Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Sometimes the universe delivers just the book you need, at just the right time, and for me this is one of those books. Spotted in the non-fiction section at our local charity book sale, I hadn’t heard of this book before, but something drew me to pick it up and take it home. Maybe it was the mythology promised on the front cover, or maybe it was the wolves and Wild Women that I knew hid within. Either way, this was just the transformational book that I needed this year - irregardless of show more the fact that it took me almost 5 months to read. In each chapter author Estés shares a folkloric tale and then proceeds to examine it in terms of feminist theory, psychology, and for its storytelling mythos. Throughout the stories the emergence of the Wild Woman is prominent, and while the book may begin as a collection of tales and anecdotes it quickly moves into the realm of self-affirming ethos. For me, at this particular point in my life, the book served as a reminder of the Wild Woman inside that was buried for far too long. So now it’s time to collect the bones, rove the world, and most importantly to Howl at what brings me joy. show less

I picked up this book because I love folklore, mythology and stories. I was unprepared for the tidal wave of ancestral knowledge that each familiar tale could offer me. The author examines a collection of popular stories in granular detail. She lovely isolates each piece and shares both its history at how it can be applied to the psychology of women. What do these stories tell us about how to love, how to grow, how to grow old? What do the warn us of? What can they teach us about show more ourselves?

This text is deep and even after the hundreds of pages in this volume, I felt like there was still so much more to learn. These cultural stories are not shared merely as a means of entertainment on a dark night, but as an ever evolving guide for those with a willingness to hear. show less

I bought this book way back when it first exploded the world when it came out, back in the late 1990s. But never got around to reading it. But then my new Bitches with Bookmarks group picked it for our first group read and I was elated that it was something that I already had on my shelves.

I had a lot of feelings about this, and to be honest, I might not have slogged through if it hadn't been for the book club. I understand that she's dealing in achetypes, and that those of course have to show more match up to stereotypes to a certain extent, but the amount of hetero-, cis- and gender binary normativity here sometimes had me rolling my eyes.

I do, however, believe in the power of stories to help us explain, interpret, and reimagine our lives. I am certain it is more effective in a one-on-one session, as with a Jungian therapist, and it's hard to make a one-size-fits-all interpretation as with this book.

So I tried to read with an open mind and find the things that related to me and brush by the rest. Of course, much of the bits on breaking free from a life that's slowly strangling you and embracing your creativity resonated with me. It was a worthwhile read in the end, in that it prompts a lot of reflection on the authenticity of your life choices. show less

Clarissa Pinkola Estes' work has always had a profound effect on me. Whenever I come across one of her books I haven't seen before, I pace around it like a blank canvas for fear of what will come up, whether I'll be able to handle it when it does or, worst of all, that nothing will come up, but will stay frozen or lost in the void. Being a great lover of fairy tales and all such things, I've never experienced the latter after delving into Estes' work -- though sometimes, especially around show more the issues she uncovers in this particular work, what does come up is so terrifying I would almost rather stay frozen.

After listening to this I felt scattered, as if all my usual bearings had been blown away. It tore me into little pieces...and then put me back together again, like a shamanic initiation. I still feel weird, like something has changed but I can't say what. This feeling might last awhile. But it's all good. I think. Anyway, highly recommended. show less