Sharon Blackie, advocate for the power of aging, talks about rejecting cultural pressures as she ages. She explores the ancient archetype of the Hag, embracing creativity, and self-expression in the second half of life. The podcast delves into the significance of ancestral cosmologies, the power of stories, and the qualities of old women. It also discusses the connection with the land, the existence of archetypes, and the need for older women to embrace their worth and create change.
Embracing the archetype of the Hag empowers older women to defy societal expectations and embody their true selves.
Storytelling and engaging with myths and fairy tales can guide us through challenging times and help us find purpose.
Creating intergenerational connections and mentorship is essential for challenging ageism and valuing the wisdom of older generations.
Recognizing and embracing the changes in our bodies as we age, and accepting mortality, leads to a more vibrant existence.
Deep dives
The Power of Archetypes and Mythology
The podcast explores the power of archetypes and mythology, highlighting how they can provide guidance and transformation in our lives. Sharon Lackey, an award-winning writer, psychologist, and mythologist, discusses the importance of stories and fairy tales in understanding our own personal journeys. She emphasizes that archetypes are not static, but rather constantly evolving, and that it is crucial to bring them back into consciousness to restore our connection with them.
The Transformative Journey of Older Women
Sharon Lackey delves into the transformative journey of older women, particularly after menopause. She emphasizes the need for older women to reclaim their power and find their unique calling in a culture that often dismisses and sidelines them. Sharon discusses the archetype of the hag, highlighting how it defies societal expectations and offers older women an opportunity to embody their true selves. She encourages older women to embrace their own stories and narratives as a source of empowerment and personal growth.
The Importance of Storytelling
Sharon Lackey emphasizes the power of storytelling in creating meaning and transformation in our lives. She highlights the role of stories, fairy tales, and myths in guiding us through difficult and challenging times. Sharon emphasizes the value of sharing and storytelling as a way to bring archetypes and old women's narratives back to life. She suggests that engaging with stories can help us find our purpose and navigate the complexities of the world.
Building Relationships Across Generations
Sharon Lackey discusses the challenges faced by older women in a culture that devalues aging and dismisses the wisdom of older generations. She encourages intergenerational connections and mentorship, highlighting the importance of young women learning from the experiences and stories of older women. Sharon shares her experiences of facilitating women's retreats where women of different ages come together, learn from each other, and appreciate the diverse stages of life. She emphasizes the need to challenge societal prejudices and create space for meaningful relationships across generations.
The importance of connecting with older women
The podcast episode explores the significance of younger women being in connection with older women, highlighting the loss when this connection is not present. It discusses how fragmented families and societal expectations can hinder intergenerational relationships. The episode emphasizes the need to challenge cultural norms and set a fire in the hearts of older women to inspire them to be engaged and share their wisdom with the younger generation.
Embracing an embodied existence and accepting mortality
The podcast delves into the importance of embracing one's physical body and accepting its changes as one grows older. It emphasizes the need to recognize the soulmate-like nature of our bodies and appreciate their resilience. The episode also highlights the significance of engaging in conversations about death, befriending it, and viewing it as part of the natural journey of life. It suggests that this acceptance of mortality can lead to a more fulfilling and vibrant existence.
The power and transformation of feminine rage
The podcast explores the role of feminine rage as a transformative force in the lives of women. It discusses how society often suppresses women's anger, leading to a lack of healthy expression. The episode emphasizes the importance of tapping into this anger and channeling it towards meaningful change, citing examples like the #MeToo movement and Black Lives Matter. It also reflects on how anger can serve as a catalyst for personal growth and the development of assertiveness, challenging traditional gender roles and societal expectations.
Sharon Blackie calls us to the ancient archetype of the Hag as a figure of unapologetic emergence from cultural pressures that lock us into outworn roles and limiting beliefs.
Drawing upon her transformative experiences in menopause Blackie grounds the mythic figure of the old woman who fashioned the world in her fierce determination to dissolve and reconfigure her professional and personal life. Identifying and rejecting cultural pressures to look and act a certain way as she ages, she claims the second half of her life for a post-heroic journey of intense creativity and unapologetic self-expression.
Ancient Celtic fairytales, myths, and folk stories carry the spirit of the Cailleach, the divine old woman who shapes the landscape and scourges it clean through winter storms. This Queen of Winter is sharp and wild. Those who discover the Cailleach within carry her ruthless truths as unavoidable facts that demand acknowledgment. Her stark reality strips away one's inner illusions and avoidance of death, leaving her sharp eye facing outward. Tending the web of life becomes the great task, and acting to restore balance to the community, the central role.
The path to the Hag is hidden in stories. Blackie reminds us that reviving ancient themes and images expands our imagination and helps us recover the dark woods we once knew well. Wise old ones revive awe and connection. Trees and plants, rivers and crows have secrets to teach us that require a depth of listening undisturbed by collective gibbering.
Elderhood can be a time to shed the roles assigned to us. Menopause can be welcomed as a rite of passage with the Hag silently waiting for us to see her. If we have learned how to recognize her, renewal and reclaiming is possible. The stories of those who have gone before us carry a strange beauty that can stir a memory in our soul and set us on the path.
If you’ve been struggling in the dark trying to find the keys to unlock your dreams, help has arrived. Order your copy of Dream Wise: Unlocking the Meaning of Your Dreams from the hosts of This Jungian Life podcast and open the secret door.
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