Excerpt from New
Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way, Alternative Approaches
to Menopause for Women 30-90 by Susun S.
Weed
As the menopausal years draw to a close and you find yourself
more stable in your new self, feeling more like your “old
self” as you become your older self, it is time to manifest
the last stage of initiation: rebirth.
You've spent time in some form of isolation as you journeyed
the unpredictable years of menopause. You have given death
to your images of yourself as Maiden, as Mother. You have
crowned yourself, or been crowned as, Crone. Your metamorphosis
is complete. Now comes the time to return to your community.
To assume your new roles.
You return as Crone. You hold your wise blood inside. You
have learned how to spiral the updrafts of hot flashes. You
have learned detachment in the midst of emotional hurricanes.
You have submitted yourself to chaos and have witnessed the
most ancient of all mysteries. How can you share this with
your community?
In the days of the matriarchy, and in some matrifocal cultures
yet, a woman who has completed her menopausal metamorphosis
initiates young men into the ways of love play most pleasing
to women. She is honored as the teller of truth and the keeper
of peace. She is the one the tradition keeper and the people's
link to the spirit world.
Today, there are no givens. We are each free to choose our
own role as Crone. A ritual of commitment helps others know
what your new roles will be.
Here is one example to guide you.
For this ritual, gather an audience of friends, family,
and significant others, the more the better. You could compare
it, at least in mood, to a wedding or a christening. Wait
until at least thirteen moons after your Crone's Crowning
ceremony before doing this ritual.
Let there be music and sweet scents as you gather. At the
appointed time, call everyone together to join hands. You
alone remain outside the circle.
When
the circle is complete, begin a hum, vibrating from the feet.
Let it move and spiral until the group energy feels whole.
With the hum of the group supporting you, ask nourishment,
breath, and inspiration, the powers of the east, to be present.
Ask heat, protection, and excitement, the powers of the south,
to be present. Ask emotion, fluidity, and compassion, the
powers of the west, to be present. Ask stillness, patience,
and wisdom, the powers of the north, to be present. Ask the
above and the below to be present. Ask the inner core of each
person to be present.
Ask the circle to open and include you, symbolizing your
return to community life. In your own words affirm: “I
stand before you as self-initiated Crone, woman of wholeness.
Though I have lived for many years, I expect to live for many
more. Today, and for the rest of my life, I ask you to accept
and honor me as Crone. And I wish to commit to you, my community
and family, my intention as Crone to. . . “
(Speak
your intent.)
The oldest woman present gives you a ball of yarn; she holds
the end. You move around the circle, unwinding a long continuous
thread into everyone's outstretched hands. When you're done,
ask everyone to stretch the yarn taut between their hands,
close their eyes and think of something they would like to
end. After a minute of silence, begin to move to your right
around the circle, cutting the yarn between their hands and
saying, in your own words: “I am She-Who-Holds-Her-Wise-Blood-Inside.
I have crowned myself Crone and accepted the responsibility
of giving death. I cut the thread. I set it free.” When
you finish, invite each person to keep the yarn or to place
it in a special basket, to be left outdoors as a give-away.
To close, hum as before, asking the entire circle to join
you. Thank the energies and attributes of the seven directions
(inside, below, above, north, west, south, and east). Then,
let there be feasting and dancing, music and pleasure, flowers
and feathers, spring water and herbal wine, lit candles and
lovely clothing. You have completed your menopausal years.
You are truly Crone, woman of wholeness.
This ceremony marks the beginning, of your new identity
as Crone. Most older women I spoke with felt they didn't fully
settle into their new self image until the age of 60, or after
their second Saturn return.
Excerpt
from New
Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way, Alternative Approaches
to Menopause for Women 30-90 by Susun S.
Weed
Juliette de Bairacli Levy's Introduction:
"This book shows very well Susun's great knowledge of
herbs; she is clearly an herbalist deeply informed by her
quarter century of intimate dialogues with people, plants,
and animals. I consider her one of the mothers of herbal medicine
in the United States." Read
the full introduction, click here
Your
web site is wonderful. I have one of your books and studied
under a wonderful and beautiful Herbalist that praised you
often. So when I happened accross your site I was so happy
to see you online. Thank you for offering your teachings and
wisdom in this format. Thank you again. Gail
Vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has garnered
an international reputation for her groundbreaking lectures,
teachings, and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges
conventional medical approaches with humor, insight, and her
vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly
pro-woman, her animated and enthusiastic lectures are engaging
and often profoundly provocative.
Susun is one of America's best-known authorities on herbal
medicine and natural approaches to women's health. Her four
best-selling books are recommended by expert herbalists and
well-known physicians and are used and cherished by millions
of women around the world. Learn more at www.susunweed.com
http://www.menopause-metamorphosis.com/
Alternative Approaches, Home Remedies, and Herbs for Women.
Your body knows more about menopause than your doctor does!
Learn more about the stages of menopause the
Wise Woman Way.
http://www.menopause-metamorphosis.com/An_Art_Gallery.htm
If you enjoyed the art above or if you are interested
in art reflecting the great metamorphosis called menopause,come
visit the art gallery for more.
If you are an artist and you would like to show in our on-line
gallery please contact us at susunweed@herbshealing.com