Blog: Mama's Musings

Today my friend and colleague Brice featured me in her blog!  Click here to see the post, The Holy Fire: Part 1.

I recently re-discovered one of my personal classics, Dancing the Goddess Incarnate: Living the Magic of Maiden, Mother & Crone. Published by Llewellyn circa 2006, the team effort of authors Dorothy Morrison and Kristen Madden has re-invigorated my life and surfaced at the most appropriate time. . . The moment when I'm claiming myself as MOTHER.

When I originally purchased the book, I was about to meet my husband, Christopher Ryan.  I had recently returned to my home town after ending a long relationship characterized mainly by late nights in coffee shops, trips to the ER, and struggling to get me and my ex both through our college course work and on the path to a good career.  I left my ex with a notebook that basically was a step-by-step guide to "making it" in life.  Then I got the hell out of town.  I'm proud to say that he eventually did "make it" by going on to pursue a masters degree at Harvard and finding a job while staying true to his passion for guitar.  I'm even prouder to state that I "made it" by meeting and marrying my twin flame, inheriting a stepson, creating two children and building a home infused with magic, art and love.  Now my old relationship feels more like a contractual agreement that simply reached its expiration and was not renewed.  However, at the time it concluded, my emotions were more jumbled, and dancing with the Maiden and Crone as directed by Madden and Morrison helped me reclaim myself and embrace my life's love.

Now, I look at my surroundings and know that--with my beautiful family, country home, '65 Airstream and unconventional work-from-home teaching, writing, and consulting jobs in place--I have accomplished what I've set out to do.  However, I'm also accutely aware that, while I have the life of my dreams, I'm not living it as fully as I wish.  I want and need to become more profitable, stable, peaceful and organized when it comes to the in-and-outs of the life I've made.  Fortunately, dancing with the Mother has provided the clarity I need both to fully recognize and celebrate the reality of my victories and to plan compassionately and confidently for my future. 

Dancing the Goddess Incarnate is based on the idea that, while women pass through three major stages in life--Maiden, Mother and Crone, they simultaneously experience aspects of all three.  Regardless of age, individual women will tend to resonate more heavily with one of the three phases throughout life, yet the only way to reach true fulfillment is by engaging actively with each at all times.  By succinctly blending personal anecdotes with mythology and step-by-step instructions, Dancing the Goddess Incarnate is a woman's' guide to creatively becoming herself.  Each time I pick up the book, it holds a new message.  However, my favorite parts so far have reminded me that I really do possess everything I've ever wanted, that household chores can be the doorway for powerful magic, that money is good and that the number one most important step to manifesting what I want is to refuse to become overwhelmed.

For more information about this treasure, check it out Dorothy Morrison's post at  Llwellyn.com.