Crone: Wisdom of the Deep ~ Part 3 of Triple Goddess in the Modern Era

This is PART 3, the final part of our article of the Mysteries of the Triple Goddess in the Modern Era. I started this series a few years back and then discovered this year that the Crone had not been published. So, this week we sit with the wisdom of the sage woman, the elder, or the crone.

CRONE: WISDOM OF THE DEEP

• Deep insight

• Experience and knowledge gained over time

• Acceptance of life's natural cycles, including death

• The source for guidance and mentorship

• Connection to the waning moon and the season of winter

• Transformation and inner growth

• Independence and self-sufficiency

• Spiritual maturity and understanding

• Symbolic of the nighttime, the winter of life, and the dark moon

• Embracing the mysteries of the unknown

In our society, there's often a tendency to shy away from acknowledging the stripped-down nature of the Crone archetype. Instead, we choose more comforting labels like "wise woman" or "elder" to soften the stark truth that the Crone embodies.

But consider why that is! Perhaps because the Crone, in older Disney movies is often painted as 'evil' or ill intentioned, and her physical aging has been negatively linked to a selfish or conniving nature. What terrible message does this send to our children about older women?

Interestingly with Hollywood's movement towards Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in just the past 10 years or so, newer Disney animated stories have been more likely to represent older women in a more positive light. There are now images of the warm and loving Grandma or fairy god-mother, who is the bringer of wishes-come-true, and whose power is in kindness.

Either way, we can't overlook this significant transformative stage in a woman's life.

The Treasure of Age

The Crone archetype speaks to a time that comes after the Mother has developed her queenly attributes and has relinquished the role of leading the charge, stepping aside to enter a different but equally essential phase.

The etymology of 'Crone' refers to the corpse and the decay of aging. Our bones become softer. We begin to shrink in stature. Our muscles may lose their ability to repair. Our body begins to show wear and tear. Our eyes may fail or our teeth may fall out, even more so if we haven't cared for our bodies, but sometimes just as a result of aging. Genetics gives each of us a set of gifts and challenges that may show up more uniquely as we age.

While this may seem morbid, and while the term Crone has at times been used in a more derogatory way, I think there is great power in the unflinching glimpse of aging that this name offers us. The Crone does not have to soften and 'make pretty' for others. This is the blessing of living for a long time in a human body.

The Crone may choose to call herself an Elder, a Wise Woman, a Sage Woman, Grandma, Great Aunty, or any other phrase that gives her power in aging.

The Crone's power lies not in the vigor of youth or the nurturing of motherhood, but in the wisdom, experience, and deep witnessing that come with the passage of time and the hormonal shifts from childbearing years into post-menopausal later life.

The Crone is the keeper of ancient truths, the one who has weathered the storms of life and emerged with a wealth of knowledge. She is unapologetically herself, stripped of pretenses and masks, and she bears the marks of her journey with grace and dignity.

Her power is in her ability to see beyond the surface, to penetrate the depths of human experience, and to offer insight and guidance. Just this morning I was speaking with an 80+ year old relative and she was telling me stories about the cultural and political climate of Europe in the 1950s--from personal experience!

This is a valuable treasure, and as society becomes more used to instant information, we also may not realize that the information we receive is watered down, shaped by unseen hands, and devoid of the personal wisdom and framing that comes from love and context. Nothing can replace the voice and wisdom of a human who has lived an experience.

During this phase of life, the Crone steps into a role of multigenerational deep witnessing. She becomes a repository of family and community history, a living library of stories, traditions, and lessons.

The actions the Crone takes in life have the potential to be even more powerful because of her matrix of relationships, and lived experience.

Her wisdom is both intensely personal and interwoven with the collective wisdom of her ancestors. She is a bridge between the past and the future, offering a perspective that only time can provide.

By acknowledging and embracing the Crone archetype, we honor within ourselves the beauty of aging, the strength of resilience, and the importance of deep witnessing.

