Wild, Willing, and Wise: An Interactive Guide for When to Paddle, When to Rest, and When to Jump Naked into the River of Life

by HeatherAsh Amara

From author and teacher HeatherAsh Amara comes a revolutionary, interactive guide to the energies that make up the flow of our Wild, Willing, and Wise--a contemporary reimagining of the Maiden, Mother, and Crone archetypes.

Whether we realize it or not, our lives are a constant cycle through three the creativity and abundance of Wild, the courage and power of Willing, and the gratitude and surrender of Wise.

HeatherAsh provides in-depth descriptions of the three archetypes, detailing how each presents in excess and deficiency, so that readers can begin to recognize emotional turmoil and hardship as an imbalance of their energies. Combining anecdotes, self-reflection quizzes, simple exercises, and visualizations, Wild, Willing, and Wise teaches readers how to bring the three energies into balance in order to find inner freedom and alignment.

This interactive, radical guide is not a rule book, but an invitation into an ongoing journey. Join HeatherAsh Amara on her way to becoming fiercely engaged, wildly creative, unfailingly experimental, wonderfully confused, seriously delighted, and compassionately vulnerable.

Genres: Self Help, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Psychology

156 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2024

About the author

Amara has spent the last three decades weaving together earth-based wisdom, mindfulness, and practical strategies for creative, courageous, and compassionate individual and community change. She is the author of 9 books, including the bestselling Warrior Goddess Training series and The Seven Secrets of Happy and Healthy Relationships with don Miguel Ruiz Jr.

Her newest book, Wild, Willing, and Wise: An Interactive Guide for When to Paddle, When to Rest, and When to Jump Naked into the River of Life will be released July 30th through St. Martin's Essentials.

When she’s home, HeatherAsh plants her feet in New Mexico but as a lifelong nomad, she spends most of her time traveling, teaching, and writing in cafes around the world.

Reviews

[Katy]

I received my copy free through GoodReads Giveaways

[Erica Guerdon · Rating 4 out of 5]

HeatherAsh Amara’s latest book, “Wild, Willing, and Wise”, is a living exposé of our soul’s divine process of evolutionary maturation and intrinsic spiritual resiliency. This enchantingly insightful book is replete with wisely gestated self-transformational medicine for artfully navigating our wildly unpredictable times1.

The book delves into the energies that make up the flow of our lives, reimagining the Maiden, Mother, and Crone archetypes in a contemporary context. HeatherAsh provides in-depth descriptions of these three archetypes, exploring how each manifests in excess and deficiency. Through anecdotes, self-reflection quizzes, simple exercises, and visualizations, readers learn how to bring these energies into balance, ultimately finding inner freedom and alignment“Wild, Willing, and Wise” is not a rule book; it’s an invitation into an ongoing journey of self-discovery and transformation23.

HeatherAsh Amara, known for her earth-based wisdom and mindfulness, weaves practical strategies for creative, courageous, and compassionate individual and community change. Her nomadic spirit takes her around the world, teaching, writing, and inspiring others. This book promises to be a radical guide for those seeking to engage fiercely, create wildly, experiment unfailingly, delight seriously, and embrace vulnerability with compassion.

[Dawn Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild Willing and Wise: An Interactive Guide for When to Paddle, When to Rest, and When to Jum Naked into the River of Life by HeatherAsh Amara

176 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Essentials
Release Date: July 30, 2024

Nonfiction, Religion, Spirituality, Self-Improvement, Self-Empowerment, Self-Help

This is a short book regarding the river of life and how we navigate it. The author provides a quiz which, at first, I found the scoring confusing. There is an agreement the author asks the reader to sign asking they do not take the book as a personal attack.

Her definition between being wild and reckless is a cautionary tale. Willing shows what you can accomplish when you are open to exploring. In the last section, the author shows that knowledge can be a good thing but also crippling in certain situations.

The book is well written. Unfortunately, the website listed for the audio recordings is a parked domain. It would have been nice to listen to the visualizations and meditations. If you are trying to improve your life decision making process, this would be a good book to read.

[Melissa T · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn to the title of the book initially. I was also drawn to it because I'm at a point in my life where I'm working (and struggling) to let go of a lot of baggage and find a more peaceful, calm way to be.

This book is perfect tool to help explore that.

This resonated with me for many reasons. The author's voice is genuine, and not forced, like many self help books I've read tend to be.

The flow of the material presented is easy, and natural. I really enjoyed the comparison of life as a river that we are all navigating. The author's own anecdotal experience of navigating the Colorado river at the start of the book helps tie this together well.

One of the comparisons on the back of my copy (an ARC, so not sure if this is the same in the published version) is calling this a reimagining of the mother maid and crone archetypes, which struck a personal chord, as those are one of the trinities that I try to view myself as moving along with.

This has many useful exercises and suggestions for how to connect with the different elements of oneself, the wise, willing and wild sides.

