The Grandmothers through Sharon McErlane

“Grandmothers,” I said, “Why is it important for us to live from our feminine essence? To live from a point of Yin? Please communicate in a way that gets my attention so what you are teaching me will get past my mind. Otherwise I’ll doubt it and think it’s just me talking to myself.”

As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I found myself flying, flying with the Grandmothers. “Big birds,” I muttered. “We are great birds, flowing as a unit, forming a ‘V’ shape. It’s so smooth to fly like this,” I marveled, “seamless and easy. We cut the wind, slicing forward with our ‘V’, and moving effortlessly. We aren’t battling the wind as lone birds do with wings beating, beating, beating. This is easy.”

“Grandmothers,” I said, “I see what you’re teaching here. This is the power of the group, the power of working together. We’re flying like a perfectly tuned machine, but really, what we’re forming here is much better than any machine. The pattern we are making is perfectly balanced.”

After I said this, I watched as a bird farther back in the ‘V’ left her place and flew forward, and at the same moment the bird at the front or tip of the ‘V’ moved back into the line. This was a ‘change of command’ and as it took place I could feel the relief of the bird who moved back into the flock. Another had come forward to lead so this one could rest. And as this exchange took place there was no disruption, none at all. One unbroken motion continued on. “Grandmothers,” I said, “What are you teaching me? Please make it plain.”

“The time of the lone wolf is over,” they answered. “You, Sharon, have lived that way a long time,” they gave me a level look, “and that is over. Come together,” they said. “We promise that now when you come together, you will take joy in it. The work you have done in the past few years has anchored enough of the energy of yin so now when you form groups you can work harmoniously together. Without the competition and power struggles that have plagued groups in the past,” they said. “You have laid enough yin foundation to make this possible.”

“And we are here!” the Grandmothers exclaimed; “We are here! Call us. We will help you. Whenever you sit together, meditate, work with the Net of Light or practice the lessons we’ve given you, you will feel the power and joy of this forward momentum. You helped create this momentum and now it is here to carry you forward.”

“We’re speaking to everyone who is reading this,” they said, and then added, “you need never feel lonely again, never again feel like an outsider. You have built a foundation and together we will work to add to it. Now you can work joyfully with one another, practicing our teachings, while deepening your commitment to your own freedom. Have a wonderful, wonderful time together,” they said and, lifting their wings, the Grandmothers smiled and waved to me. This was all they would say.

At first I didn’t think they’d answered the question I’d asked, but as I thought about it, I realized their response was perfect. Women have always converged in groups. This is part of the power of yin–the sisterhood of women. Women have sat together in circles for time out of mind, Now the Grandmothers are calling us together again. There is great power in a group of like-minded women. As I thought about this, I realized I could hardly wait for our next Grandmothers’ study circle.