15 Comments
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Alison Luterman's avatar

I! Love! This! So! Much!!!

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Tanya Shaffer's avatar

Yay, thank you! xoxo!!!

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Wen's avatar

Intuition is your Wise Woman. The three stages that are for all to see are the external phases of a female’s lifetime. However, there are four internal phases, each corresponding to the four seasons, as well as to four phases of the moon. The third, the one before Crone and after Mother, is the Wild Woman - a woman in her autumn, when she is the waning Moon, when she is releasing and letting go of that which no longer serves, when she wants to howl at the moon, and kick herself out of the cage of patriarchy - yes, like a Warrior!

For more, I recommend the book, “Unleash Her Wild” by Akaiy’ha.

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Tanya Shaffer's avatar

Thank you, Wen, for this wonderful comment! I love that. Wild Woman indeed—I embrace her!

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Wen's avatar

Beautiful, Tanya! We are the Wild “Women Who Run With the Wolves”! (Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes)🔥

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Ellen's avatar

I’m going with Warrior, too. Grateful to you for your writing, Tanya. Xo

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Tanya Shaffer's avatar

Thank you! Grateful for you!!

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Pam McCann's avatar

I fucking love this. All of it, including the images of your warrior self. You NAMED it. I'm sending this to Starhawk. xoxo

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Tanya Shaffer's avatar

Thank you so much, Pam! I'd be thrilled for Starhawk to read it. xoxo

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Elline Lipkin's avatar

Love this Tanya! And it deeply resonates. So well put!

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Tanya Shaffer's avatar

Thanks so much, Elline! xoxo

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Kara Tennis's avatar

Such a great piece! I especially loved the giant leaf-blower image--best use of that contraption I've ever heard! I resonate with so much that you say, and love the ways you say it.

At the risk of maybe crossing a line??, may I suggest you breathe into your inner self and see if she tells you a specific warrior name? I've had great luck at key points in life with the perfect presence/name bubbling up. (When I was 54 and going through my most perilous and pressing time of learning to hold my own, my inner warrior named herself "Minerva," and helped get me through.) In any case, cheers, and thank you!

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Tanya Shaffer's avatar

Hi Kara—so glad you enjoyed the piece! Interesting idea—I will see if a particular name comes to me. Thanks for the comment!

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Barbara Schwartz's avatar

Dear Warrior Woman,

No you don't have to do this anymore.

Whatever "this" is, you don't have to do it.

I'm watching you from afar.

Barbara

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Tanya Shaffer's avatar

Thank you, Barbara!

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