Nordic Wiccan: Crone

The Crone represents logic and wisdom. As family responsibilities and vocational pressures become less, friendships become more important. She considers anyone younger than her to be her child and can be frighteningly vengeful if any of her children are harmed. The attributes inherent in this aspect of the Divine Feminine include wisdom, intuition, prophesy, stability, pragmatism, patience, detachment and fortitude. Elli, Hecate, Ceridwen, White Buffalo Woman, Lilith, Baba Yaga and Kuan Yin are among the Goddesses who personify the Crone phase of the Divine Feminine.

Elders are the real survivors. They have been through everything already; so nothing scares them anymore. The elders represent the pursuit of knowledge and truth. Often the truth is not pretty, but the rewards are great. They have already watched the World fight itself nearly to death a dozen times over. And they have buried their dreams and their loved ones - and lived through it.

And this is just a snippet of what can be found in, 'Who Are Your Divine Friends?'.

Trialogue

What you have spun, I will weave it;
a single thread´s such a lonely thing.

What you have woven, I´ll cut it;
what use is your work if it´s never done ?

What you have cut, I will tear, comb and spin;
it´s fit for another round on the wheel.

~ Michaela Macha

Ancestors

Mighty men in grave-mound dwelling,
Alfar, ancestors, with awe we honor;
Forefathers of the flesh and spirit,
Beloved brothers, gone before us,
Holy ones, hear us as we hail you!
Men of the North, from whom our faith comes,
Rognvald Rettlebone and the eighty seidhmadhrs,
Egil the Runemaster, EyvindR Kvelda,
Njal and Thorgeir of Lightwater, Peacemakers;
Sacred seed through Midgard scattered
Grandfathers, we greet you gladly!

~ Diana Paxson

Wyrd Sisters Three

Goddesses gather at the Well
Found at the base of the Tree
Show us what has been and
What may yet come to be

Verdande, Skuld and Urd
Web-Weavers Three
Show us what has been and
What may yet come to be

Hamingja, Orlog or Wyrd,
Ladies tell us what you see
Show us what has been and
What may yet come to be

Nornir we pray you guide our hands
And lay your blessings on we
Show us what has been and
What may yet come to be

~ K. C. Hulsman

Wisdom of the Ancients

Your blood flows in my veins
The spark of your lives' is within me
Faceless for so many years
But I catch glimpses in the mirror.

I hear your voices in the wind
I hear your songs in the waters
I see your faces in the clouds
I only have to look and listen

So very long ago
You gave honors by the fires
When the mead was passed around
Your words they flowed
into the web of Wyrd.

I hear your voices in the wind
I hear your songs in the waters
I see your faces in the clouds
I only have to look and listen.

Wisdom of the Ancients
Painted on the stones
Forged within the fires
and carved upon the bones
Wisdom of the Ancients
Hidden in deep waters
Flow through the Web of Wyrd
Come to me.

~ Robert Falkenstein

As The World Turns

A child is born,
As the world turns.
A flower blooms,
As the world turns.
A raven egg hatches,
As the world turns.
A child learns to walk,
As the world turns.
A bee helps pollenate,
As the world turns.
A Raven chick feeds,
As the world turns.
A child grows to be a man,
As the world turns.
A flower wilts,
As the world turns.
A raven learns to fly,
As the world turns.
A man grows old,
As the world turns.
A flower's seeds drop,
As the world turns.
A raven migrates south,
As the world turns.
An old man is buried,
As the world turns.
A flower blooms at the grave,
As the world turns.
Two ravens rest on the stone,
As the world turns.
The ravens see everything,
As the world turns.

~ Glenn Bergen

As one gets older, one understands more and more that it's not about what you look like or what you own, it's all about the person you've become. Embrace your age, engage with life, take control of your future and live. Take care for your body, exercise your mind, be a part of the World, stay connected with people who are supportive - and you'll discover a secret that many women over 50 years are already doing.

Think like the Crone. Older women are living longer, and they have busy, active social schedules. More women in their fifties, sixties and even seventies are far more willing to embrace their sexuality and womanhood. These women are reclaiming the name of Crone in a positive way and see it as a time to welcome one's position as an elder in the community joyfully.