Call of the Wild: How We Heal Trauma, Awaken Our Own Power, and Use It For Good

by Kimberly Ann Johnson

From trauma educator and somatic guide Kimberly Ann Johnson comes a cutting-edge guide for tapping into the wisdom and resilience of the body to rewire the nervous system, heal from trauma, and live fully.

In an increasingly polarized world where trauma is often publicly renegotiated, our nervous systems are on high alert. From skyrocketing rates of depression and anxiety to physical illnesses such as autoimmune diseases and digestive disorders, many women today find themselves living out of alignment with their bodies.

Kimberly Johnson is a somatic practitioner, birth doula, and postpartum educator who specializes in helping women recover from all forms of trauma. In her work, she’s seen the same themes play out time and again. In a culture that prioritizes executive function and “mind over matter,” many women are suffering from deeply unresolved pain that causes mental and physical stagnation and illness.

In Call of the Wild, Johnson offers an eye-opening look at this epidemic as well as an informative view of the human nervous system and how it responds to difficult events. From the “small t” traumas of getting ghosted, experiencing a fall-out with a close friend, or swerving to avoid a car accident to the “capital T” traumas of sexual assault, an upending natural disaster, or a life-threatening illness—Johnson explains how the nervous system both protects us from immediate harm and creates reverberations that ripple through a lifetime.

In this practical, empowering guide, Johnson shows readers how to metabolize these nervous system responses, allowing everyone to come home to their deepest, most intuitive and whole selves. Following her supportive advice, readers will learn how to move from wholeness, tapping into the innate wisdom of their senses, soothing frayed nerves and reconnecting with their “animal selves.”

While we cannot cure the painful cultural rifts inflicting our society, there is a path forward—through our bodies.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Psychology, Mental Health, Health, Audiobook, Spirituality

1 pages, Audio CD

Published April 13, 2021

About the author

Kimberly Ann Johnson is the author of the early mothering classic The Fourth Trimester: Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions, and Restoring Your Vitality, published in seven languages around the world. A sought-after practitioner and lead authority in postpartum health, Johnson has been working hands-n in integrative women's health and trauma recovery for more than a decade. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Forbes, Vogue, New York magazine's The Cut, Harper's Bazaar, Today.com, and many more outlets.

Her latest book Call of The Wild: How We Heal Trauma, Awaken Our Power, And Use It for Good will be available April 13th, 2021. This is part science, part medicine, part cultural-political work leaves readers feeling seen, inspired and empowered to live their most embodied lives by heeding THE CALL OF THE WILD.

Trauma educator and somatic guide Kimberly Ann Johnson has worked with women to understand their nervous system through somatic practices in sessions and through her online platform. The Call of The Wild is based off of her signature course Activate Your Inner Jaguar which has helped thousands of women explore embodied consent, healthy boundaries, and gain a real world understanding of the nervous system.

Reviews

[Rahi Chun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rare is it to experience a medium that invites a new paradigm for experiencing that medium; Although Kimberly Ann Johnson’s "Call of the Wild" is in book form, it’s really an embodied experiential journey into the reader’s awareness, self-intimacy, and reclamation of their senses and through this, a reclamation of their nervous system behavior, patterns, and lives. Her inside-out, bottom-up guidance for metabolizing past contractions and activating our inner animal via carefully sequenced somatic experiences, coupled with cognitive clarity, invites the most intimate areas of our nervous system to be met, allowing for its authentic roar, primal sexual truths, and access to the full predator/prey continuum. A must-experience for anyone who desires to befriend their nervous system, but particularly for those seeking to love their body’s freedom for authentic expression, embodiment, and living.

[Jasmina Brković · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Kimberly's pioneering work for years and this book truly is a crown of her work that draws from her rich experience of helping women resolve trauma and regulate their nervous system.

Call of the wild does more than brilliantly synthesize key concepts from the field of somatics and the work of Porges, Levine, van Der Kolk etc.

It carries the torch forward, into fine-tuned understanding of the (feminine) nervous system, and translates this knowledge into practical, understandable, usable, real world wisdom.

This book is informative, practical and poetic at the same time. It's oriented towards building authenticity rooted in the body and a sense of belonging to oneself. Towards having a felt sense of being true to your basic animal nature, but at the same time, being exalted in it.

