“THE HOUSE OF SPIRITS” – ISABEL ALLENDE’S REMARKABLE WOMEN
- BY LIANA SIDERI

As I was contemplating “Fifty is the New Fifty,” I kept thinking of the immense resilience characteristic of the female nature, the concept of which you illustrate so beautifully. And though most of us have been taught to be in control of the many roles we shuffle daily (and of those we were never called to assume but we have), eventually we come to a point where we need to reevaluate the meaning of and the reasons for control in our lives and shift our intentions towards taking charge by “coping with the unexpected” as you mention in your book.

I couldn’t help but think about these ideas as I was finishing reading Isabel Allende’s “The House of the Spirits.” Allende’s book features so many remarkable characters of strong, resilient women, who redefine themselves through their circumstance and their personal calling. I was very moved by each and everyone of them (not a difficult task for a tearing sucker as myself).
I felt awe following the stories of these women. But, I felt particularly shaken by the conscious decision of the youngest heroine, Alba, who having endured severe injustice, danger, torture, rape, mistreatment, etc., finally finds herself in an unexpected environment of a tremendously nurturing force: a women’s political prison where she is received and cared for with compassion. There she is collectively restored back to physical and mental health by the unyielding and tenacious efforts of the inmates’ support through singing, touching, nursing, talking, work therapy, tender yet pragmatic motherly and sisterly care. In other words, a true definition of continuous collective love.

Imagine what this can do to all size groups and nations! This loving friendship is precisely what makes Alba’s karma change. She consciously makes the decision to stop the cycle of destruction and hatred and break the chain of repetition of violence in her life. She’s managed to forgive herself and those monstrous perpetrators who most of us would have thought it impossible to stop hating, let alone forgive.

Resilience, Love, Support, Expression and an ever growing, hungry spirit for life is Alba’s legacy.

Want to learn more about Isabel Allende’s books, foundation and see her wonderful album of family photos, visit: www.isabelallende.com.

Click on her 2008 TED Conference Speech – “Isabel Allende: Tales of Passion” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E11cDEr272Y).

It is remarkable – enjoy!

By Liana Sideri