Women Who Run with the Wolves

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of death and gender discrimination.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did your understanding of the Wild Woman archetype evolve as you read through the various folk tales? What surprised you most about Estés’s interpretations?

2. The book weaves together psychology, folklore, and feminist theory. Have you read other works that combine these elements, like Jean Shinoda Bolen's Goddesses in Everywoman? How does Estés’s approach compare?

3. Which of the folk tales resonated with you the most, and why? What does this reveal about your own relationship with the Wild Woman archetype?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Estés suggests that many women have become disconnected from their “wild” nature. Can you identify moments in your life when you felt either particularly connected to or disconnected from your instinctual self?

2. The book emphasizes the importance of recognizing and confronting our “inner predator.” How do you experience this force in your own life? What strategies have you developed to manage it?

3. Consider the story of “Vasalisa and Baba Yaga.