Sharon Blackie's secluded Yorkshire Dales haven is where the boundaries between past and present blur. From this bucolic retreat, the award-winning author and eco-feminist is waging war on the Disneyfied fairytales that have long dominated our collective imagination. With a passion that borders on crusade, Blackie is determined to reconnect us with the raw, unvarnished wisdom of ancient lore – and in doing so, empower women to reclaim their lost power and forge a deeper connection with nature.
Her seminal works, 'If Women Rose Rooted' and 'Hagitude', have already shown how traditional narratives can serve as a potent guide through life's complexities. Now, with the eagerly anticipated 'Ripening', Blackie takes us on a journey into the very heart of human experience – one where the lines between personal and societal challenges are blurred. Drawing upon an astonishing range of sources, from Plato to Baba Yaga, she argues that by tapping into these archetypes, we can rewrite our own life stories and find the courage, grit, and wit to shape our destinies.
Blackie's own journey has been a winding one – from academic and psychotherapist to award-winning author. But beneath it all lies a fierce determination to challenge the status quo and reclaim the lost power of women. She rages against the 'Disneyfication' of fairytales, revealing their original, often darker, forms as a far more accurate reflection of our shared human experience. In her narratives, heroines are not passive victims but proactive, self-reliant agents – a radical shift from the tired tropes that have dominated our collective imagination.
A major plank in Blackie's mission is to rehabilitate the reputation of the wise old woman, reclaiming figures like the Cailleach, an ancient Celtic being associated with winter and wilderness. Rather than perpetuating negative stereotypes, she presents these powerful women as role models for a new generation – one that craves authenticity over artificial fairytales.
But Blackie's reach extends far beyond her books. Through spiritual retreats at the nearby Broughton Sanctuary and her popular Substack newsletter, 'The Art of Enchantment', she offers a unique platform for women to engage with her themes – fostering a community dedicated to growth, empowerment, and a deeper connection with the natural world.