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Clarissa Pinkola Estes Quotes

Powerful Clarissa Pinkola Estes for Daily Growth

About Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Clarissa Pinkola Estés (born June 13, 1945) is an American poet, psychologist, and a renowned author in the field of depth psychology, particularly known for her work with women's issues and archetypal patterns in fairy tales. Born in Cuero, Texas, Clarissa grew up in a culturally diverse household. Her mother was a first-generation American, while her father immigrated from Hungary. This multicultural upbringing significantly influenced her perspective on life and psychology. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Mount Holyoke College in 1967, followed by a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the C.G. Jung Institute of Zurich in 1982. Estés is best known for her book "Women Who Run With the Wolves" (1992), which combines Jungian psychology with feminist thought, fairy tales, and myths to explore women's inner lives. The book has become a seminal work in contemporary feminism and Jungian psychology, selling millions of copies worldwide and being translated into more than 40 languages. Throughout her career, Estés has delved deeply into the study of archetypes, dreams, and the collective unconscious, particularly as they relate to women's experiences. Her other notable works include "Journey to the Soul: A Set of Reflections for Personal Growth" (1989) and numerous poetry collections such as "The Maps of Our Bodies" (2009). In addition to her writing, Estés is a respected lecturer and workshop leader, offering insights into psychology, mythology, and spirituality. Her work continues to inspire and influence individuals seeking personal growth and understanding in the realms of psyche and spirit.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing."

This quote by Clarissa Pinkola Estes emphasizes humility and openness to learning. It suggests that recognizing our own limitations, or acknowledging that we do not have all the answers, is a form of wisdom. By accepting that we don't know everything, we create space for growth, understanding, and new experiences. This perspective encourages curiosity, empathy, and adaptability as valuable traits in life and learning.

"The very first function of a storyteller is for you to know that the door of wonder opens upon a secret garden."

This quote suggests that stories serve as a means to explore the mysteries and secrets of life, opening doors to the wonders and unknown aspects of our existence. It encourages us to approach our lives with curiosity and imagination, finding beauty and wisdom in the process.

"I'd rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet."

This quote by Clarissa Pinkola Estes emphasizes the importance of living passionately and vibrantly, as opposed to leading a mundane or unremarkable life. The "superb meteor" symbolizes individuals who burn brightly, making a significant impact during their time on earth. On the other hand, being a "sleepy and permanent planet" suggests a life that may be long-lasting but lacks luster or excitement. In essence, the quote encourages us to live our lives with purpose, passion, and intensity, rather than settling for mediocrity or complacency.

"A deep, wild instinct honors and senses correctly the first, the wildest, and the profoundest of all things."

This quote emphasizes our inherent connection to nature and our ability to understand and appreciate its wild, primal essence. It suggests that a part of us is deeply attuned to the raw, untamed aspects of life, and we should trust this instinct as it guides us towards authentic experiences and understanding. In other words, the quote underscores our innate wisdom and encourages us to listen closely to our intuition and inner voice when navigating through life's complexities.

"The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are."

This quote by Clarissa Pinkola Estes signifies that self-discovery and authenticity are the most valuable aspects of one's life. It encourages individuals to embrace their true selves, free from societal expectations or external pressures, and live in alignment with their inner identity and purpose. Essentially, it invites us to embark on a journey of personal growth, self-awareness, and self-acceptance as we strive to become the best versions of ourselves.

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 world.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Internal, Listener, Urge, Creator

That is what the intuition is for: it is the direct messenger of the soul.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Soul, Intuition, Direct, Messenger

Asking the proper questions is the central action of transformation. Questions are the key that causes the secret doors of the psyche to swing open.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Questions, Asking, Proper, Psyche

This kind of forgetting does not erase memory, it lays the emotion surrounding the memory to rest.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Rest, Surrounding, Erase

No Latina woman would be called 'Ms.' - that's an invention of middle-class Anglo women. Latina women are proud to be called 'Mrs.' That simply means that we have a family.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Woman, Middle-Class, Means, Ms

Wolves and women are relational by nature, inquiring, possessed of great endurance and strength. They are deeply intuitive, intensely concerned with their young, their mate and their pack. Yet both have been hounded, harassed and falsely imputed to be devouring and devious, overly aggressive, of less value than those who are their detractors.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Strength, Been, Concerned, Overly

