Creatrix Rising

Unlocking the Power of Midlife Women

De: Stephanie Raffelock

Narrado por: Stephanie Raffelock

Ever since Eve was banned from the garden, women have endured the oftentimes painful and inaccurate definitions foisted upon them by the patriarchy. Maiden, mother, and crone, representing the three stages assigned to a woman’s life cycle, have been the limiting categories of both ancient and modern (neo-Pagan) mythology. And one label in particular rankles: crone. The word conjures a wizened hag - useless for the most part, marginalized by appearance and ability.

None of us has ever truly fit the old-crone image, and for today’s midlife women, a new archetype is being birthed: the creatrix.

In Creatrix Rising, Stephanie Raffelock lays out - through personal stories and essays - the highlights of the past 50 years in which women have gone from a quiet strength to a resounding voice. She invites us along on her own transformational journey by providing probing questions for reflection so that we can flesh out and bring to life this new archetype within ourselves. If what the Dalai Lama has predicted - that women will save the world - proves true, then the creatrix will for certain be out front, leading the pack.

©2021 Stephanie Raffelock (P)2022 Stephanie Raffelock

Short but powerful memoir \ call to action

CREATRIX RISING is a short but powerful read on the power of mature women, and women in general.
In this book, Ms. Raffelock is suggesting the replacement of CRONE in the Maiden, Mother, Crone archetypes with that of the Creatrix. Creatrix here is used to describe older women as still vital to society, creating and teaching, rather than withering away. Honestly, I’ve not spent a lot of time thinking about crone as it applies to women outside of fairy tales, or myself, in particular. (My feminist line in the sand is being called a spinster. Having a spouse does not make one complete. Especially when someone is too young to make that decision.) Given that, I appreciate the acknowledgment and the importance of older women in society.

“… here in America, we shame women for growing older, rather than revere them.” [Punctuation my own. Audio downside!]

Men are allowed to age gracefully in society. Here’s to women doing the same!
I found the memoir portion of CREATRIX RISING meaningful, especially in the context of the lineage of women who came before the author or influenced the author in her life. Notably, I identified with the section of the novel where Ms. Raffelock describes time spent with her grandmother, gardening, cooking, learning. This was very poignant for me, remembering my own time spent with my grandparents. My mother has on more than one occasion pointed out the importance of grandmothers to young children. And I would agree, wholeheartedly.
CREATRIX RISING includes guided prompts for journaling and reflecting. While it’s difficult to reflect while listening\driving (HELLO BIG SEMI!), I can easily see myself listening to prompts, pausing the audio narration, reflecting, and then resuming the narration. I can also see having a print or ebook copy in addition to the audio for jotting down notes or thoughts.
I listened to the audiobook of CREATRIX RISING, which is narrated by author Stephanie Raffelock. The narration is conversational and intimate. It’s similar to what I imagine a conversation with Ms. Raffelock would be. The author’s familiarity with the subject makes listening enjoyable. As I listened, I can’t compare it to the reading sensation. As of this writing, 80% of my reading this year has been via audiobooks. I’d rank the listening experience of this novel near the top of my list of listens for the year. The audio production is smooth, with no issues. (I listened at 1.25x speed.)
Part memoir, part self-help\how to\call to action, CREATRIX RISING is an inspirational tool for any human, and highly recommended in any format.

Compelling Self Discovery Memoir

The author takes a stance on highlighting aspects of her life where she has worked to take back the authority taken from women by men for decades. She shares stories of family, the choices of women in her life, relationships, survival, recovery, healing, loss, forgiveness, and her life in the workforce. She talks about the impact of every relationship she developed and her connection to her ancestors. She begins to fully understand the choices her mother and grandmother made in their lifetime and starts to see them as the women they were. Throughout the entire novel, we get a chance to truly understand how the author has grown to become the person she is today. She finally finds her voice and learns to share her story and allow her story to impact others. This includes her being able to watch her life come full circle and inevitably achieving her dream of becoming a writer.

This central text provides such a diverse set of contexts that you are able to connect to every story shared, every moment of realization, and every relationship dissection. I highly recommend this novel to any woman regardless of age. This novel highlights many aspects of a woman’s life and the challenges women continue to face. It will reignite a fire in you that encourages the reader to give themselves space for their creative minds to prosper. This book and author are truly one of a kind and I cannot encourage you to run to shelves to grab yourself a copy of it.

