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Eating in the Light of the Moon: How Women Can Transform Their Relationship with Food Through Myths, Metaphors, and Storytelling
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224 pages, Paperback
First published June 16, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 265 reviews
July 4, 2016
This is one of the most ridiculous books on eating disorders I have ever read. And by ridiculous I actually mean horrifying that a clinical psychologist who co-founded an eating disorder center can actually believe in the stuff she is spewing.
I am offended at her view that "recovery from disordered eating calls for a deliberate, conscious attempt to reclaim our feminine side so we can bring our masculine side back to balance. (p.15)" She consistently genders human traits and perpetuates the ideology that masculinity is the strong, assertive side where femininity is the weak and gentle side. Her views completely disregard men, trans and gender queer/non-comforming people who have eating disorders. While I do have to remember that the book was written in 1996 and that views on gender have changed significantly in the past twenty
years, that is the main point of her book and I am saddened and angry that professionals today would regard it with such esteem.
If this book leads someone into recovery I would not be one to scoff at that. Recovery is deserved by all and the way in which you reach it is a personal journey of self discovery. As a proponent of evidence based treatment this book does bring up a lot of concerns and challenges. I would not recommend it to anyone wishing to get a better look or understanding of eating disorders. Also someone looking for a path into recovery could be very discouraged based on her views and practices, as I mentioned it is very exclusionary of major populations of individuals.
I don't speak for the eating disordered community but in my personal experiences is treatment and connecting on a larger scale with the eating disorder community online, I have yet to meet one person who embodies what she claims is the "typical" female suffer, not say that they aren't out there though.
I feel it is important for people (especially professionals in the field) to understand the problematic nature of this book and that it could have devastating effects for someone starting their journey into recovery.
I am offended at her view that "recovery from disordered eating calls for a deliberate, conscious attempt to reclaim our feminine side so we can bring our masculine side back to balance. (p.15)" She consistently genders human traits and perpetuates the ideology that masculinity is the strong, assertive side where femininity is the weak and gentle side. Her views completely disregard men, trans and gender queer/non-comforming people who have eating disorders. While I do have to remember that the book was written in 1996 and that views on gender have changed significantly in the past twenty
years, that is the main point of her book and I am saddened and angry that professionals today would regard it with such esteem.
If this book leads someone into recovery I would not be one to scoff at that. Recovery is deserved by all and the way in which you reach it is a personal journey of self discovery. As a proponent of evidence based treatment this book does bring up a lot of concerns and challenges. I would not recommend it to anyone wishing to get a better look or understanding of eating disorders. Also someone looking for a path into recovery could be very discouraged based on her views and practices, as I mentioned it is very exclusionary of major populations of individuals.
I don't speak for the eating disordered community but in my personal experiences is treatment and connecting on a larger scale with the eating disorder community online, I have yet to meet one person who embodies what she claims is the "typical" female suffer, not say that they aren't out there though.
I feel it is important for people (especially professionals in the field) to understand the problematic nature of this book and that it could have devastating effects for someone starting their journey into recovery.
June 8, 2018
Despite its profound insights and beautiful articulation of the state of the culture and its impact on the feminine spirit, the book has far too much weight stigma for me to recommend it to others or to rate it any higher than 3 stars.
For example:
She insinuates that adherence to our internal hunger and fullness signals will inevitably lead to weight loss for those in larger bodies by claiming: “In their natural habitat, there are no fat zebras, cheetahs, or giraffes.” (pg. 156)
She also says that if a woman “eats when she is physically hungry and stops when she is full, she can eat what she wants and not get fat.” This is patently untrue and perpetuates diet culture’s damaging messages to women.
Additionally, the book ends with a veiled denunciation of emotional eating and a hidden promise of weight loss for those who quit it altogether. This negates so many of the good things the books has to say.
And also, I didn’t plan to make a big deal of it since the book was published in 1996. But since I’m already slightly ticked, what about men who struggle with eating disorders or disordered eating? What about asexual or non-heterosexual women?
Read this book. It has important things to say. But please, supplement it with other books that have advanced beyond this one in its approach to gender and to people in larger bodies.
For example:
She insinuates that adherence to our internal hunger and fullness signals will inevitably lead to weight loss for those in larger bodies by claiming: “In their natural habitat, there are no fat zebras, cheetahs, or giraffes.” (pg. 156)
She also says that if a woman “eats when she is physically hungry and stops when she is full, she can eat what she wants and not get fat.” This is patently untrue and perpetuates diet culture’s damaging messages to women.
Additionally, the book ends with a veiled denunciation of emotional eating and a hidden promise of weight loss for those who quit it altogether. This negates so many of the good things the books has to say.
