APA March 2004 newsletter
Editress; Ginger Strivelli
This month our yahoogroups list was especially fun…we had a couple
of our notorious debates….including one on Cronehood…Which
sparked this little essay I wrote on the subject.
Cronehood by Ginger Strivelli
Some people, particularly now days with the aging
"me-generation" types who tend to be a
bit self-absorbed/righteous/centered--- will NEVER voluntarily
admit to being Crones. Does that REALLY make them NOT
Crones? Perhaps, I would think a "Crone" would be secure
enough in her own hard-earned-wisdom and naturally-aged-beauty,
and such Crone-like traits TO admit she was indeed (gasp!)
a Crone. Rather than seeing the Crone stage of life as
a negative thing as so many now seem to, might it be
considered a hard-won honor instead? So maybe we do
need a "Queen" stage to bridge the gap between Mother
and Crone (as suggested in a recent book I read
reviewed in Circle Network magazine. This book explained
how this author has the idea that she is in her 'Queen'
stage not a 'Crone' stage because women don't age as
quickly as they did in her mother and grandmother's
generations. *rolling eyes* For those unwilling to
admit to Cronehood at the 'traditional' age, I see
the failed logic behind inventing a more PC and less
threatening term for these ladies to think of as they
enter into their post-motherhood years.
The 'traditional age' of Croning varies...person to
person, trad to trad, culture to culture. We can not
state one fixed date, event or age...as "THE RIGHT"
time for Croning, for saying such makes us pompously
trying to force one trads' beliefs and practices on
the whole magical community, something alas, that many
trads do about numerous things. Nonetheless, the facts
are: there is not ONE universal 'traditional' time for
Croning, any more than there is a 'tradtional' time for
'Coming of Age' rites or Priest/esshood rites, etc., etc.
As with all magical things...it varies greatly depending
on whom you ask...Some say ages 45, 50, or 56, some state
an event such as grandmotherhood, end of periods/menopause,
or having an 'empty nest' is the time for a Croning rite.
Nonetheless…Cronehood does come….even when it is not
welcomed by the unenlightened modern woman who fears
it.
It might be best to say the Crone will announce herself
as such when she feels she is one....then again
I know some people who'd never admit to being a Crone
cause they see it as being 'old' or
'unwomanly' even...'unbeautiful'....'unsexy', 'unacceptable'
alas...and those people will really never admit
to being a Crone. They'll dye, botox, liposuck,
lift, nip, tuck, and fight natural aging off
with their dieing breath. I suppose as much as
I'll roll my eyes at such "Queen-stage" people,
if they can't bring themselves to become "Crones"
on time and want a 'new' queen stage that is less
of a disappointment and 'defeat' to them. Then who
am I to tell the old hags they are really Crones
and just kidding themselves! (Just teasin' y'all!
Don't lose your sense of humor with those wrinkles
you are botoxing away.)
Anyway this is an interesting topic...I thought so when
I saw that article months ago about the "Queening" book
and meant to bring up the discussion on our APA chat list.
Alas, I forgot until someone else brought it up on the
list this month. Isn't the memory the first to go?
Maybe I should run out to get that Queen-stage book
and go ahead and start kidding myself now.
-------------------------------
FROM OUR BOOK OF SHADOWS:
By Lady Birch
Prayer to Brighid
Brighid, Goddess of light and morning
We thank thee for the fresh and new day.
May we fill it with your radiance.
Brighid, Goddess of life and breath
Bless us as we live each day.
May we make each day a reflection of your care.
Brighid, Goddess of protection and valor
We ask You to watch over us.
Make this day safe and good.
Brighid, Dark Goddess of death and rebirth
We call on You for comfort as we travel our final Path.
May we leave behind us a life of love and courage.
Blessed Brighid, we honor You.
So mote it be.
-----------------------------------------
Sacred Sites Section
The Holy Land of Imagination
Submitted by Ginger Strivelli
Our imagination is a sacred site…sadly one most of us stop
visiting as we grow out of childhood. The fiction of
daydreams, fantasies, and pretending are underused therapy
which could help us each cope with those all too
realistic and mundane chapters in our nonfiction life.
"CASTLES IN THE AIR
My thoughts by night are often filled With visions false as fair:
For in the Past alone I build My castles in the air.
I dwell not now on what may be;
Night shadows o'er the scene;
But still my fancy wanders free Through that which might have been."
Thomas Love Peacock [1785-1866]
Back to main menu
