Check-in with your Crone

Archetypes influence the lens through which we view the world, they cannot be directly seen, but they can speak symbolically to us. The Crone is powerful because she is you!

The Crone archetype is a multifaceted and a fascinating symbol that has evolved over time. Traditionally, the Crone entered the English language around the 1400s, derived from the Anglo-French word ‘carogne’, meaning a disagreeable woman or “carrion” - sounds familiar “Karen” one might suggest this is the modern-day term! This female archetype was mainly associated with negative connotations and images of a haggard witch-like, resentful old women.

The evolution of the Crone in modern interpretations emphasises transformation and the ‘wise woman’. The Crone represents an elderly woman who has both the wisdom of age, and overcoming challenges, and the courage to make no-nonsense decisions, to cut through the pettiness as she nears the end of her journey. She is deeply rooted in the collective unconscious and serves as a powerful symbol of transformation, inner knowing, intuition and acceptance of life’s cycles.

The Crone is powerful because she is you! You have felt her when you have reached the end of your tether or set a hard boundary to no longer deal with people or things that don’t serve you. She is your wise woman self.

We all have access to her with a little bit of imagination and willingness to be curious. when you find yourself stuck in life, lost or struggling to make a decision. Check-in with your Crone. Ask your 90-year-old self for advice. Trust the words of wisdom that come to the surface first.

Guided imagery is a powerful technique that allows you to tap into your inner wisdom and connect with different aspects of yourself.

First get comfortable, in a place that feels safe with limited distractions.

Close your eyes and drop inside and pull your energies away from the outside world.

Feel your breath. As you breathe out feel a little more still, a little more soothed. Drop down into your inner sanctuary a place of stillness where you can be deeply present.

Imagine standing on your life path. Stand where you are now, perhaps in your Mothering, Householding and Menstruating Years, and see ahead of you the menopause years and sense your future Crone.

Begin to walk slowly towards the Crone you see ahead. As your draw near notice that there is a chair in front of the one on which she sits. She invites you to take your place in the empty chair.

How does it feel to sit here in this space. What sounds do you hear around you? What can you smell? What do you see in the space?

Your Crone self reaches out her hands and you place yours in hers. As you do, look now deeply into her eyes. What do her eyes look like? What is the reflection you see?

Take some deep breaths and really be present looking deeply into the eyes of your crone self. See this aspect of you fully. What does she look like?

As you continue to breath notice how it feels within your body to be so deeply held and seen by another. Feel the love your older self has for you. She has seen you journey through so much. She has watched quietly and waited for this moment for you to come and find her.

This is your time now to ask her any questions you have. Listen deeply to her response. Listen to her voice. Notice how it sounds. Her voice is whispering, knowing, steady and strong.

She reaches down next to her chair and lifts up a gift for you. Take a moment to receive this gift. What does it mean to you?

She lets you know that it is time for you to leave her. Take a moment to say your goodbyes and hold her and allow her to hold you.

She may offer you a parting message, some words of wisdom.

Now as you breathe deeply feel yourself travelling back to the current place in your life path.

Once you return, feel the ground beneath you and listen to the sounds around you. Remind yourself that you can visit your Crone self anytime you need her advice in your life.

Take out a journal and take some time to write about your experience.

This process can be repeated every year at Winter or every month at the time of your bleed. Make space in your life to receive the Wisdom of your Crone Self. She is always there.