Being male, and not being on fire in my middle years, it's true that I don't spend as much time thinking about this.
But I have been speculating lately, that the trial of menopause confers special powers on those who, as cachet said, embrace the volcano. I'm thinking of intuition, healing and earth-awareness. While it's true that many men are in touch with these things, we still must admit to awe at the energies issuing from the womb, starting with the children themselves.
Is it possible that we have made this into a "problem" needing a "solution" because of a male distrust of female transformations?
Mystical traditions tend to highly value inner fire, for the clarity it brings. So many involved techniques are taught, when the experience is right here on our doorstep, when we reach a certain age.
Hmmm...I suppose if I were forced to spend five years in a sweat lodge, I might have a slightly less optimistic view...
Blessings,
Aronaya
