CRONING

Croning, Crones, Ceremonies

Women's Wisdom - Our Heritage

For millennia women’s wisdom was honored; crones were revered. Today women are reclaiming the identity and status of the ancient crone. We are coming of age, accessing our wisdom and acting upon it. Croning is the process of becoming active wise women.

Croning can begin at any age and is particularly relevant for women 45 and older. Personal experiences of aging and ageism provide the impetus to recognize and reverse the negative images (internal and external) of old women. We can activate our potential as wisdom carriers and guardians of the future by learning of our ancient crone heritage, honoring the cycles and seasons, respecting the web of life.

Engaged in the process of Croning, we can act in ways that embody the changes we want to take place in the world, in our communities, families, relationships, and within ourselves. When we apply our wisdom to effect positive change, we improve our own lives and leave a legacy for future generations.

When do we become crones? See "Crone: Wise, Empowered, Self-Defined" (below).

For information about the rite of passage, scroll down to the second article, "Croning Ceremonies."

Hi, I'm Bayla Bower, an eco-crone, ritualist, hypnotherapist, frame drummer, and emerging gourd artist. I've been active in the crone movement since 1993 when I joined my first crone circle. Since then, I've organized national conferences, written a column in Crone Chronicles, offered workshops and classes, convened rituals and croning ceremonies, written and produced a performance piece ("Revered, Reviled, Reclaimed: Our Crone Heritage"), and facilitated monthly crone gatherings (for four years in Berkeley, CA). Currently, I write a column called "Croning" in Buffalo Woman's Vision (see Articles and the eco-crone site), offer workshops, ceremonies, and circles at conferences, gatherings, and for groups and individuals (see Events), coordinate a network of crones concerned about the environment, human rights, peace, and global justice (eco-crones), convene croning ceremonies and Crone Moon Rituals, and create goddess-inspired gourd artwork (see Gourd Creations).

Contact me for information about workshops, rituals, croning ceremonies, trance journeys, private sessions, and consultations.

For activist articles and links, go to www.eco-crones.org.

Crone: Wise, Empowered, Self-Defined

Copyright © 1996, 1998 Bayla Bower

The crone eludes precise definition. Some traditions, organizations, and individuals variously define the crone as a woman who is 50, 52, or 56, post-menopausal, consciously aging, willing to acknowledge her shadow. Crone is a term used to describe an ancient archetype, an aspect of the triple goddess (maiden, mother, crone), and the third phrase 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 age or biological change.

A woman who calls herself 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 old women. Although she may prefer to be called elder, grandmother, or wise woman, she does not dismiss, disavow, or use pejoratively terms such as crone, witch, or hag. The wise woman/crone/grandmother realizes that the true meaning of these terms, and the woman-centered traditions from which they originate, have been obscured and distorted by patriarchal systems.

In ancient times, the crone was revered as an old woman who 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 had 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 forecornes resisted, persisted, and adapted in any way they could, most of our traditions have been lost. The lineage of crone teachings, herbal remedies, sacred practices, and wise-woman ways was broken when the information was burned, buried, and otherwise silenced.

Crone consciousness is on the rise today, spreading in a grassroots movement through 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 respect the crones who 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 meetings, events, and conferences. 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 wise-woman elders in our families, communities, and groupings. We are women of age, power, and wisdom. We are honored to be known as crones.

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Croning Ceremonies

Few of us were welcomed into the maiden phase of life, celebrated the first flow of blood in our monthly cycles, initiated into women’s mysteries. We likely viewed menstruation as a curse or an obstacle. If we became mothers, we may have received special attention until we gave birth, but then the focus shifted to our children. If we mothered projects, careers, creative endeavors, we might have been celebrated for what we produced, but seldom for ourselves. Now, for the first time in our lives, we have an opportunity to be celebrated for who we are--crones.

The croning ceremony honors a woman's passage into the third phase of life. Often celebrated at age 50, ceremonies range from spontaneous cronings at birthday parties to pre-planned ceremonial rites of passage. Some ceremonies are personal, others are shared, some are convened by an ongoing group for new crones, and others are large rituals at women's conferences and gatherings.