We recognize that the Crone has a vital role to play in our communities, offering guidance, healing, and a sense of continuity. She reminds us that true wisdom often comes from looking beneath the surface and that even painful experiences can be a source of healing and transformation. The Crone has one foot firmly planted in the realm of the ancestors. Her journey has led her to a new threshold, often marked by the ending of her physical ability to transmit her bloodline through menopause. Yet, this ending is, in reality, a beginning—while the monthly blood flow ends, there is a new transformation into an open channel through the womb for lightning-like transmissions of wisdom, provided she is grounded and attuned enough to listen.

In some cases where surgery or physical removal of the uterus has taken place, the womb still lives in the etheric template of the Crone's body, and still evolves into this energetic state of divine opening as the hormone shift.

There is no single door from which a woman goes from Mother to Crone. We are each complex shades of all three archetypes, drawing from the well of wisdom as we shape our lives as women.

This wisdom that flows through the Crone is ancient. She holds the most hidden secrets of the forest witch, the sacred knowledge as the maker of kings, and she is the guiding light for all those who have lost their way.

The woman who is in her Crone phase draws upon the collective memory of her lineage, channeling the voices of generations past. Her wisdom is not bound by time or age; it transcends the limitations of the physical body.

In her most balanced state, the Crone can recognize leadership qualities and potential in others. Her insight into the human spirit allows her to nurture and empower those who cross her path, helping them rise to their true potential.

For those who have lost their way, the Crone is a beacon of light in the darkness. Like the Goddess Hecate offering wisdom to a young Persephone in her underworld journeys, the Crone offers guidance that is based on living true to herself after decades of shedding the beliefs of others.

Through simply being herself, she helps individuals rediscover their own inner wisdom. She understands the twists and turns of life's journey and provides a steady hand to those in need.

In the Crone, we find a living testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of wisdom. She reminds us that the ending of one chapter is always the beginning of something more. Her transmission of wisdom is a sacred responsibility and necessity for the wellness of the community.

Loving Wrinkled Crone Skin

The beauty of the Crone's wrinkles is a testament to a life fully lived, a journey marked by experiences, trials, and triumphs. Each line etched upon her face tells stories of laughter, tears, and resilience.

These wrinkles are not blemishes to be concealed. Why do aging women try so hard to avoid these trophies of ageing? These are intricate patterns that weave together the tapestry of her existence.

As a society, we stand at a crossroads, a moment in time where we must return to understanding and celebrating the beauty of age. We have drifted from the ancient practice of revering our elders and the wisdom they hold. It is imperative that we rekindle this appreciation.

Healing Our Crone Consciousness

Children, from a tender age, should learn the art of sitting with their elders, listening to their stories, and absorbing the lessons of life they offer. In these moments of connection, the wisdom of the past is passed down to the next generation. It fosters respect, empathy, and a deep sense of history.

If you have children, do they have older adults they can get to know and learn from? Do you have a local senior center you can volunteer at?

Simultaneously, our elders must recognize the wisdom that resides in those younger than them, especially the youth who are not our blood children. We must love or respect them all, for how can we demand respect when we don't want to give it?

How can we decry ageism if we are also busy discriminating against the youthful because we see only their immaturity?

Age should not be a barrier to understanding others, nor a justification for dismissiveness. Each generation brings its unique perspectives, insights, and gifts to the world. By recognizing the wisdom in all age groups, we can heal our communities.

The Crone, with her weathered face and timeless wisdom, serves as a living example of the beauty of age. Her presence reminds us that every stage of life has its unique charm and significance. We must come to understand that true beauty transcends the surface, residing in the depth of character, the richness of experience, and the boundless capacity for love and understanding.

The Shadow Crone Archetype

When the Crone lingers in her shadow aspects, she may indeed fear the process of aging, perceiving it as a loss rather than a transformation.

This fear can also lead to a sense of disconnection from youth, causing her to disrespect the energy and vitality of younger generations, by saying things like, "Young people today don't understand sacrifice or hard work."

In truth it is that the Crone feels a disconnect between her own experiences in youth and the energetic frequency of what is happening in the present day mind of youth.

She may act against young people by blocking them out completely. This can look like choosing to be only around older adults, and feeling uncomfortable or impatient around younger adults and children, feeling that they should be "seen and not heard."

