Cassandra Speaks: When Women Are the Storytellers, the Human Story Changes

I was all in for the first few chapters. Exploring mythology through a female lens? Discussing all the different ways that religion and literature and art has excluded and villainized women? Empowering female readers through tales of fallen goddesses and warriors and queens? COUNT ME IN!
She really lost me when it became more of a liberal feminism manifesto about 40% into the book. It became less research and less mythology, and more of the author’s personal feelings on the matter (without the use of effective and relatable anecdotes). It became a rambling, whiny mess. THEN, she started criticizing some of the greatest thinkers of our age because of seemingly sexist quotes taken completely out of context. This irks me so much and is so telling of the polarizing times we live in. People LOOK for reasons to point fingers at others without actually seeking to understand what they are saying. Ugh. I really expected more from her.

I have long since loved Elizabeth Lessers writing and her humble, kind, relatable, and authentic voice. This book is no exception. Elizabeth shows us what it means to be human, to mess up, and to learn, heal, and grow from our foibles.

Her soft front and strong back approach is the touchstone of her work and life. And it feels to me like exactly the kind of leadership we are in desperate need of right now.

She presents us with stories we have known no matter what religion we are or where we grew up and how and how the stories we hear repeatedly need to be questioned and rewritten to include us all. It is nothing new that diverse voices and perspectives are imperative to understanding who we are at the deepest level. And we need this kind of inclusion and acknowledgement of how damaging these stories can be in order to move forward. These common myths are not only harmful to men as well as women.

We experience what it feels like to tell a different story and how by intentionally choosing the words we use and by including aspects like sensitivity, compassion, emotional intelligence, self-reflection, contemplation, and effective communication will serve to help us heal what is broken.

Being an activist starts with addressing our own biases and wrongdoings so we can make more honest, impactful, and sustainable changes in the world. She shares how to do this from a vulnerable, honest and personal place.

Reading about men who parent and lead with a centered, grounded and less violent approach is a benefit to us all and instills hope and enthusiasm for the future. We are in charge of rewriting the story and leaders like Elizabeth Lesser show us its possible. I am grateful for Elizabeth and this book!

I am finding Cassandra Speaks inspiring, insightful and a healthy read. I like how Elizabeth reaches back to the earliest teachings and how she questioned some of this in her youth and had the wisdom to keep researching and asking questions as she continue to explore who we are as women. I think the concept of hearing the story from a women’s view is brilliant and much needed. So, many of the interpretations really put women down and dismiss us a human beings and this has continued to determine how we are now. Some of the story is not new for us but E.L brings our story to a very accessible platform and I think it will help us all to unload the historical baggage and to continue the quest for who we really are and what is our role, in the world and to ourselves and how we participate, what we are responsible for and how not to blame but unlearn the old and keeping on striving.

This book was a revelation. The stories told about women from the beginning of the written word have been demeaning, dangerous, and incredulous We’ve been pinned with every bad, evil, sexist trait and stereotype you could imagine. Much like Black Lives Matter, there’s a lot to learn here about how our historical stories, fables, and myths have not only unfairly categorized, us but stolen our voices and our history from us. This book allows us to recognize these injustices so that we can take back our voice and create our own stories going forward.

I was awake in the night as usual, 4 AM, trying to get back to sleep. Decided to begin reading Cassandra Seaks, and have not been able to put it down, Clear beautiful writing, and important insights about swtching up the stories we tell. Thank you Elizabeth for this brilliant and timely read. I will sleep better tonight!

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