Clarissa Pinkola Estés (b.1945,) née Reyes,is an American poet, psychoanalyst, and author renowned for her work in depth psychology, storytelling, and cultural myth. She is best known for her seminal book, Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype (1992,) which has become a cornerstone in feminist literature and psychology.
Born in gary Indiana to a family of Mexican and Hungarian descent, Estés grew up in a rich oral storytelling tradition. She pursued her education in psychology, earning a PhD in ethno-clinical psychology, focusing on Jungian psychoanalysis and the role of stories in human healing. Her cultural background and academic training deeply influenced her later work, which combines mythological themes with therapeutic insight.
Estés gained worldwide recognition with Women Who Run with the Wolves (1992,) a groundbreaking exploration of the “wild woman” archetype through myths, fairy tales, and folklore. The book, which remained on The New York Times bestseller list for an extended period, empowers women to reconnect with their instinctual and creative selves.
Beyond her literary success, Estés is a skilled storyteller, weaving narratives to address trauma, healing, and spiritual growth. Her other works include The Faithful Gardener: A Wise Tale About That Which Can Never Die (1996) and Untie the Strong Woman: Blessed Mother’s Immaculate Love for the Wild Soul (2011.) She has also produced numerous audio programs, such as The Dangerous Old Woman (2010,) which explore themes of wisdom and resilience.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Clarissa Pinkola Estes
I hope you will go out and let stories happen to you, and that you will work them, water them with your blood and tears and you laughter till they bloom, till you yourself burst into bloom.
—Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Topics: Growth
Refuse to fall down. If you cannot refuse to fall down, refuse to stay down. If you cannot refuse to stay down, lift your heart toward heaven, and like a hungry beggar, ask that it be filled, and it will be filled. You may be pushed down. You may be kept from rising. But no one can keep you from lifting your heart toward heaven.
—Clarissa Pinkola Estes
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