Currently Reading: Women Who Run With the Wolves
It's been a long time since I've read a book as meaningful and insightful as "Women Who Run With the Wolves" by Clarissa Pinkola Estes. The author proves to be both a scholar and poet in the way that she brings her work to life. Through a fine combination of anthropological studies and stories passed on by past generations, Estes captures the essence of what it means to be a woman and how we can regain some of our feminine identity that has been lost in translation throughout the years.
As a self-professed modern-era feminist (a.k.a. girl power, without all the drama) this book inspired me to look at the "wild woman" archetype and how these lessons personally affect who I am, what I identify with as a female, and as a result, question my view of the world. This book is a gift to all readers, and will empower everyone, not just women. I recommend it to anyone who wants a better peek into our wild natures and why we should always embrace them.
Standout quotes:
1.) “The way to maintain one's connection to the wild is to ask yourself what it is that you want. This is the sorting of the seed from the dirt. One of the most important discriminations we can make in this matter is the difference between things that beckon to us and things that call from our souls. Nowhere can this be seen more clearly than in the choice of mates and lovers. A lover cannot be chosen a la smorgasbord. A lover has to be chosen from soul-craving. To choose just because something mouthwatering stands before you will never satisfy the hunger of the soul-self. And that is what the intuition is for; it is the direct messenger of the soul.”
2.) “When we accept our own wild beauty, it is put into perspective, and we are no longer poignantly aware of it anymore, but neither would we forsake it or disclaim it either. Does a wolf know how beautiful she is when she sleeps? Does a feline know what beautiful shapes she makes when she sits? Is a bird awed by the sound it hears when it snaps open its wings? Learning from them, we just act in our own true way and do not draw back from or hide our natural beauty. Like the creatures, we just are, and it is right.”
3.) “Though fairy tales end after ten pages, our lives do not. We are multi-volume sets. In our lives, even though one episode amounts to a crash and burn, there is always another episode awaiting us and then another. There are always more opportunities to get it right, to fashion our lives in the ways we deserve to have them. Don’t waste your time hating a failure. Failure is a greater teacher than success.”
Hermione Approved!
Back in February, Emma Watson promoted the book on Instagram for her book club and she described it as "life-changing." 10 points for Gryffindor! (Sorry, couldn't help it.)
"There are a million little stories and myths and fairy tales within this bigger volume, so you kind of need to pace yourself with it. But it's life-changing. It's such a great book." - Emma Watson, PopSugar Interview
[Get your copy here: Amazon]