Healing Journeys with the Black Madonna: Chants, Music, and Sacred Practices of the Great Goddess

I wish I could have given this book 3 1/2 stars. On the quality of the material it was a 5. Being a first generation American from Reggio di Calabria, I learned so much about some of my heritage. I had no idea about the true meaning of the tarantella dance until now. I am no longer catholic but I was mesmerized by the stories of the devotion to the Madonna and how it ties to our pagan roots. On the quality of the writing I would give it a 4. The timeline was so erratic sometimes it was hard to follow. I know the book was about her experience with each Madonna but even within those specific stories she kept going back and forth in her history and it was distracting at times to figure out how the story related to her personal timeline and her learnings about each Madonna. Lastly I have to give it 0 stars for the fact that the link to the appendix of chants and songs does not work. I wanted to hear the words and melodies in order to learn them. Even though I can read and play music it helps to hear to piece in order to fully understand the emotion behind it. All that being said, I am now a fan of Alessandra’s. She seems like someone that is passionate about life and the subjects she wrote about. Kudos for writing a book about something you love and have dedicated such a huge portion of your life to.

Alessandra's book covers more than just the Black Madonna. She delivers the true force, passion, and power of Southern Itlalian culture. A journey through the ancient heart and origin of Southern Italy's enigmatic Black Madonna sites. She explains without a doubt the Black Mary's connection with her African origins. A forgotten ancient past that still lives on within the collective subconscious of the Southern Italian people. The Black Madonna/Mary she explains is the continuation of the ancient goddesses that include Hecate, Aphrodite/Venus, Isis, Cybele, Diana, etc. and is connected to the Black Earth like ancient Kemet (Egypt) and Sicily. Many myths and legends in Italian folklore she shares reflect the collective memory of the goddess archetypes and are reminiscent of their ancient myths stemming back to ancient Rome, Greece, Egypt, etc. The best part for me was not only the undeniable connections she draws, but the modern ceremonies and rituals she provides along with excellent folk music and lyrics to sing utilizing the ancient tambourine! Again, the music like everything else is connected to ancient times, temples, culture, and the drum, the sacred instrument of the goddess. What a better way to synchronize with the ancient gods and goddesses and in our modern time the Black Mary and Black Christ! I felt like I was learning a lost, ancient form of Italian "Yoga" to awaken my inner Kundalini. I cannot say enough about this book! Also, above all, I truly encourage other Italian Americans like myself to give this book a good read. Connect with our true ancestral culture and knowledge, ancient and modern, that has been so washed away from our heritage.

And there you go.

To hear Alessandra read this book with her beautiful Italian accent and to feel her energy, passion, love and aliveness as she shares this beautiful journey, has inspired a trip back to my own roots in Sicily! This book is about more than the Black Madonna, it's about finding and pursuing one's passion. It's about embracing all that life is offering and it's about recognizing the way the ancient past is showing up in our world today.Donna Bond, Author of Original Wisdom; Harness the Power of the Authentic You

The book is a very good book. As it says, it is more of a personal journal by the author and less of a continuous in depth study of the Black Madonna. However, I love it, especially the sections that have the healing chants and songs you can listen to as you read the lyrics. All in all, I adore this book.

I absolutely love how the author is approaching the subject material from the stance of personal memoir, travelogue, and academic research into the history of these traditions, to really convey her passion for the subject and inspire that same passion in anyone who comes across her work.

I loved this book so much! I listened to it on audible and I bought the hard copy too because I wanted to see the words. Her stories and adventures were incredible and inspiring, I felt like I was there traveling with her singing and dancing. What a beautiful gift to the world this Diva Shaman is. This book is a treasure.

This book is a must read very good references and pictures I would recommend to any goddess seeking.

I am reading this book now. It is amazing one person has experienced so much. She is generous in sharing her findings and knowledge.

Fascinating, deeply felt, quite well written. More biographical than an objective study. Very illuminating on the folk traditons of southern Italy.

Since the title of the book is “Healing journeys with the Black Madonna”, I expected a book about the Black Madonna, but the is mentioned only incidentally. It’s more a messy journal about the author’s adventures, her music, sex life, food, a lot of wine. I soon got bored reading the Kindle ebook, and decided to get the Audible version. It’s absolutely soporific, I couldn’t keep my eyes open and kept falling asleep. The audiobook is read by the author, who has a very thick foreign accent, and isn’t a professional actress. It makes it difficult for the listener to enjoy.