While My Teeth Gently Weep

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." —Anaïs Nin

Substack is an intriguing new world for many of us, a place of possibility. A place to give birth to new ideas, friendships, and the craft of writing. Each time I sit down to write, the words I carry disappear, unveil layers, and arrive again, transmuted, meeting something new in myself.

I love the opportunity to learn as I write through side doors/portals of unknown, often dark hidden mysterious places from times before and moments not yet lived.

Today, my post is short: a poem, an invitation, and a message on self-care when you lose a tooth, look like a chipmunk, can only eat bananas, and speak as if you have marbles in your mouth.

Photography from Lila Sterling. My dear friend Lila is new to Substack like me. Check out her beautiful artistic talents.

A poem from a dear friend, a brother, who is a dedicated student/participant in my plant medicine healing retreats. We share Irish roots and stories. His name is Nigel Coen. This poem arrived during an intimate retreat immersion in England — shared from his heart. A poet is born. Watch for his name, his poetry, his beauty.

Seeding

As the moon returns again to shadow time

To ready her lungs once more for the light,

Now is the time for your solemn intent

To make good the promises of your past;

To let go of the stubborn weightedness, the 

Calcifying judgement of self and other that

Serves none but the quiet, discouraging voices

Of doubt, despair, of separation.

Relieve your tired body of this burden;

Indulge no more the murky depths 

Of your untamed sorrows, your unmet fears,

For they conspire in the dark to keep you

From your one true Love, from the 

Embrace of ancient intimacy that has

Graced the path of your wandering.

Forgive those dark corners of your heart,

Where the walls may have crumbled, the rafters caved;

Let the rubble of your forgotten longing be rebuilt,

Stone by mossy stone to its rightful birthplace

At the bold frontiers of this brilliant Mystery.

– Nigel Coen

My response to the women who have attended my retreats and want to continue our good work together.

You are invited to Unveil Women’s Mysteries — Receive Water Dragon Medicine. The details and link to book your space in this intimate online hoop is here. We begin on Thursday, October 3, for 6 weeks. Spaces are limited.

Don’t wait to register. Spaces are limited for a coherent and intimate container.

The Goddess Baubo (featured above) has a message for you that comes directly from her vulva. She does not dick around. She has Eye-Full Tits that See and Discern.

Why Does Self-Care Come Last to the Mother?

I thought about this when the dentist who took over my former dentist practice said,

You have not been here for two years. That is bad.

I huffed and puffed, ready to blow my top, and charged ahead in Salty Crone fashion:

Rather than shame me. Let’s see what is going on and what can be done about it.

Frankly, I am exhausted by medical appointments of all sorts over the past twenty-seven years for my twins that focus on them. I forget to take care of me. I do not blame anyone. I’m tired — it’s time for me.

This is a longer story made short. In three days I booked a week-long excursion to Mexico for extensive dental care.

You might say, YOU WHAT?

Of course, I thoroughly checked out this dentist. She was referred by a few good friends who are very happy with their treatment, the cost, and will return there. No matter what. I am going. It is time for Mama Self Care. I’m not seeking advice or Goddess forbid pity. I’m good.

My flight leaves on Monday morning. I will be back on Friday. The best part, I’m going solo without any young adults attached to my hip.

You may know that I broke my leg two years ago. Was this an accident or is there some purpose that we haven't yet understood or not yet lived? For me, it is a call to self-care — Balance — Not only to give but to RECEIVE — Not only to push but to REST — to continuously learn to EMBODY the feminine feeling function — and foster enlivened living with a proper dose of healthy feminine and masculine energies.

It’s a journey. My journey to Mexico might display a possibility for my daughter Abby — a portal to be brave. She, like me, has medical trauma and is deadly afraid to have her teeth fixed. She had an accident and lost one and a half of her front teeth. She works hard to blend in with ‘normative’ culture — this has made her more self-conscious. Perhaps as we grow older we become self-conscious about teeth that decide they have served their time.

Soon my diet will include more than soup and smoothies. I’m enjoying the cleanse.

Abby is on the right with her dance coach about five years ago after she had a fall and lost some teeth. Yes, it’s been that long. Since then she stopped going to dance classes. She feels the other dancers stare at her.

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A recent review from the new edition of my memoir Edge of Grace: Fierce Awakenings to Love. It is here. Thank you for reading. It means a ton to me.

Halfway through, wow. I nearly cried a few times.  Don't know what to say! I have found it hard to stop reading, very captivating. 

I relate to your experiences and ways of handling them!

Reading how you nursed the twins is so beautiful! On my cranialsacral course, we have just done a module on birthing and I will recommend your book to my colleagues as we talked about birth traumas and unnecessary medical interventions. My awareness on this subject is growing! Your real life account is so scary! More people and women should be aware of it. 

Great book! 

~ Laurie McCoy, England

I want to hear from you in the comments

Remember ‘burden’ is never yours or mine to carry.

We do not have to wait until teeth fall out, legs break, memory fails — we can adult ourselves with tender self-care — with inner friending.

I am curious — what resonated with you. Use these prompts if you like:

• Is there something in your life that you have postponed attending to?

• Is it time to meet this and welcome a part not yet born?

© Prajna O'Hara 2024

Thank you for receiving your dose of The Salty Crone.

Many good wishes for your self-care,

Prajna O’Hara

Tons of gratitude to Substackers:

Lila Sterling

for her exquisite photography and for joining me in Receiving Dragon Water Medicine

And

Abigail Thomas

for her ongoing encouragement to write.