Healing Journeys with the Black Madonna

Chants, Music, and Sacred Practices of the Great Goddess

By: Alessandra Belloni, Matthew Fox - foreword

Narrated by: Alessandra Belloni, Matthew Fox - foreword

Length: 16 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

An experiential guide to the ancient healing rituals of the Black Madonna

• Reveals the practices and rites of the still-living cult of the Black Madonna in the remote villages of Southern Italy, including the healing rites of the tarantella dance
• Details shamanic chants, rhythms, and songs and how to use them for self-healing, transformation, and recovery from abuse, trauma, depression, and addiction
• Explores the many sacred sites of the Madonnas and connects them to other Great Goddesses, such as Isis, Aphrodite, Cybeles, and the Orisha Yemanja and Ochun

The mysteries of the Black Madonna can be traced to pre-Christian times, to the ancient devotion to Isis, the Earth Goddess, and the African Mother, to the era when God was not only female but also black. Sacred sites of the Black Madonna are still revered in Italy, and, as Alessandra Belloni reveals, the shamanic healing traditions of the Black Madonna are still alive today and just as powerful as they were millennia ago.

Sharing her more than 35 years of research and fieldwork at sacred sites around the world, Belloni takes you on a mystical pilgrimage of empowerment, initiation, and transformation with the Black Madonna. She explains how her love for Italian folk music led her to learn the ancient tammorriata musical tradition of the Earth Goddess Cybele and the Moon Goddess Diana and discover the still-living cult of the Black Madonna in the remote villages of Southern Italy. She vividly describes the sensual shamanic drumming and ecstatic trance dance rituals she experienced there, including the rites of the tammorriata, the transgender rite of Femminielli, and the erotic “spider dance” of the tarantella, which has been used for centuries in the Mediterranean for healing. Sharing chants, rhythms, and sacred songs, she details how she uses these therapeutic musical and trance practices to heal women and men from abuse, trauma, depression, and addiction and shows how these practices can be used for self-healing and transformation, including her personal story of using the tarantella to overcome cervical cancer.

Revealing the profound transformative power of the Black Madonna, Belloni shows how She is the womb of the earth, the dark side of the moon, and the Universal Mother to all. Truly alive for all to call upon, She embraces and gives everyone access to Her divine strength and unconditional love.

©2019 Alessandra Belloni. All Rights Reserved. (P)2019 Inner Traditions Audio. All Rights Reserved.

Critic reviews

“Belloni has done her homework and her heart work, danced the dance, drummed the drums and tambourines, bled while doing so, in a shamanistic gift for our times.” (Matthew Fox, spiritual theologian, activist, and author of Original Blessing)

“In her book Healing Journeys with the Black Madonna, master musician, dance and music historian, and imaginative storyteller Alessandra Belloni captures the magic of the feminine soul of Southern Italy. She explores the origins of the Black Madonna from the ancient goddesses of Greece and North Africa to the syncretism with Catholicism in Italy. With brilliant storytelling, she shares of the spirit of the Black Madonna as she is experienced in modern Italy. Most importantly, this book transports readers on an inner journey in which they experience the archetype of the Black Madonna within, so they may continue to keep her mystery and healing alive in today’s world. Read this book and be transformed!” (Dr. Gabrielle Francis, author of The Rockstar Remedy)

“Healing Journeys with the Black Madonna is an emotional tour de force that will leave you astonished by its power. But I warn you, this is not a book for those who are not ready to reflect deeply on their wounds, how they were created, and the path of recovery. The honesty within these pages is rare and appreciated in a world that often thrives off of gilded artifice and the excuses it often births. Do yourself a favor and purchase two copies of this book, one for yourself and one for someone else. The Black Madonna will let you know who is in need.” (Tayannah Lee McQuillar, author of The Sibyls Oraculum)

Incredible Journey!

I was led to this book by The Black Madonna. Alessandra has truly been touched by the Black Madonna, and this book felt like a channeling of her. As Alessandra spoke of the various locations I felt transported there, and like I was receiving initiations and attunement just from listening. Alessandra makes an amazing case for the power of The Black Madonna. I highly recommend this book and all of Alessandra’s music. She has really woven together a wonderful experience. Thank you!

Great book!

It's a marvelous experience to listen this amazing investigation in the voice of the author even though her English is not perfect the message is sublime. Thank you Alessandra .🙏💗🌹

Amazing!

I had to order the hard copy too. This book is so incredible. The experiences, the history, everything is here. I felt so moved through the entire time I listened. I couldn’t wait to listen every day. The fact the author reads it and you can hear her bracelets jingle as she turns the pages in the book adds to the emotion of the book. I felt like I was with her in the room being read to. I find it interesting the only bad review here is from a male who wants scientific proof of a spirit. That makes no sense.

My connection to the black Madonna grew vastly from having this book. I am happy to have the hard copy too now so I can look up all the references from the audio that I deemed important. Get this book if you want a deeper connection to the divine feminine aspect of spirituality. You don’t need to be catholic experience her. I am not catholic at all nor am I Christian. I am a spiritist and felt welcomed to read this book and very welcomed by the Madonna. GET THIS BOOK!

Brilliant!

I was hesitant to order this but found it to be captivating and learned so much. Alessandra takes you on an incredible journey to meet the Black Madonna. She weaves the history of various Madonnas and Pagan Goddesses brilliantly.

Disappointing. No audio tracks.

Long-winded and repetitive, over-detailed descriptions of the author's life, goddesses, which the author seems to think actually exist (on the moon?), and shamanic healing rituals which is a mere tease, because the music tracks aren't even included in the audible download. Their inclusion might have made this audible worth the money.