And also, I didn’t plan to make a big deal of it since the book was published in 1996. But since I’m already slightly ticked, what about men who struggle with eating disorders or disordered eating? What about asexual or non-heterosexual women?
Read this book. It has important things to say. But please, supplement it with other books that have advanced beyond this one in its approach to gender and to people in larger bodies.
November 8, 2007
I loved this book because although it was about eating disorders generally, it was mostly just about being a woman in today's world and we can access our personal power as women to enrich our own lives. It changed the way I look at myself! Very thought provoking. I would recommend it to any woman who feels like she has lost sight of who she is, regardless of her relationship with food.
December 9, 2008
It is hard for me to articulate what I feel about this book because it made such a deep impression on me. Before reading this book I felt like strong rushing waters from a broken dam, vaguely wanting to go a certain direction but not really being able to harness the energy and power bursting out all over the place. This situation, if left, would either turn destructive, or in to a stagnant lake. When I read this book it taught me how to gather my rushing waters and direct them in to a healthy channel. So I can be ever-flowing, ever-increasing, always a stronger Me. I learned how to be in control (I call it being "one" with myself).
This book gave me the courage, the hope, and the tools to begin to open my eyes and really see, and accept all of Me. A difficult journey that I will probably be continuing for many years, but Oh so worth it. I really need to buy this book. It is one that I always want to have on-hand.
This book gave me the courage, the hope, and the tools to begin to open my eyes and really see, and accept all of Me. A difficult journey that I will probably be continuing for many years, but Oh so worth it. I really need to buy this book. It is one that I always want to have on-hand.
November 15, 2015
Multiple women had recommended this book to me as an insightful guide for mending broken relationships with food. While there were certain parts of the book I found useful/powerful, I had trouble connecting to much of the advice.
The book is organized around these "myths," which she uses as metaphors for our eating disorders. I would've just skipped the myths and talked more directly about the disordered behavior. I also thought some of the chapters were a leeeettle too new age-y for me. I'm not big on dream analysis, for example. But I think the overall tone of the book (one of forgiveness and self-awareness) was important. It's also got some great feminine power/embracing your womanhood passages.
For those on the hunt for resources: The book "Intuitive Eating" spoke more accurately to my disordered eating, although at the time I wasn't ready to put into practice its suggestions.
The book is organized around these "myths," which she uses as metaphors for our eating disorders. I would've just skipped the myths and talked more directly about the disordered behavior. I also thought some of the chapters were a leeeettle too new age-y for me. I'm not big on dream analysis, for example. But I think the overall tone of the book (one of forgiveness and self-awareness) was important. It's also got some great feminine power/embracing your womanhood passages.
For those on the hunt for resources: The book "Intuitive Eating" spoke more accurately to my disordered eating, although at the time I wasn't ready to put into practice its suggestions.
October 24, 2008
this is probably one of the best most life altering pieces of non-ficton i've ever read and that includes crimethinc! i know the title sounds a little touchy-feely and i was nervous about it since i don't read a lot of self-help but i don't think there is anyone, man or woman, who could read this book and not walk away a better person. i read it really slowly because it took so much time to really process each chapter. i think even if you have no issues with food/weight/body issues (and if so, congrats) you could read this book and have new tools to deal with whatever it is that's going on in your life. i give this book 10 million stars
July 31, 2018
I tried to like this book, and got through more than 3/4 of it, but found that I was becoming more irritated with it the more I read. The author's theories about the cause of women's challenges with food and body image (mainly the patriarchal society we live in) does not resonate with me or my belief system. Furthermore, while I see the value in using metaphor to understand complex ideas, there were too many instances in which this seemed to be taken too far and her resultant theories to be presented as fact rather than a proposed way of understanding something from another perspective. In addition, the book seemed extremely negative about society and men in particular, which I believe is shortsighted. Finally, although I didn't finish the book and there may have been a shift in the last five chapters, the author's ideas did not instill any sense of hope or resolution beyond a woman blaming society, her assumed horrendous upbringing, and connecting with one's inner child. Perhaps this would inspire some, but not in my case.
September 15, 2007
I love the use of myths and stories in this book. The author relates these to real life issues in a way that propelled me forward in my life. I highlighted so much and will reference those sections over and over again. This book made a real difference in my life.
June 4, 2020
I work in the field of ED recovery and I’m always looking for resources to share with my clients. As I read this book I tried to keep in mind that it was written in 1996 and times were different. The messages were good and I enjoyed the unique aspect of the folktales with each chapter/lesson. Of course, from the title you can tell - the book is super gendered and is written strictly with women in mind. This limits who I’d be able to recommend this book to greatly as it doesn’t account for men or other genders whatsoever and we know they also deal with ED. I’d also mention that while it isn’t overtly fat phobic, it certainly isn’t a HAES embracing book and I would be hesitant to recommend it to clients in larger bodies for that reason.
