As women, we are often conditioned to play many roles — daughter, mother, partner, friend — but beneath these roles lies a deeper, more authentic version of ourselves waiting to be discovered. In this journey of maturation, we evolve through the archetypes of the Maiden, Mother, and Wild Woman, and it is through embracing our full range of feminine energy that we can truly step into our power.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the maturation process from Maiden to Wild Woman through the lens of somatic therapy, including Hakomi, Somatic Experiencing, and Polyvagal Theory. We’ll also discuss the psychology of archetypes, the importance of shadow work, and how understanding the masculine and feminine dynamics in our relationships can facilitate deeper healing. If you’re ready to take the first step in this transformative journey, read on.

From Maiden to Wild Woman: The Evolution of the Feminine Archetype

In her book The Heroine’s Journey, Maureen Murdock beautifully describes the stages of a woman’s inner journey, from the idealized Maiden archetype to the powerful, untamed Wild Woman. The Maiden represents youth, innocence, and potential. However, as women mature, they must confront challenges, face inner struggles, and navigate the complexities of life to evolve into the Mother and ultimately the Wild Woman.

This maturation process often requires the integration of shadow work — the unconscious, repressed, or rejected parts of ourselves. When we embark on this journey, we begin to unravel who we truly are, beyond societal expectations. It's in this process that somatic therapy becomes invaluable.

How Somatic Therapy Supports the Heroine’s Journey

Somatic therapy uses the body as a tool for healing, recognizing that emotions, trauma, and experiences are stored not just in the mind but in the body itself. Approaches such as Hakomi, Somatic Experiencing, and Polyvagal Theory can help us reconnect with our innate wisdom and release old patterns that no longer serve us.

1. Hakomi helps you tune into your body’s wisdom, allowing you to access unconscious material held in the body. This can unlock hidden fears, desires, and beliefs that may be limiting your growth.

2. Somatic Experiencing helps release trauma stored in the body, which is essential for healing emotional wounds from childhood or previous life experiences that shape our current identity.

3. Polyvagal Theory offers a deeper understanding of how our nervous system responds to stress and trauma, and helps us learn how to shift from states of fight-or-flight to calm and centered being.

Incorporating these techniques into your healing process allows you to move through the stages of the Heroine’s Journey with greater ease, releasing old, limiting beliefs and stepping into your true power as a Wild Woman.

The Mother and Wild Woman Archetypes: Embracing Your Full Self

As you transition from Maiden to Mother, and ultimately to Wild Woman, there is often a deep exploration of the Mother archetype. This can manifest as nurturing and protecting others, but also as nurturing and protecting yourself. In this phase, you may also confront the delicate balance between your inner Wild Woman and societal expectations placed on you as a mother, partner, or caregiver.

The Wild Woman archetype, as beautifully depicted in Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés, represents the untamed, instinctual, and creative force within every woman. She is deeply connected to her primal energy and intuition, living outside the constraints of what others expect of her. The Wild Woman is not afraid to explore the depths of her shadow, embrace her truth, and dance freely with her inner power.

This process of individuation can be supported by somatic therapy, where through body-centered practices, you are encouraged to listen to your body’s signals and trust your intuition. Your body becomes a source of empowerment as you reconnect with your inner knowing and your raw, unfiltered self.

Healing the Masculine/Feminine Dynamics and Shadow Work

In any journey of maturation, the relationship with the masculine and feminine archetypes must also be explored. The masculine principle within us is not only embodied in men, but in the qualities of strength, protection, and structure that we carry within ourselves. Understanding this dynamic, and integrating both the masculine and feminine energies within, is crucial for stepping fully into your Wild Woman power.

Shadow work is another powerful tool for healing. It involves confronting the aspects of yourself that you’ve repressed or denied. This may include emotions such as anger, jealousy, or fear — feelings that are often associated with the shadow side of the feminine. By exploring these emotions with compassion and awareness, we can heal the wounds that have been passed down through generations, and reclaim parts of ourselves that have been fragmented.

Through somatic therapy, you can deepen this inner exploration. As you become more aware of your bodily sensations and emotional triggers, you are able to unravel old wounds and release energy that has been held captive in the body for years.

Exploring Money and Worth: The Wild Woman’s Relationship to Abundance

For many women, the journey to embracing the Wild Woman is not just about reclaiming their voice or power but also their relationship to money, abundance, and self-worth. The Wild Woman archetype understands that her worth is not tied to external validation, but rather to her connection to her inner self and the natural world around her. Money becomes a means to create, to express, and to live fully — not a source of stress, competition, or scarcity.

In somatic therapy, we often work with clients to explore their relationship with money, using the body as a gateway to uncover limiting beliefs about scarcity or lack. By transforming these beliefs and cultivating a sense of abundance, women can step into their full power — emotionally, physically, and financially.

Conclusion: Trusting Your Inner Wisdom

The journey from Maiden to Wild Woman is not a linear path but a sacred process of growth, healing, and discovery. Through somatic therapy practices like Hakomi, Somatic Experiencing, and Polyvagal Theory, women can reconnect with their bodies and their deeper selves, allowing for the healing of old wounds and the release of limiting beliefs.

Whether you’re navigating the complexities of motherhood, exploring your relationship with money, or seeking to understand the masculine and feminine dynamics within you, somatic therapy provides a safe space to explore these themes. Most importantly, it offers a way to cultivate trust in your own body and your inner knowing, guiding you through your Heroine’s Journey and into the fullness of your Wild Woman self.

If you’re ready to begin this transformative journey, I invite you to reach out for a consultation. Together, we can explore the ways in which somatic therapy can support your growth and healing.