Triple Goddess Getaway
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Recently, my daughter, my mother and I, and my Auntie, my cousin and her daughter all went away for a few days getaway.
What better way to getaway then with three generations of women that I love?
In some beliefs, the term ‘the Triple Goddess’ is represented by the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone. The Maiden is seen as the young woman who has not yet awakened. She is about enchantment, expansion, growth and new beginnings full of youthful ideas and enthusiasm. The Mother is the next phase in a woman’s life. She is fecundity, abundance, stability, growth and gaining knowledge. Finally, the Crone aspect is the final stage. The woman in her latter years of life is full of wisdom, tradition and knowledge.
All three stages embrace the sacred feminine and celebrate the personal power within each stage. Each part of the Goddess able to honor and learn from the other.
As adults, we are still children and grandchildren. Our parents and grandparents hold their title and role forever and always. Since babes we have had the contract of what our relationship entailed with each and what our personification within it was and is. It’s expanded and retracted and morphed but it is still the relationship between generations.
Life experiences and opinions shared between the generations are valuable for everyone. There are layers of truth that we can understand more fully through the sharing of experiences in each stage of our lives. We can deepen our understanding of the existence of our family (and in this case, the women) in our lives. Clearer understanding can be gained of the valuable experiential inheritance from our familial generations through the stories. Compassionate discernment can be attained of where we came from, not just our own upbringing but beyond, as well as where the younger generation is taking our family roots.
I decided to take this opportunity, celebrating the triple goddesses within our family, and ask the questions to each family attending our cottage getaway. We varied from ages 22-85 years old. I inquired to each woman privately, not in the presence of the others, on such topics as favorite childhood memories, what issues are important in the world to them, how they keep themselves healthy and happy, and what they thought about the women in our family and spending time together.
I was surprised that the ‘gap’ between the generations was not as big as one might think on many topics and although the specifics varied from each generation, the themes were common and parallel.
Six of us women, ages ranging over seven decades, all recollected our fondest childhood memories as outdoor activities from swimming and beach time to playing on the grandparents’ farm. Holistic health is important to each of us with the mind and spiritual health being more important aspects to focus on. And everyone has a routine of some sort to keep themselves more aligned and healthy.
Interestingly when it came to politics, world issues and people, all women in my family, despite the near 60-year age difference felt some worry for our world especially to the country south of us. Most expressed the desire for more equality, harmony and peace for all people in our world. Clearly a liberal-minded family, when asked what North American leader they admired most, all that answered said a United States President, with the two older generations picking President Obama and one of the younger generational women picking John F. Kennedy.
I asked questions about stressful situations, hardest life choices and people that changed our lives and the responses all varied with details but each and every one had their own evolution that involved family. These beautiful women shared stories about life and death in the family, changes in family dynamic such as divorce, big decisions they had to make that involved themselves and the effects on their family, and the support and love they had received from their kin.
No one claimed perfection, but all women had something they wished they could change about themselves whether it was giving themselves permission to rest, regret over past actions or as simple as being less sarcastic and more mindful of our words and thoughts to be more kind and gentle. They shared similar past fears of being alone or making wrong decisions or of not being good enough and offered stories of how they moved through those fears and how they took care of themselves.
Through questioning, it was discovered that all three generations believe we are a family of strong women that are fun, like to laugh, love to talk and that we enjoyed conversation and quiet moments connecting with each other during family gatherings such as this. It was discovered that my grandmother, who passed away young and whom I never met, was a strong woman ahead of her era and did her own thing denouncing any patriarchal dominance.
When asked what we can learn from the generations above and below us, one of the 20-somethings stated that she thought the older generation could learn to ‘go with the flow and the times’ a bit more and that the younger generations could learn the hard-working, ethics and responsibility of the older generation more effectively. One of the 80-something goddesses ironically replied in the exact sentiment… that the older generations could learn to go with the flow and ease of the younger generation, and they (younger generation) could in turn learn a little more structure to their lives.
I finished each individual interview with the question: What are you grateful for? It was clear from each answer that the ways we support each other, family and all we have in our lives was not being taken for granted but met with love and appreciation.
Experts often speak of the generation gap, or the differing perspectives of older and younger groups, as a major obstacle to inter-generational relationships. However, the insights gained from talking with my immediate and extended family displays the worth and understanding and similarities you have may have with your family or ways to build bridges with people of all generations to expand your world view.
The benefits of inter-generational relationships are numerous and advantageous for both older and younger generations. The younger generation can learn valuable life lessons from a generation that paved the way experiencing both setbacks and triumphs. The older generation also benefits immensely from these interactions, invigorating them and remind them to keep growing and expanding in the current world.
Generations can share family stories with a new audience, gain insights and perspectives and as well celebrating similarities, strength and empowerment through the family ties, for generations to come.
So, I encourage you to plan a ‘Triple Goddess Getaway,’ a family trip or simply interview and inquire. You may be surprised by how insightful the conversation can be.
(If you would like to see an article on a specific topic, please email kelly@indigolounge.ca).
Kelly Spencer – Happy Healthy YOU
(A wellness column by Kelly Spencer: writer, life coach, yoga & meditation teacher, holistic healer and a mindful life enthusiast!)
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