Listen to the podcast here

 

As Samhain, the Witch's New Year, dawns, the spotlight shifts to the energy of  the Crone, the wise elder aspect of the Divine Feminine.

She's not merely an archetype but a celestial whisper, a natural law, a stark contrast to the youthful spring goddess who revels in new beginnings.

The Crone invites us to embrace not just growth but dissolution, not merely birth but death and rebirth.

As we dance under the waning energy of the sun, let us unravel the potent wisdom she offers.

Prepare to traverse realms both shadowy and enlightening, as we delve into the mystical ethos of the Crone.

 

The Crone and Samhain: A Cosmic Alignment
Samhain represents a moment of profound transformation, a time when the boundaries between realms are at their thinnest. The Crone epitomises this liminal state. She's the bridge between worlds, the gatekeeper of ancient wisdom.

During Samhain, her energy envelops us, encouraging us to engage in reflection, divination, and, importantly, letting go.

 

The Waning Moon: A Celestial Symphony
Like a seasoned composer creating a magnum opus, the Crone uses the waning moon as her instrument.

The waning moon symbolises release—clearing away, letting go, shedding.

The Crone guides us through this process, helping us release the detritus that clogs our spiritual pathways. She's the celestial maestro who understands that the magickal symphony of our lives requires not just crescendos but also moments of silence.

 

The Anti-Ageing Dilemma: The Crone's Counter-Narrative
Our society, obsessed with youthfulness, is engaged in an unending battle against ageing. We've created a culture that reveres the fresh bloom of youth while fearing the sagacious allure of age.

This mindset distances us from the Crone’s wisdom, making her appear as a shadowy figure to be avoided.

But if you consider it deeply, you’ll realise that the energy of the Crone—age, wisdom, and transformation—is not something to avoid but to aspire to. After all, wisdom is the refined elixir of experience, something that no serum can bestow.

 

Embracing The Crone

To further explore and connect with the enigmatic, transformative energy of the Crone, journaling can be a potent tool. The written word allows you to access deeper layers of consciousness and insight.

Below are prompts designed to help you explore your own relationship with the energy of the Crone::

Understanding the Crone Within

• What does the word 'Crone' evoke in you? Are these associations positive, neutral, or negative?
   
• How do you feel about ageing, and what role does society's perspective play in shaping this view?
   
• What wisdom have you gained with age that you wish you had known earlier in life?

 

Exploring Wisdom and Intuition

• Recall a time you acted upon your intuition. How did that moment unfold, and what did it teach you?
   
• List three difficult situations you've encountered and the wisdom you gleaned from each.
   
• In what ways can you be a 'Crone' or a 'Wise One' to someone else in your life?

 

The Crone's Lessons in Release

• What are some habits, patterns, or beliefs that you are holding onto, even though they no longer serve you?
   
• If the Crone were to grant you the ability to let go of one thing instantly, what would it be?
   
• How do you typically cope with endings, whether it be the end of a day, a project, or a phase of life?

 

Magick, Power, and Transformation

• How do you tap into your inner magick or personal power?
   
• If you were to craft a spell to amplify the Crone's transformative energies in your life, what would it be?
   
• In what ways can you invite more transformative experiences into your life?

 

Ritual and Practice

• If you were to design a ritual honouring the Crone, what unique elements would you incorporate?
   
• What herbs, stones, or other ritual items do you feel resonate with the Crone’s energy?
   
• How do you plan to integrate the wisdom and energy of the Crone into your regular magickal practices?

 

Dive deep into these questions, let your pen flow and trust the process. You might be surprised at how much wisdom you already carry within, waiting for the magickal touch of your awareness to be unlocked.

Remember, the Crone isn't just an archetypal figure out there; she is a part of you, timeless and ever-wise.

 

The Ritual of Embracing: A Path to Reconciliation

Pre-Ritual Preparations
Attire
Wear loose, comfortable clothing preferably in darker hues to resonate with the Crone's waning moon energy.

Sacred Tools

• A dark bowl filled with water for scrying
• Obsidian or black tourmaline crystals
• Herbs like sage, mugwort, or rosemary to make a tea
• A journal and pen for reflection
• A dark cloak or shawl to embody the Crone's energy
• Incense, preferably myrrh or frankincense

 

The Ritual

Step 1: Purification and Setting the Space
Begin by cleansing the area with rosemary or other suitable herbs. As you do this, recite a small mantra or chant dedicated to the Crone, such as:
“Crone of Wisdom, lend me your sight, guide me through the waning night.”

 

Step 2: Elemental Invocations
Invoke the elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.

Speak to each, acknowledging their power and inviting their energies to your sacred space.

 

Step 3: Invocation of the Crone
Clothe yourself with the dark cloak or shawl and stand before your altar. Invite the Crone into your space:
“Crone, Wise One of the Waning Moon, Keeper of Mysteries, I invite you. Reveal your wisdom, lend your guidance.”

 

Step 4: Scrying for Wisdom
Peer into the dark bowl of water, your gaze unfocused.

Allow images or feelings to come forth. This is the Crone sharing her wisdom.

 

Step 5: Journaling
Write down any symbols, emotions or insights that came through during the scrying session.

These are personal messages from the Crone and clues to what you may need to release or transform.

 

Step 6: The Ritual of Release
Take a piece of paper and write down patterns, habits or beliefs you wish to release.

Burn this paper in a fire-safe bowl, imagining these limitations disintegrating.

 

Step 7: Embodiment Dance
Play some music.

Begin to move freely around your space, imagining you are embodying the Crone's wisdom, her freedom from societal constructs, and her embrace of transformative power.

 

Step 8: The Draught of Wisdom
Prepare a brew of herbal tea infused with your chosen herbs.

As you sip, imagine the liquid imbuing you with the Crone’s wisdom, filling your very cells with ageless knowledge and power.

 

Step 9: Closing and Thanksgiving
Thank the Crone for her wisdom and company, promising to carry her lessons into your daily life.

Slowly release the elements and open the circle.

 

The Power of Re-Storying
By completing this ritual, you're re-writing your old stories and shaking off societal narratives that have confined you, particularly those that make you fear the march of time and the coming of wisdom. Instead, you become an author of your own transformative journey.

You learn that the Crone’s beauty isn’t that of superficial allure but of soul-deep wisdom, her body etched with the markings of a life well-lived, her eyes twinkling with secrets she'll share only with those who dare to ask.

In her wisdom, you find the keys to your own strength, the spell to release what doesn’t serve you, and the courage to step into the fullness of your being.

Embracing the Crone isn't an end but a magickal beginning. 

 

The Crone's Imperishable Gifts
The Crone isn't a figure to dread but a transformative force that can enrich our lives with enduring wisdom.

During Samhain, as we gather around bonfires and peer through veils into other worlds, let us remember that the Crone is the key to unlocking dimensions within ourselves.

She challenges us to let go of societal norms that tether us to perpetual youth, inviting us instead into a world where ageing is not a curse but a mystical path towards growth and enlightenment.

By fully embracing the Crone this Samhain, you’re not  only acknowledging the inevitability of age and transformation, you're actively pursuing wisdom, gaining the tools to navigate the complexities of existence with grace, poise, and unshakable inner strength.

With the Crone as our guide, we are no longer lost souls but wise wanderers, meandering through life's labyrinth with purpose.

May your Samhain be profoundly transformative, filled with the Crone’s enlightening whispers and profound wisdom.