2008-06-04 Waking the wild woman

This is a breathtaking book that changed my perspective on the way I view the wild people and places of the world as well as my own internal landscape. Jay is a compelling advocate of the need to protect wildness in our world. I agree that we are in great danger of becoming homogenised to certain dominant politics, philosophies and religions. We lose thousands of years worth of art, knowledge and understanding when we diminish, colonise and plunder our wild people and places .The loss is of great detriment not only to those minorities' health and wellbeing (often for generations), nor simply yet more environmental damage, but also the whole of humanity is impoverished. It challenged my own egocentric views and made me review my values and beliefs. However what really stunned me was the authentic and holistic style with which she writes, one moment all highly researched intellect, the next political jibe, another moment sensual, sexual poetry, and yet another moment hugely personal, physical experience. It is like being inside a woman's brain. Made me search for a more authentic voice for myself as well as valuing people and places I knew liitle about. Essential reading.