Over many, many years we have been forced into roles that dried up our natural instincts and told us how we were meant to be and how to act in order to fit in and be accepted.
During my own lifetime I was born into a world where the only route for women was getting married to a man. Divorced women were shunned and we were being told to find a husband with a good job. Our job was to be an unpaid wife.
When I was 23 I said NO to it and joined Gloria Steimen and others in the early 70s but it was a long road toward Equal Opportunity and we still haven't reached it.
I knew what I was saying no to but didn't have a clue about who I was and what I was saying yes to. I started to follow my instincts. There were many dead ends and traps. Like a lost Wolf I needed to find my pack.
It was a slow process as I had no map, only intuition and some instinct.
Many times I was told to conform or be less loud, too emotional, or invalid. It caused me feel to dreed up and lose my natural vitality at times.
You might be reading this and are thinking - but it's 2026 now and not 1950. Wrong. Women can't speak up without being judged by how they look or act. Hilary Clinton and Michelle Obama good examples. Their Wild Women tried to reach them in the White House and no go.
In her book Clarissa Estés notes that "the systematic destruction of the Earth's natural wildlife mirrors the internal mismanagement and looting of the female psyche. As pristine wild lands disappear, understanding of inner wild nature fades as well.
When the Wild Woman archetype is suppressed, women can feel trapped, fearful, and uncreative.
But thank the goddess you can revive this "endangered" part of yourself through doing art, through myths, fairy tales, joining wild women groups and doing whatever it takes to find a deeper connection to your instincts.
When Women Who Run With the Wolves was published in 1992 I bought it and read every word over and over. She was speaking to me!
I moved to New Zealand the next year and stood up in front of 80 women and shared my version of unleashing your wild woman. I scheduled two women's groups on based on this book and they were both filled in moments.
I feel the need again. It has been a frightening time for women who are wanting to find their Wild Women again. When we are out in nature women feel the connection again when we call her and invite her to our circle. However there is only a small group who goes to these retreats with me. I want to reach more!
I decided to step into an online version. I have been averse to it as Wild Women doesn't live in digital reality but I have figured out a solution with her help. It is going to be amazing!!
REVIVING YOUR WILD WOMAN
Three week instinctual Circle
January 12, 19, 26