I love it.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to keep sharing information on this book. Kimberly Ann Johnson has written a clear and concise book on trauma and the nervous system with specific focus on the neurobiology of being a woman (biological female). This book encourages a deep exploration of our primitive states and rhythms as women. It normalizes states of being that have been culturally conditioned out of us. This book not only serves to heal trauma, yet also acts as a guide to increase capacity of joy, pleasure and sensuality in life without the cloud of cultural morality. Heed your CALL OF THE WILD today! (First chapter is available for download free right now. Hardback and audible released April 13th)

[Helena Sorensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to buy a copy for every woman I know.

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not usually give reviews but I want to explain for any of the people that follow me. This is a book for cishet women, with no acknowledgement of any other kinds of women or sexualities so I sadly had to knock a star off it. It's a testament to how good the rest of the book is that it wasn't 2 stars for that unfortunate choice. Otherwise I am a fan of what this author is doing. I didn't really "get" the point of somatic support before this and more over she went and wrote not just an educational and interesting book about it, but a thoughtful race and privilege aware one so some kinds of women who want and need this kind of support can try this for themselves if needed. If you are a cishet woman you might absolutely love this book. I just really liked.

[Kirsten Incorvaia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm part of Kimberly's book launch team and have had the honor of being an early reader of Call of the Wild. I've been a huge fan of Kimberly's work for years, and this book takes it to the next level. I'm new to the world of Somatic Experience, and this book is the perfect entry point into learning about the nervous system and trauma healing (especially for female bodies). The content is deep, comprehensive and advanced while being presented in a clear, simple, digestible way. I can't wait to share this book with everyone I know. There's not a single person in my life who wouldn't benefit from this knowledge!

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Call of the Wild is a flaming torch of possibility, illuminating a way forward in a world that seems increasingly stuck, confused, and unable to heal from what ails us, no matter how much therapy we do.

This book clearly and powerfully outlines why it’s not our willpower that will lead us to liberation, but rather getting back in touch with our own wild nature + the language of the body that is the key to our aliveness.

This book offers not just the idea of healing, but a tangible, clear roadmap to it.

Weaving together incredible passion and expertise, Kimberly’s work is absolutely essential, and Call of the Wild is a profound and much needed gift for the world.

[Brie Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kimberly Johnson is one of the most important healing voices of our time. In world where all healing modalities are studied and reported on men, and were "talking it out" rules, Kimberly's subversive, bold, and grounding advice helps us all remember how to come back to ourselves.

Honest, practical, and pushing the edge with the latest research and techniques, Kimberly's book is for anyone looking to feel more at home in themselves without taking on another external mindfulness practice. With Kimberly, I can always trust that I'll come away with a deeper understanding of myself, my body, and our culture as a whole.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the instructive portions of this book that talked about practical strategies for somatic healing. Though I love and admire this author's work, I'm still not 100% clear about her medical and/or formal therapy credentials (her LinkedIn indicates a BS in Social Policy), so I'm hesitant to rank this higher. I'd comfortably give it 4 stars if I knew Johnson had a LPC certification or MS in a related field. She gets into some pretty heavy psychological/therapeutic territory.

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone could benefit from reading this. While I knew quite a lot of the info already, it was presented in a way that wove together threads that were previously not connected for me, and really solidified my understanding of trauma response, attachment, sexuality, and so much more. Kim Johnson is a brilliant practitioner and author.

[Mariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

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I picked this up on my somatic therapist's recommendation, and I’m glad I did. Call of the Wild is a quick, approachable read that offers practical tools for anyone curious about reconnecting with their body and nervous system. It’s geared toward women, and Kimberly Ann Johnson’s background as a midwife shines through in both subtle and direct ways. I especially smiled when she suggested a table pose to access your “animal side” since it is a standard birthing position.

The book is structured into three main parts: an introduction to the science of somatic therapy, a toolkit of practices to help you reconnect with your body, and practical applications of these practices to enhance various aspects of your life. Johnson avoids heavy academic explanations and keeps the writing accessible, making this a good “anyone can use this” guide.

Some of the insights really stood out to me, such as the idea of radically accepting your existing attachment style, the description of the “wave” attachment type (which was spot on for me), the acknowledgment of how adoption can create destructive breaks in attachment, and the ways somatic techniques can improve both sex and body connection.

That said, the book often feels more introductory or surface-level, so if you’re looking for deep, clinical exploration, this won’t be it. However, if you're looking for a practical, welcoming entry into somatic work, this book is a great fit. My only critique is that the conclusion, with its hopeful post-COVID lockdown musings, feels somewhat dated now.

