MSC Blue Moon on Radiant Aging
Imbolc ~ February 2, 2019
The Holyland
Aging is happening…and it’s happening to us! So we decided to tackle the subject. And we are willing to share a glimpse of our wisdom with you! There were things we acted out, role played and there were arm wavings and demonstratives that helped us see and feel options and how to make adjustments to natural decline with a bit of laughter and heaps of gratitude for breaking the silence and naming the issues. It was up close and personal and for that part….you would have had to have been there.
Participants
MorningStar
Tabitha Hall/Spirit Wind Rider
Yo Nv/He Bear Lackey
Sister Joy Stella
Maya Windfeather
Peace Willow
WalkingFire
SIGNS OF AGING
A focus on decline
The mental shift towards “getting old” vs “positive aging”
Increased risk of dying if loss of partner/pet
Going to bed early before nightfall
Getting up early before sunrise
Disrupted patterns of sleep
Lack of time outdoors
Isolation - feeling exposed/embarrassed/fearing a loss of independence
Too much is too much - sounds/noise/movement/people
Slower to heal - physically/emotionally
Assessment/Acceptance/Giving up on health; hopelessness/pre-occupation with health/ Giving up/loss of will decline
Dementia
Decreased modesty
Letting go of taboos
Loneliness
Shrinking socialization
Signs are slow and insidious deterioration
Resistance to change
Emotional distress with the interruption of habits and patterns
Self-image/Identity - Harder to appear the same as before
Loss of Identity examples:
no longer ski the black diamond
no longer host large family gatherings
Loss of sense of purpose
Increased anxiety
Stubbornness
Persnickety
Bitter or better
Gifts that you have to dust, feed, water, or otherwise take care of, are burdens
PHYSICAL
Stooping
Shuffling gate
Shorter steps
The lateral arch of the foot rolls under
Shallower breath
Dryness
Rigidity
Lack of mobility
Decreased hydration
Prolapsed bladder
Prolapsed uterus
Wrinkles
Skin pigment change
Varicose or spider veins
Mental rigidity - harder to accept new ideas
Loss of sight
Loss of hearing
Greying
Slower movement
Harder to think or feel positive
Forgetfulness
Anxiousness - being alone/alone in decision-making
Reduction in activity
Constipation
Menopause
Decreased libido in men
Aching upon awakening
Drooooooooling
Increased frequency of urination
Loss of teeth
Less temperature tolerant
Get colder
Slower metabolism
Decreased circulation
Decreased or inability to get up and down from the floor/from the chair/from the bed/from toilet A shortening of stature
Decreased balance
Increase in core rigidity
Decreased hygiene
Decreased bathing
Decreased strength
Thinning skin
Bones break easier
Voice - gets weak & crackly/tone changes
EATING HABITS
Worry over weight
Decreased appetite
Decreased nutritious food
Decrease of intake while feeding others
Toast and crackers
Keeping moldy/old food - “Don’t waste the food”
Food on face/clothing
FEARS
Loss of independence
What will happen to me?
Who will take care of me?
Worry over money/resources - Shelter/Food/Heirs
Driving - Weather/cold/dark/alone
Vulnerability
Losing one’s mind
Somebody took something…
Hiding things
Sneaking
Distrust of people, including family members
Hoarding
Paranoia
Inability to see options
POSITIVE SIGNS/GIFTS OF AGING
Wisdom… hopefully
Maturity… hopefully
Wise Elder… hopefully
Increased life experience
Role model
Kids grow up
Kids move out… hopefully
Kids become self-sufficient… hopefully
Freedom
Further on the path
See wider opportunities
Urgency to live now
Simplifying/downsizing
Reassessing what is truly of value
Time shifts - It feels like time goes faster
More spiritually tuned in
More in the present
Slowing as a positive - to reflect, to observe, to still, to be
Stories
Reminiscent
Word medicine
Wimyn’s libido increases
No pregnancy post-menopause
Time is valued over things
“I like it! I NO like it!” - no justifications/no excuses/no dancing to keep the peace.