When this pattern is at play and this elder is only experiencing people her own age, the shadow gift is that she may feel, ironically, more like her younger herself; her wisdom may be more understood by people her age.

However in time, this removal from a more diversified mix of ages will cause her to lose touch with the younger culture being birthed into our global matrix. She may over time feel out of place and forgotten, as those around her begin to die.

For the Crone or wise woman in this shadow, it is important for her to spend time with young people and to hear their stories about the world today. Through listening and learning from youth, the Crone can become present with her own aging process even as she continues to evolve learn and grow.

Being with the young and being willing to learn keeps the Crone's mind flexible and strong, and her heart open and connected.

There are many ways for people to make friendships across the age barrier. Volunteering in a nonprofit, or for a cause, is the fastest and easiest. All it takes is intention and time, but the woman who is Croning must be willing to recognize the beauty of her aging, and she may need to actively create a balance between older friends and younger if she doesn't have a family with those dynamics already built in.

This fear of aging can also look like fear of letting go of the Mothering archetype. Again, the beauty of life is that we hold archetypes within us. A Crone may absolutely be the loving doting grandmother who helps out with the kids, or even takes them on as her own if the parents have become unable.

She may live in a more circular community where the weight of everyday living--washing clothes, cooking food, caring for all matters--may become her domain as younger people in the family do other forms of work to stabilize the home or community space.

But when in shadow, the Crone refuses to let younger mothers come into their voice and power. The Crone in shadow may dominate a space with her own insights, blind and deaf to newer or different perspectives. She may say "You have to trust me. I've been through this and you don't know what you're doing." Or..."You need to do it my way or you'll regret it."

But if others in the family look away or are unwilling to receive this wisdom, it is often a sign that the Crone is in shadow, or has stepped into the Mothering role where she may actually need to step back further into the deep witnessing state of Crone to make space for others to live their lives and make their own mistakes.

The Crone in balance may have a healthy sex drive, or none at all. But she may be in shadow with her sexuality if she is listening to negative programming of the world around her and forgets that her body is a sacred vessel and the map of her lived experience.

The Crone who is in shadow with her sexuality may give away her personal power to lovers or life partners, choosing to suppress her wisdom and perspectives, and to give them over to sons, husbands, or lovers. This can also happen in same sex relationships if there is a strong polarity between divine masculine and feminine present within the relationship, where the divine masculine has gone out of balance.

When the Crone is in shadow with sexuality, she may continue to be sexually active as a form of proving her worth, youthfulness, survival, or status, even though it doesn't make her feel good.

Conversely she may crave partnership or intimacy but feel out of touch or frozen within her ability to meet and connect with a partner. She may shame others around their sexuality, and judge or shame younger people for the choices they are making. These are often a reflection of her own unhealed shame or fear.

The best way to heal these patterns is to return to the womb work of the Mother Archetype, learning to presence somatically with the womb (or the light template in the case of surgery).

Meditating upon the womb, talking through blocks and recognizing the importance of holding space for who she is becoming as she grows older, will help the woman in her Croning phase to come back into balance so she can begin the important work of this archetype-- which ultimately is to begin perceiving the beauty and catharsis of all cycles of life, and the value of every living thing.

Although not directly related through etymology, I love the similarity in sound of Crone and the greek Kronos, a titan who reminds us of the inevitability of time, on this planet.

When the Crone is in shadow, a sense of isolation from life deepens over time, giving rise to feelings of depression, grief for lost opportunities, and despair. She feels robbed of her riches, she loses the compassion of the mother and she becomes stuck in the past rather than being available for the abundance of the present moment.

It's so important for the Crone to recognize that time is her greatest power, and to realign herself with the energy of present time.

The Crone in shadow may benefit from a therapist to be an extra neutral listening ear, and from regular twice-annual visits to the doctor or other practitioner that can help with screenings for general physical well being.

Dancing, walking, playing, connecting with her people, drinking water, eating as directly from the earth as possible, and spending extended time in wild nature, are all incredibly essential to helping the Crone access the highest forms of her own vitality, wisdom, and happiness in life.

