I pulled this card to inspire me for what I might say today, and this is what appeared. It's a Major Arcana card and very powerful for leaping a fiery transmutation, which I have been doing since the Eclipse. It encourages me to move forward and break with the past to create a new future. So, here we go!

Last week, I attended a very informative Wellness Wednesday Webinar called Ageism: Let's Get Out of Our Own Way, where the speaker was Ashton Applewhite, one of the leading voices in the movement to dismantle ageism. She's also the author of the bestselling book This Chair Rocks, which I just purchased.

She talked about our culture of ageism and how we are all ageist because of it. At first, I felt some denial and thought, well, I'm not ageist! Then, as she continued to speak, I got it.

She mentioned how we tend to compare ourselves with others our age and look for ways we don't look as old. I remember thinking this way when I was at a recent networking event where there were a couple of older women like myself. Comparison crept in on little cat feet even though I consciously tried not to do this. I decided to be very alert and see when and where my own cultural ageism arises.

I also notice that when I see pictures of aged women with lots of wrinkles, crow's feet, etc., I sense a tingle of fear about looking older, even though I have been blessed with decent genes and a metabolic age of 66.

Why do we let our physical appearance define our worth? Why do we think other women who look old need a facelift, are not intelligent, or are someone to stay away from? Instead of treating them as equals and deserving of our attention, we shy away from them and hope we never look that way. Society, capitalism, and modern culture create an atmosphere of shame and derision around getting older. This has to stop!

I'm sure you've heard, "You don't look your age," or "You look great for your age!". Here is a great answer, "You look young for your age, too." Often, we older women have some well-meaning soul offer to help us across a street or perform some physical task they deem too difficult for us. It can feel degrading, but be kind in your response to them; it's the CULTURE, not the individual, that needs the anger you may feel.

Another area to be super vigilant about is the Healthcare System. In your medical chart, one of the first things your medical provider sees is your age. Their tendency is to treat you based on a number, your age, not what may actually be going on in your body. They make talk to you in "elderspeak". I'd define that for you, but most of you have probably experienced it and know what it sounds like. Speak up for yourselves, ask questions, don't say "yes" when you mean "no," or want to do more investigating for yourself. Do not be intimidated and talked out of your own agency.

Last night, I had a transcendental experience when I was in bed reading a book. I happened to glance at my outstretched arm and saw this:

Instead of being distraught, a feeling of absolute love and acceptance washed over me, and I was in bliss. My arm was wrinkled AND beautiful, and it is part of me, so I cherish it.

WAVE THE WHITE FLAG

There are many choices available to us women in this life – but when it comes to your body, there are only two:
Accept it
Or don’t.
You see, if you choose to accept your body, you will soon start to love it, admire it, look after it. These things all follow in the wake of your acceptance.
When you realise that this vessel for your soul, for your spirit, is an instrument of such high design and fine tuning that it boggles the mind to even think about, you will enter into a phase which I like to call ‘peace, at last’.
You will care nothing of spare fat, grey hairs, loose skin.
You will realise, eventually, that the body’s purpose is not to look good, to attract friends, partners, successes – that it is, in fact, your spirit which does all of those things.
If you would only allow it to shine through and work its magic.
Your body, my friends, has but one job, to see you safely through this adventure of life, to allow your spirit to reach its potential.
That is it.
If you are on the path of not accepting your body – you are in for a very long battle – against an enemy you have no power to defeat. Nature, time, biology, fate…
You don’t have the weapons to fight those powers.
Wave the white flag.
Give in.
Accept.
It is then that your life will truly begin.

- Donna Ashworth

From the book ‘to the women’ by Donna Ashworth

Because you are a loyal subscriber to my Love-Letters, I want to gift you a complimentary 45-minute Call-A-Crone Virtual Chat and also, a one-card Tarot Card reading!

This is NOT any kind of sales call; it's meant to give you some of my insights to shed light on any situation with which you feel you need some quick help. I love doing this work and have time in my schedule right now before I start back with my 1:1 Coaching in May.

If you know any women who would benefit from reading this, please forward it to them. They'll get my 10 Tips For Powerful Aging, so give them this link: https://bit.ly/3RpkWQW