If women were in charge of everything, there would be women tyrants. If black people were in charge, there would be black tyrants. If Hispanics were in charge, then Hispanic tyrants.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Charge, Would, Were, Hispanics

I hope you will go out and let stories happen to you, and that you will work them, water them with your blood and tears and you laughter till they bloom, till you yourself burst into bloom.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Tears, Happen, Stories, Bloom

Our own sorrows seem heavy enough, even when lifted by certain long-term joys. But watching others hurt is the breaker of most any heart.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Own, Lifted, Breaker, Joys

People used to grow up in small communities where folk wisdom was passed down. But we don't live there anymore. We can't go next door to your aunt and ask her for the answers.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Door, Small, Next, Aunt

Some say that sudden knowledge of mystical matters is accomplished only in complete quietude, or that Creator, in one of God's many forms, appears only in orderly ways that are beauteous and picturesque, or that the mystical appears only in completely silent ways. All are true. Except for the 'only' part.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Some, Part, Appears, Orderly

I was twice-born. I'm Mexican by nature and Hungarian by nurture.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Nature, Mexican, Nurture, Hungarian

Forget: Refuse to dwell; let go and loosen one's hold, particularly on memory. To forget is an active - not passive - endeavor.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Memory, Go, Particularly, Passive

Forgive: Make a conscious decision to cease to harbor resentment, which includes forgiving a debt and giving up one's resolve to retaliate.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Decision, Giving Up, Which, Retaliate

I know people heal by being able to tell the story - the whole story.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Know, Tell, Able, Heal

When you feel bad, find a person to talk to and cry with, to tell of your anger and other helpless feelings.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Bad, Tell, Other, Helpless

There's a reason poets often say, 'Poetry saved my life,' for often the blank page is the only one listening to the soul's suffering, the only one registering the story completely, the only one receiving all softly and without condemnation.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

My Life, Reason, Blank, Softly

Modern storytellers are the descendants of an immense and ancient community of holy people, troubadours, bards, griots, cantadoras, cantors, traveling poets, bums, hags, and crazy people.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Crazy People, Holy, Immense

Cynicism means the conduit to the soul has a great kink in it, like a garden hose in which nothing flows in either direction.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Cynicism, Which, Means, Garden

If you've lost focus, just sit down and be still. Take the idea and rock it to and fro. Keep some of it and throw some away, and it will renew itself. You need do no more.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Some, Away, Still, Renew

Than Shwe ordered the confiscation of all cell phones and laptops and computers so no reportage could come out of Burma. It seemed clear that a demon, something diabolical, rather than something compassionate and human was in charge of Burma.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Rather, Cell Phones, Burma, Confiscation

In our time, there are still many, like those in the Good Samaritan story, who being of the religious classes in that time, purposely crossed to the other side of the road, and passed by the injured and bleeding.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Other, Religious, Still, Crossed

I became married at a young age and had two daughters and divorced at 26. I had to go on welfare to make ends meet. I had no way to support myself.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Myself, Young, Became, Divorced

Many people have trouble with forgiveness because they have been taught it is a singular act to be completed in one sitting. That is not so. Forgiveness has many layers, many seasons.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Forgiveness, Seasons, Been, Completed

We all wait for a mirror to show us who we are, to validate us. When we hear something about ourselves that we have never heard before, it feels like a blessing, and it gives power.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Mirror, Wait, Feels, Blessing

The drive toward Life is protective, thoughtful, vulnerable, and invested in immaculate love. It is this last that marks the difference between a wise heart muddy with real life experiences in the trenches and a dry heart that functions on rote concepts alone.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Love, Life, Functions, Protective

I am built close to the ground and of extravagant body.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

I Am, Ground, Built, Extravagant

How does one know if she has forgiven? You tend to feel sorrow over the circumstance instead of rage, you tend to feel sorry for the person rather than angry with him. You tend to have nothing left to say about it all.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Forgiveness, Rather, About, Circumstance

We all wish to be brave and strong in the face of disaster. We all wish to be looked up to for our endurance and efforts to help others.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Strong, Endurance, Looked, Help Others

Any time I find medicine that's helpful, I share it with everyone I know.

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Know, Find, Everyone, Helpful

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