The Glass Seed: The Fragile Beauty of Heart, Mind & Memory

$19.95

By Eileen Delehanty Pearkes

From the heart of the mountains in British Columbia comes this poignant memoir that delves into the nature of memory and the power of the human heart to heal. In her first full-length work of creative non-fiction, author Eileen Delehanty Pearkes investigates cultural ideas about care, compassion and loss in the face of her mother’s terminal illness.

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From the heart of the mountains in British Columbia comes this poignant memoir that delves into the nature of memory and the power of the human heart to heal. In her first full-length work of creative non-fiction, author Eileen Delehanty Pearkes investigates cultural ideas about care, compassion and loss in the face of her mother’s terminal illness.

When Pearkes first realizes that her mother has Alzheimer’s disease, she begins to consider what it means to be a mother, daughter and woman. Fuelled by a desire to heal herself, and care for her mother, Pearkes embarks on an inward journey toward understanding. During a winter spent in quiet reflection, she gathers historical, religious and mythic perspectives on beauty and womanhood which then nourish a contemplation of her own mother-daughter relationship. She discovers that beyond the fragility of her mother’s body and mind, something intangible and enduring remains untouched.

Lyrical and intimate, Pearkes’ voice resonates with the seasons as she takes us on a journey through winter to spring, from disintegration to wholeness. The evocative language of The Glass Seed reveals the influence of yoga, and an intensely personal approach to the politics of womanhood. From this emerging writer in the literary tradition of women’s spiritual memoir.

Eileen Delehanty Pearkes is also the author of The Geography of Memory (2002), co-author of The Inner Green (2005), and a major contributor to River of Memory (2006). She lives in southeastern British Columbia.

Paperback: 184 pages
Published: October 2007
ISBN-10: 1932018182
ISBN-13: 978-1932018189

Printed in Canada on 100% post consumer waste recycled paper that is acid free

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Cancellation Policy

To reserve your space we require a non-refundable $300 deposit at the time of booking.

  • The $300 deposit is non-refundable, but if you cancel with at least two weeks’ notice, your payment may be transferred to another stay at the Ashram. 
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Thank you for your consideration that will help make space available for other guests.