'A Fanciful Twist' Halloween Blog Party

I'm so glad you stopped by today! Before we start the party I'd like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Vanessa at 'A Fanciful Twist' for hosting this party! Be sure to stop by 'A Fanciful Twist' and partake of Vanessa's yummy post as well as links to all the other party participants!

I'm taking a bit of a different route this Halloween/Samhain. I've been intrigued with the colors of Black and Cream ever since I saw a layout in the fall Better Homes and Gardens magazine (I really need to purchase that copy!). It was gorgeous and it inspired me to create outside-of-the-box . . .

This time of year always makes me turn introspective and especially so since I turned 50 last year. I'm beginning to shrug off the old stereotypes of women being past their prime and over-the-hill. I certainly don't feel that way. In fact I feel better than ever and wiser too.

Season of the Crone

Crone of Winter's spellbound cold,
in Her cauldron of black are told
secrets ancient, truths and tales:
mystery Her light unveils.

She is wisdom, She is changes:
time and space She rearranges.
In Her hands, the card of Death,
for transformation is Her breath.

Crone of Winter, Grandmother wise,
look into Her gargoyle eyes.
Let Her lessons teach you well:
life is but a magick spell.

by
Gerina Dunwich

And as this time of year always does, it conjures up images of Witch's with warts on their noses, wearing pointy hats and flying on broomsticks . . . I think it's about time to leave those out-dated images behind . . .

. . . and relish a new image of the Crone . . .

"[The Crone] holds an unspeakable wisdom in the very cells of her body. The beauty and the horror of all life are held together in love. Being with her . . . we begin to see everything from two sides - the side that is totally in life, and the side that is already dwelling in disembodied soul. The Crone helps us hold the paradox."
~ Marion Woodman ~

I hope you enjoyed visiting today and have fun popping around to all the other delights waiting for you!

To be or not to be . . . a Crone

I've been doing some thinking lately on becoming a Crone. Fall does that, with the Earth slowly dying making its way into winter and with the God making his descent, it's no wonder. And while I don't feel 50, there are signs that age is creeping in on me. Like the few gray hairs I'm finding, and the lack of energy or strength I used to have (alright I know I need to exercise and lift weights!). But with age also comes wisdom. I know myself pretty well, I'm strong in my beliefs, and I know what I will and won't put up with. I'm still learning though which is a good thing - gotta keep those brain cells guessing!

Some say that a woman enters her Croning years when she hits menopause. Others say when Saturn has returned twice in her natal chart, which for most every woman is at age 56. I'm guessing I'll know when the time is right for me.

And while I'm thinking about impending Cronedom, I also think back to my 'maiden' years, good years, but also painful growing years. I think back to my 'mother' years and the mother I was not to be. Those years seem like a blur now all leading up to this moment. This moment when I'm upon the threshold of becoming a Crone and deciding how I will live the next fifty years. Beautifully, I hope, with grace and dignity, insight, and with much joy and laughter.

And so on thinking about the 'triple' aspect of being a woman, I'm drawn to the Goddess in her triple aspect. The following are excerpts from the book The Witches' Goddess by the Farrars:

"The theme of the Triple Goddess is found in the mythology of all lands... She is Maid, Mother and Crone; Enchantment, Ripeness and Wisdom; the waxing, full, and waning moon.

Behold the Three Formed Goddess;
She who is ever Three - Maid, Mother, and Crone.
Yet she is ever One;
She in all women, and they all in Her.
Look at these Three who are one, with fearless love,
That you too may be whole."

The Farrars suggest envisioning the Maiden, Mother, and Crone as a rainbow in order to hold all three in your awareness at one time.

"Realize that the whole spectrum, with its shifting colors, is the one glowing rainbow. To pursue the analogy further - red/orange for the Mother, yellow/green for the Maid, and blue/indigo/violet for the Crone... Which wavelength predominates for you at any one moment depends on your own tuning. But make the effort to grasp the whole rainbow, and you are face to face with Woman, the manifested feminine principle..."

Wherever you are on your path of womanhood, take some time today to connect with yourself and with the aspect of the Goddess you are currently aligned with. Goddess, it's great to be a woman!

The Need for Change

Fall is in the air and with the turning of the Wheel, I'm feeling the need for a change here on my blog. So, as I always do, I popped over to Sharon's blog 'Plumrose Lane' for a needed autumn fix. And she didn't disappoint.

There are several fall themes to choose from, but in the end I went with 'Golden Moments'. Isn't that just the best name? It makes me want to reflect on each moment this fall, relishing the changing of the leaves from green to their golden fall colors, the crispness of the fall air and the darker mornings making it way too easy to sleep just a little longer.

So, please excuse me whilst I dust off the corners, clean behind the elements and prop up my new banner and blog design.