Resurrecting the Crone

Part One: The Decision (and how it met the business and the personal)

And with a gloomy sigh she uttered "Got to keep the Grey at bay" and my heart sank at the thought of another few decades of dying my hair. I had bumped into my Mum in town as she was rushing to make a hair appointment for yet another cut and colour.

That was early 2014 and became the day I vowed never again to dye my already Greying hair. I might have thought twice about this decision had I anticipated the deeply significant journey it would take me on.

Shadow Walker

This is a portrait of a woman named Sabrida Shing.
She is one of a few rare women to take on the task of becoming a Sadhu.
After her husband died, she grew her hair and wove his memory into it.

She creeps silent and deeply aware

Whispering through your shadows

Birdsong in the murky gloom

And you sense her presence

Does Personal Transformation Look Like a Mental Breakdown?

Artwork by Deviant Art

In our society where the paradigm is often to mimic 'same' or 'common denominator' behaviour, the transformation into personal authenticity may well look like a mental breakdown. 

Chapter of Life

And as she stared at him, feeling numb, her face showing nothing, one betraying tear slid down her cheek.  She vowed this would be the only tear she would shed for her man.  She looked down at the table as the tear detached itself from her beautifully made-up face and plopped heavily onto the back of her hand.  Wondering if he’d seen it and surveying the half eaten meal and in this moment it suddenly became important to her that this food was about to be wasted and she always hated to waste food, especially in this restaurant.  She normally gave all her scraps to her dog to ease her guilt!

Assertion or Aggression?

Being assertive is a skill. It is easy to learn. A little more challenging to practice and totally liberating when used with confidence.

Anxiety – Is It a Thought or a Feeling?

Anxiety lies in the space between what we know (and can manage) and what we don't know (and may be prone to worrying about). Disentangling and naming these counterparts is the first step to managing anxiety. Know what you know and know what you don't know. Manage what you are able to manage and let go of the rest, acknowledging that it is beyond your control. All self management starts within. It is the inner self that deals with the world and forms perceptions, values and beliefs. It is this inner self we need to be best friends with.

She is Ancient........

She is ancient, steeped in wisdom and able to walk hand-in-hand with shadow on one side and light on the other; neither holding power. She is the blade of Truth who uses that dissonant tension to pierce through life's illusion. Her words can hit like shards or stroke like the brush of a gentle breeze.

Others see her; they duck and dive, wriggling free from her gaze; free from self-discovery, safe in illusion for another day.

When you meet her, notice your reactions and name them. She has what you need but what you need isn't always what you want and life isn't a bowl of avoidance, despite your comfort wishes.