Chapter 7, Joyous Body: The Wild Flesh Summary and Analysis

Clarissa begins this chapter with additional observations that she has made about wolves, who are such a favorite with her that they are akin to being her "totem" animal. She follows this with a re-discovery of the female body and how we can enjoy, celebrate and accept our bodies. She also shows some of the psychological ways that women's bodies have come under attack. She is not referring to criminal forms of assault, but nasty, mental methods designed to reduce natural, healthy love and self-confidence that is the innate nature of females.

In the sub-sections of this chapter, the author shares more of her own life. During "Body Talk," she describes how a woman friend and she celebrated and healed themselves with an on-stage production. She further explores the healing of...