Photo: Two Book Theives

Inspired by her life experience, by the path she has taken, and by the lessons she has managed to learn - some harder than other - Rupi reaches us transparently, in the shape of a delightful and moving collection of poems and prose.

Milk and honey can be the regenerating ingredients with healing powers, or the mirror of what we are as women: smooth, pleasant, and harmonious, yet thick, resilient, and courageous!

These are the messages we learned through milk&honey – and we recommend that you read this collection as well, over and over again, until these messages are so intrinsic that they are part of you.

#01 Nothing hurts forever

It is through a testimony of abuse, trauma, and loss that Rupi Kaur teaches us that yes, life can and will hurt, in various circumstances, and in various ways. But she also reminds us that within us lies the power to be reborn from this pain even stronger.

No pain that lasts forever, but all experiences - good or bad - are what makes us who we are. Only by accepting and growing from loss can we evolve.

#02 We are all special in our own way

No one is more or less than anyone. What we live and experience, our scars and battles, are what makes us unique. With our particularities, we must know how to celebrate and support ourselves, and especially love ourselves.

We are all special, and we must know how to live in harmony, respecting what sets us apart.

Photo: @reihezzle (via Instagram)

#03 Our body is ours, and nobody else's

One of the most challenging aspects of a woman's life is learning to live with her body. We grew up in a world where we are taught to accept from an early age that our body does not belong to us and that it functions as an object of leisure and pleasure of others.

Rupi Kaur teaches us to take what is ours. To live intensely, without fear of feeling and accepting our femininity. For good and bad, our body is ours and ours alone. Accepting our imperfections and our nature is to know how to love ourselves.

#04 We must fight for what we believe

It may be common sense, but the truth is that we often relegate what we believe in for fear of being misunderstood.

In milk&honey Rupi Kaur teaches us to defend what we believe in, to assert our beliefs, to manifest our values. The most beautiful part of living in a society is to accept that our opinions do not have to be equal in order to live in communion.

Photo: @thebookgeek1 (via Instagram)

#05 Violence and abuse are not love

All over the world, there are experiences of abuse and violence in relationships that should be based on love. Rupi teaches us that as much as we want to insist, a toxic love will never be a healthy love. Be it a relationship of father and children, husband and wife, love must always be the constant, not the variable.

In a world where violence and love, oddly enough, come together so often, it is important to remember that we must not accept subjugation and that we must value who we are in the first place.

Photo: Rupi Kaur

milk & honey is a book about being a woman, about sexuality, about love and scars, about abuse and trauma, about loss. Even though the message is heavy, Rupi Kaur can embrace us in every word and make us feel safe and powerful in this comforting book.

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