Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés Stirs Our Hearts on the Topic of "Sisterhood"

Welcome lovely friends to Part II of my interview with Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés, author of The Dangerous Old Woman: Myths and Stories of the Wise Woman Archetype.

In this interview the topic is "Sisterhood." My questions were based on her sharings in a particular segment of the DOW fireside chat, (which you can still listen to at Sounds True, by the way). Her remarks are powerful! I hope they will stir your hearts and encourage you to embrace a new, more soulful understanding of women's relationships—and sisterhood!

Leave a comment here and you will be entered into a Giveaway drawing for a 6-CD set of the newly released Dangerous Old Woman from Sounds True.

(And if you missed Part I of the interview, click here.)

JLL: Can you say more about how women restrict other women from living their giftedness? (Especially how this manifests in society and why it happens?)

DR.E: My 40 years of clinical experience, my familial experiences are these: If there is evidence of mal-intent between ordinarily good-hearted women—wherein interactions aimed at one woman (or group of women-or men) have devolved into cruel scorn, exiling, and gossip sopped in ridicule—this often occurs because the soul of one or more of those attempting to intimidate/ harass—has been thwarted in its own creative life unfolding ... and they now turn to 'punish' the one who is still free.

JLL: What are "ridicule packs" and how are they destructive to our souls?

DR.E: A "ridicule pack' is a group of two or more people whose lives mostly revolve around finding the 'badness' or 'lessness' of others, thereby attempting to elevate a doused spirit. Their way of bonding is to agree to join together in a form of low consciousness about the hearts, minds and souls of others. They judge others—and themselves—without deep insight, thereby holding distorted ideas about human nature, the gifts each person carries, what destinies others must follow. Lack of compassion for understanding varieties of the human condition—their own—and that of others—are a 'ridicule pack's' most prominent feature. It may be surprising for some to realize however, that often, individuals in such a group are not malicious, rather they are lonely, and do not know better, and have joined up for protection from a more powerful 'ridicule pack' that attempts to harm and exile them.

JLL:  In light of the "Dangerous Old Woman" in all of us, what can women today do to reverse this phenomenon?

DR. E: By my sights, the most endangered species on earth is the human soul. It is the one who urges us to learn insight and devotional love to one another; it is wholly compassionate. Thereby, to reverse such pain between women, a wiser woman within would strive through reading, listening talking, and contemplating with others of better consciousness ... so we could raise consciousness about ourselves further, to better see our own foibles and gifts—to assert control over our lesser features, to strengthen and pour our gifts out into this needful world without cease. This is what the archetype of 'the wise woman' is based on ... the learning of consciousness beyond the shallow form the over-culture sprays onto us like a second prickly skin. The Dangerous Old Woman in tales would say: "Time to shed that false skin, and grow your real skin ... tender and strong, both."

JLL: What would the Dangerous Old Woman say about "Sisterhood?"

DR.E: Sisterhood is a journey of the soul: Sisters walk together as fellow travelers on the road of life, stopping to aid other travelers as we can, and if we cannot help, to do no harm. Sisters, in unexpected moments, take on the wisdom of angels for one another. The Dangerous Old Woman in myths and tales is not afraid to carry a simple heart of forgiveness in ample supply ... nor to respect and love self and others ... not through the dim eyesight of the ego, but rather through the far-seeing 100x power eyes of the radiant soul.

© 2010, Dr.C.P. Estés, All Rights Reserved.

Thank you, again, Dr. E. I know I speak for all of us when I say we are so grateful to receive these transmissions of wisdom from you. It is a joy to be part of the Tribe of the Sacred Heart!

Dear friends, I welcome your thoughts .... 

And don't forget to leave a comment here to be eligible for the Giveaway.

And it's time to register for Dr. E's new fireside chat series beginning Sept. 22, "The Power of the Crone" at Sounds True.  Click here to learn more. I'll meet you there!

(You can follow Dr. E on Facebook, where she interacts and inspires daily. For a complete bio and a list of her audio recordings produced by Sounds True, click here.)

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