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4. Calling the Circle
Black draped table, figure of Cerridwen, cauldron, carved wooden owl, dried pomegranate, dish of amethysts, vase of carnations, three candelabra with white, red, and black tapers, respectively, shawl of respect for Crones, nametags, sign-in cards for date of birth AND age, refreshments: tea, decaffeinated coffee, grapes, assorted cookies, chocolates.
The arch will lead into large room or auditorium. The two leaders begin, committee members come next (to model), followed by other women present in order of date of birth, oldest to youngest. The two leaders form a “London Bridge” arch at the door to the auditorium, capture the next entering woman and say, “By woman you were born into this world, and by women you are born into this circle.” She steps through and stands by one of arch-makers to wait for next woman. They form an arch and repeat the words to the next two women in turn as they enter. Then the next form an arch … until all of the women have been born into the circle. Then the two leaders go through the whole set of arches, followed by the second couple, and so on. The group forms a standing circle in the auditorium.
Leader: (turning to the woman on her left and taking the woman’s right hand in her left) From hand to hand, the circle is cast. This woman takes the hand of the third woman circling and repeats “From hand to hand …” Repeat around circle until all are holding hands.
Leader: The circle is cast.
Reader A: Hail to the spirits of the East, the spirits of Air. East is the direction of the Mind, the Will. It is the direction of beginnings and traditionally associated with the Maiden, but we Crones also have new beginnings in our lives: new jobs, new loves, new challenges and accomplishments. Our wills are strong, and our minds are filled with knowledge and wisdom from a lifetime of experiences.
ALL: In the name of Crone, we claim the East and invite its spirits to join us tonight as we honor the Crones among us.
Reader B: Hail to the spirits of the South, the spirits of Fire. South is the direction of creativity, of passion, of transformation. It is traditionally associated with the Mother, those in the summer of life. But we Crones, although our child-bearing days may be over, or though we may have chosen not to have children, nevertheless are overflowing with creativity and passion, and transformation is one of our special gifts.
ALL: In the name of Crone, we claim the South and invite its spirits to join us tonight as we honor the Crones among us.
Reader C: Hail to the spirits of the West, the spirits of Water. West is the direction of the emotions, and is traditionally associated with the autumn of life. We Crones have learned perspective and judgment, but our lives are still full of emotion: righteous anger against the injustices of the world, love for our families and friends, sadness for the precious things that have passed out of our lives.
ALL: In the name of Crone, we claim the West and invite its spirits to join us tonight as we honor the Crones among us.
Reader D: Hail to the spirits of the North, the spirits of Earth. This direction above all belongs to the Crone, direction of solidity, of groundedness, of Winter with its introspection, of Death: we mourn the death of loved ones and contemplate our own approaching ends.
ALL: In the name of Crone, we claim the North and invite its spirits to join us tonight as we honor the Crones among us (members may sit down).
Reader E: WHAT IS A CRONE? Those who follow the Wiccan path believe that the Goddess resides within each woman. The “Holy Trinity” of the Goddess, and of each woman, are the three main phases of our lives.
Some traditions truly honor women, and each phase of our lives is cause for all to celebrate. Some North American indigenous peoples call this last phase of our lives “entering the Grandmothers’ Lodge.” Wiccans call it “Crone.” Our mothers and grandmothers and their foremothers celebrated rites of passage—regardless of the continent and regardless of the name assigned to the ritual of passage.
Euro-American, Judeo/Christian cultures have departed from the wisdom of the Ancient Ones. They do not truly honor women, nor do they recognize the importance of each phase of our lives. Each phase carries its own beauty and power. But, within the cultures most Euro-Americans know as their own—religious, socioeconomic, and others—the phase LEAST honored is this final one—the beauty and power of advancing age.
Tonight we reclaim what is ours. Tonight we remember respect for our elder sisters. Tonight we reclaim the word CRONE.
Wisdom is a Wise Old Woman by Meg Bowman.
[First reader] The leader will call each woman to be croned into the circle of candles [circle with path leading into it, outlined by luminaria], calling by age and date of birth. She will ask questions, and the woman in the circle of light will respond. The women in the outer circle will participate in unison, as indicated below.
The leader will call birthdates from oldest to youngest, also giving those women under the age of 50 who are grandmothers an opportunity to be Croned. Some women may be present who feel they are ready to enter the Crone phase of their lives, but who do not precisely fall into the usual categories: over 50, post menopausal, or having become a grandmother. We ask that each woman carefully examine her own heart to decide her own readiness; the decision is hers.
When a woman’s date of birth is called, if she does not wish to enter the circle of candles to be croned—for whatever reason—she may simply remain silent, and the priestess will move on to the next date of birth. Each woman who is croned will have an opportunity to name herself and to say whatever is in her heart to the women gathered.
