Tarotize: The Menopausal Witch Spread

I've been following Lisa Floyd for awhile now. I think she has solid, insightful advice on oracles and the Tarot, all very healing as well as direct. Not surprisingly, I've been experiencing synchronicities while reading her blog, including this link I found this morning when I went to check:Tarotize: The Menopausal Witch Spread. I haven't tried it yet but am looking forward to what this spread reveals. From her blog:

You call me a witch as if it's a bad thing..."

Writing about my own perimenopausal angst over on the Seer Pathways blog yesterday, I realised that someone needed to make a Tarot Spread about a woman's four ages. Because as my friend, Pip Miller, over at As You Wish, pointed out - the Moon has four phases, not three, and the stage that we enter during perimenopause is neither Mother nor Crone... It's Queen!

There is a Swedish word commonly used about menopausal women: klimakteriehäxa

It literally means menopausal witch and it's used as a put-down (no extra points for guessing that!), adding to the pain of women going through the change. I mean - could we be any more unsupported by society!? We're "past our prime" and have little value now that we can no longer bear children and patriarchy does not mince words on that one!

Beauty is the face of a younger woman. Every magazine cover tells us that much.

Yes, I do believe that menopause is a wake-up call to women who don't believe or are not aware that we still live in patriarchy and that very ancient power structures still determine our value as women. Hence it becomes our task to empower ourselves.

'My Boss Told Me My Hair and Makeup Were Holding Me Back' Jezebel.com

I realize in probably the "real world" this is absolutely true. I just can't relate; I've always avoided, or chosen, another path. Fortunately, where I live, combined with the job I have -- and the union -- I'm kept from ever having to experience this total bizarre bullshit. Also, I'm close to retirement and don't give a damn.

Rosalind Russell, His Girl Friday 1940

In many ways what Jezebel went through is for the reasons stated: getting ahead, and the corporate world rewards those who look the part. But another part of this is simply the game of control. I've had crummy jobs that paid minium wage or less, if you were in the food industry, since tips were considered part of your wages. I worked in places that held inspections. One chain restuaurant had us -- adults, mind you, -- line up while a female corporate executive walked up and down, making the most personal and rudest of comments about our hair, faces, looks, size, breasts, jewelry, make-up, you name it. I was told once by a male boss to "wear a bra" -- I was! -- and from then on he made it a point to have me stand off in a corner while he looked at my chest for five mintues to make sure I was wearing a bra. Oh I could go on but you get the picture.

My Boss Told Me My Hair and Makeup Were Holding Me Back

You're Either Too Skinny or Too Fat But You're Never Right...

Between the ages of 21 and now (58) my weight has varied a lot. I've been 100 lbs, I've been 220. Now I'm at an all right weight; my doctor is reasonable (maybe her being female has something to do with that, I don't know) and realizes that a post menopausal woman who's struggled with weight literally her entire life isn't, nor should be, 98 lbs. She'll be satisfied, as will I, if I lose between 15 and 20 pounds. I'm working on it and already have lost a few. I'm not "on a diet" but watch I don't overeat, eat small meals throughout the day, protein, lots of iced drinks and water, of course no sodas. Just basic "works for me" stuff.

So, I've been all these contrasting weights all my life, and no matter what my weight, someone, somewhere, always had a comment to make! Sometimes, even strangers! I was too skinny: what's wrong with me, I need to put on weight, I'd look better and would have boobs if I gained weight, etc. Or, I'm too fat, what's wrong with me, why don't I lose some weight, just use will power, etc.

Weight. Something others feel is perfectly acceptable to comment on, even if they don't know you (though whether they do or not is none of their business.) Weight. Something that is always, always, never good enough. If you were a size 20 and got down to a 12, not good enough. Someone else will come along and tell you, unasked, what they think of your weight. A size 5, too skinny, not good enough.

Now I feel pretty comfortable although I want to lose and that's my own business. I'm not depressed about it or beat myself up. And -- maybe this comes from age -- when someone does make a comment about my weight I say, politely, it's none of their business, and I ask them why they're concerned. That usually shuts them up, after a few stammerings about "just trying to help" and "concerned about your health," etc. Sometimes it's a "Wow, don't be so defensive." Feh. You brought it up.

I just remember that, no matter what weight I or you may be, there's always someone who thinks you're not the right weight. You can't satisfy everyone, and you shouldn't try to satisfy anyone, except yourself. :)

In Pursuit of my Inner Pin-up: What's Wrong With Our Bodies, Anyway?

Great post about the female body image and expectations, then and now:In Pursuit of my Inner Pin-up: What's Wrong With Our Bodies, Anyway?

Jennifer Aniston Voted Hottest Woman of All Time - Yahoo! Movies

In what universe???!!! Jennifer Aniston Voted Hottest Woman of All Time - Yahoo! Movies The whole "hottest" woman thing is ridiculous and shallow of course (and we should mention, men as well) but no use fighting something bigger than ourselves. I certainly don't want to contribute to the sexist-gender objectification-shallowness of these things by selling Aniston short. She's a person, after all, and perfectly fine looking. But. I mean, I have to say, after that pc qualifer, but still...still, Jennifer Aniston the hottest woman of "all time?!" All time???????!!!!

Hotter than:

Elizabeth Taylor

Marilyn Monroe

Sophia Loren

So many more, contemporary and from the past, that could fill that spot.