Midlife has a bad rap. The crisis that invariably decorates it, seems strewn with stereotypes of balding men, playing out affairs and purchasing fast cars. There is no or little space for middle-aged women to understand their experience of it. It is unlikely we will even admit to being ‘middle aged’, always focusing on our youth, your young blood, our childlike spirit. But come on now, you are knocking on middle aged if you are anything over 35. Sorry. The truth aches like a menstrual cramp. However, I have news and a view. It is time we reclaim the midlife crisis as a time of resurrection, rejuvenation, transformation and enlightenment. We all had a grand time in our twenties, then probably spent our thirties fixing, firefighting and committing to things. When forty rolls around, if we survived the hermetic attentions of our life, we may feel a number of things, exhausted, frazzled, invisible, lost… A crisis for a woman, at this stage, need not be a thing of marvel or fear. Rather, a recharging of self. A recognition that things are not as they were. Never will be again. But that the bullshit we have suffered under, is something we are ready to release. To do this we must first become conscious of the following three things.
Are you with me? Let me know your midlife musings and inspirations in the comments below!
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I've used the term 'Free Range Spirituality' several times now here in this blog, and on me beloved instagram. I like it. It helps put a label on something that is essentially indefinable. My faith.
So for those who are wondering, here is a loose definition of Free Fange Spirituality, so that you can see if it fits, if you happen to be a free ranger too... Also, I invite you to add your own interpretations in the comments below, for that is the nature of Free Range, it is something free and fluid and as unique as the individual! Free range spirituality is based on, whatever the hell you want it to be. After centuries of spirituality being very dogmatically defined to us, it gives you permission to believe whatever the heck feels right, in any way you wish and without any kind of abiding rules. It pulls on your personal experiences, with life, with spirit, with a rainbow of feelings and inner knowings. It is undeniably a part of everything, and creatively interpreted dependent on your situation, mood, life challenges... Free range spirituality, asks nothing of you. It just is, pervasive and part of everything. It is there in your happy, it is there in your sad. It is a connection to something that feels, on a cellular level, to be all. And yet, is indescribable. It visits your dreams maybe, shows up in signs, glimmers across a lake to you as the sun is setting and you just feel 'something'. It was that kiss, that moment, those words, an understanding, a symbol. It goes far beyond the constrictions of words. You might borrow a little from other faiths, but only in the sense that they borrow from each other. Nature, her synchronicities, spirals and patterns are a big influence on my spirituality. But I am not a Shaman, nor am I a Witch. I'm a person spiritually connected, motivated and magically empowered by the world in which I currently find myself. I believe in a life after this, but I am not a Spiritualist or a Christian. I simply know on a heartfelt level, and because of my personal evidence (much detailed in my books) that this life is not all. There is more, so much more, cosmically more. As far as tools of the Free Range Spirit go, most of mine are bits of mother earth. The ammonite fossil on my altar, the small number of crystals I find scattered throughout my handbags, my garden. It being in the outside, the sunshine, the moon, wishing on a star.Then there are my tarot, and meditation and energy healing I was taught in sixty minutes as a child by my wiccan father. They fit nicely, for they are what I know. Feel free to apply what you know, be that art, creativity, something your grandmother shared with you, your parenting, your cookery, the way you care for others or animals and your mad tantric skills in the bedroom. Apply what fits, make it your sacred. At the heart of Free Range Spirituality sit whatever concepts you find yourself challenged and enmeshed in. Your life lessons and those that capture your heart being the gospel necessary to follow, to feature, to commit oneself to... And whilst Free Range Spirituality puts you at the heart of spirit, it equally ripples out to the causes and difficulties of this world. For as you experience connection with all things, so your heart beats hard for others and their troubles. This is not done in a vacuum. Your spirituality inevitably becomes a place from which you can support, speak and stand for others. As for magic, you believe in it. As for science, you believe in that too probably, especially the