PHOTO: OLIVIA BEE
“The psyches and souls of women have their own cycles and seasons of doing and solitude, running and staying, being involved and being removed, questing and resting, creating and incubating, being of the world and returning to the soul-place…”
“In order to converse with the wild feminine, a woman must temporarily leave the world and inhabit a state of aloneness in the oldest sense of the word. Long ago the word alone was treated as two words, all one. To be all one, meant to be wholly one, to be in oneness, either essentially or temporarily. That is precisely the goal of solitude, to be all one. It is the cure for the frazzled state so common to modern women…”
“Women from ancient times as well as modern aboriginal women set a sacred place aside for this communion and inquiry. Traditionally, it is said to have been set aside during women’s menses, for during that time woman lives much closer to self-knowing than usual; the membrane between the unconscious and the conscious minds thins considerably. Feelings memories, sensations that are normally blocked from consciousness pass over into cognizance without resistance. when a woman takes solitude during this time, she has more material to sift through.”
“However in my exchanges with tribal women from North, Central and South America, as well as female progeny of some of the Slavic tribes, I find that ‘women places’ were used anytime, not just during menses, and more so, that each woman often had her own ‘woman place’, consisting of a certain tree, place at the water’s edge, or some natural forest or desert room or ocean cave.”
“Much of modern woman’s premenstrual crankiness is not just a physical syndrome but it equally attributable to her being thwarted in her need to take enough time away to revivify and renew herself.”
“I always laugh when I hear someone quoting early anthropologists who claimed that menstruating women of various tribes were considered ‘unclean’ and forced to leave the village until they were ‘over it.’ All women know that even if there were such a forced exile ritual, every single woman, to a woman, would, when her time came, leave the village hanging her head mournfully, at least till she was out of sight, and then suddenly break into a jig down the path, cackling all the way.”
~Clarissa Pinkola Estes from Women Who Run with the Wolves
333k
0
10k
14 comments
Ola says:
Aug 18, 2011
That is wonderful, I especially love the last line. I am busy reading Women who run with the wolves at the moment and really enjoying it. Yes, we all need our time, as a mother of two, I definitely don’t feel like I have enough.
mm says:
Aug 19, 2011
Thanks Ola! I got this quote from that same book. I too have been reading it an enjoying it;) It’s got a lot of good wisdom in there.. .we all need to be reminded of how important it is as women, as mothers, to take the time to be by ourselves and nourish our inner life! Lovely site you have! Thanks for connecting :)
Ella says:
Mar 31, 2017
Your answer was just what I neeedd. It’s made my day!
Oldecrone says:
Feb 6, 2012
I read Women Who Run With Wolves back in 1992-93. It was the beginning of my “Awakening”. It is a wonderful book, one I bought both of my daughters when then turned 16.
mm says:
Feb 13, 2012
♥
Raya says:
Oct 12, 2011
We get so wrapped up with being “productive”, “achieving”, “doing”, proving to ourselves and others that we’re “still on top of our game” that we destroy our integrity, our inner peace and the joyful, childlike sense of accomplishment that comes from just being joyful in the present moment … with oneself… in gratitude and unconditional love for who we already are first and foremost, and then for the opportunity to decide who we want to become… I started reading this book when I was pregnant and still didn’t know it… It’s a gift not only to every woman but to any conscious soul… Thank you MM, Love always… R.
Steph Cowling says:
Dec 22, 2011
yes.
Katt says:
May 3, 2012
Beautiful…
DragonQueen1023 says:
Apr 11, 2013
This book is my bible. I am grateful for Clarissa’s stories and insights and I am also grateful for such a lovely site here on Mystic Mama, thank you <3
Elizabeth says:
May 14, 2013
I’m reading this book now and its changing my life. thanks for sharing!
mm says:
May 22, 2013
wonderful!!â¤
Taylor says:
Mar 27, 2014
Thank you thank you thank you. Im now aware of whats been missing, sending much gratitude to you love!! <3<3<3
CreativeExpress says:
Jul 7, 2014
It is nice to be reminded of a woman’s cycles. We get caught up in the busyness of life and don’t realize what our bodies and spirit are telling us we need. Dr. Estes has been a favorite of mine for years. No one else can say it like she does! Ola’s comment is inspiring me to pick Women Who Run With the Wolves back up again and reread.
Nealy says:
Feb 7, 2021
My best friend who is much younger than me, gave me this book as a gift before I moved away. I am so excited to read this book as I look up to her for soo many reasons. She is wise beyond her years and pure at heart like a fresh born baby. I have only heard from others and from reviews that this is and must be a staple for every woman. I recommend this book to every woman so we may all be reminded of this connection, this Symbiotic Synergy that prevails within our bodies; connecting us to higher forces (moon and the stars), uplifting the curtain to the unlock the field of infinite potentiality. We are the creators, we are the sun And the moon. We keep the balance. Without wombyn there would be no balance. Thank you MAMMA MYSTIC and to the author of the most important books of our times for women everywhere. (P.s. please start posting the moon/astrological events again. I followed your sight religiously for the past few years for that specific thing- every month. Please- and thank you sooo much for this site!) blesss