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Kali. Cerridwen.
Sekhmet.
Persephone. Morgan Le Fay.
Destroyer. Corpse eater. Fire-breather. Queen of Death.
Wise Woman. Grandmother. Crone.
Regardless of the culture, archetype or myth from whence She originates, there is no doubt that the Dark Goddess is both powerful and commanding. When She appears, everything that has been built on deceit, dishonesty and denial is destroyed and swept away. The Crone is ignored and feared by many. Often people attempt to escape her influence. However, when things become too structured and exclusionary, the Crone inevitably steps in to shake things up and clear a pathway for the new. No one is excluded from her touch.
Nor would we truly want the Goddess in her most awesome form to exclude us. Without her assistance, things never change. Our world stagnates, withers, and dies. The Wise Woman knows that in order for us to create something new, we must first purge and release that which no longer serves us. Being wise Herself, She assists us in deciding what is of true value. Having discarded the things of the past, we are able to move forward at a higher vibration. We understand that now we are truly Light beings without that which weighed us down before.
As we move closer to the year 2012 and the end of the
Mayan calendar, there is a polarization in our world. While some struggle to maintain a status quo that no longer works, others are urging massive change with little or no respect or consideration for the old. There is much fear in our world as governments fail to right economic disaster, businesses fail, relationships end, and natural disasters become mega-disasters as the planet Herself moves up the ascension ladder. We would like to go straight to the top of the mountain. However, before we begin our ascent, we must complete our descent to the lowest depths of the valley. Yes, this is a scary thing to do, especially when we look into the depths and see the face of the Crone staring up at us, apparently waiting to consume us. But wait--look a little longer. Soften your gaze, and you will see not the horrible, decomposing face of a monster, but the Grandmother, arm outstretched, beckoning you to complete your descent. If you take her hand, She will guide you through what is to come...
The day my son presented me with my first grandchild, I informed him that I wasn't ready to be a grandmother yet. Of course, seven years ago, with my youngest child still in secondary school, I was still working mainly with the energy of the Mother within myself. Now that I am older, and hopefully a bit wiser and more mature, I see the Grandmother's energy directing my life more and more. Two years ago when a young friend of mine told me she didn't want to insult me but she thought of me as the Crone in her life, I was honored. Can it be that I have wisdom to share that is of value to others? And if so, do I have the intuitive ability to know how to present that wisdom in a manner that is beneficial to others? That's pretty heavy stuff! Do I even want the responsibility??? Arrrrggghh!!!!
On a recent trip with a friend, while visiting a metaphysical shop, I found my friend bent over laughing hysterically. She turned around and handed me a bumper sticker that reads as follows--
Creative
Researcher
Of
New
Experiences
She bought me that bumper sticker, and it sets proudly on my chest of drawers so it's one of the first things I see each day.
We all have the energy of the Crone within us-along with that of the Maiden and the Mother-all the time. Depending on where we are in our lives, we draw on those energies to assist us. When we are young, the energy of the Maiden, full of inspiration and ideas that are fresh and new is the most pronounced energy. The Mother, of course, takes over and is more dominant as we become adults raising families and pursuing careers. She helps us with her creative energy as we work to manifest the ideas of the Maiden. But the Crone-the Creative Researcher of New Experiences-is also waiting for us to slow down and let go long enough to really experience our lives. She shows up whenever we go through endings to walk us through and prepare us for our next beginnings. In this way, every experience is new and exciting.
Yes, the Crone means serious business. Yes, She is the bringer of death and destruction. But She loves us through the purging and releasing, knowing that what we truly desire is to create something new and life affirming. She doesn't come to punish us, but to guide us through the night to the dawn of a bright new day. Join me as I take Her hand and we will co-create the world anew!
