Book Review: Elderwoman by Marian Van Eyk McCain
How Women Over 50 Can Continue to Have a Full and Exciting Life
Dec 6, 2008
Elderwoman is an immensly hopeful guide for those women over 50 who may feel themselves invisible in the prevailing youth culture of these times. Instead of this being the beginning of the end, author Marian Van Eyk McCain writes convincingly, and with tenderness, about women's lives continuing to develop.
They transform with qualities of “wisdom and compassion, (as) we attain the free, sweet lightness of old age.”
This will be a revelation to many women who, even in their 40s, fear the aging process and begin exploring plastic surgery and HRT in an attempt to hold back time.
The Innate Wisdom of Women
Van Eyk McCain reminds women of their innate wisdom perhaps experienced as a mother with an intuition about what was best for her baby. That wisdom, she explains, continues to develop and mature as women age. It seems that when women over 50 have a more positive and self-aware attitude to aging, this can bring forth gifts. Letting go of high heels and the need to make themsleves attractive to possible lovers, is just one small part of it.
She says that as women grow older, they “ no longer fear censure. We are beyond caring what other people think.” This doesn’t mean growing into a hag, but growing into authenticity with assuredness, with a sense of their innate wisdom and confidence that is not based on pleasing someone else or fitting into a stereotype of society’s perception of older women.
How to Become an Elderwoman
Written in her conversational, informal style, the author briefly discusses issues of menopause and women’s mental and physical health all of which she explains are stages on the journey to becoming an elderly woman and an elderwoman.
She explores qualities of life through 20 key principles. These develop into guidelines for how to become an elderwoman. Some of these principles are straightforward, even expected:
- simplicity
- comfort
- developing compassion
- acceptance of change.
And then some which bring a sense of excitement to the reader, such as
- delight
- creativity
- deep vision
- radical aliveness.
And why shouldn’t older women be excited about their lives? Slowing down brings its own rewards as women experience life more fully.
Spiritual Transformation in Old Age
The reward of elderhood, Van Eyk McCain writes, is “the ultimate spiritual transformation”. Honouring the soul, she says, is one of the most significant things the elderwoman can do.
It seems that the autumn of a woman’s life is certainly a time of change and loss. But there are also possibilities for adaptation, acceptance and finding delight in simple things of the spirit. This may well be part of the onward journey, with many more things to be discovered. It's an encouraging thought.
Time becomes more precious, better spent and well enjoyed. Change can be powerful both in the new way elderwomen live their lives and also in the way younger women perceive that. Elderwoman is a fabulous guide, not only for women over 50, but for all women.
It is also a call for older women to remember their innate wisdom, reclaim their “quiet, inner heroism” and to live with joy.
Elderwoman by Marian Van Eyk McCain in published by Findhorn Press
£9.95 / $15.95
ISBN 1-899171-29-0
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