Moving from Mother to Crone & This Week's Free Printable
Hello Friends,
I hope this finds you well. It’s raining today. Which is a welcome sign, as Maine is experiencing a pretty bad drought. There is something magical about rainy days. I have always loved them. While lots of people like to curl up with a good book on a rainy day, I actually feel more motivated to get things done on rainy days. Is that weird? I absolutely love writing on days like this. Are you a rain person or a sun person?
From Maiden to Mother to Crone
As summer winds down, I’ve been thinking about my upcoming birthday (okay, it’s two months away) and the fact that my youngest is going to be a senior in high school this fall. After 27 years, my active parenting days are winding to a close. And I find myself wondering, what’s next? Who am I, if I am not a full time parent?
I’m going to be 46 in October. From my vantage point, it’s neither young nor old. In some ways it feels just right. I’m comfortable with myself. I like the person I have become. I have plenty of life experience to instill the right balance of confidence and prudence.
Biologically though….it feels like a hormonal dance (rave?) is happening inside me. Just like puberty, when you move from the spring of life into the summer, the move into the autumn of life (aka perimenopause) is marked by a lot of changes that are hard to ignore.
To put it less poetically, some days I am a hot mess. My uterus has no rules. Mood swings have taken on a whole new meaning. And I could take a nap at any point in the day.
Anyone else in this boat? Anyway, if you’d like to read my full ramble about moving from the Mother phase to the Crone phase of life, by all means continue….
This Week’s free printable is inspired by Ralph Waldo Emerson, whose biography I’ve been listening to on audible. I often think of him as one of the earliest slow living influencers of his time.
In other news not related to influencers or my raging hormones, the 2022-2023 planner is finished! But given my history of typos, I still need to go through it one more time before releasing it into the wild. So, for those you waiting, please hang in there!
I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day and I’ll see you next week!
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From Maiden to Mother to Crone
I’ve been thinking about my upcoming birthday (okay, it’s two months away) and the fact that my youngest is going to be a senior in high school this fall. After 27 years, my active parenting days are winding to a close. And I find myself wondering, what’s next? Who am I, if I am not a full time parent?
I’m going to be 46 in October. From my vantage point, it’s neither young nor old. In some ways it feels just right. I’m comfortable with myself. I like the person I have become. I have plenty of life experience to instill the right balance of confidence and prudence.
Biologically though….it feels like a hormonal dance (rave?) is happening inside me. Just like puberty, when you move from the spring of life into the summer, the move into the autumn of life (aka perimenopause) is marked by a lot of changes that are hard to ignore.
To put it less poetically, some days I am a hot mess. My uterus has no rules. Mood swings have taken on a whole new meaning. And I could take a nap at any point in the day.
But even with all the changes afoot, I’m excited. I am ready to leave the Mother phase of life and embrace the Crone (though, can’t we come up with a better name?).
From Maiden to Mother to Crone
I jumped from the Maiden to the Mother very quickly when I was 19. There was no time for me to really figure out who I was, before I was tasked with caring for another human being. Now though, the transition from mother to crone is slow and steady and full of discovery.
I feel like I’m standing at the gate between my younger self and who I am evolving into. Looking back I see a young mom with a baby on her hip and toddler or two in hand.
Then as a 30-something divorcee, figuring out how to balance work and tweens, and trying to figure out who I am outside of being a mother and (ex)wife.
To my forties, when grief and loss made their first impactful appearance in my life and I had to grow in ways that hurt beyond words and standing still was too painful.
To now, standing closer to 50 than 40. Silver threads are beginning to outpace the brunette curls. And the age spots on my cheeks tell the story of 40+ Maine summers.
I am simultaneously strong and soft. Strong in who I am, what I can handle, what I can give. Soft in the knowledge this journey has not been without its hurt and scars.
I’ve been thinking about this new stage with a kind of trepidatious delight. I loved having babies and raising kids. Even when it was at its toughest, I could still appreciate the beauty of watching your chicks fly on their own. But now, the promise of freedom from childbearing and active parenting beckons, and for the most part I am ready.
For me, embracing the transition to Crone is about embracing wisdom. I know enough now (finally) to recognize that I don’t know that much at all. I’m learning to be quiet and really listen for a change. I am happy to slow down. To really look at the world around me, without feeling the weight of it on my shoulders. I’m getting comfortable with letting go of the lifetime of accumulated emotional baggage. Of societal expectations. Of parenting responsibilities. Of pleasing people out of habit. Of always finding fault with myself.
And I am excited to see the person that emerges in this next phase of life.
What season of life are you in? What do you love about it? What are you ready to let go of?
Celebrating the August Super Moon
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The August full moon, also known as the Barley Moon and Sturgeon Moon, is happening on Thursday, August 11th at 9:36 pm (EST). It’s also a super moon, which means that the moon will appear bigger and brighter than normal. The full moon offers a time to reconnect with the earth and your inner self through your own spiritual path.
Early Moon Worship
Moon worship goes back to the earliest humankind. Every ancient civilization celebrated the moon in some form. Ancient Greeks celebrated Selene, the Goddess of the Moon, while ancient Romans called her Luna. Native American tribes looked to the moon to guide their planting and hunting. Even the Christian celebration of Easter is linked to the moon. Easter Sunday always falls on the first Sunday, after the first full moon of the Spring Equinox. Today the moon is a central part of paganism, Wicca, Witchcraft and other Nature -Based spiritual paths.
The Moon & The Divine Feminine
The moon is considered by many as a divine feminine energy. The Moon rules below, while the sun rules above. The sun gives life and the moon gives a rhythm to that life. The ocean tides, female menstruation, and the natural rhythm of the planting season are all governed by the moon.
The moon is associated with goddesses of many different cultures including the Chinese goddess Chang’e, the Greek goddess Selene, the Roman goddess Luna, and the Zulu goddess Inyanga.
The idea of the Triple Goddess is also centered around the Waxing, Full and Waning Moons.
While the sun is constant in its appearance from day to day, the moon changes, shrinks and grows over the course of a month, offering different levels of energy and support to those who look toward it for guidance.
Full Moon Magick
The full moon represents abundance and progress. If you set intentions during the new moon, the full moon is when you may start to feel or see the results of your efforts.
The power of the moon is at its strongest when it is full and it’s a good time to cast spells, practice meditation and focus energy on achieving your goals. It’s also a time to seek clarity about your path forward. If there is an area in your life that is troubling you, sitting with the full moon and meditating can help you forge a path forward.
Did you know the best time to see the moon at its fullest is during the Moonrise? You can use this moonrise and moonset calculator to see exactly when the moon will be rising in your area.
The August Full Moon
The August full moon is known as the Barley Moon, Corn Moon or Sturgeon Moon. In ancient times, the first harvest of Lughnasadh was celebrated in August, making it a time to celebrate all the work and toil of the spring and early summer, while still planning ahead for winter.
Today, the Barley Moon offers a chance to pause and reflect on what is working in your life and what you would like to change. As autumn approaches with the start of school, holidays and general hustle and bustle of modern life, now is a good time to take stock and make a plan of how you want to spend your time. What do you want to be, do and have in life?
Are you celebrating the August Super Moon? Share in the comments!
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