SpellCrafting: Spells & Rituals

Croning : miscellaneous

Merry meet!

This month is the last of a six-part series on croning – a feminine rite-of-passage ritual for those reclaiming the power and wisdom of the old woman, the crone.

As we prepare to enter the dark half of year on Mabon, I wanted to offer some final thought about the celebration of croning.

In the world of muggles, the crone is an old, ugly, unproductive woman. Her proximity to death makes her dark and scary. In the pagan community, she is the wise woman who is respected. She is a teacher and a mentor. Her proximity to death makes her powerful and able to walk in both worlds. Not only does she preside over death, she presides over rebirth, for she knows the two are linked and that all endings are beginnings. She can feel it in her bones.

When the croning ritual is competed, the candles extinguished and the circle opened, it’s not over, it’s just beginning. Now that you have the title, you get to live it.

In this past year, I have grown more and more comfortable with myself even though we live in a world of where youth is still coveted. Women of a certain age are targeted with commercials, articles and infomercials encouraging them to dye hair, use make-up, get rid of wrinkles, lose weight and have procedures done in an effort to look younger. While I now understand it, I only aim for healthy and, after almost a year, I have made changes I had been resisting.

I am more at peace with where I am – and am not – in life. I was able to lay aside some dreams and some burdens. I’m planning a bit less and trusting a bit more. I have bounced back from blows quicker, accepted more and expressed more gratitude more often.

I no longer think someone else has the answers and will look inside. I am more comfortable sharing knowledge and giving advice. With two other crones, I have been helping run a pagan discussion group for LGBTQ youth. When co-workers, neighbors and others who cross my path ask for help with smudging houses, spell work or defining the influences of a particular moon phase, I am more comfortable answering without feeling a need to do extensive research. I’m also honoring my ancestors more – including the elders who are still living.

My croning ceremony was one of the most meaningful events in my 61 years. The change it signaled was not the end of a journey, but very much a beginning. Grandmother Spider is back with me, and snake is close by as well. Both have helped me through previous transitions, and I know there will be others as as the wheel continues to turn on my crone years.

Merry part.

And merry meet again.