Yule decorating . . .

Wow! I can't believe we're already at the end of November. Where does the time go? I've been so busy with classes and getting my business up and running that it seems the time has just slipped away. Although, that being said, it also seems as if time has been standing still. I've been waiting patiently (which is a feat in and of itself for me) to move into my new space at the Harbor Wellness Center. The time has finally come and I'm going over today to clean up and do some painting. I'm a jumble of feelings, mostly good and positive, but there's that little creak in the door and I'm trying hard to keep out the nagging doubts.

I have managed to set up my Yule altar and get the lights out on the house. Half of them won't work and so I find myself replacing them, on the cheap. I found two lighted wreaths at ACE yesterday for $2.99 and spent $13 on a new lighted garland for our light pole. We still need to replace (or fix) one of the net lights along the front hedge . . . I'm leaving that mess up to Brian along with stringing electrical cords to my lighted window boxes. Once everything is taken care of, I'll share some pictures.

Here are pictures of my altar . . . hope you enjoy!

Only five days until . . .

'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!