Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Clarissa Pinkola Estés is an American poet, psychoanalyst, and post-trauma specialist with a diverse ethnic background.

Born into a family of immigrants and refugees, she grew up in a small rural village near the Great Lakes.

Her heritage includes Mexican mestiza, Magyar, and Swabian tribal roots.

Estés' writing is heavily influenced by her family's oral traditions and their various occupations as farmers, craftsmen, and equestrians.

As a first-generation American, her work often draws from the rich cultural tapestry of her upbringing, blending storytelling with psychological insights to explore the depths of the human experience.