Ann Moir-BussyIn the last column, we spoke of Baba Yaga, the fierce, destructive witch in Slavic folklore, who was also a powerful transformer for those brave enough to meet her and fulfil the tasks set for them. Vasilissa was one such young girl who took that journey, and you will find the full story in the PowerPoint and seminar listed at the end of this column. Do watch it as Baba Yaga and Vasilissa lead us into this next phase.
Today I want to deepen this understanding of the inner journey required of us if we are to grow through the transitions after mid-life, when everything we were used to and that held us together begins to topple. Many of us then find ourselves in difficult “in-betweens”, as our old maps, and what we thought we knew now seems to fail us, and we are in a world of unknown territory. What we need to learn, as Jung notes, is that all of our problems stem from one source – that we are separated from our instinct, our inner wisdom.
What does this mean in today’s world, where there is so much collective chaos and unrest?
How is it that we have lost touch with what many traditional societies and Indigenous peoples understood – that intuition (instinct) is a form of intelligence connecting us to the land, the ancestors and cycles of life?
Ripening with age
In these traditions, intuitive awareness was often seen as something that ripens with age – the fruit of experience, reflection and connection. For them, cultivating intuition was a way of being in relationship – with their own soul, with the land and with time itself. Yes, as we grow older, it is essential that we learn the art of cultivating and reconnecting to our intuition through silence and attention to the living world.
There are many myths and indigenous stories that speak directly to the awakening of inner wisdom, especially in midlife and elderhood – not as a decline, but as a transformation. One such story is from the Inuit peoples – the story of Sedna – the Whale Woman. A beautiful woman who lived alone with her father, she did not want an arranged marriage to any of the men her father proposed. She was betrayed by her father and thrown overboard, where she then became the ruler of all sea creatures, embodying wounded yet immense power. Those who dive to her for guidance must comb her hair – a ritual of respect and reconnection.
There are many versions of this story, and we will unpack one of them in our next seminar. The main lesson to learn is that intuition arises when we reconcile loss and betrayal, tending gently to what was pushed in the depths. Elders often carry this capacity to “comb the hair” of the collective soul – to soothe what has been exiled.
As we cross into elderhood, let us remember that we are helping to restore an unbroken lineage of wisdom that modern culture has almost forgotten – we become a true elder through listening, humility and intuition. Let us also remember that intuitive awakening is not a linear path – it is often circuitous, playful, and humbling. The journey is most important.
Deep Listening
Aboriginal Elder from Daly River, Miriam Rose, speaks strongly of the importance of Dadirri – Deep Listening, which enables one to reconnect to their intuition through silence and attention to the living world. The Western world has developed ways of ignoring this through its concrete jungles. So, the invitation for each of us is to
- Go alone into nature – a park, the bush or the waterways
- Walk slowly and silently
- Listen with your whole body – sound, wind, scent, even the subtle ‘presence’ of things.
- Instead of thinking about nature, let the world flow into you
- Ask quietly, “What is life trying to tell me right now?
The Journey
Let us not forget that as we continue to age towards elderhood, we are on a journey. I cite the Jungian analyst John Hill to finish this reflection:
There is no place to arrive where we know it all, where we are finally content. Inside each of us, there is a hunger, a burning desire to know, to explore. {Remember}..
The journey is our home
Our home is the journey
Please check out this FREE link for Baba Yaga and Vasilissa the Beautiful – Trusting your Intuition: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19q2EgIrfpKi3ek8ZypRZ2AHTKgmpRUtX/view
And check out the website: annmoirnussy.com.au
Email: ann@annmortbussy.com
Christine Sanson Maudy
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