The crone, sage, or conscious elder does not shrink away from the unknown; they welcome it and say, "Hello, friend," with a wink and a smile, because they know that the seeds of new life rest in the dark. Or, as one of my real-life crone mentors, Sil Read, often says, "The gold is in the shit".

Fear also dwells in these dark, unknown parts the soul. You've likely bumped up against some of these inner soul gems–those prickly and seemingly impossible inner callings that seem too scary to unpack–that's the shit asking you to alchemize it into nourishment for yourself and others.

It can be too easy to forget that you, all of us, are supported in both seen and unseen realms. It’s so important in times such as these that we remember and have space to feel the support of our guides, allies, and ancestors who deeply desire to help support and guide you in this life. The undercurrent beckoning us to consume or produce constantly, all in the name of making money, can easily sever us from this deep truth.

In this short share, I offer you the story of how I was guided to connect with three grandmothers, the wisdom they provided, and insight from them via a chat with the tarot.