CRONES

In spite of what I've told you about not much liking the idea of joining groups, a few months ago when one of the residents invited me to come to a meeting of the Crones, I was intrigued enough to attend.

What I found was a group of women, somewhat advanced in years, highly individual, somewhat unorthodox; what I would call "thinking women". The conversation was stimulating, the evening passed quickly and I've been joining them at their monthly meetings ever since that first meeting. It was a while before I realized that it was more than a group of local women who decided on that name for their group. The Crones is (are?) more wide-spread than that.

As the group was getting ready to disperse last evening, I called Mr. Bob to come down one floor with his camera. It was decided that he could be a "Crony" for as long as it took to take a group picture.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ Crones Counsel uses the term crone to reference, and to reclaim, the name of the wisewoman of ancient times. The concept of crone existed tens of thousands of years ago when women’s life patterns were conceptualized in three stages -- Maiden, Mother, and Crone. The Maiden was the youthful, independent woman. The Mother was a woman who guided others--as a biological mother or as a teacher. The Crone was the postmenopausal woman who enjoyed a special, revered status. The elder woman was viewed as a fount of wisdom, law, healing skills, and moral leadership; her presence and leadership were treasured at every significant tribal ceremony and each personal occasion from birth to death. In that light, Crones Counsel consistently focuses on the empowerment and well-being of older women and claims the honored status of the ancient crone for contemporary women. It's quite nice to be considered "wise".