November 2, 2014
Eating in the Light of the Moon: How Women Can Transform Their Relationships with Food Through Myths, Metaphors, & Storytelling is a book written by Anita Johnston, Ph.D. about disordered eating in women. This book points out that 95% of people diagnosed with eating disorders are female, and therefore focuses on women and the divine feminine qualities that she believes become imbalanced with eating disorders. Johnston uses myths, metaphors and fairy tales to explain how the problem with food is really just an illusion; food is a metaphor for a hunger inside of us that is much deeper than physical hunger. In fact, we’re so used to tuning out our bodies’ true signs of hunger that we only know when we are famished or completely stuffed. She explains how it is essential that we learn again to pay attention to the subtle signs that our body is giving us. This book is full of symbolism and is a great journey of self-discovery.
"Storytellers speak in the language of myth and metaphor," the author says. "They tell us a truth that is not literal, but symbolic. If we hear the stories with only the outer ear, they can seem absurd and untrue, but when listened to with the inner ear, they convey a truth that can be understood and absorbed on a deeply personal level. In this way, stories help us connect with our inner world, to the natural rhythms and cycles of the earth, and to the power of our intuitive wisdom." This book utilizes symbolism throughout to shed light onto the dark places of your psyche and explain that feelings are important and meant to be dealt with, not numbed out or covered over.
Johnston focuses on rediscovering the inner feminine, our intuition, and using that to shed light on our disordered eating. Through stories, the author tells of our struggles with food stemming from hidden feelings and an imbalance in our energies, our intuition has been ignored and our light has been extinguished. There is some reason that we turn to food for sustenance. Johnston explains a woman’s recovery as being a journey into a great labyrinth, where we have to wind around and around until we reach the very center of it, our core where all of our demons dwell, and then we have to face them and make the spiraling journey back out of the labyrinth into the world again. A woman must heal her relationships with her femininity, her sexuality, her body and her Self before she can conquer disordered eating.
I loved the use of metaphor in this book, it really speaks my language. What I got most out of this book was that food is a metaphor for other forms of sustenance, for a different kind of hunger, not only the physical. The most memorable part of this book for me was the metaphor about the animals that were starving and that couldn’t reach the fruit from the splendid tree because they couldn’t remember its name. They sent 3 different animals back to the lion to learn the name of the tree so they could eat of its fruit. Both the gazelle and the elephant could not make it back from the lion without tripping into a hole and forgetting the name. Finally, they sent the tortoise, whose great-great-great grandmother had told about the tree and how to remember. After getting the name from the lion, the tortoise repeated it to itself over and over again until it reached the other animals, “Ungalli. Ungalli. The name of the tree is Ungalli.” It repeated this over and over again until returning to the tree and announcing the name, and immediately the limbs of the tree extended to the ground and the animals were able to eat of the fruit. This story explains how you need to know the name of your hunger in order to recover and how you must keep it in front of you the entire time of your journey. Johnston says that it is only when your hunger is named that you can be truly fed. She explains the difference between nourishment and Nourishment with a capitol “N”. The woman who suffers from disordered eating must keep the name of her hunger in the forefront of her mind and repeat it to herself whenever she struggles with her own personal food symbolism.
This book focuses on how women who suffer from disordered eating have lost touch with their bodies and have become disconnected from their inner feminine; there is an imbalance between their masculine and feminine selves. It highlights the importance of the symbolism in our dreams and suggests using them for knowledge about our hidden fears and feelings. It also guides you, through insights and practical exercises, toward empowerment, explaining how to regain the power of your intuition and get in touch with your feelings, instead of stuffing them down or numbing them away. It focuses on feeding your “shadow sister” who wishes to be heard instead of starved or stuffed, by recognizing those parts of you that have been hidden or lost. Once you can see through the illusion that food is really the issue, you can dive deeper into your feelings and really begin to feel them again. Remember your hunger; always know what it is that you are truly hungry for, be it acceptance, love, respect, or creative expression. Keep it in front of you at all times and you will be able to give yourself the Nourishment that you TRULY desire. The name of the tree is Ungalli!!
"Storytellers speak in the language of myth and metaphor," the author says. "They tell us a truth that is not literal, but symbolic. If we hear the stories with only the outer ear, they can seem absurd and untrue, but when listened to with the inner ear, they convey a truth that can be understood and absorbed on a deeply personal level. In this way, stories help us connect with our inner world, to the natural rhythms and cycles of the earth, and to the power of our intuitive wisdom." This book utilizes symbolism throughout to shed light onto the dark places of your psyche and explain that feelings are important and meant to be dealt with, not numbed out or covered over.
