Part One - PREPARING for Initiation

Chapter One: WAITING IN THE ANTEROOM    11                         

Popular & Perilous Culture: Why We Fear Aging    11

What’s in a Number? Redefining “Old”    14

Conscious Aging: Initiation into Elderhood    17

Betwixt & Between: Stages of Transition    19

The Wise Woman’s Way: The Initiatory Journey    22

Exercises and Activities    31

Chapter Two: OPENING YOUR MIND AND HEART    33

The Archetype of the Wise Woman    33

In Search of the Wise Woman Image    39

The Wise Woman and You: Quest for Wholeness    41

Sunsets and Seasons: Symbolic Thinking    44

Exercises and Activities    51

Part Two - CREATING a Vision

Chapter Three: GROWING BEYOND THE MYTHS OF YOUTH    7

Time for a Different Myth    58

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: The Beauty Myth    61

The Cinderella Complex:  The Need to Please    65

Diamonds and Dust: The Superwoman Syndrome    69

Dragons and Frogs: Which Myth are we Living?    72

The Fair Reflection of the Evening Mirror    76

Exercises and Activities    79

Chapter Four: DISCOVERING THE UNIVERSAL WISE WOMAN    83

Magic and Mystery: Elder Tales    84

Goddesses and Grandmothers: Mythological Models    89

Inspiration and Insight: Contemporary Wise Women    95

A New Myth for Another Season    101

Exercises and Activities    103

Part Three -   Honoring Loss

Chapter Five: WELCOMING YOUR WISE WOMAN WITHIN    107

Accessing the Unconscious: Active Imagination    108

Guidelines for Active Imagination and Guided Imagery    111

Meeting Your Wise Woman Within    116

Companion and Guide: Help during Adversity    119

Exercises and Activities    124

Chapter Six: FINDING THE MYTH IN THE MESS    127

Weaving the Tapestry: The Life Inventory Process    129

Reinterpreting Loss: Queen Inanna’s Initiation    132

Tracing the Threads: Performing a Life Inventory    134

Seeing Patterns: Creating a Personal Mythology    146

Chapter Seven: ACCEPTING PARADOX AND MYSTERY    153

The Ego: From Tyrant to Mediator    154

Reconciling Opposites: Beyond Holding the Tension    157

Developing a Mature Spirituality    160

Reframing the Ultimate Denial: Death    169

Emerging into the Light    174

Exercises and Activities    177

Part Four – Inviting Renewal

Chapter Eight: RELATING TO YOUR INNER WISE WOMAN    183

Establishing a Sacred Partnership    184

Synchronicity & Signs: Listening for Guidance    200   

Staying Connected to Your Inner Wise Woman    203

Exercises and Activities    205

Chapter Nine: WALKING WITH THE WISE WOMAN    209

New Ways of Relating    211

Following Your Passion: New Elder Roles    215

Supporting Your Quest: A Wise Woman Circle    223

Changing Stereotypes: Reaching across Generations    226

Renewed by Archetypal Energy    233

Exercises and Activities    235

Part Five – CELEBRATING WISE Womanhood

Chapter Ten: DESIGNING YOUR WISE WOMAN CEREMONY    241

Importance of Ritual    242

Benefits of a Wise Woman Ceremony    243

Features for Memorable Sacred Ceremonies    247

Planning your Wise Woman Ceremony    249

Welcome to Initiated Wise Womanhood    258

Exercises and Activities    262

 Epilogue – Reclaiming the Wise Woman    265

Appendices –      

A: How to Remember and Record your Dreams    270

B: Life Themes Worksheet    272

C: Films with Positive Images of Elderhood    273

D: Sample Wise Woman Ceremony    276

Glossary    281

References    285

About the Author    292

Index    293