A very happy and healthy New Year to all.

Illustration by Angela Rizza

In the spirit of hibernation, I am creating a cosy nest and a place for dreaming our world into being here. So we can reflect and re-weave our lives once more ready for the Spring.

This spark from the Winter Solstice needs time to be held in the soft belly of  Pachamama, of Mother Earth. We just need to simply be and allow the seeds we are nurturing so carefully to sprout. Our lives must settle a while in her soft womb, in readiness for what is to come.

‘If all the women of the world recorded their dreams for a single week and laid them all end to end, we would recover the last million years of women’s hymns and chants and dances, all of women’s art and stories, and medicines, all of women’s lost histories.’

Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Spirit Crone Doll by Ali Rabjohns, using wensleydale wool, driftwood, swarovski crystals and gouache.

How does the wise woman speak to me?

The wise woman for me is part of the Triple Goddess, the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone. It may be that you don’t resonate with this archetype fully yet, if that’s the case then please explore one of the other two. I will be talking about these more in the future.

There’s a place I go in my meditation to meet my wise woman:

This is a beautiful old oak tree with a hollow dwelling. Each time I visit, it looks slightly different. It could be just candlelit or filled with spring flowers. It’s always warm and helps me to feel cosy and safe inside.

Here she lives, also known as crone. I particularly needed her whilst going through a dark night of the soul in my early forties. I questioned myself deeply about my life’s path. With crone, I was able to access the wisdom I needed and move forward with her. By giving myself the time I needed and really connecting to her, I was able to discover our treasure. Making a Crone spirit doll helped me to own the wisdom I had gained and release any heaviness that I was holding. I was able to create an affirmation after the process had settled.

“By lighting a candle daily in Crone’s name, I invoke clarity, decisions, wisdom and inner guidance.”

The ‘Serenity Prayer’ also reminds me of crone.

God, grant me the serenity to accept things I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can

and wisdom to know the difference.

Reinhold Niebuhr.

My wise woman has changed over the last three years. She has wild curly hair now, the type of hair I’ve always wanted, wrapped up in a beautiful scarf. Her eyes are sparkling and she has a great sense of humour. She loved dancing and she’s a passionate liver of life. She values her friendships but she also values her privacy and takes care of herself very well.

At this time of year, she’s often found curled up on her favourite armchair near the fire with candles lit around her, drinking strange brews and reading trashy novels. She takes great care to listen to the stars, for they sing deep wisdom and healing through her each night. Sleep is so important at this time.

“For some she came in a dream. For others in words as clear as a bell: it is time, I am here. She may come in a whisper so loud she can deafen you or a shout so quiet you strain to hear. She may appear in the waves or the face of the moon, in a red goddess or a crow.”

― Lucy H. Pearce, Burning Woman

Going Dark

You, darkness that I come from

I love you more than all the fires

That fence in the world,

For the fires make a circle of light for everyone

and then no-one outside learns of you.

But the darkness pulls in everything-

shapes and fires, animals and myself,

how easily it gathers them!-

powers and people-

and it is possible a great presence is moving near me.

I have faith in nights.

Rainer Maria Rilke.

There are so many of us struggling to make sense of these uncertain times we are going through. It is time to come together and be part of a supportive, safe circle of women. A place to delve deep and explore, rest and dream. Our next Goddess circle is on Saturday 9 January at 3.30pm GMT and then 30th January with myself and Lorriii Dragon Dream.

Wise Woman Goddess Online Circle and Ceremony

Ali Walters and Ali Rabjohns are honoured to be able to offer you this special Goddess Circle, focusing on the Wise Woman and hibernation.

You will have a chance to be held in a safe circle of women and are invited to:

• Participate in a ceremony to honour your female ancestors and birthright.
• Deeply connect with your sacral chakra, meditating with bear and your guiding star.
• Journey to experience your highest vision, in order to release your deepest fears.
• By the end of the session you will feel a deeper, more confident connection and communication with your Wise Woman.
• You will have ample opportunities to sense infinite gratitude and an inter- connectedness with those seen and unseen beings around you.

We will be creating a steaming bowl of herbs as an infusion for you to inhale or drink. You are welcome to prepare dried rosemary, lavender essential oils or flower essences that you are drawn to, dried lemon balm or mint and a steaming bowl of water, or have a kettle to hand.

May you enjoy the darkness, may your soul revel in the warmth of fireside stories. These stories can only be heard by those who listen with their eyes half closed in stillness. What has your wise woman got in store for you?

New Year’s Blessings Ali