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What is Croning?

Tricia Christensen
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Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 19,797
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Croning is a celebratory rite of passage, once most common in Wiccan religions, that commemorates a women’s passage into the third phase of her life, usually when she is post-menopausal. Instead of desperately trying to hide her age, a woman who participates in a croning ceremony celebrates her age, her acquired wisdom, and the transition from being the creator of life as mother, to being a guide and respected member of her community. Though this ceremony was first practiced in Wicca, and resembles some ceremonies of earlier native religions, it is now popular for women of many different religious faiths to have such a ceremony. Traditional religions like Judaism, Christianity and Islam may not be involved in the ceremonies, but references from biblical text may celebrate the history of the crone and a woman’s passage.

In Wiccan ceremony, a circle of women tends to celebrate croning of a new person, calling on spirits to be present as a woman is honored. This is usually followed by speeches by the woman’s friends which tell about the way she has shown wisdom, and sharing special moments of her life thus far. Chanting, singing, or drumming can be part of the ceremony. When the ceremony is finished, spirits called upon are asked to depart, and the party begins, with celebration through food, drink and music.

Women of other religious backgrounds may have very simple croning parties or quite elaborate ones. All focus on the importance of the female wise woman in the culture, and they may be timed to coincide with a significant birth date, like a 50th birthday for instance. Men and women may both be present, and the croning ceremony may be elaborate, with a woman passing through arches, stepping onto a chair, or receiving the prayers and good wishes of fellow crones. Again, people may be called upon to share their memories of the “crone” and the way in which she has attained “cronedom” through wisdom.

Other ceremonies are quite simple. A woman, might, with just a few friends have a croning party where she is welcomed into the fold of her wise women friends and where they share their good wishes for her future. The attitude expressed in croning is often quite opposed to the “Hollywood” American attitude that women need to hide or disclaim their age. Instead it specifically welcomes the special gifts that a woman of a certain age has attained through life experience.

The crone in literature is mentioned with great frequency. Virtually no hero or heroine makes it through a hero’s journey without encountering the crone, who frequently works as a guide or as a challenge to the hero. Getting past the crone, or accepting her aid usually advances a hero on his journey, and in Jungian or Campbell’s terms, furthers his process of individuation to become a whole and psychologically healthy self.

Such literature is a reflection of the essential wisdom and importance of older women, who unfortunately may be marginalized in especially American culture. Croning allows women to restate and recognize their importance. It may perhaps be key in helping to realign ideas about the valuable place of the older woman in modern society.

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Tricia Christensen
By Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia Christensen is based in Northern California and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her writing. Her wide-ranging interests include reading, writing, medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion, all of which she incorporates into her informative articles. Tricia is currently working on her first novel.
Discussion Comments
By anon1007263 — On Jun 24, 2022

What's involved in a Wiccan croning ceremony? Whatever you want! Whatever celebrates your coming into wisdom. I had mine at the traditional age of 56. It helped me make that transition. Don't pretend you're young or fight aging like it's some tragedy. Enjoy the beauties of this phase of life, too. Of course, I've loved every she I've ever been.

BTW, anybody else notice this article that celebrates the aging woman is accompanied only by pictures of women who, except for their gray hair, could be in their 30s? Let's see some real older women!

By DinoLeash — On Oct 23, 2010

@calabama71:

1.You must cleanse your body with special herbal baths to rid your body of negative and residual energy.

2.Put clothing on that is designated for ceremonies. You do this in order to leave your worries and problems behind to start a new beginning.

3.Cast a circle by drawing a pentagram in the air and call on the four corners north, south, east and west. Then recite special words to ask for the protection of the goddess.

4.Your place must be a sacred place with a small altar. Your altar should have candles, incense, bells and statues of the god and goddess for the ceremony you are performing. There are different god and goddess for each ceremony.

5.You should already know what you wish to accomplish.

6.Make sure when you are finished with the ceremony to thank the god and goddess for their help, and then you close the circle.

By calabama71 — On Oct 23, 2010

What actually is involved in a wiccian ceremony?

By dill1971 — On Oct 22, 2010

@WaterHopper: Wiccan ceremonies are often referred to as Sabbats. There are eight Wiccan Sabbats and they are usually 45 days apart.

There are 4 minor Sabbats, which are your two equinoxes. They fall on March 21st and September 21st. These take place when the daytime and nighttime are 12 hours long. The next are your two solstices, which are December 21st and June 21st. These take place on the longest and shortest night of the year.

The 4 major Sabbats are Samhain, Imboloc, Beltane and Lammas. Samhain falls on October 31st, Imboloc on February 2nd, Beltane on April 30th and Lammas on August 1st.

By WaterHopper — On Oct 22, 2010

What other ceremonies do wiccian perform and when?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia...
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