Crone is not a Dirty Word
‘Vulnerability heals deep-rooted ancestral wounds, so here goes! I’m embracing my wise, crone years with grace, courage and tenderness. Menopause – my sacred rite of passage into my Crone cycle, came early for me, after a doctor gave me a full hysterectomy without my consent. I’m not bitter about this, I believe everything happens for a meaningful reason. My transition to Crone was a pivotal - turning point, where I fully embraced my spiritual path and higher calling fulltime. Embracing this phase of my life has been a true blessing! I definitely feel more perceptive, discerning, honest, grounded, considered, wiser and resilient these days. In other words, I don’t put up with any crap and I only do what feels right for me. I wear my Crone Crown with pride, and my wish is that women of all ages, cultures and in all stages and cycles are cherished and respected alike. I know many incredible young women that have wise, crone energy also. Actually, everyone is equal on this journey, but are not always treated as such. No finger pointing here, I adore men, just my observations of how we got here. I know and love many amazing men, that call out discrimination in all its insufferable forms. Even my puppy Pablo is a boy and I cherish my grandson, Noah.
It’s time to reclaim the wise woman – crone crown.’ – Suzy
The Ancient Crone
The mythological Crone comes to us from the mists of ancient times - the Greeks, Celts, and Egyptians just to name a few.
Many historians believe that in Palaeolithic era (c.30,000 – 10,000 BCE) the goddess was revered as one all-encompassing mother goddess who guided birth, death, and rebirth. As patriarchy began to arise after c.7000 BCE, this perception began to change as women themselves unwittingly became under the control of toxic men. The one GREAT MOTHER Goddess image was split into three phases, reflecting feminine rites of passage and the natural cycles of women – maiden, mother, and crone. The crone goddess represented the wise, mature, experienced, knowledgeable, enduring, outspoken, uninhabited, sage and older woman aspect of a woman’s lifecycle. Questioning outdated belief systems and paradymes is the Crone’s way.
When patriarchy forced their control, when the Divine was imaged solely as a male - God, and as women were made to become second-class, the ideas about goddesses and the archetypes they represented were forced underground. Archetypes can be submerged, but they never disappear; and as women today are reclaiming their sovereign power, these divine feminine archetypes are re-emerging.
Crone, hag, and witch once were respected words for matured women.
Crone comes from crown, indicating wisdom emanating from the head; hag comes from hagio meaning holy; and Witch comes from wit meaning wise.
Crones, hags, and witches frequently were Priestesses, leaders, midwives, treasurers and healers in their villages. The meanings of these three words, however, were discredited and eventually reversed during the 300 years of the Inquisition when the male-dominated church wanted to eliminate women holding positions of power.
Women identified as witches, who were often older women, i.e., crones and hags, were tortured and burned, and the words witch, crone, and hag took on the negative connotations that continue in our language. The Crone Movement, however, is re-claiming the positive meanings of these words.
A lingering side-effect on the witch’s wounds, are still age and leadership discrimination in women. Up until now, billion-dollar industries and single-minded regimes idolise youth and whitewash reality, although, fortunately the pressure to promote diversity and a true snapshot of our multiplicity is healing this lie.
The Crone began re-emerging into our consciousness in the early 1980s, and today many older women are embracing this sacredness. We are embodying the ancient crone’s attributes of wisdom, compassion, transformation, healing, laughter, and truthfulness. The ancient crone archetype strengthens our belief and confidence in age-accumulated knowledge, insights and intuitions enabling women to stand up for their sacred rights.
In love, grace and wisdom,
Faery Queen – Suzy Cherub