Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype
Clarissa Pinkola Estes
A couple of years ago, I lead a women's book club focusing on this book. I had listened to a condensed version years earlier. I remember feeling like a door had been opened and my inner sage awakened. I felt a validation of some of the confusing feelings I had been having as a pre-menopausal, mid-life woman. I was overcome with an emotional excitement. A new friend of mine had loaned the CD to me and I remember that I had been out on a walk when I finished the recording. I happened to be near her house, so I took a chance and knocked on her door. When she opened, I burst into tears of joy as I thanked her for sharing it with me. She was very gracious and shared that it had impacted her in a similar way. That was the beginning of what was to become a very important and dear friendship.
I had no idea how much more complex the full book is or how profound our experience would be as we shared our individual experiences. We read the book, shared our thoughts, and even did interactive exercises and creative projects that related to the stories. I learned a lot about myself through it and I believe it was a pivotal moment in my own heroine's journey. I was a full time working artist at that point in my life, but I was also searching for more. I felt a deep calling to help other women. I didn't know what that would look like yet, but the call was strong.
The stories in "Women Who Run With the Wolves" serve both as a mirror reflecting our untamed nature inherent within us and as a guide through the labyrinth of societal expectations and self-discovery. It aims to empower women as it reconnects us with our instinctual nature, often suppressed in a world that values conformity over individuality. Through the exploration of myths and stories, we are encouraged to embrace our true selves, including our strength, creativity, intuition, and passion.
It also offers insights into the struggles and challenges that we as women face, such as the loss of identity or voice, and provides healing narratives that help in understanding and overcoming these issues. Moreover, it encourages women to explore and accept the full range of our emotions and experiences, from joy and love to anger and grief, thus promoting psychological and emotional wellness.
"Women Who Run With the Wolves" was certainly a transformative experience. It left me with a lot of questions that could only be answered over time... on my heroine's journey. I continue to read books that nurture my soul, foster a deep sense of empowerment, and help me rekindle a connection with my wild, intuitive self. This book is an invaluable resource for women seeking to live a more authentic and liberated life and I cannot recommend it any higher.
