I am listening to Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes on audio and she is blowing me away! This audio is entitled, The Dangerous Old Woman, and Dr. Estes talks about the Myths and Stories of the Wise Woman Archetype. Oh, but she doesn't just talk! She paints pictures with her words and tells stories in her delightful voice and imaginative way of storytelling. I am immersed in the tales of danger and suspense and loving the interpretations she shares! She changed my life years ago, when I first read her bestseller, Women Who Run with the Wolves. I fell in love with that book. Truth be told, I became somewhat obsessed. :) I have always loved fairy tales and stories, and to hear the interpretations and understand the metaphors and the history...well, it was fascinating and wonderful.
And now, here she is again...changing my life.
Today, I want to share some of her blessing from the very last session of The Dangerous Old Woman. She refers to Fear. "As you know, I am not very big on fear..." She adds, "Most Fear is...fear to live fully, in full power."
She mentions, with a chuckle that there are some fears she would like us to have: "Fear not loving while you have the chance." "Fear becoming bitter." "Fear cynicism." "Fear turning to stone." "Fear living underwhelmed by everything."
Dr. Estes makes me think about so many things in so many different ways. We have all heard, "Feel the fear and do it anyway!" And I do follow this in my life. But Dr. Estes reinforces this idea in a way that I feel in my soul and stirs an ancient something in me. I wish all women would embrace the fears that are holding them back from living the lives that they deserve and need to have, to feel fulfilled.
We give up too soon sometimes. We get scared and forget to counteract the fear with hope.
I will tell everyone about these words of Clarissa Pinkola Estes and hope that they too will listen and learn and embrace these ideas. It could change lives. As I said, it has changed mine.