Crone: “Empowered, Wise, Self-defined, post menopausal, consciously aging, willing to acknowledge her shadow side.”
Not so long ago, some of my friends who were already Sacred Crones told me to look forward to my “fifties” with gusto because beyond what I had achieved professionally, from here on out I would be more confident when facing opposition and fearless when sharing my opinions. They said that personally I would be less self-conscious and more willing to try new things. So off I went toward my potential Croning Initiation with optimism and courage. The first two years yielded two Hawaiian vacations, trips to San Francisco and Europe, a couple of geographical moves and a reconnection with my first husband (and may I say, “Love is lovelier, the second time around.”) However, by my fifty-second birthday I saw my journey take a distinctive turn down an unexpected path. My spiritual, mental and physical selves began to unravel. By a buddhist’s way of thinking this would be considered a good thing; to have the spiritual experiences of non-duality and no-self. Physically, (move over to the “con” column) I have gotten bifocals (never having worn glasses before), have the beginnings of macular degeneration, a hearing disorder, (I hear painfully well) watched the recent arrival of a disfiguring bunion destined for a close shave, and last but not least, have been enduring (sans grace) 30 of the 35 possible symptoms of a raging post menopause– (enter: mental disturbances.)
What do my sacred Intuition and wise inner-crone tell me to do? Reset intention.
Spiritually, I INTEND to be grateful for all that has been changing regardless of how it looks or feels for gratitude is the key to peaceful co-existence with what is. Also, I’m being thankful for the ever-present holiness of guidance and love which comes through my family, friends, and the divine strangers who walk my path. I pray for the blessing to grow old gracefully (or with a minimum of wailing and gnashing of teeth) and after exhausting all the holistic treatments and remedies I know to do, I am starting HRT. (Yikes! Hello 54.) This is a risk I am finally willing to take if it means I can enjoy my marriage to its fullest, and participate in my Crone years with elegance and dignity and the recognition that my health is my wealth.
“They were healers, teachers, way-showers, bearers of sacred power, knowers of mysteries, mediators between the world of spirit and the world of form. In pre-patriarchal societies, women’s wisdom held healing power, and crone wisdom was the most potent of all. We are awakening the ancient crone within ourselves, and learning to trust the power of our inner knowing.” c. 1996 Bayla Bower, Crone
I look forward to your comments and any suggestions from my sister Crones!
Micki Dharma has returned to the beginning: "for in the beginner's mind the possibilites are many, whereas in the expert's mind the possibilities are few." After numerous walks of life, anywhere from that of a banker, to a non-denominational Christian minister, as well as a clown and a yoga teacher's teacher in between, she is at "square one" again. Coming along with her on this new leg of her journey are a loyal husband, two intriguing adult sons and goddess-girlfriends who remain ever supportive even though they have plenty of reasons to roll their eyes or mutter "Oh this ought to be interesting..." -- but never do -- at least not to her face!
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Welcome, Micki, to the crone years. I am WAY beyond you in years and would like to tell you that it gets better. And it does in lots of ways. It’s just that things don’t STAY how you might like them to stay. Things keep changing – physically, emotionally, mentally. Hang on and enjoy the ride!
Micki – I just want to say I applaud your attitude. I agree that gratitude is the key, though sometimes all I can muster is gratitude through gritted teeth.
I haven’t crossed the menopause bridge yet, and will admit to a continuing search for the “skip it” button, but I do look forward to being on the other side of “reproductivity”, no matter what awaits me. (Not so much the grass being perceived as greener on that side, so much as the grass being worn out and muddy where I stand. LOL)
Micki! Fabulous!!! From one Crone to another, HRT ROCKS. But do it with natural, plant based hormones – find a good doc who will listen to you.
You are a goddess-friend, too, and I don’t know about the others, but I never roll my eyes at you, only look gleefully forward to your hilarity. YOu already *are* walking in elegance and grace – you’ve given me so much of that! Girl, it WILL only get better (have a glass of wine!). Thank you for sharing this deep and REALLY fun treatise on menopause. I there with you all the way, Crone-sister…
Dearest sister,
I admire your courage and faith as you crawl out of the dark forest to face the shadows and I would like to join you and dance with the wolves.
I trust in your ability to shine LIGHT on the shadows.
Bon courage…Just do it…
To be aligned with Who You Really Are….get in the VORTEX.
Find a way to maintain your balance in the Vortex, regarding the conditions…
Move in and maintain as long as you can…and things will present themselves and occur…
What is the Vortex? Your divine SELF.
In the Vortex determine to release resistance, give up excuses, give up control.
The Vortex is a vivid reality …and the other reality is not always serving!
In the Vortex you feel alive and aligned, connected to Source,
good about the present moment and about the things just as they are.
In the Vortex you’ll feel abundance and expansion, prosperity and all the needs met.
In the Vortex you feel healthy and happy, full of energy and joy, radiating well-being.
In the Vortex you feel passionate, enthusiastic, grateful and connected to the creative juices, letting life guide and inspire you.
In the Vortex you are connected to ‘measure’ in all the areas of your life and everything is at ease!
In the Vortex you appreciate and feel appreciated; you feel love, you feel loved and you are in love. Your heart is singing !
In the Vortex you feel good about yourself, you are connected to your inner power, confident, savoring, loving the experiences of being, loving the creation.
In the Vortex you experience the perfection of mind and body state.
In the Vortex you feel happy, and satisfied with what is, knowing that life cooperates and that good things happen.
In the Vortex you feel clear minded and connected to clarity and inspiration, full of trust and faith.
In the Vortex there is freedom.
In the Vortex you feel blessed and connected to bliss.
You belong in the VORTEX !
JUST ‘INTEND’ TO GO IN THE VORTEX….every day…some time…and then more often… and let the Law of Attraction work for you! It’s all in your vibrations! Write your own focus wheel and read it several times a day!
love,
Frankie
I am right behind you, Micki. Thanks for this honest and enlightened (and enlightening) post. You are my heroine, and I am sure I’ll be calling you soon for some Cronely advice!