LEADER: “I call the woman whose age is ____, born ______ into the circle of light.”
[Woman receives the shawl of respect as she enters the circle. She goes into the circle and stands facing the altar.]
LEADER: “What is your first name?”
WOMAN: “I am ___________.”
LEADER: “You are ___________.”
GROUP IN UNISON: “This woman is ___________.”
LEADER: “What is the first name of your mother?”
WOMAN: “My mother’s name is ___________.”
LEADER: “So, you are ____________, daughter of _______________.”
GROUP: “This woman is ______________, daughter of ____________.”
LEADER: “Is there anything you would like to share with us this evening?”
WOMAN: [Makes brief statement of whatever is in her heart to say.]
LEADER: “Is there anyone here who would like to share something she feels or knows about _____________, daughter of ____________?”
GROUP: [One or more women may take a minute or so to speak a blessing, share a story, etc. to or about the woman inside the circle of candles.]
LEADER: “In the company of these women gathered—seen and unseen—and to whom you are daughter, mother, sister, lover, friend, I present you this flower to symbolize the beauty of your life. We name you, _______________, Crone among women.”
GROUP: “This Crone’s name is ________________. Blessings upon this Crone.”
[Crone remains in circle until next Crone approaches, then places the shawl on her and returns to her seat.]
[New Crones gather in the circle of light and read in unison.]
“I am the beauty of the dark moon and the dark earth beneath your feet. I am repose in the evening of your life. I am the skin and bones of your existence. I am she who is weathered by time, aged to perfection. I am midwife to the dying, promise of transition and rebirth in the cycle of life and death and life again. All acts of birthing and dying are my rituals.
“I am the darkness you fear and welcome. I am the freedom to express your essence. I am the courage to cast aside the opinions of others as you live life according to your own plan, in tune with your own truth. I am the wisdom that can guide the world.
“I am the energy of the old, the knowledge of when to end, of when to cut the cord. I was with you at your birthing and I will be with you to ease the transition of your dying into the world beyond.”
[Second reader] “Amethyst has long been credited with special magic, believed to have powers of protection, healing, and enhancement of mental powers and wit, valued as a stone of spirituality and peace. It is associated especially with the Crone. We wish to present each of the honorees with her own Crone jewel as a token of her status as Crone.”
[Stones presented by leader]
[Third reader reads poem of choice]
[Third reader] “Let us now toast the new Crones.”
[Glasses are passed out; Juice is poured; Drink to Crones; Crones return to their places in the circle of chairs.]
[repeat three times]
You are the strong women
“You are the story women
You are the healers,
Your souls will never die.
We are the old women,
We are the new women,
We are the same women
Stronger than before.”
[Fourth reader] “Spirits of the North, spirits of Earth, we bid you farewell. Thank you for joining us here tonight to honor these Crones.”
[Third reader] “Spirits of the West, spirits of Water, we bid you farewell. Thank you for joining us here tonight to honor these Crones.”
[Second reader] “Spirits of the South, spirits of Fire, we bid you farewell. Thank you for joining us here tonight to honor these Crones.”
[First reader] “Spirits of the East, spirits of Air, we bid you farewell. Thank you for joining us here tonight to honor these Crones.”
Leader: “The circle is open, but never
broken. Merry meet, and merry part, and merry meet again. Blessed
be.”
Script prepared by Joanna Fink, Mary Ann Meisner, Linda Brown, Lois Hansen, and Jackie Egan. The Charge of the Crone is loosely based on Doreen Valiente’s Charge of the Goddess. The first verse of the Group Chant is based on a verse by the Greenham Common Women, the second on one by Will Shepardson, both found in The Green Earth Spirituality Songbook, compiled by Jess E. Shoup. The responsive reading, Wisdom is a Wise Old Woman, and the anonymous toast are from Readings for Older Women, by Meg Bowman and Diane Haywood.
Notes: A CRONING is a celebration which formally recognizes that a woman has achieved the status of Crone, the third stage in a woman’s life. A Crone has passed through the stage of Maiden, the period of youth largely devoted to learning and preparation, then that of Mother, the years of child-bearing (although her creativity may not include actual children), and has now reached the stage of Crone, the Wise Older Woman. Token gifts are often given. Criteria for being recognized as a Crone:
Joanna Fink is a member of the UU congregation in Lincoln, Nebraska, where she leads the Women’s Earth Spirituality Group and CUUPcakes, a ritual group for gradeschool children. She has facilitated groups using the curriculum, Rise Up and Call Her Name. The Women’s Earth Spirituality Group celebrated Joanna’s croning in 1992.