The Marion Woodman Book Club
The Ravaged Bridegroom: Masculinity in Women
HEALING YOUR INNER UNION
An 8-month intimate online exploration of your relationship with your Inner Masculine
“Sandra creates a wondrous alchemical vessel in her Marion Woodman Book Club groups. She expertly guides women in transmuting Woodman’s sometimes mystifying archetypal language and ideas into illuminating insights. As a result, her students are able to make significant leaps in consciousness that bring about real change in both their inner and outer lives.”
—Sil Read (Jungian Coach - Trained by Marion Woodman)
The Marion Woodman Book Club is for those who want to immerse themselves in Woodman’s magnificent books -within a community of soulful women- in order to embody her teachings in their everyday life in practical and profound ways.
“So long as we are blind to our inner tyrant, we blame an outer tyrant, some person or some system, for victimizing us.”
—Marion Woodman
Marion Woodman’s extraordinary book, The Ravaged Bridegroom, is about how we as women internalize the systemic oppression of patriarchy all around us – and at times become our own worst enemy. Patriarchy has become a parody of masculinity and we are often crippled by our inner tyrants, who are meaner to us than anyone else would ever be.
The inner masculine is not about gender but is an archetypal energy that lives in all of us, regardless of sex. It is the principle of consciousness that gives form, direction and structure to our lives. It is the part of us that says “I will”. Whilst the healthy inner feminine creates, intuits and imagines, the healthy masculine clarifies, decides and brings these imaginings to life. When they work together, we feel grounded in who we are, have a clear sense of purpose and act decisively whilst staying receptive and intuitive. This is inner union.
Join us for this creative, joyful, honest, devotional exploration of the ways our relationship to our inner masculine has been damaged and distorted by our personal lived experience and the conditioning of our culture, and begin to understand how we might heal the inner rift between masculine and feminine, and transform the power struggle into creative partnership. When we’re in inner union, everything blooms.
“This is a group of women coming together under the pretext of reading and talking about a book, but in fact they are coming together to re-discover, learn about and mirror back to each other their feminine nature. The experience is really about connecting to all the forgotten parts and remembering what it means to be truly alive as a woman in this world.”
—Corina (reading "The Pregnant Virgin")
Is this Book Club for you?
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Do you long to unfold your creative potential and bring your dreams to life, supported by your own encouraging inner masculine?
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Would you like to emerge into the wholeness of your own true life, rather than the one projected onto you?
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Do you long for more intimate and satisfying relationships?
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Do you long for a deeper understanding of masculine and feminine beyond the narrow confines of gender?
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Do you want to understand how the personal is political and how our patriarchal culture has shaped your inner world?
“This experience brought a depth that reading alone could never have offered. It allowed the material to truly land and permeate my being. It gave me the confidence to surrender, and a deep sense of validation around trust — in myself, in the process, and in the unseen.”
—Sian (reading "The Pregnant Virgin")
Over a period of 8 months, we will take a chapter a month and I will facilitate a process of enquiry and integration as we read and respond together to these timeless ideas and find their relevance in us today.
In preparation for each session, we will read a chapter from the book and perhaps some additional reading/watching to support our discussions. Participants will also receive prompts to stimulate and encourage your personal connection with the material.
This book club is for those who are familiar with Marion Woodman’s work. As we are a small group, the commitment is to join the whole of the session each month so as not to disrupt our conversations. Sessions are not recorded.
During our sessions, we will meet as a whole group initially (max 15 people) and then break out into groups of 3-4 people to reflect on specific questions.
What happens in Book Club
We meet on the second Thursday of each month from 7–9pm GMT.
Welcome Session
11 December 2025
Monthly Chapter Sessions
8 January • 12 February
12 March • 9 April
14 May • 11 June • 9 July
Integration Session
30 July 2026
Session Dates
“This group felt a very safe, loving and supportive container where I could bring my vulnerabilities, my not-knowings, my confusion and my insights. My overall experience was one of deep connection, not just to certain parts in the book but with all the beautiful souls within this group. I felt encouraged and supported by each and every one of them; I didn’t feel alone in my unfolding.”
—Dawn (reading "The Pregnant Virgin")
Investment
This program is offered on a community-supported sliding scale model.
Supporter Cost: £520 (£65 per session) — Supports both your own participation and helps another woman access the work.
True Cost of Program: £400 (£55 per session) — Covers the real cost of offering the program.
Subsidised Cost: £200 (£25 per session) — A reduced rate for those who need financial support at this time.
How to Apply
If you feel called to join us, we would love to hear from you. Because this container is intimate and capped at 15 women, we ask everyone to complete a short application so we can ensure the group is the right fit for where you are in your process.
You will hear back from Sandra within two days of submitting your application.
“The marriage of feminine and masculine is the true alchemy. It happens when consciousness (masculine) and matter (feminine) are united in love.”
– Marion Woodman
Frequently Asked Questions
Will there be recordings?
The calls will not be recorded as live participation is a key element of this group.
Why do you have an application?
This reading group is not for everyone: it’s for those with a deep curiosity about Marion Woodman, Jungian psychology and its application to their personal process. We also want to know more about you and make sure you’re ready to dive into the container.
Will there be homework?
There is no “official” homework but Sandra will always offer suggestions for further reading and exploration, maybe some prompts and questions between sessions and an invitation to follow your dreams so you can connect with how the material is dancing with your unconscious.
How large is the group?
There will be a maximum of 15 women in the group.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes, there is an 8 month instalment option. A small processing fee will also be added to each payment. The instalment option is available at checkout.
What is your refund policy?
Due to the intimate nature of this group and the very limited number of spaces, tuition is non-refundable once you join. If something unexpected arises, please reach out to Sandra and she will support you as best she can.
If you have any further questions or need help deciding if this Book Club is for you, please reach out.
© 2024 The Embodied Soul, a trading name of Sandra Hilton and OnPurpose Coaching: a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England
Company Number: 0835631 VAT number 153588780
© 2024 The Embodied Soul, a trading name of Sandra Hilton and OnPurpose Coaching: a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England
Company Number: 0835631 VAT number 153588780
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