Women's Empowerment Stories ...

Embracing the Crone
~ Whitefeather

At age 49, I felt that I had become redundant; I was a wife and mother, looking after a disabled husband, running my own shamanic healing practice and feeling like I was on a treadmill going nowhere fast.

My daughter was now in a steady relationship -- I wasn’t needed anymore! Hubby had found a new lease on life three days a week at a group for brain injured people, living on benefits, my business could only grow so far. I felt stifled, restricted, angry, hurt and oh so many other emotions -- AND I had a strong spiritual faith!!!

Then Merlin entered my life, yep, THE archetypal Merlin of Arthurian fame. I thought at first I had really lost the plot, maybe I should give up my practices, how could I heal and teach others when I was so delusional? But he was a persistent chap, and he started to give me channelling to share with others. He talked about the Earth energies, alchemical healing, but he talked about the Sacred Feminine also, how to return to balance within ourselves so that we could bring balance to the world. Huh! Took a man to make me honour myself!!

With his guidance I set about penning my own Croning ceremony, and just after all the family celebrations of my 50th birthday, I went to stay with a friend who performed the ceremony for and with me. It was one of the most empowering things I have ever done for myself or allowed another to do for me.

I became aware in the following days just how important a person I am, no more or less than any other human being, but at last finally able to accept that I am important for myself, for being me and for the gifts I've been given by the Goddess to share with others. Truly blessed.

~ Whitefeather

Here's my poem from that ceremony.

Crone I am

I am the silence of midnight in blackened skies
I am a shadow of darkness that crosses your eyes
I know dark secrets as the veil draws thin
I am the coldness of winter that crawls on your skin
I am Grandmother, Enchantress and Crone
I am the wisdom of justice that cuts to the bone
Destruction is mine when its time comes to be
The living, the dead, they all come to me
For mine is the hand that spins the fates
Mine is the journey through life’s fragile gates
For I am the giver of magical sight
Mine is the time of dark moonlight
And stories from the old hanging tree
As you listen to the wind, hear my voice, know me
For I am the Raven flying in dark sky
Bringer of endings, washer and banshee is I
For mine is the wisdom that comes in the dark
And also the treasures hidden in your heart
So give me what is old, outmoded, outworn
I will return it with a life that is reborn
So give me your sadness, your sorrows, your grief
And in the small dark hours I will bring your relief
For I am the giver of deaths and rebirth
Mine is the endings before new births
Find me in shadows, dark moon, and dark sea
For I am the Crone, hear my voice and know me
For I am Whitefeather.

c. Whitefeather Sept. 08

~ Whitefeather