Just like wood burns and becomes ash, osteoporosis depletes the strength of bones, and so they crumble. Burnout and the need to rebuild often follow.
Osteoporosis occurs when bones lose their strength and density. They become fragile, weak and brittle, and fracture easily. Osteoporosis mostly affects women after menopause and later in life.
Bone, as part of the skeletal system, draws attention to structure, restructure and infra-structure. So, by the time a woman is reaching midlife and menopause, she may need to restructure some part of her life. Her world, as she knew it, could be crumbling. Her inner strength may have collapsed or be challenged. Her partner may have left her, become ill or died. She may no longer believe in what once gave her strength of mind and will. She may be carrying her adult children and grand-children, and has reached breaking point.
With osteoporosis, the bones aren’t able to rebuild as quickly as they did in the past. This could indicate frustration with an older person who can’t do things the way they did when they were younger.
Osteoporosis fractures are quite common in the hip area, ribs, wrist and spine. They can indicate that something is breaking down, and that the person cannot endure the same amount of pressure as they did in the past. They aren’t as strong as they used to be. On many levels they become more fragile, and not able to carry the burdens they once could.
A result of this disease is compression fractures of the spine. Whereas someone could once stand straight and tall and look to the farthest horizon, now their vision is limited as they stoop and can only focus on what is closer by. They can lose their sense of optimism and adventure for life.
After years and years and years of being the strength of another, this disease could indicate burnout. When wood is burnt, it becomes ash and disintegrates. Symbolically, when bones are exhausted and burnt out, they crumble and can no longer carry the weight they once could. Women, who have carried others for many years, need to be able to make changes in their later life, and not feel guilty that they are making choices which favour themselves instead of another. Putting themselves first may be so foreign to them that they may not be able to make the change.
Other issues connected to the skeletal system are flexibility, temporary support and your approach to life in general.