When Does Cronehood Begin?

[Garnet]

Just wondering....
How is it determined? By age? By wrinkles & gray hair? By character?
Is it an attitude? A mood? A fad?
Is it Cronehood or Cronedom?
Is it something you reach/attain/can't avoid?
What do you think? :confused:

[Myst]

I imagine it's like motherhood, in that it depends on the person. It might begin according to an age you think is "crone", or according to some other factor.

I'm not sure if I've decided that I'm "mother" yet, but for me it's a matter of what "feels right" rather then an age or # of wrinkles.

[GingerBurkley]

The way I've always considered it, the only time when it's questioned whether you're a crone or not is in the context of a coven.

[Chibi-Fallon]

The way I am I doubt if I'll ever really be a crone. I'll be one of those old people you hear about having sex on park benches. I have a hard time growing up and the whole wisdom thing just doesn't work for me.

[Twilight Garden]

Not to be graphic or anything, but I always considered it by nature... As in when menopause hits. For some that will be younger than others. Then of course there are other factors. But other than menopause, I'd have to guess that it is after you feel you are past the "mothering" time in your life. For those who never become literal or figurative mothers, I don't know... Good question. :huh:

[Myst]

Makes sense LunarMist.

Then as far as motherhood... would you say that comes when you start menstruating? I wouldn't think so personally but I wonder what others think.

[Lavender]

Crone is usually when a woman reaches menopause...that depends too on the coven's definition (if you're in one). Some women reach that much earlier than others. It can start as early as 40-45 or even as late as almost 60 in some. The average is roughly 50. I've been to a couple of "Cronings" & they're a lot of fun.

[stormyray]

I dont feel I hit the mother phase until about 3 years or so ago(age 22 or so).. I have been a mom since I was 16 but I think the mother phase hit when you start thinking of setting down roots and bulding a life for the ones you care for. (not nessarly children but anyone special in your heart)
I think each phase (maden, mother , crone) comes to each of us at diffrent times. When ever the spritual side of us connects with that phase we just seem to know it.

[Danustouch]

Perhaps the definition has evolved over time, of the differen't stages of the Goddess nature of women. For the motherhood stage, for instance, it very well may have been, that it began at menstruation. Since, many years ago, women menstruated at a much younger age, got married at a much younger age, and bore children at a much younger age.

For the Cronehood aspect, let us not forget that the average life span of women years ago, was far less than it is today. So..Cronehood starting and menopause, would actually make sense. Also, remember, women generally gave birth to more children in those days, didn't know too much about osteoporosis prevention, etc, etc, etc. So..by the time they were 50 or so, they probably looked Much more like our traditional image of a crone. As they would have aged, physically, much more quickly. From a historical standpoint.

[Twilight Garden]

For me, I did feel that I was at a very different stage in my life once I "started receiving my lunar gift." Biologically I may have been qualified for Motherhood, but certainly not mentally or emotionally at 13yo. But I also feel that I am now at another turning point, probably that 'Motherhood' stage. What that inbetween time is called, I have no idea. (My mom calls it insanity.)

Maybe in my mind I see it as:
Youth - birth until moon time begins...
Maiden - moon time begins until motherhood
Mother - motherhood until menopause
Crone - into the great beyond...

...as a general reference. I'm not really sure. I know people who are definately crones in the greatest sense of the word and don't have any children, yet I know they didn't jump from maiden into crone. Who knows... maybe they did. Athena is a Goddess example of a Great energy who isn't celebrated as Mother. Only Maiden and Crone. (I know some do celebrate the mom aspect in Athena, but as a general reference most don't.) Why do we all have to go through all three aspects? I never really thought about it much before, so I'm just kinda blabbering thoughts...

[Myst]

Originally posted by LunarMist
Youth - birth until moon time begins...
Maiden - moon time begins until motherhood
Mother - motherhood until menopause
Crone - into the great beyond...


That makes sense to me. I think it's also the way it went into the Mists of Avalon series (and yes I know thats fiction but the practices and beliefs of the priestesses and other women in it fascinate me).

I think "mother" is a time when your energy is at its peak, when you are in control and as powerful as a she-bear, and probably when you are concerned with reaching the goals you've laid out - a nice house, a happy family, etc.

[Haedis]

"Lunar gift"? haha i love that. A far cry from "the curse".

[manstranger]

I would also say at menopause for cronehood.

As for when motherhood begins, i would say ... i don't know. I'm not a woman, so I don't really know about all the "luner gifts" and mental changes they would go through.

I would say, perhaps, not when they first get their "luner gift" or at the peak of their energy, but at a time when they are truly in steady control of their lives. If there ever is such a time :p.

[Myst]

Originally posted by manstranger
I would say, perhaps, not when they first get their "luner gift" or at the peak of their energy, but at a time when they are truly in steady control of their lives. If there ever is such a time :p.

No there is never such a time. :D

[Chibi-Fallon]

Cronehood is when you give the world a big "F you" and go out and buy those floral shirts and copper hair dye you've always wanted. ;)

[flar7]

speaking as someone with no knowledge or clue, here is how it
works.
The head of the cronies, gets the crones together with the
brooms for a ritual "croning" they have the appointed petitioner
kneel, then the head of the crones(queen) gently raps the
petitioner on each shoulder and proclaims something mysitcal
or other, then says.."arise crone, smith!"

kinda like a knighthood....heheheh....:p

[Myst]

Originally posted by flar7
speaking as someone with no knowledge or clue

Well you got part of the story... :D :rotfl:

[manstranger]

Originally posted by Chibi-Fallon
Cronehood is when you give the world a big "F you" and go out and buy those floral shirts and copper hair dye you've always wanted. ;)

My spanish teacher does that. She must be a crone. She misses spots when she dyes her hair, tho, so you can see this wisp of gray in the back right next to the copper:rolleyes: .