I feel it is urgent that humans of all ages unlearn the controlling and shame inducing messages that have been swirling for centuries through the fairy tales and myths that have been passed from patriarchal literature, movies, television, and other media sources. This project may be small, like a tiny pebble thrown into the lake, but that miniscule splash can create ripples that can and will reach far and wide. If I can raise awareness in one person, they may tell a friend, and then exponential transformational growth can multiply when we tell our stories. 

I could not have gotten to this place without my graduate work in Womens and Gender Studies, rediscovering Tarot which led to the Major Arcana archetypes. SoulCollage® found me accidentally, but probably not. Without these tools of awareness of archetypes and individual myth development, I would not have had this level of transformational personal growth. 

IMPLICATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

When interviewing Danielle, our discussion led me to offer out the term Transformative Power. We wonder if the work we do to bring myths and stories to other women can empower them to have greater awareness. The patriarchy is making a last stand to control women and their bodies. Danielle shares with me, “I don’t want equality, I don’t want to be a man, but I want to tap into the archetypal energy that fuels me.”

It is important that women be reconnected to their wild and primal nature. “The emotional effects of separation from a woman’s wildness can entail a number of somatic consequences, but also severe emotional disturbances…” (Malecka 278). These issues can take the form of anxiety, pain, illness, and fear that can lead to substance abuses and other harms. 

Considering the current attacks on reproductive health and bodily autonomy in the United States, and across the globe, it is even more urgent that women reconnect with their true self. “Women should refuse to surrender their abstract function of reproduction and a subjective social role as mother”. And Malecka further points out that women give birth to not only children but also “love, desire, language, art, and what is social, political, and religious” (283). She makes the argument that Clarissa Estés’ book is worthy of curriculum consideration because it opens us “the most profound foundations of pedagogy…the search for the essence of human nature and the ability to influence it” (283). 

Since beginning this research project, I have started to research the topic Older Adult Literacy. I am exploring a term I have developed called “Later Literacies”. I believe it is important to maintain basic literacy skills in later years, in addition to continually developing digital literacy skills. There are further later life literacies such as financial literacy, medical literacy, grief literacy, etc. As I learn more about individuation for the second half of life, I believe there may be an opportunity to further develop frameworks and curriculum to guide people to write their story while keeping their literacy skills sharp. 

Although this may be a small start, developing curriculum that can create awareness may be able to give voice to those who may have the advocacy and social change motivations help to change policy and this could lead to improvement for many lives. If awareness of archetypes could lead to change, what could other tools do to further positive change across the globe? Could this reach women in Iran who are demanding change? Could this at the very least teach women to learn to howl as Estés hopes so that we can find our tribes? 

My journey continues.

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