Written by: Pia Antico, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
International Women's Day (IWD) is a global celebration of women from all walks of life who have too often thrived despite facing systemic, structural & personal obstacles.
For me, IWD is a clarion call for revolutionary awareness & action at both a personal & social level. A call to address and remove the many varied obstacles to complete well-being that women have faced for centuries; and continue to experience.
Being a white woman from a privileged socio-economic background in Australia; I am aware of urgent concerns of safety & survival experienced by women of colour & other minority groups around the world. Women & girls are trying to flee brutality in all its forms, largely at the hands of men in their immediate circles, as well as from men in power.
There's no doubt that these oppressions that threaten lives take paramount importance in public discourse and action.
That being said, the roots to these life-threatening oppressions are based in a deeply embedded misogynistic & patriarchal view of the worth of women throughout their life cycle.
It is intrinsically tied to the erasure of the Divine Feminine from the life cycles of humanity & Nature, Centuries ago.
One area this erasure of the Divine Feminine has been blatant in this misogynistic youth-obsessed society; pertains to Menopause & Ageing.
Instead of celebrating this crowning phase of womanhood by embracing the Crone goddess wise woman; women are fed messages of fear & loathing regarding a pathologized ageing.
Before the 11th Century slander of the Christian hierarchy, the elder woman Crone (crowned one) & Hag (holy one) were the revered power holders of their communities. The lawgivers, lineage holders and Shamans advising men, women & children in their tribes.
Patriarchy could not have that, so the erasure began.
Fast forward to a Disney fairy-tale view of old, warty witches who are jealous of the young and bent on killing them.
Look to a society now, where the messaging from the middle age health & fitness industry is that women need to fight all signs of ageing in order to remain visible & valid.
We have a Patriarchal medical system that has pathologized all aspects of women's reproductive health & throws anti-depressants at women experiencing the physical, emotional & Spiritual transition of Menopause.
It is time that women revolutionize their ageing by reclaiming their Divine Feminine Crone Power and follow the urgings of their Higher Self wisdom.
6 Crone Tips to AWAKEN© the joy within
1. AWARENESS Even though the world may try and tell us what to believe and how to behave in certain ways, in the end the world can’t control what we think and how we feel; that power is only ours. Thoughts and feelings ebb and flow like the tide, we don’t need to fear or control them to be okay, because our true guidance is being in the flow with the undercurrent of our Higher Self wisdom.
2. WISDOM
Many people mistakenly define wisdom as a form of intellectual knowledge gained over time; however, wisdom is the inner ‘knowing’ of our spiritual consciousness that is directly connected to the limitless Universe. Wisdom is not from us, but we have ever-present access to it’s guidance in the present moment, often in the form of those subtle nudges, inclinations or good ideas.
When we release our attention from past thinking and future worries we are by default in the present moment and open to receiving signals from our inner GPS.
Slow down, get comfortable, listen out for your next ‘good idea’ and take aligned action.
3. APPRECIATE
Crones appreciate that they have made it this far and realize that ageing is a privilege not granted to everyone. Each wrinkle, grey hair, a fold of skin and stretch mark creates the map of a fully lived life; marked by the terrain of the peaks and troughs of experience.
When we think gratitude, it’s usually in regards to the pleasing things that have happened to us; & rightly so, after all you get more of what you focus on. However, a deeper form of appreciation arises from the realization that even those obstacles, mistakes and trials held a benefit for us if we slow down enough to perceive them. Knowing that everything in the Universe has goodness in it enables us to let go of the fearful thinking that we must achieve certain outcomes to be happy. 4. KINDNESS
The thing about regrets for past mistakes and being critical of the image of yourself reflected in the mirror, is that they’re tied to a critical flaw in thinking; that we are not worthy of compassion, mercy, and forgiveness. Crones realize that sometimes they will act aligned to their higher self-wisdom, and other times they get stuck in the illusion of their fear-based ego thinking; both are parts of the human experience.
5. EQUANIMITY
The greatest freedom is the realization that no matter how chaotic your circumstances you can be calm at your core; knowing that the outside world is not the cause of your feelings and that your True Self is not the story in your head. Crone wisdom is knowing that you are always going to be OK even when life momentarily isn’t.
6. NOW The final Crone wisdom tip for tapping into your inner joy, is to live in the present moment. The present moment is the default state of being free from past thinking in current thinking, not concerned with future worries, and free from labels of self. Our Higher Self wisdom arises from this dynamic space of potentiality in the present; it is a wisdom guided life that points us toward our ever-present joyful nature.
It is about time that we Crones rid ourselves of internalized misogyny & patriarchy at the core of our rush to prevent &/or remove any signs of ageing.
It's time that we reject the exhortation from this youth-obsessed, fatphobic & ageist society that we are only worthy of validation if we have a J-Lo body well into our 80s. That the only womb worthy of attention is the one that keeps popping out heirs, often under the duress of a harsh fertility drug regimen.
Yes, our womb centres are powerhouses but not because they can carry human life; rather it is because it is the Sacral Chakra energy store for our Divine creative power.
Menopause is not the signal of withered creative juices; it is the signal for women to turn inwards and harness their Divine creative power in pursuit of their dreams & passions beyond caregiving.
Let's embolden our Crone conversations, age disgracefully, ditch regrets, claim our unapologetic authenticity & quit being unwilling bystanders in our lives.
Life Begins At 40!
Pia Antico, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
In the middle of a storm, it is possible to find peace & strength when we tap into our innate Spirit-led wisdom and step heartfully into the present moment.” - Pia Antico
Pia Antico is the Founder of Essential Awakening Mentoring, a Crone Life Joy Reboot Mentor/Coach/Trainer, International Public Speaker & Best Selling Author.
She intuitively helps single, empty nester, businesswomen over 40 ditch their regrets, live unapologetically, age disgracefully & quit being an unwilling bystander in their lives. Without getting stuck rehashing, analyzing & reframing trauma stories.
Embodying her unique 6 step AWAKEN the joy within©️ framework helps them to free themselves from limiting beliefs & create lives of fun through trusting the guidance of their carefree Higher Self Wisdom.
Pia holds three degrees in Psychology, Counseling Training, and Certification in the 3 Principles Paradigm & she brings into coaching a wealth of insights gained from a litany of growth experiences.
At 49, she is a 'three near deaths before 30, two abusive marriages, & major head injury life rebuilder' whose mission is to help single, empty nester businesswomen over 40 to effortlessly get past their darkest moments by tapping into their innate well-being.
So that they can shine the light of their radiant, joyful wisdom & step into their dreamed of future.
Pia wants single empty nester women over 40 to know in their bones that their past doesn't predict their future & now is the time to dream big.
