NMR ISSUE 48

Astrological Forecast 48
Be Careful What you Wish For
Cherished Secret of Success Resonance
Crone Empowered
Crystal Skull Luminaria
Daily Prayer
Doing It by the Book
Editorial 48
Esoteric Symbology of the Tarot
Frog, Cobra & Chickadee
Helping Hand or Magickal Hand
Ikhanten's Doom
Letters 48
Modern Scapegoat Rituals
North Star Road:
Other Editorial 48
Pagan Catechism
Prayer to the Goddess
Renewal Through Release
Samhain Ritual
Temple of the Goddess grounding Meditation
The Fellowship of Isis
The Kabalah in Everyday Use
The Serpent and the Radio
Timelapse
Wolf Moon
Wrath of the Gods Luminaria

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Crone: Empowered, Wise, Self-Defined

By Bayla Bower, Crone

The crone eludes precise definition. Some traditions, organizations and individuals variously define the crone as a woman who is either 50, 52, or 56, post-menopausal, consciously aging, willing to acknowledge her shadow side. Crone is a term used to describe an ancient archetype, an aspect of the Triple Goddess (Maiden/Mother/Crone), and the third phase of a woman's life. When a woman is near, in, or past menopause, she is potentially a crone. The designation refers to a perspective or point of view rather than a specific age or physical event.

A woman who calls herself a crone is willing to acknowledge her age, wisdom and power. Through conscious self-definition, she helps to reverse hundreds of years of oppression; degradation and abuse aimed at older women. Although she may prefer to be called elder, grandmother, or wisewoman, she does not dismiss, disavow, or pejoratively use terms such as crone, witch or hag. The wisewoman/crone/grandmother realizes that the true meaning of these terms, and the woman-centered traditions from which they originate, have been obscured and destroyed by patriarchal systems.

In ancient times the crone was revered as an old woman that embodied wisdom and knew the truth of cyclic existence. Crones cared for the dying and were spiritual midwives at the end of life, the link in the cycle of death and rebirth. They were healers, teachers, way-showers, bearers of sacred power, knowers of mysteries, mediators between the world of spirit and the world of form. In prepatriarchal societies, women's wisdom held healing power, and crone wisdom was the most potent of all. For nearly thirty thousand years old women were strong, powerful sources of wisdom. Crones were respected and honored in their communities.

Then patriarchy demanded obedience to outer authority and acceptance of linear concepts. Death became a finality, the end of the line. Because crones followed inner guidance and knew the truth of the cycle of life, they were dangerous to the hierarchy. Old women were persecuted, shunned and denigrated. Although our forecrones resisted, persisted and adapted in any way they could, most of our traditions are lost. The lineage of crone teachings, herbal remedies, sacred practices, and wisewoman ways was broken when the information was burned, buried and otherwise silenced.

But crone consciousness is on the rise today, spreading in a grass-roots movement throughout America and around the globe. We are awakening the ancient crone within ourselves, and learning to trust the power of our inner knowing. We will not become invisible, trivialized, or shamed by a society obsessed with youth and terrified of aging.

We honor each person's wisdom, and take part in dismantling the ageist, ableist, racist, classist, sexist, heterosexist and other hierarchical structures that separate us from ourselves, our forecrones, one another, and our connection with all beings. We teach, speak and quietly inspire one another, all women, and all peoples who wish to embrace the totality of life.

We are reviving the ancient custom of croning with ceremonies that celebrate the fullness of our evolution. We respect the cones that preceded us, and pass on our wisdom to those who will follow. We tell our sacred stories one-to-one, in small and large gatherings, at conventions and meetings. We name our blessings and challenges, the truths and treasures of our lives, sharing the harvest of our life experience. Empowered from within and strengthened by our growing numbers, we claim our place as elders in our families, communities and groupings. We are women of age, power, and wisdom. We are honored to be known as crones.

1996, Bayla (Betty) Bower

Bayla Bower is a hypnotherapist, ritualist, and workshop leader. She is also the Conference Coordinator of Healing Ourselves, Healing the Planet, 1997, an annual conference sponsored by the International Council of Crones and Grandmothers, a wing of the nonprofit Sedona Children's and Elders' Project. The ICCG is dedicated to building a global network of support and wisdom that will reverberate for eons into the future, leaving a legacy of respect and honor for women elders. For more information contact Bayla at PO Box 8164, Berkeley CA 94707, 510-874-4935, baylacrone@aol.com.