Women Who Run With The Wolves is written by Clarissa Pinkola Estes PhD who is an award winning poet, Jungian Psychoanalyst and Cantadora (keeper of the old stories in the Latina tradition). This is a beautiful and life-changing book that illustrates how all human beings are born gifted with a spirit of wildness in their soul.

In a beautiful flow of stories, poems and translations from her original literary works, Clarissa weaves the 'soulful and psychic essence of our integral instinctual nature' into the continuum of our lifetime journey through the natural world.

This work of art came into being over a long period of time. The book has 500 pages (one in five parts), all of which took 21 years to write. You can feel the richness of the knowledge, the depth of meaning, the breadth of experience, and the power of intuitive skills that orchestrate a flow of wisdom that you just want to sink in and become absorbed. On the first reading, I didn't stop to think, I just let the words flow as each story, each part of the life journey, touched me and stirred memories and experiences deep within my soul.

Women Who Run With The Wolves is a contemplative work of individuation which is 'a process of transformation whereby the personal and collective unconscious are brought into consciousness to be assimilated into the whole personality.' This invites the reader to weigh their personal life against what is proposed within these pages, as a contribution to what is known and what is needed in a true psychology of a woman.

Set out in 16 stand alone sections with 19 beautiful stories tracing the journey of the soul at different stages of awakening, this is not a quick fix but a lifetime companion to be absorbed carefully and slowly with the same intent as it was written; to be studied, thought about, processed and reconciled with one's own understanding. The wisdom of lifetimes contained in this book can be returned to time and time again depending on where you are on your own journey (or to understand where someone else might be on theirs). This leads to greater enlightenment and the empowerment and confidence that comes from a sense of deeper knowing.

In conclusion, Clarissa states that 'one must have psychological and spiritual strength in order to go forward, and that this is true for women and men alike.' The practice of strengthening ourselves is essential to enable us to strive to be our true selves at every stage of our life journey. Focusing our attention and devotion to the true nature of 'soul' and using questioning insight to gain a clearer understanding of ourselves, is a gift we all possess which this book can help us to discover and enrich for ourselves.

And so, in the first chapter we learn that 'Singing over bones' is to say on the breath the truth of one's power and one's need. This is to breathe the soul over the things that are ailing us or in need of revival. This exquisitely powerful book achieves this in so many ways and it is no wonder it began a revolution and continues to transform the lives of millions of people around the world.

Sue Cartwright

Spiral Leaf

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Women Who Run With The Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes