Women Who Run With the Wolves

1. Reconnect with the Wild Woman archetype to reclaim your authentic self

"Within every woman there lives a powerful force, filled with good instincts, passionate creativity, and ageless knowing. She is the Wild Woman, who represents the instinctual nature of women."

The Wild Woman archetype functions as a primary psychological construct representing a woman’s inherent instincts, creative drive, and internal wisdom. In many contexts, this archetype is suppressed by cultural requirements and social norms, which frequently results in a sense of alienation from one’s true identity.

To restore this connection, individuals may focus on:

• Aligning with natural biological and psychological rhythms.
• Prioritizing internal insights and learning to trust instinctual responses.
• Participating in creative activities that foster personal engagement.
• Utilizing time in natural environments to stabilize the instinctual self.
• Questioning social constraints that hinder the expression of an authentic identity.

By re-establishing this link, women can access their internal power and creativity, facilitating a life that is more aligned with their fundamental nature.

2. Embrace the Life/Death/Life nature for personal growth and renewal

"To be thought ugly or unacceptable because one's beauty is outside the current fashion is deeply wounding to the natural joy that belongs to the wild nature."

The Life/Death/Life cycle represents a biological and psychological framework of continuous evolution, characterized by growth, decline, and subsequent rebirth. While modern perspectives often view endings with fear, this cycle is a prerequisite for systemic renewal and personal development.

Strategies for integrating this cycle include:

• Acknowledging that the conclusion of a phase is necessary for the initiation of a new one.
• Processing loss and intentionally moving away from outdated habits or situations.
• Viewing periods of inactivity as essential stages for future creative output.
• Focusing on the cyclicality of progress rather than strictly linear growth.
• Utilizing "dormant" periods as opportunities for deep reflection and strategic renewal.

Accepting these transitions allows for greater resilience and a more functional relationship with the natural processes of change.

3. Recognize and overcome societal traps that stifle feminine power

"Women have good reason to refute psychological and physical standards that are injurious to spirit and which sever relationship with the wild soul."

Societal expectations often function as restrictive frameworks that impede the expression of a woman's true capabilities. These barriers manifest as specific cultural standards regarding appearance or professional conduct, often leading to a fragmented sense of self.

Specific barriers to identify include:

• The pursuit of perfectionism and the unsustainable goal of balancing all roles perfectly.
• Habitual self-sacrifice and the prioritization of others' approval over personal needs.
• The adoption of self-critical attitudes and internalizing external biases.
• Apprehension regarding being perceived as excessive or insufficient.
• Adherence to narrow, externally defined metrics of success.

Overcoming these obstacles requires the development of self-awareness and the courage to challenge established beliefs. This process involves defining personal values, establishing firm boundaries, and seeking environments that support individual growth and self-acceptance.

4. Cultivate a strong relationship with your intuition and instincts

"Intuition is the treasure of a woman's psyche. It is like a divining instrument and like a crystal through which one can see with uncanny interior vision."

Intuition serves as a sophisticated internal tool for managing complex situations and making choices that reflect one's core identity. Because social conditioning often encourages individuals to prioritize external authority over internal knowledge, many become detached from this resource.

To improve intuitive functionality:

• Engage in consistent reflective practices or quiet observation.
• Monitor physiological signals and immediate instinctual reactions.
• Document intuitive observations to evaluate their long-term accuracy.
• Value instinctual data even when it deviates from standard logic or external advice.
• Foster an internal environment of stillness to better identify intuitive signals.

Strengthening this internal connection simplifies the decision-making process and ensures that one's life path remains consistent with personal values.

5. Honor your cycles of creativity, solitude, and return to self

"When women reassert their relationship with the wildish nature, they are gifted with a permanent and internal watcher, a knower, a visionary, an oracle, an inspiratrice, an intuitive, a maker, a creator, an inventor, and a listener who guide, suggest, and urge vibrant life in the inner and outer worlds."

The natural rhythms of creativity and solitude are vital for psychological equilibrium and sustained energy. These cycles reflect broader environmental patterns and are necessary for the replenishment of mental and emotional resources.

Key practices for respecting these cycles:

• Identifying the specific need for periods of isolation and self-reflection.
• Dedicate time to non-linear creative experimentation.
• Prioritize activities that provide internal nourishment and maintenance.
• Accept rest as a functional requirement for long-term productivity.
• Implement personal rituals to acknowledge the shift between different psychological phases.

By respecting these internal rhythms, individuals maintain a stronger connection to their core identity and achieve a more sustainable lifestyle.

6. Develop a healthy balance between ego and soul

"The ego and the soul vie to control the life force. In early life, the ego, with its appetites, often leads; it is always cooking something up that smells really good. The ego is very muscular during this time. It relegates the soul to back porch kitchen duty."

Achieving a balance between the ego and the soul is a critical component of personal maturity. While the ego manages social standing and worldly ambitions, the soul provides deep wisdom and connection to one’s instinctual nature.

Methods for balancing these forces:

• Identify when social ambitions are overriding deeper psychological needs.
• Use regular introspection to access internal insights.
• Align personal goals with broader spiritual or instinctual development.
• Maintain an attitude of openness and receptivity to life experiences.
• Pursue activities that provide both practical success and internal satisfaction.

A harmonious relationship between these two aspects of the psyche allows for more authentic navigation of life’s challenges, honoring both social aspirations and deeper truths.

7. Embrace your dual nature as both civilized and wild

"The wildish nature causes women to remember their reason for being, it encourages them to use their instincts and to understand the cycles of their body, life, and nature."

The dual nature of being both "civilized" and "wild" is a significant source of psychological strength. Integrating these two facets—the socialized self and the instinctual self—enables a more comprehensive and balanced life experience.

Elements of integrating this duality:

• Valuing both analytical reasoning and intuitive perception.
• Integrating moments of instinctual expression within organized daily structures.
• Developing relationships that respect both the social and the primal aspects of identity.
• Using creative outlets to synthesize these two different modes of existence.
• Finding practical ways to apply instinctual wisdom within a modern context.

Embracing this duality provides access to a broader spectrum of capabilities, resulting in a more versatile and integrated life.

8. Recognize the power of storytelling in accessing feminine wisdom

"Story is far older than the art and science of psychology, and will always be the elder in the equation no matter how much time passes."

Storytelling serves as a primary method for capturing and communicating complex psychological truths. Myths, traditional tales, and personal histories offer deep insights into the shared human experience and the instinctual nature.

Techniques for utilizing narrative wisdom:

• Analyze cross-cultural myths and traditional narratives.
• Exchange personal accounts with others to foster insight and collective understanding.
• Utilize narrative as a tool for personal inquiry and emotional recovery.
• Reconstruct or interpret traditional stories through a contemporary lens.
• Monitor the internal narratives used to interpret personal life events.

Deep engagement with stories allows individuals to access a broader range of human wisdom and strengthen their connection to their own internal history.

9. Nurture your inner creative fire and passionate life force

"To cook for the Yaga, one lays a fire—a woman must be willing to burn hot, burn with passion, burn with words, with ideas, with desire for whatever it is that she truly loves."

Creativity and passion are fundamental drivers of the instinctual self. Cultivating these forces ensures that an individual remains connected to their authentic drive and can effectively manifest their unique talents.

Ways to support creative vitality:

• Commit to regular creative practice regardless of the immediate output.
• Investigate various modes of artistic or intellectual expression.
• Accept the risks associated with pursuing new ideas.
• Interact with environments and individuals that stimulate growth.
• Prioritize a unique personal perspective over standard social expectations.

By maintaining this internal drive, individuals ensure they remain vibrant and capable of contributing authentically to their personal and professional environments.

10. Practice self-preservation by identifying and avoiding psychic pitfalls

"In the psychic woods there are many leg traps made of rusted iron that lie just below the leafy green of the forest floor."

Self-preservation is necessary to protect one’s psychological integrity and instinctual connection. This involves the identification of "psychic pitfalls"—situations or behaviors that deplete energy and cause a detachment from the self.

Potential pitfalls to monitor:

• Modifying behavior excessively to meet external expectations.
• Failing to maintain adequate boundaries or personal care.
• Disregarding intuitive signals regarding hazardous social or professional situations.
• Engaging in repetitive, self-defeating behavioral patterns.
• Allowing anxiety to obstruct personal development.

To maintain self-preservation:

• Perform frequent assessments of internal states and physical reactions.
• Define and enforce clear interpersonal boundaries.
• Focus on activities that reinforce psychological health.
• Utilize professional or social support systems when navigating challenges.
• Maintain a high level of awareness regarding personal triggers and habits.

By prioritizing self-preservation, individuals protect their vitality and maintain the capacity to live a life consistent with their authentic nature.

Last updated: January 22, 2025