Overall, this is a thoughtful, feminine-centered guide that blends Johnson’s expertise as a midwife, somatic educator, and trauma guide into something simple, practical, and empowering.

[Jess✧✵ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had so many "oh shit" moments while reading this book. This is a great guide to our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and how our domesticized lifestyles have cut ourselves off from our most natural instincts and patterns. This book provides an insightful look into how we store trauma, how our attachment styles are impacted by our trauma, and how our victim or predator mentality plays out in our attempt to best protect ourselves. There are some really helpful pointers in here about how to complete natural cycles to release trauma and empower ourselves to change our responses.

[Taylor Jacks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I'm a BIG SE proponent, and this has been the best book I have read on the topic so far in relation to the female nervous system specifically. There are a few places I would give gentle pushback, but largely I loved Johnson's ability to gently encourage the reader deeper into the understanding of their own experiences and bodies. If you are familiar with the topic of SE, definitely give it a read. If not, I *may* suggest a few other reads first, but still a great read nonetheless.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greatreframe on healing trauma through self-awareness and somatics.

[Jessica Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through real-world experiences and firsthand examples, this book explains the science of nervous system theory in a way that makes what could be a dense and complex topic into a relatable and enlightening read.

This book stands apart in its ability to draw a connection between the interrelatedness of a healthy individual and a healthy community, society, and world. In our modern-day, increasingly isolated, stressed, polarized, and traumatized world, the author makes the case of returning to our bodies as a source of innate wisdom to help heal ourselves and our communities.

If you practice yoga, meditation or breathwork; if you want to better understand trauma & the nervous system; if you've struggled to try to think your way out of anxiety or depression there is something in here for you.

Most of all if you want to be able to understand your own patterns and tendencies, or just want to be able to better relate to yourself and others, this book will give you a foundation of understanding how we as humans are wired and how to work with your nervous system instead of against it.

[An · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply put, this book is excellent. It builds on Peter Levine's insights of the nervous system and somatic experiencing and seamlessly weaves it together with Stephen Porges' Polyvagal theory, with Attachment theory, aspects of non-violent communication and understanding the social aspects of our nervous system's functioning. There are various exercises and frameworks to guide us to learn to safely embody and increase our capacity and sovereignty.

And, bonus, it was written during the pandemic so in the conclusion its many teachings and learnings are applied to this rather unusual circumstance we've all found ourselves in.

A great read and one to refer back to in future.

[Magdalena Moszynska · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it's one of those titles I'll be coming back to over time. It is a great in-depth guide into making sense of your brain-body connection. It intelligently introduces complex concepts and encourages to reflect on your own experience and how to practically apply the lessons. The emphasis on making sense on the elaborate workings of the nervous system is applaudable and more relevant than ever.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wouldn’t have gravitated towards this book if I hadn’t gotten it as a gift but really enjoyed it nevertheless. It had great and accessible ways of reframing classic attachment theory and describing the nervous system. I enjoyed the exercises as well, and look forward to revisiting some of them over time. However the author’s biases and identities were very present in the book, in a way that didn’t make a lot of room for people who identify as non heterosexual non cis gendered women (which is odd because a lot of the information she presented would indeed be useful to people of any identity)

[Muriel (The Purple Bookwyrm)]

DNF 23% – Won't be that useful to me, no citations which is again meh.

[La Bruja Medusa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterpiece for trauma recovery

[Iulia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Somatic Approach to Self-Awareness and Healing
I liked the clear explanations of the nervous system theories applied by the author. The exercises and their purpose are presented in context, which makes it easy to relate them to methods from other domains focusing on healing trauma. Plenty of ideas to try out and a challenge to consider more the wisdom of the body, in our individual journeys towards living a more fulfilled life, feeling better, turning away from trauma and seeking to heal and flourish. Nice work!

[Eva Teja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish everyone would read this book. I’ve read it twice now and will likely continue reading it once a year. It gives great insight into the (female) nervous system, helps how to deal with trauma through exercises and developing stronger sensations for your body.
It helps to create more compassion for oneself and others. This is basic knowledge everyone should be taught in school.

[Tovah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some valuable information. Kimberly writes in a wholesome, caring manner which is very comforting to read, especially when it's regarding such difficult topics (e.g., trauma). There's some exercises to try, although the only one I liked was imagining yourself in a previous shitty experience, and saying aloud what you needed to say. The appendix is useful, e.g., the list of emotions, but there's not even much incorporation of it into the book itself.