I didn't physically complete the exercises in this read through. I did do a few of them briefly in my head as I read, but I was mainly trying to take in the subject matter on this first read through. I do plan to go back through this to work through the exercises at another time.

I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking for some guidance on connecting with different elements of oneself in a natural, non judgemental way. This is a helpful tool for people who need literal examples of how to start this for yourself.

*Please note I won a copy of this via Goodreads Giveaways*

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an inspiring, practical, and funny guide to navigating our world! HeatherAsh does an amazing job at using truth, heart, and humor! I absolutely love this book!!! Highly recommend.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heatherash has done it again! I love the playful way she cuts straight through to the truth and offers deep insight with clear, gentle metaphors. I find myself giggling with myself as old tangles and heavy weight dissolves into the air around me. I’m left feeling lighter and refreshed. Suddenly what before felt like scary rapids seem like old friends calling me to come out and splash around in the messy water of life! Instead of trying to control it, I can open to it with curiosity of where the river wants to take me, wondering what cool things might be right around the bend.

Thank you for the reminder that we are all in this together and that life is a blessing even when it’s hard.

[Lucie R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun to read, to write in (witch was my first time and it felt scary at first), and to listen. The audio files worked well for me on the website. It was a bit difficult to get in the book, probably du to the very familiar writing style. I laughed yes, and I learned a bit about myself. I didn't enjoy the format of the book, the width of the pages makes it prone to damages very easily.
Thank you for the ARC.

[Elaine Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild, Willing, and Wise will take you on a journey of self discovery. The stories will leave you on the edge of your seat one moment, laughing the next and so much more! The three allies introduced Wild, Willing and Wise are deep within each and every one of us. The book is very experiential and will help as a guide to find your balance and harness the power within as you navigate the river of life.

[Taressa Edge · Rating 5 out of 5]

A longtime fan of this author, HeatherAsh doesn't disappoint with her latest book. Fun, relatable, and full of wisdom, she shares personal stories and practical tools that show how we can overcome life's challenges with grace, humor, and awareness. I love all of her books, and this one will not be an exception. I highly recommend it!

[Jenni Stein · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The only thing that I would change is the ending chapter explaining what the book is about. This should be at the beginning of the book. Otherwise, I loved the way this book helped to look introspectively and open our minds to things that we may not have been paying attention to

[Jenn Pickens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exploring my Wild, Willing and Wise guides and how they interact when in and out of balance were valuable parts of this book for me. I read this as part of a book club and it led to some great conversations and introspective work. I found the prompts and questions valuable! Time well spent with this book!

[Tina · Rating 1 out of 5]

A self help title with a hefty helping of nonsense. oh jeepers that must be my excess of Wise being critical. sSo much eyerolling. Seriously just skip this one.

(recieved a free arc through a goodreads giveaway)

[Mary Tharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laughed thru the entire book. Definitely worth reading.

[Brenda Murn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life changing!! HeatherAsh Amara has proven once again that life can be joyful in all stages of life! ❤️

[April Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a transformative guide to help you better understand yourself and where you are putting your energy. It isn't just a quick read; it is a tool you can use for life.

[Jamie R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

HeatherAsh Amara takes us on a journey of self discovery through her humorous and skilled storytelling along with practical exercises and visualizations to help us dive deeper into our inner world. The exercises are revealing and informative. She offers us practical suggestions for how to transform our sometimes negative inner stories into a more life affirming narrative.
As with all of her work, she is authentic, transparent and committed to helping us all become free.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the arc. I leave this review voluntarily

[Heather Cabrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, inspirational, heart wrenching and challenging, often at the safe time. HeatherAsh acts as guide while paddling the river alongside the reader.

[Effie Boustead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to get my hands on a copy of this book early! It has some good humor as well as great tools to use to help navigate the wilds of life!

[Shanereads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wild, Willing and Wise was interesting but ultimately not worth the hype.

This is a glorified workbook for mental health. Honestly if people are really needing this kind of help they may need to use this as a part of therapy. Also, the book was not scientifically grounded.

This review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. Huge thanks to St Martins Press for my review copy!

[Frances Applequist · Rating 4 out of 5]

WILD, WILLING, AND WISE is a beautiful book, well-written, and insightful. It's different exercises and guidelines for the exploration and understanding of self can guide readers through analysis of their feelings, thoughts, and confusions.

It is not the fault of the author or the book that it was not the right fit for me. At seventy-eight years old, I began the search for self with Plato, Descartes, Thoreau, and Emerson. Through them and others like them, I learned to respond to "seasoned" voices. Twelve years of studying Feng Shui infused me with an indelible approach to hearth and home. I read Eugene T. Gendlin's 1978 FOCUSING when it was new, and it's techniques have helped me ever since. There are newer books that resonated with me, but they had either familiar phrasing or familiar tonality.

I read WILD, WILLING, AND WISE, cover to cover, and did the exercises in it because I believe I can learn from new techniques, but I always wished I had read it when self-analysis was newer for me.