Johnston focuses on rediscovering the inner feminine, our intuition, and using that to shed light on our disordered eating. Through stories, the author tells of our struggles with food stemming from hidden feelings and an imbalance in our energies, our intuition has been ignored and our light has been extinguished. There is some reason that we turn to food for sustenance. Johnston explains a woman’s recovery as being a journey into a great labyrinth, where we have to wind around and around until we reach the very center of it, our core where all of our demons dwell, and then we have to face them and make the spiraling journey back out of the labyrinth into the world again. A woman must heal her relationships with her femininity, her sexuality, her body and her Self before she can conquer disordered eating.
I loved the use of metaphor in this book, it really speaks my language. What I got most out of this book was that food is a metaphor for other forms of sustenance, for a different kind of hunger, not only the physical. The most memorable part of this book for me was the metaphor about the animals that were starving and that couldn’t reach the fruit from the splendid tree because they couldn’t remember its name. They sent 3 different animals back to the lion to learn the name of the tree so they could eat of its fruit. Both the gazelle and the elephant could not make it back from the lion without tripping into a hole and forgetting the name. Finally, they sent the tortoise, whose great-great-great grandmother had told about the tree and how to remember. After getting the name from the lion, the tortoise repeated it to itself over and over again until it reached the other animals, “Ungalli. Ungalli. The name of the tree is Ungalli.” It repeated this over and over again until returning to the tree and announcing the name, and immediately the limbs of the tree extended to the ground and the animals were able to eat of the fruit. This story explains how you need to know the name of your hunger in order to recover and how you must keep it in front of you the entire time of your journey. Johnston says that it is only when your hunger is named that you can be truly fed. She explains the difference between nourishment and Nourishment with a capitol “N”. The woman who suffers from disordered eating must keep the name of her hunger in the forefront of her mind and repeat it to herself whenever she struggles with her own personal food symbolism.
This book focuses on how women who suffer from disordered eating have lost touch with their bodies and have become disconnected from their inner feminine; there is an imbalance between their masculine and feminine selves. It highlights the importance of the symbolism in our dreams and suggests using them for knowledge about our hidden fears and feelings. It also guides you, through insights and practical exercises, toward empowerment, explaining how to regain the power of your intuition and get in touch with your feelings, instead of stuffing them down or numbing them away. It focuses on feeding your “shadow sister” who wishes to be heard instead of starved or stuffed, by recognizing those parts of you that have been hidden or lost. Once you can see through the illusion that food is really the issue, you can dive deeper into your feelings and really begin to feel them again. Remember your hunger; always know what it is that you are truly hungry for, be it acceptance, love, respect, or creative expression. Keep it in front of you at all times and you will be able to give yourself the Nourishment that you TRULY desire. The name of the tree is Ungalli!!
March 29, 2019
This book has the best Preface of any Eating Disorder Book I have ever read--maybe the best Preface of any Book. I was ready to give this book 5 stars based on the Preface alone.
(The rest of the book is 4.5 stars.)
Dr. Johnson writes outstandingly clearly and with empathy. She uses stories (fairy tales or folk tales) to illustrate why women are obsessed with food, dieting, binging, purging, over-exercising, why women injure their self-esteem and physical health by pursuing a Dream which is in reality no more than a Will-O-The-Wisp.
Why do I love the Preface so much? It is the first thing I have read (after reading literally every book in the library on weight, fat, eating disorders, compulsive eating, Obesity) that actually explains WHY I had an Eating Disorder from age 16 to 21.
Even after Recovery, I never understood (until someone gave me this book) WHY THE FUCK I WAS SO FUCKED UP in this particular way. It was a TERRIBLE way to live. It was such a WASTE of TIME.
Even after I broke free of disordered eating, I was still plagued by many of the same thought processes and extreme low-self esteem regarding body shape and size for too many years. And tormented by shame.
The Preface answers the question, "Why ME?" Why did it happen, how did it start, how did it get perpetuated.
Aside from the Preface, this is an outstanding (stands out from the crowd of ED Books) Story Book and Exercise Book. She outlines how to recover. I know these techniques work because I used most of them myself during my own recovery.
The stories are interesting and unusual, and I loved Johnson's interpretation of their meaning. She has tremondous empathy and insight. I loved her explanations of why many of us entered puberty and realized we hated being female, because we felt so inferior and ashamed of our changing shapes, while the boys around us were becoming larger and stronger we were becoming larger and weaker.
Highly recommend for any woman: who has ever had an ED, or a Fat Attack (where suddenly you feel HUGE and FAT, when minutes before you felt normal) or anyone who has tried to diet and failed, or has tried to diet and succeeded and then became obsessed and fearful about weight gain.