fascinating cutting edge stuff that makes some kind of exciting sense of your spirit. You find power in this life, and sense in the senseless. You have faith and hope and allow those things to decorate life in ways that make you your very own priestess and guru. That is my take on what Free Range Spirituality is. The possibility of anything, the connection to everything, the freedom to craft it precisely as it arises to you, for the grit of your very imperfect life. How does this Free Range approach suit you? Does it make sense to your heart? Please share your thoughts and feelings on your Free Range Spirit below, and let us know any other definitions that you feel are fitting! Inspired? Please share this Post with your like minded friends... Introducing my Cosmic Mother Vlog! I love to talk about those same things I write about (spirit, motherhood, creativity etc), so to keep things fresh, some of my blogs will be Vlogs! Here is the first... A guide to utilising spirituality and tarot in times of crisis -using lots of personal examples and a wonderful twist at the end that I didn't plan or expect! Enjoy, love, Alice Ps please do share your experiences in the comments below? What wonderful signs and synchronicities have rocked your world? Read and Watch More... All I am Alice Grist, and I am one Cosmic Mother! I am so glad you are here, and I hope that my life is an inspiration to yours. Sometimes in life we find ourselves in a place we didn't expect, but one that we built ourselves from a deep, holy, heart felt place. For a long time my mind has been focusing on my 'external' achievements - my books, my art, my tarot cards... But the things that matter most to me, are those wonderful, happy achievements I have crafted in my home; my kids, my parenting, our play, nature, magic, family wellbeing and my approach to free range, wild spirituality. So this blog is my new focus, and it feels so right, and so good. This is me, on a page, the truth of a chaotic, occasionally difficult, but always spirited life... Read on to find out how I shifted towards sharing the magical (and chaotic) details of my everyday life with you... Here is the full disclosure... In January this year (2018) my husband had a heart attack. Thank goodness he survived following three stents being fitted in an emergency procedure. Not what you hope for when you have just had your 39th Birthday! This lead to him becoming depressed, and a severe bout of addiction. In turn he went off to rehab for a month, and I was left solo parenting my two daughters. In all of this I found joy. I'm a horrible optimist (not sorry). Though like anyone, I've had my challenges and darker moods during this time. It has pulled on all my very early spiritual learning, my love of nature and my need to create, to plough through the darkness, to show up powerfully for my kids and to deal with all the everyday grit that still happens nonetheless... So from all this madness, I have come to realise that happiness lies in what you already have, and what you have created. And I'm pretty damned pleased with the life I have crafted. Whilst it is far from perfect, it is what I need. And I know it can be an inspiration for you. This blog will be a record and motivation point for those looking for a more creative, spirited and nature focused lifestyle. I will share all my parenting tips (I have so many I didn't even realise). I intend to talk frankly about our difficulties, because sobriety is a difficult (often secret) path, and one that no-one should walk alone. As a spiritual author and explorer, I will make sure our magic, spells and child friendly spiritual thinkings are displayed for you to interpret for yourselves. I will also come over all 'lifestyle' on you, sharing the healthy, wellbeing products, brands, books and adventures that decorate our daily lives... We will be arty and crafty, we will try really hard to be vegan, we will speak truth and spit poetry. I will make films too. I'll be funny, because as an author that's how I keep it real, by finding the hilarity in disaster, the comedy in spirit... So this is me, and this is my life. I hope you will follow me, and please do share everything that you like. I am excited about this new blogging platform, and I want to know about you, what you do, and can we collaborate? Let me know - don't be shy! You will find the highlights of this blog on Facebook and on Instagram. See links below. Sign up to my newsletter below to get updates when I blog (which I intend to be several times a week). Let me know what you want more of from me, be it art, spirit, nature, family lifestyle tips... I want to make this a resource that matters to you, and helps you move forward with your dramas! |
Alice GristI am Alice Grist, author, artist, cosmic mother and tarot expert. Here you will find my spiritual thoughts and regular free Tarot guidance. |