Autumn and Winter are the seasons of the Crone, pwerful times for her to reflect, clear the grief of past years, and focus specifically on building her vital energy and power for the next spring and summer cycle. Crones, more than any other aspect of the archetype, must take care not to over extend in the dark seasons of the year, for as the body ages, it becomes even more important to build and grow the stored energy from prior seasons as a buffer against life's challenges.

The Goddess Journey For Men

This journey isn't exclusive to women alone. Men, too, can partake in the celebration of this divine feminine process. Within themselves, they possess these archetypal energies, allowing them to connect with their own inner Maiden, honoring the nurturing qualities of their inner Mother, and gaining insight from the wisdom of their inner Crone.

The triple archetype of the masculine divine includes the lover/warrior, the king, and the sage. These are beautiful archetypes as well, with their own strengths and implications, and they work with the triple goddess. They do not replace her.

Men wishing to understand the triple goddess can extend their celebration beyond self-discovery to support the women in their lives. By recognizing and honoring the cyclical nature of the feminine, men can provide space for women to embrace each phase with grace and authenticity.

They can give young women space to travel and explore life without ownership or jealousy. They can offer support and appreciation for the nurturing mother, calling her out when she is taking on too much and headed toward burnout. They can seek guidance and share love with the Crone, honoring her wisdom and listening with an open heart.

In these ways, men can receive personal healing where experiences with women in their lives may have created wounds. As men reflect on the archetypes, they re-align with the archetypes within themselves.

While this article does not cover the divine masculine archetypes, I do feel those are also critical to masculine healing, and through beginning there, men will feel more equipped to receive connection with women around them, and to trust the women in their lives in new ways as our society heals from multigenerational wounds in all of humanity, of which ingrained prejudice against women and unexpressed shame within men is a huge part.

The divine masculine and feminine reside within us all, regardless of gender, and if we get too caught up in thinking of this work as a way to create divisions or boundaries, then we lose our heart and stop the healing.

Simple Rituals For The Goddess Within

For all of us, a simple way to get to know the triple goddess within, is to go outside into your yard in the evening, at each phase of the moon, and light a candle or tea light.

Look up into the sky and use this time to reflect alongside the moon. Then go out and connect with real life maidens, mothers, and crones during that appropriate phase.

For example, the day after your dark moon meditation, call grandma!

You can truly do this work anytime, but I think there are more ideal times to do do it. Use a moon calendar or a google search to track the moon phases.

For the Maiden candle lighting, I like to wait until 3 days after the New Moon, when the moon's crescent can be visible in the sky. If you've never moon watched before, it may take some time for you to learn the phases where you live, and when the moon will be visible for you.

For the Mother candle lighting, the ideal time is the night before the full moon is exact. Although if you are an older mother, you might also enjoy reflecting on the moon just as it starts to wane, 2 or 3 days after the full moon.

For the Crone candle lighting, wait until the moon starts to grow smaller. The last 3-4 days of the moon cycle is the heart of the waning moon, until the moon goes completely dark. Choose the dark time when you can't see the moon in the sky.

As you moon gaze and reflect, think of what being a maiden/mother/crone means to you. Then don't forget to go out the following day and connect with real life maidens, mothers, and crones.

The other day I was speaking with a 14 year old girl. I loved how she saw the world, and I learned something new in just one conversation.

If you don't have easy access to people outside of your age range, this is a wonderful wakeup call to expand your circle by volunteering your time, reaching out to relatives, or deepening relationships with existing friends and their families.

Lets end this trend of anonymity and isolated nuclear family lifestyles that has evolved over the last one hundred years. Lets return even our biggest cities to a time when people knew each other and cared about what was going on. It's time!

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DAILEY LITTLE is a healing practitioner, transformational life coach, ordained Priestess, and teacher who founded Healing Heart Reiki to help others navigate life with joy. She offers private sessions, and teaches classes in healing and mindset from a magical peaceful corner of the world in Northern California. For more info see: www.SantaRosaReiki.com