The WOMEN WHO RUN WITH THE WOLVES

By Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Released : 07/11/2020

Reviewed : 23/10/2020

Reviewed by : Langlen Chanu

I got this spiritual and the most inspiring book of Clarissa Pinkola Estés, a Psycoanalyst and a Cantadora from Ukiyo Bookstore. This book helped me to explore many folklores all around the world and as we are living in a place of traditionally rich folk tales, this gave me a whole new look in each story we hear since childhood.

Story is a medicine which strengthens the individual and the community aright.
In the first story of \”La Loba, Wild Women\”, she urges women to find their instincts, their deeper knowing since beside her is patroness to all painters, writers, dancers, sculptors, thinkers and many more. Within us are the bones to change not only ourselves but our world too. Each self is durable, resilient and possesses high intuition. As we pour our soul we are revivified. Intuition is the treasure to women\’s psychic.

In the story of \’Bluebeard\’, the writer analysed the deep meaning of psychic nature and how naive women are as prey. Naive in a sense when women begin their lives, their feminine viewpoint is very naive as the emotional understanding of the covert is very faint. Error of judgement is almost routine in a young woman.

Again, she talks about how a woman\’s curiosity was given a quite negative connotation whereas a man with the same attribute was called investigative but in reality it attempts to attack women\’s most fundamental powers – differentiation and determination.

She portrays women souls as starved souls since women have souls needed to express herself in her own ways. If the culture is a healer, the families learn how to heal; women will struggle less, far less wounding, far more graceful and loving. They need to develop and blossom in ways that are sensible to themselves. To take the world into one\’s arms and to act towards it in a soul-filled and soul-strengthening manner is a powerful act of wildish spirit.
The persona of being too nice and over adaptable women is not simply a mask to hide behind, but rather a presence which eclipses the mundane personality. This often occurs when they are desperately afeared of being disenfranchised or found unnecessary. Each woman has her own preferences. Observing the power of unconscious and how it works even when the ego is not aware is all women needs. Letting live and letting die is very important in one\’s life. It is a natural rhythm for women to understand and to live but we shouldn\’t overdo any of it.

This book also talks about Dual nature of women. One more happy and elastic while the other is longing for \”I know not what\”. If a woman hides one side or favours other, she lives a very lopsided life which does not give her access to her entire power. We need to develop both sides as knowing a person\’s true name means to know the life path and soul attributes of the person.

The writer talks about how Love is seldom a romantic tryst between two lovers by analyzing the story of \’Skeleton Women\’ in various phases :
The first phase as Accidental finding of love instead of enacting a fantasy, the more challenging relationship begins in earnest and all one\’s craft and wisdom must be called into action. Love costs, it costs bravery and going the distance.
Second phase as the Chase and the Hiding where fear of commitment is raised which is only a symptom, the deeper issue is one of misbelief and distrust.
The phases of Sleep of trust as men and women must let themselves sleep from trust and return to a wise innocence.
The one that creates and recreates through Giving the tears followed by Hearts as Drum and Singing up.

There are many more stories related to psychic understanding between women with their mothers and their belongings and stages of how forgiveness works. Each and every one of us needs to read this book regardless of the gender. It gives a great insight of how one’s instinct and intuition works.
\”Handless maiden\”; \”La Mariposa\”; \”The little match girl\”; \”La Llorona\”; \”Sealskin, Soul skin\” analysis of the above mentioned stories were my favourite among many others. I can assure that the stories won\’t let your expectation downgraded.

Happy Reading.