Being initiated into the ancient sisterhood of wise old women involves response-ability. We have an opportunity to personally reclaim the once-honored designation of crone, to take a special name, and to make commitments to ourselves, our communities, and the earth. Intention is primary and that is what we declare, our intention to be true to ourselves, to walk our talk, to become a link between the crones of the ancient and recent past and the women of the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age can I be croned? Although traditions vary, it's generally accepted that age 49 (one’s 50th year) is the minimum. Many women wait to be croned until they’re 56 or 60. In my experience, each decade, starting with the 5th, brings its own challenges and blessings, resulting in newly harvested wisdom.

Do I have to be post-menopausal? No. Today some women still bleed in their 60s and others experience menopause after an operation in their 30s. We honor this rite as a woman's (blood) mystery, but the timing depends more on age (see above) and personal readiness than biological factors.

Who does the actual croning? Again, traditions vary. Typically initiations are conducted by those already initiated. If initiated crones are not available, women who deeply appreciate and acknowledge what it means to be a crone can conduct/priestess the ceremony.

Who can participate? Croning Ceremonies often take place in women's circles, gatherings, and conferences. Private ceremonies can include crones only, women only, or women, children, and men. While those conducting the ceremony and performing the actual croning should be women, all participants can honor the new crone and engage in other aspects of the ceremony.

Can I be croned more than once? Can I be croned for the first time at 70 instead of 50? Claiming our wisdom is a constant process: One can never be croned too many times, and it’s never too late. I’ve been croned in a personal ceremony, with circle sisters on a weekend retreat, and with new and previously initiated crones in gatherings of 100-300 women. Each ceremony is a unique celebration, an opportunity to reaffirm old commitments and make new ones.

Can I be croned in a group ceremony before I have my personal ceremony? Yes; there is no order in which to be croned. Participating in large group cronings will often spark ideas for a personal ceremony and vice versa.

Do I have to have a crone name? Many women take this opportunity to rename themselves or take a special name, but it is not a requirement.

Do I have to make commitments? Croning is a significant step, a recognition of wisdom gained through years lived. Although not required, I strongly encourage the new crone to act on her wisdom by making a three-fold commitment to healing--herself, her community (however she defines it), and the earth. This can be simple or elaborate, general or specific.

Guidelines for a Personal Croning Ceremony

The ritual can follow a celebratory meal (save the dessert until after the ceremony)

It can take half an hour to two hours depending on the size of the group and how many people speak, give gifts, etc.

Use the ritual structure of your tradition (or contact me for a general outline); the working is the croning

Select songs and chants that feature old women, crones

Call crone goddesses, ancestresses, crones of ancient times

Decide what will symbolize the initiation--a flower or star garland crown, a crone staff, a cloak or shawl, a ribbon or flower lei, a special gourd

Decide what will be used to represent the passage (a birthing into cronehood)--a gateway, threshold, curtain, a woman’s legs (she stands on a chair)

If people will be present who don’t understand the significance of the ceremony or of reclaiming the once-revered designation of crone, give a brief explanation

Everyone participates in honoring the new crone--written or verbal blessings, stories of her wisdom, poetry, song, chant, drumming, dancing (building toward the moment of croning)

The new crone crosses the threshold, emerges between the legs, parts the curtain

Once on the other side she can be anointed with Hecate oil, rose petal water, rattled, wanded with lavender

The priestess asks for her crone name (if she is going to take one) and commitments

Then the priestess says some appropriate words and blessings as she presents the new crone with her symbol of initiation (placing the crown on her head, the cloak/shawl around her body, the staff or gourd in her hand)

Songs, chants, drumming/rattling

Other symbols and gifts can be presented to the new crone

The new crone speaks her wisdom, gratitude, expands on her commitments

End the ritual in the traditional manner

Celebrate with food and drink

Enjoy the afterglow.

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This is just one of many possible ways to conduct a ceremony. See the Croning Ceremonies and Rituals sections of the resource page for more references.

I am available as a consultant and convener to plan and/or conduct customized croning ceremonies for individuals, groups, circles, and gatherings. Contact me for additional information and my current fee schedule.