ANTI-AGING PLAN
Daily Anti-Aging Actions
Walk
Soften the face. Especially when listening or talking
Yoga or stretching
Down ups: get up and down from the floor
Kegels/mula bandha/Jade Egg
Breathe: breath creates space in the body/time/mind
Soft slow deep breath/pause/relax/breathe in more… at least three times
Breathe if worried or anxious
Slow breaths before sleep and upon awakening
Three minute meditation
Take time to get a little more here and a little less there
Focus on one task at a time - i.e walking on ice/going up and down stairs
Make your last thought of the day a positive thought
Drink a cup of water upon awakening. Hydrate throughout the day.
Bathe
Eat something deeply nourishing i.e. superfoods: cacao, maca, coconut oil, wild,dark greens, vegetables, nutritive teas, seeds and nuts
Ask the state of your soul on a daily basis
Look up at the stars
Honor the Sacred
Time outside
Don’t use hands to get up from chair/toilet
Engage with something that you are interested in
Self-care
Brush and floss teeth
Ask “What do I need right now?”
Do something creative
Quiet time/alone time
Sisterhood
Welcome instinct/intuition/self-knowing
Increases gratitude
Keep a sense of purpose
Maintain a connection with people
Use our voice: Chanting/vocalization/singing
Foot massage - rub your feet; stretch the toes, rub the lateral edges. Don’t forget to use oil.
Build and maintain balance.
Move
Touch/skin to skin
Sleep 7-8 hours/nap when needed
Meaningful dialogue
Live and grow our dreams
Laughter
Speak up! Authentic, honest truth!
Honor the self.
Be our own best friend.
Sweat
Invest in family, friends, and community
No Rushing. If we have to rush something, don’t rush the self care.
Long Range Anti-Aging Actions
Walk with your pack
Footcare: Keep toenails clipped and cuticles pushed back.
Handcare: clip fingernails and push cuticles back.
Self-care
Merge our own self-images/identities and become more transparent
Become more transparent with the right people
Avoid poor bargains
Avoid over committing
Know thyself
Be around vibrant older people
Be around vibrant younger people
Assess flexibility - especially in pelvis and lateral edge of feet
What we can do one day, we can do the next day
Re-evaluate daily anti-aging actions
Frequently assess flexibility in our perspectives and attitudes.
Practice flexibility with change.
Learn what doesn’t work any longer and make adjustments.
Gather and feast with family/community. What we show up for grows and keeps going.
Have a sense of belonging
Have a sense of purpose
Right timing is important; so is not missing an opportunity
Appreciate and be grateful for things that we value
Participate in the things we treasure
Sisterhood
Girlfriends (Girlfriends help you live longer whether you are a girl or a boy says Harvard)
Explore things we are interested in.
Bear our karma cheerfully (unless we need to kick ass!)
Build bridges.
Do not burn bridges.
How do we want things to end? Not just our lives.
Explore options for leaving on good terms.
Allow others to leave in a way that they can come back.
Have a sense of humor.
Have a burial ground. Know your resting place.
Some of us need rituals
Having a place to release things that are dead, dying, or lost i.e. fire circle
Healthy Cleanses
Queen’s Jewel - Review your gratitude, undermining, and visioning.
Ideas for learning a new thing to create new neuro-pathways
Any change could be positive to lay down new neuro-pathways vs. learning something based on something we already know:
A new language
Travel
Dance
Music
Surfing
Swimming
Team sports
Chess or boardgames
Crossword puzzles
Jigsaw puzzles
Doing things alone
Sharing your skills
Queen’s Jewel
CONCLUSIONS
Over-Committing or unrealistic commitment robs us of radiant aging because it leads to:
bitterness
isolation
lying
secrecy
hiding
loss of freedom
resentment
dark thoughts/negative thoughts
exhaustion
hopelessness
withering soul and a huge karmic debt
For the aged, change leads to emotional disturbance; Which leads to mental confusion; Which leads to paranoia; Which leads to dementia; Which leads to loss of freedom.
Dichotomy: We started to notice that there are two co-existing opposites i.e. seeing wider opportunities/not seeing options. A desire to expand/decrease in activities, More patient (i.e. with a child or cleanliness)/intolerance. Repeatedly, it was an “on the one hand…and on the other” revelation.
Radiant aging is fun and possible with radical self-care, powerful sisterhood, and more Blue Moons for staying with the process and the plan! It ain’t for weak wishing!
Areas yet to be explored
Sensuality
Sexuality
Medical
Money
Submitted by MorningStar & WalkingFire
Two wild witches in a little cottage in the woods under an Aquarian New Moon!