In fact, if you are a woman, and if you don't happen to Love your female body, just BUY THIS BOOK!!! BUY IT NOW OR CHECK IT OUT! TELL YOUR FRIENDS!!! SERIOUSLY IT IS THAT GOOD!!!
Criticisms: very minor--I thought the stories could have been written/retold better than they were. I didn't like the author's assertion multiple times along the lines of, "if you eat intuitively and listen to your body, you will never have to fear getting fat." Two problems with this statement:
Problem 1. Intuitive Eating will NOT make you thin automatically. Sometimes a woman with ED will lose a little bit of weight once she stops overeating and yo-yo dieting, but not always. It did work for me that way but it definitely doesn't work for everyone. Certainly there is no evidence that Intuitive Eating is the Answer to Obesity and Fat.
You could eat Intuitively and not ever Overeat and exercise every day vigorously and still remain or become "overweight" or "obese" (it isn't fair but studies show this to be the case, unfortunately).
Problem 2. Why should anyone have to "fear Fat" in the first place? The author doesn't ever say, "It is OK to be Fat." Her implication is that the Goal is to be a healthy, "normal weight", rather than the aim of health, self-love and self-acceptance at ANY size.
Take it from Dr. Lenny:
It is OK to be Fat or Thin or whatever your size right NOW. It is OK to love your body just the way it is.
The Goal is for your weight or appearance to STOP defining your self-esteem. That's the Goal.
Not Intuitive Eating, not Insight into the Problem, not Metaphors. Those are only stepping stones in the right direction.
Other than that, I really really appreciate this book and author. I loved the emphasis on what it means to be a Woman in this culture and why we should celebrate that instead of hating it.
THANK YOU Anita Johnson!
(The rest of the book is 4.5 stars.)
Dr. Johnson writes outstandingly clearly and with empathy. She uses stories (fairy tales or folk tales) to illustrate why women are obsessed with food, dieting, binging, purging, over-exercising, why women injure their self-esteem and physical health by pursuing a Dream which is in reality no more than a Will-O-The-Wisp.
Why do I love the Preface so much? It is the first thing I have read (after reading literally every book in the library on weight, fat, eating disorders, compulsive eating, Obesity) that actually explains WHY I had an Eating Disorder from age 16 to 21.
Even after Recovery, I never understood (until someone gave me this book) WHY THE FUCK I WAS SO FUCKED UP in this particular way. It was a TERRIBLE way to live. It was such a WASTE of TIME.
Even after I broke free of disordered eating, I was still plagued by many of the same thought processes and extreme low-self esteem regarding body shape and size for too many years. And tormented by shame.
The Preface answers the question, "Why ME?" Why did it happen, how did it start, how did it get perpetuated.
Aside from the Preface, this is an outstanding (stands out from the crowd of ED Books) Story Book and Exercise Book. She outlines how to recover. I know these techniques work because I used most of them myself during my own recovery.
The stories are interesting and unusual, and I loved Johnson's interpretation of their meaning. She has tremondous empathy and insight. I loved her explanations of why many of us entered puberty and realized we hated being female, because we felt so inferior and ashamed of our changing shapes, while the boys around us were becoming larger and stronger we were becoming larger and weaker.
Highly recommend for any woman: who has ever had an ED, or a Fat Attack (where suddenly you feel HUGE and FAT, when minutes before you felt normal) or anyone who has tried to diet and failed, or has tried to diet and succeeded and then became obsessed and fearful about weight gain.
In fact, if you are a woman, and if you don't happen to Love your female body, just BUY THIS BOOK!!! BUY IT NOW OR CHECK IT OUT! TELL YOUR FRIENDS!!! SERIOUSLY IT IS THAT GOOD!!!
Criticisms: very minor--I thought the stories could have been written/retold better than they were. I didn't like the author's assertion multiple times along the lines of, "if you eat intuitively and listen to your body, you will never have to fear getting fat." Two problems with this statement:
Problem 1. Intuitive Eating will NOT make you thin automatically. Sometimes a woman with ED will lose a little bit of weight once she stops overeating and yo-yo dieting, but not always. It did work for me that way but it definitely doesn't work for everyone. Certainly there is no evidence that Intuitive Eating is the Answer to Obesity and Fat.
You could eat Intuitively and not ever Overeat and exercise every day vigorously and still remain or become "overweight" or "obese" (it isn't fair but studies show this to be the case, unfortunately).
Problem 2. Why should anyone have to "fear Fat" in the first place? The author doesn't ever say, "It is OK to be Fat." Her implication is that the Goal is to be a healthy, "normal weight", rather than the aim of health, self-love and self-acceptance at ANY size.
Take it from Dr. Lenny:
It is OK to be Fat or Thin or whatever your size right NOW. It is OK to love your body just the way it is.
