Women Who Run with the Wolves

Estés emphasizes that many women are alienated from their innate, intuitive nature, which she personifies in the archetype of the Wild Woman. Through stories such as "La Loba" and "The Ugly Duckling," she argues that women must find like-minded communities and reconnect with their deepest instincts in order to regain their psychological vitality. Asserting that many women have suppressed their desires in a misguided attempt to conform to mainstream society, Estés stresses the importance of embracing solitude, creative expression, and symbolic rituals in order to reawaken their passion for life in its most authentic forms. Rather than focusing on being productive in a conventional sense, she recommends that women forge uniquely creative spaces for themselves through tactics such as journaling, exploring ancestral traditions, and venturing into the natural world. These activities introduce new patterns of thought, allowing women to break out of their routines and discover unique sources of joy and connection.

In the tale of Vasalisa and Baba Yaga, Estés uses the protagonist’s completion of the “Wild Goddess’s” impossible tasks to suggest that women must learn to honor their intuition as a powerful, guiding force rather than allowing external pressures to silence their instincts.