Crack Yourself Open by Ann Moir-Bussy

I’ve started writing this column on International Women’s Day, 2026 – and I send my greetings and love to all the amazing women who have taught me so much and to all the girls and women who were never given opportunities to grow and become themselves. Many who reach out for counselling or guidance are struggling to find their voice, to be free of the stories imposed on them and to break free. How can we as women do more to reach out to these many women?

In many of my columns, I focused on how, as we age, we women can take the path of being an elder, a crone, a sage. More recently, we explored some of the ancient myths and stories of goddesses and fairy tale characters, which can remind us that we can only transform by going within, facing our darkness, releasing all that is no longer needed and reclaiming our intuition and inner wisdom.

For it is only by facing our own vulnerability, journeying through that transformation, that we can guide or lead others. As we physically age, it is not a time to “be old’ but rather a time to grow older and, as Leonard Cohen said:

“You have to keep cracking yourself open, or you become a parody of yourself”.

It is a cyclical process – an ongoing journey of transformation. Why do we need to “crack ourselves open”? It is because it is the only way that we can share, lead, be an elder, a crone! And in today’s world of rapid and uncertain change, it is not a time to be silent, to be old, but rather to allow all we have learned over the years to flow out in support of others.

The Willow Tree

Have you seen beautiful old willow trees? They are such a powerful symbol of resilience, flexibility and wisdom. And the willow tree’s ability to bend without breaking teaches us how to adapt in difficult times, times of change and times of adversity. There is a story of one such tree in a little village and it was known as the “Willow of Wisdom”, because on elder woman called Elira used to sit beneath its branches and invite others to join her.

Everyone revered her because she was a source of comfort and knowledge, especially for women moving through mid-life and navigating the transitions and changes that brought. They would gather there with her, bringing their burdens of uncertainty and change, their feelings of loss and their longing for a new sense of purpose. Elira would welcome then, “Sit beneath the branches of change” she would say, “and let the whispers of the willow teach you”.

What can we learn from Elira?

Accept change and transitions because they are a natural part of life – they can bring clarity and freedom

Embrace your wisdom – you have a deep inner wisdom within – learn to trust that intuition and knowledge

Rekindle your spark – that is, reconnect with your passions, music, dancing, painting, tap into your inner creativity that has been suppressed for so long.

Connect with other women – Support one another – together we can create a new vision for other women

Celebrate the journey – plant new willow seeds and help others to celebrate new beginnings.

This is an invitation to all women to take up the invitation to grow older and embrace all the wisdom you have acquired over the years, and become an elder and a leader.

So, like Elira under the Willow Tree, as an elder, it is time to serve with energy and compassion. And in the words of William Martin, from The Sage’s Tao Te Ching –

Please check out this short FREE video of Embrace Life Now -Open the gates.. a little reflection in these uncertain times. We all have many transitions and changes on our journey – don’t be afraid to reach out for support.