Wishes for Enough
By Janet Morrissey
“Our approach to gratefulness has to be big enough to embrace all the difficulties of the world.” – David Steindl-Rast
Many families have a Thanksgiving tradition of sharing something they are grateful for in the past year, or a gift or talent they have become more aware of but have never acknowledge it, publicly. Some members may find being thankful particularly difficult this year. Perhaps, there was illness or a major disappointment and life seems harder than other years. Aging adds more complications and often loneliness lands on our doorstep. There are a number of issues that we feel and see all around us, and we may have to dig deeper to recall our largess. We all have gifts—gifts that have been given to us.
“A grateful mind is a great mind, which eventually attracts to itself great things.” – Plato
When I feel stuck and my path looks full of road blocks and fallen branches, I recall one of my favorite affirmations, “The Power of God within me expresses abundances in wonderful and marvelous ways.” I say this over and over for several days. It doesn’t fail.
A few years ago, a friend sent me a clipping stating, “I wish you enough.” I couldn’t find the clipping, so I decided to go on-line and take a chance that it was there——and it was. Paul Coelko states this on his official site. Basically, in the story Coelko tells about a family who concludes their good-byes to family and friends with the statement, “I wish you enough.” The concept behind it was “that they wanted the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.” He finishes with an expansion on the wishes as follows:
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting…
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.
Dear Crone Sisters, I wish you enough.
CRONES COUNSEL XXVI
September 26 – 30, 2018
“SuperCrones, SuperPowers, SuperLives: We Persist”
Crones Counsel 26 will take place in beautiful Bellingham, Washington, between Mt. Baker and Bellingham Bay, where mountains and water meet and greet.
Our theme originated from acknowledging the women in the past who have PERSISTED through difficult times, contributed to community survival, and stood for equality and justice in life. Yet, often these women went unnoticed.
Today the mature woman is recognized as a vibrant force changing the community, and our theme reflects your super strength and contribution. Each of us has used our powers to manage our lives. Each of us has been a heroine in her own life, using “Super Powers” of Love, Friendship, Persistence, Survival, Courage, Energy, and more. Come together to share our strength and support each other in continuing to build our “Super Lives.”
The Crone support network increases our health and well-being, inspires us for the future. We will have joy, laughter, and camaraderie as we meet and share our journey with other Crones. First Timers will be welcomed into a wider Circle of Crone Sisters. We will share our powers of our past life journey and discuss what powers we will use on our future journey to “SuperLives.”
To register for Crones Counsel 26, go to: www.cronescounsel.org/registration or contact Registrar, Maggie Fenton at registrar@cronescounsel.org.
Our hotel is the Four Points-Sheraton-Bellingham. It boasts an inside heated pool and hot tubs with easy access and a fitness center. Dining options include room service, Chinuk Restaurant, and Poppe’s Pub. Note: Three Lunches and One Light Supper are included in the Conference Registration.
There are two room types: A double queen room ($119.) and a king bedroom suite ($139.) with a sofa in the living room which could accommodate four. The special hotel conference rates are good for up to three days before and after September 26-30. Each room has a refrigerator and microwave. There is complimentary parking. A hotel shuttle provides transportation to the local airport, trains and buses. Free coffee and water in the rooms. Free wi-fi.
To reserve your room, call direct 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Pacific Time 360-671-1011 for Group Reservations.
We’d had a week of sunshine, warm days and cool nights at CC 25 but on Sunday afternoon, as we walked up to the Heritage Center for our Board meeting, winter decided to announce itself in Salt Lake City. As my native Arizona friend, Kay Bouma, shivered and asked where the sunshine and warmth had gone, I teased her and said “This isn’t cold .. it’s brisk!” I confess to loving cool, crisp days, the whisper of rain (and sea spray) on my face and the wind tangling my oh-so-perfect 😊 mess of hair.
I suspect that part of Utah is much like north central Ohio where there are times you can experience all four seasons in one day. Fronts can move in from all directions, collide and make for very interesting weather patterns. I live in what are called the Ohio Highlands – all of 1500 feet above sea level (a joke to my West Virginia partner, Mike) .. but enough to make our weather patterns at home very different from those just about anywhere else in Ohio, especially in Columbus which is about 1000 feet lower and only a thirty minute drive south. We joke that the central Ohio weatherman gives the local forecast followed by “except at Mike and Maggie’s and we have no idea what is happening there.”
We’ve learned to adapt because each season seems to bring its own magic. Here at Berryfield Farm, we had a late fall and after a short blaze of glory, the trees are now losing their leaves. Naked trees hold their own beauty – the intricate structure of the limbs and branches, the patterns on a tree trunk are true works of art. My walks through the fields and woods include gathering magic remnants … nuts, pods, bittersweet, rose hips, dried weeds. A couple of nights ago, wakened from a sound sleep, I was drawn outside in the middle of the night just to see the Hunter’s Moon through the branches and listen to the Great Horned Owl. Magic.
Maybe adapting to the seasonal changes helps us adapt to the changes in our life’s seasons. Each one – Maiden, Mother, Matriarch and Crone – have their own magic. I’d be interested in hearing about the magic in your seasons.
Crones Counsel Banners
What to do with the Old Ones?
By Carol Friedrich
Several years ago, the Mother Board decided that future Crones Counsels would not continue the tradition of making a large banner for each year. This decision was based on the cost to have 20+ banners hung by hotel employees, the cost to ship from site to site, and the cost of storing them in between.
Since that time, planning groups have been given the option of making a temporary, inexpensive banner to keep or toss.
The time has come to decide what to do with those we now have. The Mother Board discussed options, and they decided that the first CC’s banner (Jackson Hole, WY) and the Crones Counsel banner would be displayed along with a current, temporary banner (an option) at each future Crones Counsel.
The Mother Board’s suggestion is that, should the planning group for any former year wish to have their banner(s) back, they must send an email to Kaye Chatterton, kayechatterton@gmail.com to make that request known. Please specify year, which CC #, and color of the banner. If any individual Crone wishes any one of the banners, then the same procedure will apply. The person/group requesting the banner(s) will be expected to reimburse CC for the cost of mailing.
We have loved these wonderful banners but we can no longer keep them. We have this year to dispose of them. Act now.
Take a look at a collage of the banners.
Crones Counsel 25 Survey Results
Thanks to all of you who responded to the CC25 SLC Survey! This is a big help as we plan for future gatherings. Take a look at the overall results of this survey.