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Growing up, every Friday night was a command performance for our family of six. My Mother lit the Sabbath candles and recited the appropriate ancient prayer. We’d break Challah bread and pass it around to signify our appreciation for what we had and the blessing of another week passing. Manischewitz wine was served, and animated family chatter brought us all up to date. By the end of our normal dinner conversation we would shift to local news and world affairs. Traditionally, my Dad and older siblings spoke above my mother, my baby sister, and my head. Inevitably my Mom would pipe up with some tidbit of news she garnered from her morning read of several daily papers. Before a moment has passed she would be put in her place with ridicule and disdain for mispronouncing a word or missing the point. The message was loud and clear; don’t speak up, much less speak out. I’d watch in sheer terror as Mom retreated fading into the background. Cassandra-like I tried and tried to get everyone’s attention. I tasted feminine impotent rage early on. I swore to myself that I would never hold back my true voice; I would grow old blowing my horn with all my might. Knowing my own truth and speaking it—even when it’s risky—has been my life long lesson. Continuing to raise my voice so I’m heard is not an easy choice. I have to keep re-choosing all the time. It would be far easier to put my metaphorical horn down and fade away. But I won’t. Nor should you. Too much is at stake. In our 50s, 60s, and 70s we are truly coming into our fullness. Something’s shifting in the deep bedrock of our souls. It’s the Crone Rising. This potent archetypal energy force will not come to all of us as we age, but to those whom she reveals herself, we are being asked to speak our truth like never before. This is a big responsibility. It takes guts and a deep commitment to embrace and carry this Wild Wisdom into the outer world. In so doing, we may suffer great losses and face mighty challenges. This energy uncoiling is our modern day awakening. We are freeing our last remaining patriarchal restraints so we can unleash our wildest wisdom and experience our true essence. This is especially so for us as older women. When we tap into this chthonic vein of transformative energy, which I call Crone Wisdom Energy, it allows us to stand in our full presence speaking out loud. We are then able to fulfill our destiny as wisdom messengers and leaders for the 21st century. But we are in danger. If we are not awake and aware, our authentic voices will be appropriated by a seductive desperate patriarchy as it breaks down inside and all around us. We are called now to relish being a wise, feisty and independent older woman who says-it-like-it-is and demands to be heard. Breakthrough, if it is to come in time, will have to be noisy and hard earned. It will take a mighty loud force field to usher in a greater future. Don’t get me wrong. I am not talking about a Women’s Movement like the first or second when I came of age. Rather than a movement, I see this as the next evolution of the sacred conscious feminine calling us to blow our horns—she is calling those who choose to carry the Inner Crone archetypal energy. We can then be a touchstone for others to follow. Now is the time for older women to be seen and heard. My Mom would certainly agree.
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