Theatre of the Imagination, Volume One

by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

6-Cassette Audio Set of a Performance
Series Given by Clarissa Pinkola Estes
in Boulder, CO in 1995. Approx. 7 Hours.

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

Audio Cassette

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

[Mily]

Clarissa Pinkola Estes, PhD is BRILLIANT.
I've enjoyed every single book (and audio CD's of her talks)
She is a Junian Analyst and progressive thinker.

[Sophie Maria Wojna]

3.5 stars☺️

This was nice, but I don’t think I’ll be listening to Volume 2 anytime soon unless I’m missing Clarissa’s insights in my life. I felt this audiobook would be good for people wanting a general gist of Clarissa’s philosophies and mythological interpretations/theories, as there wasn’t a necessary through-line subject for the book.

I wasn’t hungering to pick this one up over the past week, but I still enjoyed it enough. She used myths from other books of hers, which were nice to revisit & garner new perspectives on.

[Emily]

Very interesting to hear her in a live recording! I also ended up liking how each of the discs weee self contained.

[Maitri]

I really enjoyed the story telling and fantasy interpretations. It is a strong framework to begin to dismantle personal assumptions (that may have been acquired without realizing it) and maneuver into helpful principles. I especially enjoyed the story with Vasilisa.

[Juliana]

I listened to Vol. 1 and 2 one after the other which I recommend if you can. While I've listened to other audiobooks and read Women Who Run with the Wolves, getting to hear Dr. Estés telling these stories and in a more casual setting was amazing.

[Ashley]

I’m listening to this series on my midnight walks - she’s a brilliant companion- funny, deep, warm, strong, reassuring and inspirational. I instinctively ‘know’ her voice and share her love of the symbolic and inner life. ❤️

[Bry Willis]

I am reviewing this in 2026, though I listened to it in 1996 during my commute from West Los Angeles to Long Beach and back. At the time, I was heavily engaged in the writings of Jung, Archetypal and Depth Psychology. I remember this series fondly, so it must be worth 5 stars.

[Baxter Clare Trautman]

Desperately needed wisdom from one of our wisest elders.

[SueK]

I loved having Dr. E as my morning walk companion. What a beautiful, educating, uplifting listen.

[Tessa]

I honestly don't see myself ever getting bored of this author's audio CDs. It feels like she is preaching to us, but she is preaching something holy, something real and so raw. Even though I knew most of the stories from Women who run with the wolves and other audios I still enjoyed this a lot. Just like all her works, these stories invite one to meditation and to action. They guide you to a place where creation is inevitable.

[Claire]

Beautiful audio performance crammed with gentle wisdom and enchanting stories. One I will certainly listen to again and again. Her voice is incredibly soothing, even whilst delivering powerful truths.

[Devin]

I love hearing these stories retold live. Good stuff!

[Jean Gonnella]

Should be mandatory reading. It is excellent. Definitely read!