by the extraordinary which lies at the heart of the ordinary.

'Engaging and inspiring, Sharon Blackie's beautiful book will empower people to find wonder in everyday life.' Clover Stroud

'I love this book. Truly, it's mind-blowing in the most profound and exhilarating sense. This is an anthem for all we could be, an essential book for this, the most critical of recent times. I sincerely hope every woman who can read is given one, and has the time and the space to read it.' - Manda Scott, author of Boudica and Into the Fire'This is the core of our task: to respect and revere ourselves, and so bring about a world in which women are respected and revered, recognised once again as holding the life-giving power of the earth itself.'A life-changing journey from the wasteland of modern society to a place of nourishment and connection.If Women Rose Rooted has been described as both transformative and essential. Sharon Blackie leads the reader on a quest to find their place in the world, drawing inspiration from the wise and powerful females in native mythology, and guidance from contemporary women who have re-rooted themselves in land and community and taken responsibility for shaping the future. Beautifully written, honest and moving, If Women Rose Rooted is a passionate song to a different kind of femininity, a rallying cry for women to reawaken their natural power - not just for the sake of their own wellbeing, but for love of this threatened earth.