The Beauty of a Woman

The beauty of a woman,

Isn't in the clothes she wears,

The figure that she carries,

Or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman,

Must be seen from in her eyes,

Because that's the doorway to her heart,

The place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman,

Isn't in a facial mole,

But true beauty in a woman,

Is reflected by her soul.

It's the caring that she cares to give,

The passion that she shows,

And the beauty of a woman,

With passing years,

Only grows.

--Author Unknown--

The other day I was looking over some old posts of mine and found the poem above.  I've always loved the poem and thought it would be nice to share it again.  To me, it says it all.  Sadly, there are many out there who still view the older woman as the hag, the Crone, the one whose days of beauty by society's standard are behind her. I find it here at work.  One of the younger male clients once asked me when I was going to retire, and I told him I  'not for a few years.'  He began to laugh and said, "You'll be the oldest person out there working."   

I came to terms with the aging process years ago, but when this was said in front of others, I felt my face redden.  I guess that, for a moment,  I had been transported back to my childhood when the other children used to taunt me.  Although, knowing him, I am aware that he never meant to hurt my feelings, I found his comment was totally inappropriate and I told him so.  These are the kind of things some of us oldsters run into.  In their limited manner of thinking, old age means wrinkled skin and chronic disease and they cannot  the wisdom, serenity, and self-knowledge that represent the harvest of a long life experience.  She is perceived as being jealous of young beauty.  We see this in the tale of Snow White  and Sleeping Beauty as well as with the Halloween witch.  With images like these, is it any wonder we see women racing to the beauty counter at the first sign of a wrinkle?

Fortunately, the Crone is not always portrayed as a hag, but also as the beautiful Lady of Wisdom, as seen with Sophia. She the wise crone, the grandmother who knows all and passes her knowledge on. The crone was a voice of wisdom, an elder, a healer, a counselor, and a teacher.  One type of beauty replaces another beauty. The elder is valued for her age and makes no apologies for her appearance. She is the traditional crone, the  grandmother aspect of the Goddess, a present-day manifestation of the ancient mother goddess who appears as the Trinity of Maiden , Mother and Crone. 

Menopause is a time of great change in a woman's life. That is why it is referred to as the Change of Life. It can be our time of power with renewed self-confidence, energy, and inner beauty. It brings a new freedom for individuation and insight. Outer beauty is never enough for such beauty fades with time.  Only inner beauty remains...the beauty of the heart...the beauty of the soul.

To enter Cronehood is to experience a true rite of passage. Go within and feel the inner strength that you possess. Acknowledge your wisdom, your love and your beauty. You have earned this respect,  from others as well as  from yourself.   No one will ever honor us more than we honor ourselves.