My own personal cheerleader! Go 55-year-old me!

"We leave one beauty behind us for another that rises with the moon."

Almost exactly a year after reading CREATRIX RISING (that print review below), I listened to it. The author's outstanding narration adds a whole new layer of richness to the book. I found myself noting all new passages and absorbing new truths that apply to the now fifty-five-year-old me. We change a lot in a year!

One stand-out again is that Raffelock reminds us that we should be living life on our own terms. I realized that I am mildly uncomfortable with this truth, but I'm doing it. I am learning that it's okay to do things for me when it makes others -friends, family, business associates - who are accustomed to me living my life on their terms, unhappy. (What I have found is that they get over it.)

I am so impressed with Raffelock's level of self-awareness and her ability to self-assess. I am pretty good with these skills, too, but Raffelock goes one step better -- she takes action. #goals I know I'll get there.

As I have revisited chapters in my print copy, I will revisit them on audio to hear Stephanie Raffelock, my own personal cheerleader, coaching me in the right direction.

2021 Print Copy Review
We weave together tales of our past and present, helping us make sense of the ideal we strive for: the freedom to do life on our own terms.

Reading Stephanie Raffelock's book -- part memoir, part call to action -- was so powerful and empowering. Her fascinating life stories, and how she learned and grew from them, force the reader to reflect upon her own life stories and the people who helped mold her into what she is today. Raffelock reminds us that we can break those molds at any time or stretch them to fit who we want to be. But more importantly, Raffelock shows how women all have the potential to evolve and take their rightful places in the world by throwing out the horrible accepted norms and definitions of mid-life women.

I'm past the mid-life point, and Raffelock's pointed (and more subtle) questions she poses for self-reflection are ones I will keep revisiting as I continue to reinvent myself and grow.

Highly recommend CREATRIX RISING for ages 40+ women -- and for the men who are in their lives.

Become Best Version of You

A year ago, I read Creatrix Rising in September 2021. When I got the chance to listen to review the audiobook edition I jumped on it and I’m so ecstatic I did.

The Creatrix Rising audiobook became the perfect reminder of the positive uplifting affirmations from the actual book I read. And to be honest, have needed it in these last few months of my busy life.

The message from this author is for older women to not stand still, not become some old croone is enhanced with the audio version. That’s the beauty of this book – it shows women that accepting your past, talking about it, and evolving to become better is what is supposed to happen. All women should evolve to become better than we were in our 30s and 40s.
Thankfully, Stephanie is not the first person I have encountered stating the Bible is a metaphor for living for a past long gone. I love how Stephanie helped teach women in a detention center.

The author performed her own audio for her book. Her voice is pleasantly pleasing and her story is ecstatically delivered. I listened at 2x the speed. Inflections of her words and tone were perfect.

The only challenging part of the audiobook is that after each chapter Stephanie provides a follow-up area for readers to delve into personal practice on reflecting, activities, and journaling you can do at your own pace.

Creatrix Rising is an impeccable book reminding me to stop self-doubting myself. And it will remind you as a woman to stop self-doubting yourself. Creatrix Rising is the perfect audiobook for women ages 30 – 80 who have no time to actually read and most importantly to help you become and create the woman you want to be. Now to make this so…

Stephanie’s Creatrix Rising is the perfect book to help you become a better you.

A keeper

Last year, Creatrix Rising was one of my Top 21 Reads of 2021. After this re-read, it’s one of my favorites of 2022 as well. With nearly 4,000 unread books in my TBR mountain, I don’t often re-read. I made an exception for this book because I know my time and attention will be rewarded with invaluable pearls of wisdom, uplifting affirmations, and unparalleled inspiration.

"These writings are meant to inspire you to tell your own story about how you are claiming your voice as a mature woman, and to recognize how truly powerful, remarkable, and noble that is.”

Read by Ms. Raffelock herself in her pleasingly melodious voice, the Creatrix Rising audiobook takes on a conversational tone. It is more informal, more intimate, and more personal than the written version. If the listener takes the time to respond to the guide questions in the For Reflection, Activity, and Journaling section as I did, the audiobook becomes even more interactive. In this version, Ms. Raffelock’s role as mentor, friend, and confidante is magnified.

"You’ve been passed a torch. Now you hold that light to help not only yourself, but other women as well. It’s time to name and claim your power.”

Impactful. A book that deserves space in the Keeper Shelf. I will re-read and re-listen to this every year.