The Goal is for your weight or appearance to STOP defining your self-esteem. That's the Goal.
Not Intuitive Eating, not Insight into the Problem, not Metaphors. Those are only stepping stones in the right direction.
Other than that, I really really appreciate this book and author. I loved the emphasis on what it means to be a Woman in this culture and why we should celebrate that instead of hating it.
THANK YOU Anita Johnson!
August 10, 2022
Klar; das Buch hat zu kritisierende Aspekte (vor allem wenn man nicht so im mythologischen drin ist und heteronormativitaetsaspekte nicht ausstehen kann, wobei letzteres wirklich schwer wiegt, aber ein generelles Problem fuer die Essstoerungsforschung darstellt), dennoch hat es mir viele neue und interessante, oder auch schmerzliche Sichtweisen eroeffnet
“Man bringt uns bei, zu denken, nicht zu fühlen und nur das zu schätzen, was logisch erscheint und mit Vernunft und Verstand verarbeitet werden kann. Intuition ist eine völlig andere Art von Erkenntnis.“
“Man bringt uns bei, zu denken, nicht zu fühlen und nur das zu schätzen, was logisch erscheint und mit Vernunft und Verstand verarbeitet werden kann. Intuition ist eine völlig andere Art von Erkenntnis.“
January 2, 2023
3.5 stars
As with most self- help books, there are things that resonated with me and things that didn't. I did like the setup of telling folktales to explain a concept. Overall, it was decent.
As with most self- help books, there are things that resonated with me and things that didn't. I did like the setup of telling folktales to explain a concept. Overall, it was decent.
August 11, 2024
If you struggle with eating or work with others who do, this book does a great job at exploring the way that disordered eating is about far more than just the food. It uses metaphors to explain the complexities of the ways our brains use nourishment as a means of both reward and punishment and tells the stories of women who have recovered from lives enslaved to food.
Anita is a leader in the field and it’s no surprise that this book is so widely regarded
Anita is a leader in the field and it’s no surprise that this book is so widely regarded
October 21, 2010
The myth parts of the book got on my nerves, and eventually I skipped through those parts.
But I think this is a book worth reading for Johnston's insights, which have stuck with me on almost a cellular level. They go beyond the "fashion magazines are giving us all eating disorders" perspective to a more historical and biological feminist perspective. One that particularly made me think, is this:
"...there is such an emphasis on thin, angular bodies, which very few women come by naturally...why has a naturally masculine shape (broad shoulders, no waist, narrow hips, flat belly) become the ideal for the female body? Why is it that those aspects of a woman's body that are most closely related to her female power, the capacity of her belly, hips and thighs to carry and sustain life, are diminished in our society's version of a beautiful woman?"
Answer: The replacement of the goddess with a god in male form, the intuitive with the linear, the circle with the line.
Down with the patriarchy! Yeah!
Seriously, though, this book melted me a bit around food and body image. Good stuff.
But I think this is a book worth reading for Johnston's insights, which have stuck with me on almost a cellular level. They go beyond the "fashion magazines are giving us all eating disorders" perspective to a more historical and biological feminist perspective. One that particularly made me think, is this:
"...there is such an emphasis on thin, angular bodies, which very few women come by naturally...why has a naturally masculine shape (broad shoulders, no waist, narrow hips, flat belly) become the ideal for the female body? Why is it that those aspects of a woman's body that are most closely related to her female power, the capacity of her belly, hips and thighs to carry and sustain life, are diminished in our society's version of a beautiful woman?"
Answer: The replacement of the goddess with a god in male form, the intuitive with the linear, the circle with the line.
Down with the patriarchy! Yeah!
Seriously, though, this book melted me a bit around food and body image. Good stuff.
July 18, 2021
DNF at pg. 82.
As much as I tried to keep in mind that this book was written in 1996, I still couldn’t get through it.
I’m a college student currently studying Eating Disorders to write a creative thesis project drawing from research as much as my own experience.
This book dates itself with the constant emphasis on “feminine” vs “masculine” characteristics, which I believe are as much a societal creation as weight stigma. It COMPLETELY disregards the fact that men, non-binary/trans/genderqueer folks can also experience eating disorders. (And this is coming from a straight, cis woman).
The folk tales are interesting, but the metaphorical “lessons” Johnston attempts to extrapolate from them are tenuous connections at best.
I just couldn’t take it. Instead, for recovery and research, allow me to point you in the direction of:
1) Anti-Diet by Christy Harrison
2) The Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
As much as I tried to keep in mind that this book was written in 1996, I still couldn’t get through it.
I’m a college student currently studying Eating Disorders to write a creative thesis project drawing from research as much as my own experience.
