Stepping Out of the Shadows: Naming and Claiming the Medial Woman Today

5 Star Review

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Editorial Book Review:

By William Reimers

Some books give language to experiences people have carried silently for years, and Stepping Out of the Shadows is one of those rare works. It matters because it names something many women have felt but never quite known how to claim. From the opening pages, the book feels like an invitation to step into visibility rather than explanation, and that alone gives it quiet power.

Reading this book offers a sense of validation and broadening of perspective. There is a sense of relief associated with acknowledgment, as if profoundly internal experiences are finally being recognized without judgment. Roberta articulates herself in a manner that cultivates trust in one’s comprehension and invokes an emotional reaction that is concurrently tender and uplifting. The book addresses the reader on an individual basis through the presentation of perceptive yet straightforward questions regarding identity, intuition, and self-empowerment.

The central themes revolve around intuition, perception, and the revival of a form of knowledge that has often been marginalized or misunderstood. Roberta analyzes the implications inherent in existing at the intersection of multiple domains—inner and outer, conscious and unconscious—and reflects on the factors that make this position both susceptible and resilient. These principles transcend gender and spirituality, encompassing creativity, leadership, healing, and the valor required to live authentically.

Roberta's writing style is reflective and multidimensional, synthesizing personal insights, theoretical frameworks, and the viewpoints of other women. The structure appears more organic than linear, reflecting the inherent character of medial experience. Her prose is both evocative and precise; her imagery frequently draws upon the human form and the natural world, thereby rendering complex concepts both accessible and fundamentally tangible.

Noteworthy experiences encompass narratives of women achieving self-recognition within the framework of the medial, alongside contemplations on the dual nature of silence as both a safeguard and a constraint. The passages concerning the reclamation of language and the identification of one's talents are particularly noteworthy for their lucidity and empathy.

By the concluding pages, Stepping Out of the Shadows imparts a compelling sense of empowerment and potential. It is a book designed for individuals who have encountered feelings of invisibility or misinterpretation and are ready to embrace their inner authority. It is of notable importance as it functions as a prompt to readers that advancement commences with the recognition of one's current identity.

About the Author 

Roberta Bassett Corson

Roberta Bassett Corson, known as Bobbie, describes herself as a Medial Woman, living at the meeting place of inner and outer worlds, spirit and intellect, intuition and daily life. Love, gratitude, and wonder shape her way of being. She feels deeply blessed by her family and community and is passionate about gatherings of diverse people. She values handwritten letters, feels sustained by trees, and is nourished by color and design. Bobbie trusts intuitive ways of knowing, listens to her dreams, and feels a strong call to create. She is drawn to those who suffer, is not afraid of death, and believes in the Eternal Power of Love, which she calls God and understands to be known by many names.

Bobbie grew up in Palo Alto, California, the eldest child in a medical family with three younger brothers. Her mother was a nurse who became a full time mother, and her father was a physician and medical school professor. Her childhood was grounded in love, honesty, hard work, and practical values. Music was central in her life, and she played the violin from childhood into adulthood. Summers were spent immersed in nature at her family’s cabin at Fallen Leaf Lake near Lake Tahoe. The deaths of her father and one brother from different diseases the year she graduated from college marked a profound turning point for her family.

Bobbie earned a BA in English from Lawrence University, an MDiv from Pacific School of Religion, and a PhD in Clinical and Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. She also trained as a hospital chaplain at the University of California San Francisco. She met her husband in seminary, and they have been married for over 56 years. Together they served as co pastors in culturally diverse United Methodist churches for 35 years while she also worked as a clinical psychologist. Now retired, they live in Saratoga, California, a place she experiences as deeply medial.