A review by jedore
Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

Compliance causes a shocking realization that must be registered by all women. That is, to be ourselves causes us to be exiled by many others, and yet to comply with what others want causes us to be exiled from ourselves. It is a tormenting tension and it must be borne, but the choice is clear.

First of all, I have to say that trying to choose a favorite quote from this book is absolutely ridiculous. Every page had at least one mind or soul blowing nugget for me.

This was not an easy book for me to read. If fact, quite often it felt like required reading for an undergraduate women's studies course. But, I vowed not to take a light-hearted reading break like I did nearly a decade ago and to power through to the end.

It wasn't difficult because it was boring or overly challenging. It just felt like every sentence had the power to change me and had me thinking deeply about my past, present, and future. There is much to digest here if you want to connect with the wild woman inside of you. 

And, trust me, YOU REALLY, REALLY DO. 

I was gifted the book back when I was still married, but it sat on my shelf until about a decade ago when I read the first third. This launched me into a belated initiation into wild womanhood. Although I did myself a disservice by not finishing it back then, living wildly didn't leave me a whole lot of time to do so! 

Now, as I prepare to move into the house I built out of my dreams where the jungle touches the sea in Panamá, I finally got around to finishing it. 

So much wisdom, love, and support of women on these pages! So many reminders and so much validation. And, just the guidance I needed for my latest chapter...and onward. 

Clarissa Pinkola Estes helped to fill a massive gap in my life. She's my surrogate mom and will always be one of my guides.