This book dates itself with the constant emphasis on “feminine” vs “masculine” characteristics, which I believe are as much a societal creation as weight stigma. It COMPLETELY disregards the fact that men, non-binary/trans/genderqueer folks can also experience eating disorders. (And this is coming from a straight, cis woman).
The folk tales are interesting, but the metaphorical “lessons” Johnston attempts to extrapolate from them are tenuous connections at best.
I just couldn’t take it. Instead, for recovery and research, allow me to point you in the direction of:
1) Anti-Diet by Christy Harrison
2) The Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
December 18, 2018
I really liked this book. I use metaphor a lot in my work as an eating disorder therapist and this book is completely FULL of metaphor. I found this book really useful in groups and sessions and often I found myself thinking of certain patients while reading. It’s a great conversation starter and gets you conceptualizing eating disorders in different ways. I would recommend this to people in treatment and recovery and professionals who already have a good amount of knowledge of eating disorders. It is definitely not what I would consider a primer of EDs and some baseline factual info/clinical experience would be useful prior to reading this.
July 20, 2019
I do not understand how this helps anyone. I could barely get through it because of its weirdness and I had absolutely no connection to this. I mean I get the metaphors, but so what? All the talk of “femininity” also was very offputting. I mean, you could pick up a book of fairy tales and claim that that helped you too.
August 13, 2024
this book was recommended to me by my dietitian because it speaks specifically to women, rather than addressing all people who have suffered from disordered eating, or reading like a series of studies and scientific discoveries. it takes a more “holistic approach” i would say.
one of the main themes is feminine vs masculine energy that all humans carry. the feminine is more emotive and can ebb and flow, while the masculine is more about strategic problem solving and rigid competitiveness. something to reflect on: as women aim to make themselves look like pre-pubescent boys, they tend to also focus on achieving career goals, perfect grades, and isolate themselves from their own emotions. why is this? because society is set up to devalue “the feminine” which is just as valuable according to this book.
definitely a unique concept, and relating issues with food to old fables and folktales makes them easier to understand. it also moved along the pace of the book, and kind of gives the reader a moment to reflect on areas of their life where these fables could be useful.
i think one thing i will say is that it feels more geared towards women who suffer from binge eating rather than restriction, so if you get triggered by that do not read.
one of the main themes is feminine vs masculine energy that all humans carry. the feminine is more emotive and can ebb and flow, while the masculine is more about strategic problem solving and rigid competitiveness. something to reflect on: as women aim to make themselves look like pre-pubescent boys, they tend to also focus on achieving career goals, perfect grades, and isolate themselves from their own emotions. why is this? because society is set up to devalue “the feminine” which is just as valuable according to this book.
definitely a unique concept, and relating issues with food to old fables and folktales makes them easier to understand. it also moved along the pace of the book, and kind of gives the reader a moment to reflect on areas of their life where these fables could be useful.
i think one thing i will say is that it feels more geared towards women who suffer from binge eating rather than restriction, so if you get triggered by that do not read.
January 1, 2023
(lunch break read)
okay. i like stories and i love writing down pull out quotes.
i am a woman with an eating disorder and a penchant for self-analysis. i did enjoy reading this. it made me want to join a “women’s group” or a “coven.” the emphasis on feminine traits and inklings as unavoidable or inherent might be off putting for some women but i don’t mind fitting in boxes, sometimes it is comforting to feel held by expectations. reading about Women made me realize i am still a girl. recovery was always on my mind while reading this book- positive. my “ed lore” was always on my mind, too- negative. i don’t think you need to fully understand the cause of all your struggles, fears, feelings, etcetera, to honor them in a way that allows for grief, burial, and rebirth. a good reminder to evaluate my values and tweak any self-help / psychological / spiritual approach to wellness as necessary for intentional change to occur and be MAINTAINED.
Your body is not the most interesting thing about you. Not even close!
it gets better….. Lol
okay. i like stories and i love writing down pull out quotes.
i am a woman with an eating disorder and a penchant for self-analysis. i did enjoy reading this. it made me want to join a “women’s group” or a “coven.” the emphasis on feminine traits and inklings as unavoidable or inherent might be off putting for some women but i don’t mind fitting in boxes, sometimes it is comforting to feel held by expectations. reading about Women made me realize i am still a girl. recovery was always on my mind while reading this book- positive. my “ed lore” was always on my mind, too- negative. i don’t think you need to fully understand the cause of all your struggles, fears, feelings, etcetera, to honor them in a way that allows for grief, burial, and rebirth. a good reminder to evaluate my values and tweak any self-help / psychological / spiritual approach to wellness as necessary for intentional change to occur and be MAINTAINED.