However, for most of the book, I was waiting for more solid information, and it never came. A lot of this book seemed to be fluff and filler, and the actual content that was helpful only lasted a few pages every chapter. For example, there's only a few paragraphs about the medical trauma that women go through, especially to give birth. I would've preferred at least a few pages if not a full chapter on this topic. The reason I bought this book was to learn to read my own body/ understand when my body is saying yes or no, and this was barely a few paragraphs long.

A huge red flag for me is the lack of citations. There are no references. When she mentions something that appears to be a fact there's no way for the reader to know if the information is backed by evidence or it's an anecdotal observation. She discusses some common concepts in science like the fight or flight response, but I want to know the scientific support behind the novel concepts like fawning or freezing, for example. Not that she has to even discuss the evidence, but just show me that you have support for these claims. I think some scientific concepts are also oversimplified and could be better explained.

All-in-all, I haven't read many other books about trauma. Unfortunately, I learned so much less than I wanted to. There are probably other books that address trauma in clearer, scientific manners (E.g., the body keeps the score), but this book is a good first step if you're easily triggered, as it doesn't talk about specifics. I would give it 2.5 stars.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend — I got introduced to somatic experiencing via Molly Caro May’s work (also highly recommend), and this book provided wonderful guidance as I wanted to delve deeper. (If you’re new to somatics, this is a fantastic place to start as well.)

This book will get you acquainted to your nervous system (in a true and helpful way), have you noticing body sensations, and teach you to heal trauma (little “t” trauma for me, don’t let this word turn you away—many of us hold society’s view of the word “trauma,” which is quite different from the nervous system meaning you’ll learn in the book) through gentle pendulation.

I greatly appreciated Kimberly’s woman-centered book, clear explanations, visual graphics, and real-life examples. (Also, the “Jaguar GPS” practice map in the back is SUPER handy to revisit exercises once you’ve read the book, since exercises are woven into the prose throughout the book.) I appreciate Kimberly’s reminders and encouragement to this counter-cultural and deeply healing modality: slow down, do less, take your time.

[Janelle Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up in the Yukon, saturated by mythic tales of the Klondike Gold Rush and Jack London's 1903 novel, Call of the Wild.

What an uplift of fresh air to read the latest Call of the Wild (which also includes wolves (and jaguars)) and breathe in author Kimberly Ann Johnson's invitation into an inner and embodied wildness.

I got to shift out of the colonial gold-seeking frontier stories I'm so familiar with and into my inner life, my inner sensations and my embodied impulses. I got to take in Kimberly's perspectives and consider how to awaken my own power, heal, and take her generously laid out guidance and integrate it into my own work, teaching, and practice.

Just like her book The Fourth Trimester, I know I'll be recommending this book to friends, family, clients and students for years to come.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many will find value in this book. The author provides an introduction and tour of the nervous system, as well as accessible techniques we can use to begin to repair them and reconnect with our bodies and our animal selves. Somatic experiencing is the missing piece in my work as a trauma therapist. We can talk and think our way through only a very limited amount when healing past wounds; we need knowledge, skills and ways to re-inhabit our bodies, to complete what couldn't be completed then in order to heal now. I will be recommending this to clients, especially those that have been stuck, slogging through years of therapy (even EMDR therapy) without the true healing that leads them back to themselves. I will also recommend this to anyone feeling out-of-sync and suffering with any autoimmune condition.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely valuable and applicable information on healing and embodiment.
I took Kimberly's jaguar course last year and have eagerly anticipated this book.
Reading the book after taking the course has been so helpful for my journey and I know I will return to it again as the information settles into my body.
Thank you for writing this book, Kimberly! 🙏

[Natasha Alvandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does a good job introducing somatic processing. Many of the exercises are a good launching point for those wanting to understand how trauma affects their bodies. Some of the animal imagery is a bit over the top, but it serves as a way of illustrating the complex nature of our mind-body-spirit connection.

[Katieloowho · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it! I think there was a bit of expectation mismatch but it was still good. I had a hard time getting through it because I have kids and rarely have the quiet time needed to do the exercises and get better in touch with my body, but those are things I want to make time for so I did, it just took me a while and I had to stop and start over with a few things.

[Nikki Cutright · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're ready to heal, this book is for you. It is deep, challenging, takes time to work through and wont happen overnight. It is a book to come back to over and over. Sit with the reading, even if it is a sentence at a time & overcome your trauma.