Welcome friends.
So in today's meditation we'll be embracing the divine feminine archetype of the crone.
Now working with the crone is so interesting for many reasons,
But particularly in today's society where growing older can be a source of fear and trepidation for many of us.
We don't look forward to growing older physically and the challenges that may befall us in many elements of our lives as we grow older.
However,
Just like the phases of the moon,
Each one holding its own beauty,
As we grow older and inhabit our crone we can find wisdom,
Peace and acceptance more so than in any other element.
We find wisdom from the things we learn from life experiences and accumulated knowledge.
We can find peace as we let go of pressures around performance or any ideals of success or worrying about trivial matters,
Perhaps just a little less affected by the dramas of the world.
And acceptance,
Beautiful acceptance as to who we really are and what our dreams and goals are.
Perhaps we no longer feel like we have to fit into moulds or shapes that society would dictate.
Now is the time to inhabit who we truly are.
So the two goddesses that I'd like to speak about in reference to the crone are Kotliku,
The Aztec mother of gods,
And Hecate,
The Greek goddess of the crossroads.
So Hecate in her crone aspect was often worshipped any place there were a crossroads in the earth.
Hecate is the goddess of magic,
Education,
The dark side of the moon and the underworld.
It's said she would walk on dark nights,
Attended by her pack of hounds.
And often people would honour her by leaving offerings at each crossroad they found.
So what Hecate can mean for us and inspire in us is a reminder that we may all feel fear when presented with the unknown,
When we are presented with the crossroads.
We can never know for certain which route we're taking and where it will lead us.
Sometimes choices have to be made.
And in such cases,
The way to nurture our wholeness is to trust in your knowledge,
Trust in yourself.
And whichever path you choose,
Step into it with your whole being.
Walk confidently in that direction,
Because any path you choose,
When you bring your own strength and power to it,
Can be the right path.
And then we look at Kotliku,
The mother of Aztec deities.
Now Kotliku in her crone aspect often represents grief.
And as we explore the process of growing older,
Whether we are in our crone aspect now or simply journeying towards it,
We will lose things.
We may lose ideas and passions.
We may lose physical elements of ourselves,
Whether it's the colour of our hair or the thinness of our waistline.
Things will come and go.
We may lose loved ones or friends on the journey of life.
And inevitably we will lose everyone we care for.
But Kotliku's advice is this.
We cannot hide from grief.
And in order to find our acceptance and wholeness on this journey,
We cannot hide from the grief.
We must move through it.
We all face fear of losing things we love.
And in fact,
Grief is the price we pay for love.
Love in all its forms is so precious that the price we pay is high because love is so special.
So all Kotliku can offer us here is a reminder that we are all the same.
We all love and we all grieve.
We will lose things.
So hold on to gratitude for the things we have while we are honoured to have them.
And by facing grief and moving through it,
You can and will feel stronger and more alive one day.
It might not be today,
But one day you will regain your strength and your power and the hope in your heart.
So through grief and by feeling grief,
Healing can and will come.
So my darlings,
We have within the Krone aspect explored some pretty strong emotions of indecision,
Fear and grief.
So I wanted to make the meditation here quite simple,
Just to give us a chance to absorb some of these ideas and just rest from all these fears and ideas that might be jumping around in our minds.
The Krone aspect is an interesting one to explore because some of us may be in that aspect.
Some of us may consider ourselves in that aspect.
Some of us may never think we're really in the Krone aspect.
And that's absolutely fine.
You are allowed to never be in this aspect,
But all of us,
Whatever our age can learn from the elements of the Krone,
Of the acceptance of who we are,
Of the accumulated wisdom.
So we can all connect to the Krone,
Whether we consider ourselves one or not.
And with this in mind,
We'll prepare for our meditation.
As always,
There is no rush.
Take your time to find a warm and comfortable place to sit or lay.
Take time to create your comfortable space,
A space that can nourish,
Nurture and comfort you at this time.
Whenever you feel ready,
You can close your eyes as we allow the body to soften and relax into the earth.
Allow the breath to fall into a slow and gentle rhythm,
Unhurried,
Unrushed,
Untroubled by the busyness of the world outside.
Allow yourself to surrender.
Allow yourself to be supported.
In our mind's eye,
We journey outside in a world covered in white.
We walk over a great meadow covered in pure white snow.
Allow the view of this white expanse to fill your mind.
In the distance rolling hills,
Snow-topped trees and mountains can be seen.
The snow is pure and white.
And as you walk softly on the snow,
Yours are the first footprints upon you.
As you take in your surroundings,
The blankets of white covering the world you see before you.
You see also that you are robed in white,
Beautiful,
Soft,
Warm clothing,
All bright white.
You notice your hair that falls about your shoulders is also as white and pure as the snow around you.
You suit the environment you're in as if you were born to be there.
A snow queen,
A fairy of snowflakes,
A bright white being of light.
And as you stand in the snow,
Looking behind you,
You see so clearly each and every one of your footsteps.
Each and every one of the steps you have taken to the exact spot you are right now.
And as you reflect on these footsteps,
You may see symbols or plants or animals that represent memories to you.
Each step may represent a year or a place or an adventure that means something to you and who you are.
Take a minute or two simply to reflect on the steps that have brought you to this moment.
And now from our place in the snow.
We'll turn from looking backwards to our footsteps.
We'll turn and look forwards to those rolling hills,
The mountains and treetops,
Beautiful and glistening with snow and frost.
And we'll take a few more minutes here to reflect on the journey ahead,
A journey for which there is no path.
You may move forward in any direction you please.
You may move forward with a strong idea of where you are heading to the mountains,
To the trees.
You may move forward without knowing and simply enjoy the journey.
Maybe a little bit of both.
But as you reflect on the steps you've taken and are inspired by the journey yet to come,
You feel confident that you have made it thus far.
You have gathered wisdom and knowledge on every single step you have taken.
So wherever the oncoming path leads,
You are looking forward to it.
As the time comes to return from our place in the snow,
You may take a few long deep breaths.
Maybe wiggle the fingers and toes as we gently and as easefully as we wish bring ourselves back to the room and back to our bodies.
So as we come to the end of this meditation,
You may just wish to stay with your thoughts and reflect on this meditation.
Or if you wish to take up your pen and pad,
Take some time to reflect on all you have learned in your life up to this point.
It may be a long list of bullet points.
It may be pictures,
Icons and images.
But it is useful whenever we feel that life is passing us by or fear or grief that we are growing older.
It's useful to remember that to grow older is not a lessening or a weakening or a reduction of life in any way.
Because with each step we take,
We are taking on new things,
Learning new things,
Finding new inspirations.
So as I leave you here as we come to the end of this session,
Take as long as you wish to write your list,
Your ever growing list,
As you learn,
Grow and develop into the Crone Goddess.
