Goddesses in Older Women
Becoming a Crone
Women getting older have profound and exciting reasons for welcoming the other side of fifty.
The Crone is the Great Mother of All in her winter becoming. Though disguised by the wrinkles of age, her spirit lights up her face. Her eyes speak to us from the night sky of eternity, the circle of life is complete. No longer invested in the demanding routines of childrearing, and freed from the sway of boundless desire, the Crone is gifted with the wisdom of a survivor who knows the end is near. At some point after fifty, every woman crosses a threshold into the third phase of her life. As she enters this uncharted territory--one that is generally uncelebrated in popular culture--she can choose to mourn what has gone before, or she can embrace the juicy crone years.
There are goddesses in every woman, deep archetypal sources of wisdom, authenticity, and spirituality that, once tapped, energize us and gives us a sense of meaning and self-aceptance. The knowledge of which archetypes are active within us at each phase of life--maiden, mother, and crone--supports us in making choices that are true to who we are instead of conforming to others' ideas of who we should be.
In the third stage, marked physiologically by menopause, there emerges a whole new cast of inner archetypes that a woman can draw on for guidance, creativity, personal integration, and joy. Once we learn to recognize these forces, we can feel empowered and wise, introspective and spiritual, sexually bold and full of mirth. For it is in the "wisewoman" years, when a woman has lived long enough to resolve the tasks of younger and middle adulthood, that she can fully and authentically become who she deeply is.
The generation of women who have reached the crone years is herstorically unique. Influenced by the women's movement, this generation of women has benefited from educational opportunities, women's support networks, and economic resources as excellent preparation for decades of active postmenopausal life. By recognizing the goddess archetypes that emerge in this phase, women of this special generation will transform the crone years into the best years of their lives.
Crone
As a woman walks her path in life, she learns from all that transpires around her. Some lessons are painful, some joyful, and some need learning several times.
Eventually, when the lessons all begin to make sense, she moves from the role of student to that of teacher.
In ancient societies this role was called 'Crone' because she brought the wisdom of age to the circle of her village and spoke with patience, truth and example for the benefit of all.
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