Wisdom of Three: the Child, Adult, and Elder

We all experience a similar life cycle: we are born, experience childhood, mature into adults, and eventually become old, hopefully wizened by the length of our years. In many magickal cultures, this cycle is sometimes defined as the Maiden, Matron, and Crone. This doesn't include males, however, and so I feel like Child, Adult, and Elder are much more inclusive, and thereby better, modern metaphors for the same concept.

Much like the past, present, future representation of the circle, as well as the inner child, manifested self, and higher self circle, this triple circle wisdom is largely reliant on our life cycle, and time. They aren't fully dependent on them, however. Aspects of our childhood flow into our adulthood, just as our youthful imagination helps to create the image of the elder we aspire to be.

The child, student, or maiden aspect is the central circle. This is the spring of our life, in which we are setting roots, growing, and beginning to bloom. This also involves learning a lot about ourselves and the potential environments we can set root in. Depending on the nature of the "season" and environment we are born into, and our overall effort over the course of that season, we determine the foundations (emotionally, physically, and spiritually) that we are going to be entering into our adult lives with.

It is with the curious, playful nature of the child that we first encounter the world, and begin to see it in our own unique way. The hobbies that are most appealing to each individual in their childhood are also the ones that are most likely to interest that person as they age, much the same as the things that continually challenge or cause them the most duress as children will continue to do so into adulthood. While it is not to say that evolution stops beyond childhood (it most certainly does not), there is never a time in our life that we are so adaptable or easy to mold as when we are young. For the same reason it is easy to become anything when life is new, it is also easy to create energies that are not conducive to the best future. The choices and activities we participate in as children or maidens, as a result, greatly impact the potential of our adult lives, and our ability to nurture or mother ourselves and others when we no longer have parents to do so for us.

As we enter into adulthood, or the mother stage of life, we are expected to continue to nurture or tend to the foundations that we laid as children, and serve as adults for ourselves. For some, these foundations are excellent, and will not require much repair or reworking as time goes on. These people will likely lead very balanced, independent, responsible, and successful lives for the most part, assuming that nature doesn't do some dismantling for them. For most, there are issues born in youth that will require focus and mending over time.

Like the season of summer, it is during this time period that we are expected to grow the majority of our life's harvest, working diligently and hard to create a future that grows more and more fruitful with each passing day. The success of that theory largely depends on the nature of the metaphorical seeds we are trying to grow, the fields we are attempting to grow them in, and our overall skill set. While we certainly can continue to pick up and develop new skills and foundations as we move through the summer of our lives, we are also best suited to doing those things while we are children. This is because it is easier to focus on growing a bountiful future when we are well equipped to deal with our present, rather than hurrying around trying to prepare ourselves at the last minute.

When summer edges into fall, we take on the role of the elder. It is during this phase of life that we are collecting the harvests we have grown throughout our adulthood, sharing the seeds, and teaching others to plant them. Knowing that winter is soon to arrive, and with it, the cool stillness of death, the elder begins the process of preparing the next generation to carry on the legacy and wisdom they have gained in this lifetime.

Sometimes, this is wisdom that has been garnered from a very successful and prosperous harvest, while it is other times the result of having harvested very little at all. Our overall wisdom is also derived from whether or not the childhood and adulthood lived up until then was prosperous or difficult, and the various challenges and blessings that had been presented until then.

While the previous stages of life are about growth and preparation for growth, the elder or crone stage is about observing what has come to pass, and taking stock of all of one's possessions, both worldly and spiritual. The elders are expected to keep an eye on the adults, ensuring that they are properly nurturing and nourishing the seeds of the future, and the crops of the present. It is their role to do so because they have the life's wisdom to ensure that the most basic needs of the community are being met, especially those of a spiritual or moral nature. Having had success or failure, and having fully realized the harvest of each, a true elder can share wisdom that can only be earned through time.

The age at which we enter into each stage of life is not predetermined, despite the societal laws that have implanted the idea that we are adults at 18, and elders at 63. For me, this distinction is based on your current role and ability: are you actively adventuring and learning, wandering without roots? Then you are still a child, like me, even if you are 76. Are you nurturing roots and a home, children and a dependent community? You are an adult, even if you are 16, like one of my friends was forced to be as we were growing up. Have you harvested your life's work, and have nothing left to do but ponder its meaning, and share that wisdom with others? Welcome to being an elder, my friend.

I feel like we can also move between these stages, depending on where we are in our life's path. An elder can again become a mother. A mother can uproot herself and again wander the world's many roads in search of a place to settle down, and grow another harvest. Learning to move between these roles as is best suited to our community and personal life is the trick, if you ask me!

What role are you currently playing in your life? What roles have you played before? I'd love to hear more from you!

Affirmation:

I am growing fruits of wisdom.