The Late Bloomer: Myths and Stories of the Wise Woman Archetype

The Dangerous Old Woman series #4

by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Volume Four of the Dangerous Old Woman Series with Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes "What makes talent bloom? Ask what makes a tree blossom. They are the same. It is not unfathomable. It only takes concentration. Concentration of energies is what makes a tree flower. Not bigger, not faster, not taking up more space. Rather, less space. Density. Pressure in hard places. Often, in the dark. Relentlessly. Freely. For as long as it takes. Hold faith, a gestation can go long and for good reason, and nothing much shows above ground. But then, one day " Clarissa Pinkola Estes, PhD Are you waiting for New Life, for your talents to bloom? With The Late Bloomer, Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes presents volume four of her masterwork on the Wise Woman archetype, bringing you six sessions of original tales, stories from her ethnic families, poems, blessings, and psychological commentary exploring the cycles of "burgeoning, blooming New Life." The Ultimate Blooming Takes Time Although we are each created with countless gifts to share in this lifetime, no one is born in full development, begins Dr. Estes. The Late Bloomer the one at the verge of tipping forward into her creative powers speaks to all of us who sense within "great talent untapped touchingly wondrous yet wounded or held back by fate in some way." Meet the wise old woman in the form of The Late Bloomer in her many guises, as she beckons us to ignite the creative fire of the interior life, to burst into bloom time and again. Step Forward into Your True Shape Dr. Estes asks, "What is your reason for being here on earth? What are the promises you made to Creator before you came? That is your original shape the holy shape of how you are meant to go in life, regardless of all crosswinds." The old woman as the wise Late Bloomer calls us to "step forward into our true shapes, and to step onto the open road and blue sky where we can be born into New Life again." Stories, Poems, and Blessings Include The High Tea The Emperor's New Clothes The Maker of Pencils How To Animate The Life-Force La Danzanta-An Old Woman's Rules for Ever-Renewing Creative Jing The Fisherman's Wife The Woman Who Was Eaten by Her Relatives As a Woman Learns to Be Queen of Herself Words for Walking Back to the Strong House The Child in the Ice The Dream of Chac Ma The Dress The Hair-Curler Lady The Ritual of Marzana The Rose Tree Warrior The Smoke Tree Story

Genres: Psychology, Spirituality, Audiobook, Nonfiction, Self Help, Mythology, Feminism

6 pages, Audio CD

First published June 28, 2012

About the author

An American poet, psychoanalyst and post-trauma specialist who was raised in now nearly vanished oral and ethnic traditions. She is a first-generation American who grew up in a rural village, population 600, near the Great Lakes. Of Mexican mestiza and majority Magyar and minority Swabian tribal heritages, she comes from immigrant and refugee families who could not read or write, or who did so haltingly. Much of her writing is influenced by her family people who were farmers, shepherds, hopsmeisters, wheelwrights, weavers, orchardists, tailors, cabinet makers, lacemakers, knitters, and horsemen and horsewomen from the Old Countries.

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés’s work is a palette cleanser, her work empowering for lost souls and gives a feeling of fullness after a wonderful meal. I highly recommend everyone I know to enjoy this series, “Myths and Stories of the Wise Woman Archetype”, and especially, read “Women Who Run With the Wolves”, her seminal work that changed my life at 17 (Thanks Tangie).

Deftly combining Jungian psychology with myths and legends from around the world to create a base of understanding and using cleanly spoken academic language, Pinkola-Estés works the reader through trauma, sorrow and revives hope. In “The Late Bloomer”, she begins a plan of healing without promising any need for objects or dependence on outside influences, the power of the Late Bloomer is the energy built up over years of developing the person’s identity and soul to be ready NOW to blossom and do the work we all are capable of, as imperfectly and imprecisely as life requires for all progress. Through trial and error and all the knowledge gained from an imperfect life, this is the only secret to blooming... grow into the direction you need and tell the naysayers, “I know, I know.”

I can’t wait to dive into the rest. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite installation of the Dangerous Old Woman audio series; this one appeals to me for the same reasons as her work The Creative Fire. I feel connected to my ooey gooey creative center, and I feel humbled and hopeful by her words...apparently I am not the only late bloomer! This knowledge has vivified and reinvigorated me in my quest for creative expression.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a steamy, scented bath for my ragged psyche. I can't wait to read more of Madame Estes' work. <3

[Cosmic Arcata · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to this audio book. Her voice is very soothing and reminds me of a mother reading a bedtime story...only these are for adults. She reminds us that there are many ways to begin again and the rituals of beginning and becoming fully alive.

