Embracing the Creatrix

Reclaiming the Words and Mythology of Midlife Empowerment

Last week, I posted an essay titled "The Enchanted Crone: An Invitation to Discover and Live the Myth Within You." A vibrant conversation followed in the comments, particularly around the mention of the Creatrix. This ancient word, buried under centuries of neglect, is ripe for reclamation—especially by women stepping into the powerful years of midlife. Personally, I’m navigating my own journey into the Crone archetype, grappling with a term whose historical connotations have often been derogatory. Yet, I am learning the transformative strength in reclaiming what was once negative and reshaping it into something empowering.

Here’s a modern-day example of this reclamation:

When Donald Trump won the 2016 election, millions of women across the world took to the streets, rallying against him by using his infamous statement about women ("grab 'em by the pussy") as a battle cry. Instead of accepting this degrading comment, women rose up in defiance, many donning pink "pussy hats" as symbols of solidarity and strength. It was a moment where women reclaimed the narrative and refused to be diminished by his misogyny.

Fast forward to today, as we face the erosion of bodily autonomy through state-sanctioned abortion bans, midlife women are once again being called to reclaim their sovereignty. The act of naming ourselves and shaping our identity—whether as Mothers, Crones, or Creatrices—is a powerful rite of passage.

The Outdated Paradigm: Maiden, Mother, Crone

The traditional triad of Maiden, Mother, and Crone is outdated, especially in an era where women are living longer, fuller lives. In earlier times, the leap from Mother to Crone wasn’t as daunting, as lifespans were shorter. But today, the gap is wide and unacknowledged. There needs to be something between motherhood and the crone phase. Enter the Creatrix—a word that not only fills this gap but also reclaims a powerful feminine archetype lost to history.

The Significance of the Creatrix

The Creatrix is more than just a "woman who makes things;"she embodies the divine feminine force that shapes and influences destiny. This concept traces back to the Greek Fates, specifically Lachesis, the measurer of life’s thread. While some say Clotho, the spinner, was the real weaver Fate, it is Lachesis who resonates most with me. Her name, derived from the Greek "Lache" meaning "lot" or "portion," signifies her role in determining the length and quality of human life. She was the weaver of destinies, and in Latin, this role was synonymous with the Creatrix.

In ancient times, weaving was a profound and respected task, symbolically tied to the creation of life and the cosmos itself. The Fates, along with other mythological figures like the Norns in Norse myth, Athena, and Ariadne, embodied the archetype of women as creators and rulers of destiny.

This archetype crosses cultures and epochs, placing women in a position of immense agency. And today, as we seek to reclaim the Divine Feminine, these myths and stories illuminate a path forward. The Creatrix, as a divine creator, holds a torch for all midlife women who wish to shape their futures as free and soverigen souls.

Creatrix in the Modern World

So where is this myth today? I see Kamala Harris as a modern-day Creatrix—an architect of change, a weaver of new destinies. Similarly, many of the women I encounter in midlife, whether in real life or online spaces like Substack, embody this archetype. These are women who create, who fight for justice, and who, as a result, reshape the world around them.

Why Naming the Creatrix Matters

Naming this stage of a woman’s life is important because words carry power and energy. Midlife is one of the richest, most creative, and most influential phases in a woman’s life, and it deserves recognition. Whether a woman has children or not, she has the potential to transform her nurturing, mothering energy into love, advocacy, and social justice at midlife.

The new paradigm I propose is this: Maiden, Mother, Creatrix, Crone. The Creatrix stands between the Mother and the Crone, serving as a bridge. She is a beacon for younger women and for Crones whose light will one day begin to fade.

Reclaiming Our Power in Midlife

Too often, I hear from middle-aged women who  feel invisible or insignificant, as though their lives are over. But I say: No! Midlife is not an ending—it is a beginning, a thriving chapter where the power of the Creatrix can be named, claimed, and embodied.

The Creatrix invites us all to weave our own stories, to reclaim our agency, and to help shape the destinies of those who come after us. By reclaiming this myth, we not only honor the past but create a future filled with creativity, power, and purpose.

This continuing conversation on the Creatrix is dedicated to a few of the beautiful Creatrices I’ve been blessed to know: The art of

Beth L Gainer

at the Art of self-care, speaks to wisdom of this juicy creative period in a woman’s life;

Lori L. Cangilla, Ph.D.

at Singularly Sensitive, who is a catalyst for personal revolution;

Camilla Sanderson

at the Rising of the Divine Feminine, who knows what it is to uncover and reveal the divine roles of women as spiritual leaders; and

Amber Fortier

, and my amazing real estate agent in the Sacramento area who brings the Creatrix energy to her day-to-day work life.

Hold your light high, Divine Feminine Creators. Bend the Creartix myth and make it your own. The world has never needed you more.

Thank you dear readers for joining in the conversation. Please share your thoughts in the comment section, and leave me a little love (a heart) if you are so inclined. I am grateful to be a little part of your world. ~Stephanie