Dear Blessed Crones,
As we wait and ponder the coming days of endings and beginnings, I offer you a reflection written by Br. David Steindl-Rast, OSB (Gratefulness.org).
May You Grow Still Enough….
May you grow still enough to hear the small noises earth makes in preparing for the long sleep of winter, so that you yourself may grow calm and grounded deep within.
May you grow still enough to hear the trickling of water seeping into the ground, so that your soul may be softened and healed, and guided in its flow.
May you grow still enough to hear the splintering of starlight in the winter sky and the roar at earth’s fiery core.
May you grow still enough to hear the stir of a single snowflake in the air, so that your inner silence may turn into hushed expectation.
The Mother Board wishes you the blessings and joys of the season.
Darkness
By Maggie Fenton
Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into instant flame by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light.
-Dr. Albert Schweitzer
“Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.”
-Mary Oliver
“What hurts you, blesses you. Darkness is your candle.”
-Rumi
As we who live in the Northern Hemisphere spin towards winter solstice, the darkest time of our year, I invite you to fully embrace that darkness. Like a seed planted into the dark earth, if we are patient and willing, we might feel the beginnings of new life and growth.
For me, this is a season of contemplation, a recounting of the past year and the years before. The days are often gray here in Ohio, adding to the feeling that I might never see the light again.
Looking outwards, I see much darkness in the decisions coming from Washington and darkness coming from people who would want to define us by the color of our skin, the depth of our pockets or the nature of our god. I read warnings about the fate of our beautiful Mother Earth, see the evidence of dramatic weather changes, watch the suffering it brings and still, the denials of the decision makers who are willingly blind to the evidence. The pictures of starving children, families sprayed with tear gas and six year old children standing alone in a deportation courtroom break my heart. It brings me to my knees in sorrow and I weep for the future of our country and our planet and my grandsons and their children.
Looking inward, I search my own life for those pockets of darkness that I have, by omission or co-mission, created. Because I am, after all, human, I find them.
And then, like the seed, I let go of what was and start looking for the light of what is to come. I think about lighting the candle of my being, pounding my drum to release it and preparing to create and welcome light. I pray. I hope. I breathe the air of a new year.
Food and Shopping in Tucson
By Win Fiandaca
One of the things we crones love to explore is the restaurant fare in the cities where our Counsel is being held. I remember eating Pad Thai for the first time in Seattle. What an amazing taste experience that was! You will love our venue in Tucson. It has a wonderful restaurant, The Saguaro Grill, which serves a wide variety of American food at average prices. However, within a short walk of the hotel there are 33 restaurants and shops for you to explore!
Here’s a sampling of restaurants within a short walk from our hotel for Crones Counsel 27!
• Pelio Grill Greek Tavern .2 mi – Greek Food
• Red’s Smokehouse .2 mi – BarBQ
• Kababaeque .2 mi – Flavor taste of India
• Chipotle .2 mi – Mexican
• No Anchovies .3 mi – Pizza and Italian
• Frog and Firkin .2 mi – American
• The Dutch Eatery .2 mi – Eclectic
• Pasco .2 mi – Eclectic
Win Fiandaca winfiandaca@gmail.com
Andrea Hartwig hartwigconsulting14@gmail.com
Survey Results – Bellingham Gathering
The Mother Board thanks all of the Crones who attended the Gathering in Bellingham and responded to the survey that was sent via email. The results indicated that 74 Crones responded, giving the Gathering a favorable ranking. We are grateful for the time and energy given to the written comments. As a Board we read and use your comments in proceeding with the next Gathering. Your ideas and advice are very important to us. The information lets us know what is working and what is not. The survey is for the Board to evaluate and help us create a better Crones Counsel for you. Thank you for your continued support.