[Nikita · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a stunning piece of literature, like a beautiful dream or a deep mediation session. So therapeutic and calming, and at the same time nurturing and nourishing.
I feel so held, loved and understood having just finished the audio book. Her voice is so comforting: like the voice of a loving parent we wish we had in childhood.

[Marie Zhuikov · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audio work is good encouragement for creativity, especially for us oldsters. I didn't realize that it's not available in book form until I started searching around for it. Read by the author. Very Jungian.

[Shinae Noh · Rating 4 out of 5]

>> From Chapter 1

We'll have to think the biggest way possible, that is out of the worn-out way, and believe it's totally possibe. (People think doing the same thing for 30 years will produce a different outcome)

Lie No.5 lazineds is alright ☆☆☆
Most people are not lazy. They are conflicted and won't be decisive to think next step forward. And they are holding on for perfecrionism.
That's what I see over and over and over again how people stop themselves from blooming.

Take the next step to the best of your ability(whether it's right or wrong), without waiting so long you're gonna grow big.

Don't wait. Go ahead.

The waiting, it grows in stages. Like babies in pregnancy. One cell added to another, in a cycle. Daily renewal.

Don't be trapped by the ego to look good - to win something that one hasn't actually done the work for.

Dream alone is not alright. Laziness is not alright. You have to do the work, whatever the work is. Do what it is that you need to do. Do it now. Time is moving on.

No.6 Give us your gold, and we'll give you a magnificent substitute (I'll givr you a place to not tell the truth to others)

Real world of blossoming is pain, endeavor, which is tremendous observation. Awakeness, alertness, consciousness, happinees, at the level of the heart and soul.


>>From Chapter 2

Tiredness for reinvention.
The tiredness comes from not proceeding. From holding back.

The energy comes from pin-pointing the issue. The issue is not not enough energy. Not making the decision to move.

When you're tired, you don't need to rest. The question is always 'how'

I don't have enough ~ to do X. -> Once you start doing X, it will give you the energy.

Maybe you're resting morr, but you're not doing anything more. You are not making the leap.

Energy is brought by excitement, interest, hope, ideas..

Angels fly to you and say, "please, help us bring this out into the world."

One moves into reinventing oneself by alloweing the water of new life to flow over us, not the same old way. Each day should be different.

Blessing
Behave yourself rarely. That's how you live.
Misbehave with integrity

[Heidi McIntyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of Clarissa Pinkola Estes and have read several of her books. Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype is an all-time favorite. She is an amazing storyteller and healer. As a late bloomer myself, this audio book really resonated with me especially since I was going thru a major career transition at the time. I wondered if I waited too long to make this change but listening to this helped me to see that it's never too late to follow your dreams.

[Luminea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very powerful and timely audiobook for me. I especially loved the story about the old woman with the red boots and it moved me deeply. These stories aren't just for women or for "late bloomers." There is an abundance of wisdom here. Clarissa surprised me by speaking about war crimes and human suffering in the last chapter, and the importance of holding on to hope. She was talking about a civil war in Guatemala years ago yet it is still so relevant to the current war in Ukraine and other parts of the world. It helped me to process some of my own anguish and pain related to these tragic and horrific events. I have enjoyed all of the recordings in the Dangerous Old Woman series and highly recommend them.

[Devin · Rating 5 out of 5]

No pit is without a ladder.

Play your music to no one and someone will come.

[Chanti · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's amazing how collectively shared myths and stories still feel like they witness your experience directly. This is their power. Incubation and building/toiling toward something in the dark is not wasted time. And one thing that I have been learning clearly... the "obstacles" in the path might not actually be obstacles or things to overcome, surmount or steer around... they may *be* the path. We want to wait for perfection before we unveil something, but most often, creating from the place of woundedness or illness *is* where the creative force is - not *waiting* or *hoping* to become normal and shiny and then doing our thing. CPE has an amazing, soothing, soulful voice and this was deeply relaxing to listen to.

[denisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some people say that they could listen to their favorite author recite a grocery list and be happy with it. This is that author/storyteller for me. One hour of listening to Clarissa Pinkola Estés feels like 10 minutes at most.

The only reason I didn't finish this book sooner is that I haven't been going on a lot of walks lately, which is when I usually like to listen to audiobooks. However, I decided to break my little rule and start listening to this one again, walk or no walk. And I was not disappointed. The way Clarissa tells stories with such care and wisdom is inspiring and phenomenal. I physically cannot listen to her speak without immediately feeling held, inspired, and comforted.

I'm giving this 5 stars and I can't wait to listen to the rest of the series.

[Sophie Maria Wojna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genuinely think I might be falling in love with this woman. Her mind is wonderful, her words are a treasure, and her insights are everything.

This audiobook especially felt very emotionally riveting for me. The story she used about the man who discovered a talking fish that would grant him any wish he wanted was brutally powerful in its imagery; so many of us walk through life like this poor fish, giving giving giving more than we should without realising we have nothing left for our own life. How we don’t realise we are a flower till we have bloomed later.

Listening to this was transformative. I cannot wait to listen/read even more of her words.

[Alisha Hanson Glatzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've loved everything I've read by Clarissa Pinkola Estes. I don't like re-reading books but I re-read hers because they are stories. Stories I summarize to my daughters. I often am so moved by a line or a paragraph, that I incorporate quotes from her it into my watercolor paintings.

Imagine sitting around a campfire with a gathering of like minded women. The stories you'd hear is what CPE was able to capture in her books. Her stories, her words speak on a level that stirs my soul, my DNA ache with knowing, with truth, with ancient wisdom.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

While some of the tales are quite gruesome, CPE delivers the messages with beauty, poetry, grace and clarity. This was exactly what I needed at this time in my life. I especially resonated with the suggestion that I may be exhausted not because I need to Rest but because I need to Decide. Amazing shifts are happening for me with this one little cue - which was but one gem in a whole treasure chest filled with comfort, support and fierce wisdom.

[Sarah Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has been my grounding and centering force as I find myself starting over at 45. It’s an everyday reminder that things aren’t always supposed to follow a plan, that we have the ability to find beauty and laughter anytime we want to, that within our psyche we can find paths to grow beyond any traumas or tragedies. Truly inspirational and written from a grounded and personal stand point that really feels accessible.

[Radha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this onAudible. I love Clarissa Pinkola Estes! Hearing her is like a grandmother telling me a story, and my grandmother died before I could remember any of her stories. The messages from these tales go in deep, and I am forever grateful for this woman sharing her work with this world. This one, in particular, resonates deeply with me. I will be listening to it again.

[Lailei Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changed my world… I can’t fully express what all of the books in this series have transformed in my life. If you need help and you don’t know how to help yourself fully, or you need a friend / elder to guide you, THIS is the only series you need. These books help you HEAL. Read all or any of these books.

[Jozien Fokkert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything from this amazing story teller and writer!
Amazing and life changing its actually for all ages. For me its about maybe rebirth instead of being an elder or a late bloomer, or maybe thats the same :)

[Erin McKittrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed all of the stories and then the explanations. I would not have understood everything without the explanations. I listened to this in the car, which I wouldn't necessarily recommend. It is very relaxing and probably better suited to a time in the day when you intend to relax.

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story #3 was my favorite of this book. I LOVE this series.

[Dodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this audio book. This is a must read.

[Veronica Vargo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A self help book I’m proud to be reading! A colorful librarian said she LOVES this author and recommended Women Who Run with the Wolves.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the myths and stories especially in this book and appreciated it was read by the author who has a very interesting voice.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to rank Clarissa's books as they all seem to win my heart and favoritism after I finish. But this one was awe-some. The Dangerous Old Woman series is a must-read for women.

[Jinan · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Play your music, even if to no one, and an aperture will appear."

A tale of tales about breaking out of tales and into your true tale.

[Krank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very healing for the burnout👍🏼

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book I will keep on revisiting for years to come. It was such a lovely book about how it's never too late to do what you want to do and love. Do it with passion.

[JIll Patzka Ochoa · Rating 2 out of 5]

To each their own. Not my cup of tea and the “calming” voice that read it was driving me crazy. Spit the words out. geez.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10