Your body is not the most interesting thing about you. Not even close!
it gets better….. Lol
July 26, 2024
This book is good for 3 types of people
1. Anyone who has ever been perceived by society as a woman
2. Anyone who has struggled with their relationship with food
3. Anyone who has known someone who struggled with a relationship with food
So I think that covers everyone! Go read it!! Big CW it is about eating disorders and eating disorder recovery
1. Anyone who has ever been perceived by society as a woman
2. Anyone who has struggled with their relationship with food
3. Anyone who has known someone who struggled with a relationship with food
So I think that covers everyone! Go read it!! Big CW it is about eating disorders and eating disorder recovery
September 8, 2014
I affectionately call this book "The Moon Book," and I plan to read it many more times, and keep it handy. The Moon Book is geared toward anyone with "disordered eating" and I consider anyone who has yo-yo-dieted as having disordered eating, which is me, in addition to the officially diagnosed anorexia/bulimia disorders, which is not me. In the moon book there are a lot of stories and folk tales that help give analogies to what people with disordered eating are going through or to give them tools through stories that easily come to mind to provide guidance or comfort. One of my favorites is about a girl who got swept into the middle of a river, and ends up clinging to a log. There are a lot of people on shore who want to help her, but she is afraid to leave her log because it feels safer than trying to swim to shore. She must gradually get used to leaving her log bit by bit, eventually, perhaps, swimming a few circles around her log, until she feels strong enough to swim to shore. I have a lot of things to work on, but I think I have to do them in small swims from my log. This story can apply to more than just disordered eating. What is your river? What is your log?
May 2, 2018
Came across this book through my nutrition counseling in Intuitive Eating. While Intuitive Eating clicks for me, this book? A big ol' no. I was interested in the idea of using myths and metaphors to gain insights on women's relationships with food. However, the myths and stories used were only loosely connected to her points. Also, the whole tone of the book was too new-agey. Terminology used felt flighty to me ("shadow sister"?), dream analysis is not my thing, and too much emphasis was placed on feminine sexuality. I agree that issues with sexuality or sexual experiences may trigger EDs, but not everything is about sex. To more accurately reflect her thesis, the title should be "How Sexuality and Sexual Experiences of our Past Impact Our Relationship with Food."
September 10, 2010
Johnston's approach -- through myths, metaphors, and storytelling, as the book's subtitle puts it -- bypasses the rational and reaches into that part of the brain that really controls appetite, pleasure, and physical and emotional well-being. She encourages us to treat with seriousness and respect those parts of us most denied by Western society. It is by calling back the child, the feminine, and the intuitive from exile that we can begin to fully inhabit our bodies, enjoy our food, and walk the labyrinth that will release us of our maladaptive eating habits.
December 27, 2022
There was a lot more anti-fat rhetoric in this book than is appropriate for a book about eating disorders (admittedly any anti-fat bias is inappropriate, but this was a lot more than none). I felt like it also contributed to the stereotypes of the emaciated rich white woman with an eating disorder. I’m grateful I have strong enough recovery that this didn’t undo my hard work at healing. Also a lot of extremely problematic gender stereotypes and expectations, even accounting for how old the book is (1996).
May 3, 2009
I learned so much about my own identity as a woman and how we are all connected through experiences. imagine if we understood our bodies to be reflections of cycles found in nature ( changing seasons, ebb& flow of of the tides, waning & waxing of the moon) we'd realize the power that we possess!
in order for a woman to heal she must embrace the darkness that precedes renewal. she must recover those parts of herself that she disowned and denied to fit the mold. whatever that mold may be.
in order for a woman to heal she must embrace the darkness that precedes renewal. she must recover those parts of herself that she disowned and denied to fit the mold. whatever that mold may be.
February 1, 2012
Any woman could benefit from reading this book, whether she has an eating disorder or not. I appreciated the use of folktales and myths to understand the inner stories we live. This book reminded me of the wisdom in valuing the intuitive and the feminine, and being curious about the mysteries of one's self.
March 3, 2017
This is easily one of the most amazing books I have ever read. Whether you are in recovery for an eating disorder or not, it is truly a book about the beauty of women and our inner strength. My copy is covered in notes and insights, and it has become a key tool of my recovery. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
April 13, 2018
This is a must read for anyone dealing with emotional eating. This is not your typical self-help book; it relies on metaphors and storytelling to get its point across. It's a bit on the incense and crystals side of things (the chapter about dreams had me eye-rolling so hard) but overall it's a unique perspective on food issues and I found it helpful.
Currently reading
May 28, 2011I am really enjoying this book. Insightful and interesting. I picked it up as professional literature but I'm loving it just for me. I'd recommend it to any woman interested in thinking about her relationship with food. It requires some interpersonal reflection but it's worth the work.
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