When I am an Old woman

Old Woman 

On the road to understanding myself, I journeyed within to see.

Through painting, praying, journaling, and writing poetry.

I went on a vision-quest to discover while traveling thirteen moons.

Deep into the forest of me I ventured to meet the old woman named June.

She offered up tea and chocolate and invited me to sit awhile.

Then she spun a story spell that made me laugh and cry and smile.

She seemed wise, and so familiar. She knew everything about who I am.

My sorrows and joys and challenges and how my story began.

It was a story told from a new perspective. A loving point of view.

How circumstances shaped me, and everything I went through.

Looking deeply into her well-lined face as I finally realized.

She was Me in the future, and that really opened my eyes.

What a gift to speak with my older self and hear what She had to say.

Perhaps she could help me avoid heartbreaks and pain along the way?

She explained that we all experience, whatever we need to grow.

In the end, it’s all worthwhile, and that’s, what she wanted me to know!

When it was time for me to go, she hugged me like a mother would do.

Saying everything will be alright. And I believed what she said was true.

Then I returned to the room, where I’d been all along. Here in my studio.

Realizing there’s no mistakes, all is well, with gratitude for what I now know.

*This painting is a view into my Future self. An imagined glimpse of who I still am, but 20 years down the road. She shows me that I still have a full head of hair, a spark of the old Viking ways and a mischievous sense of humor.

 She reassures me that I have nothing to worry about, and to live my life fully and enjoy every single day. To never waste a moment ruminating on past mistakes. Move through my life with grace and gratitude.

Never go to sleep angry and forgive, forgive, and forgive. Don’t look backwards, You, are not going that way! Sing out loud and count your blessings! Focus on what lights you up and laugh…a lot!