Sample Croning
Ritual (based on
menopause)
by Eleanor This croning
ritual is a rite of passage for a woman who has either entered
menopause
naturally or had a hysterectomy. It leads her from the status of Mother
to that
of Crone. I have done a couple of them, and they worked nicely for the
women
concerned. If possible, do this outdoors, or in a home where there is a
garden.
You'll need to bury something fairly deep. Pre-dig the hole in
daylight, so you
can see to do it. The HPS should be a Crone, well used to the phase of
life,
and a respected friend of the woman making the passage. Save a sanitary
pad or
tampon (used) from the last or most recent period of bleeding. (Use a
sealable
plastic bag! They get smellier real fast!)
This rite can be robed or skyclad,
as the person most concerned prefers. It can be all women, or sexually
mixed,
again as she prefers. This is like a birthday, so it should please the
honouree.
The woman making the passage
(hereinafter called "passagee") should wear around her waist two
cords, each nine feet long. The first is white, for the Maiden. The
second is
red, for the Mother. Neither cord should be an Initiatory Cord. Being
or not
being an Initiate has nothing to do with this rite. The Maiden and
Mother cords
should be lightly twisted together.
Wine should be dark, bitter, like pomegranate
wine. A particularly heavy pinot noir is good, too. Cakes should be
very dark
bread, not sweet. No-frills altar: Candles one
each white, red and black.
Red
and white candles lit. Bitter
incense, like myrrh.
Black
altar cloth. Black fabric,
2 yards, just thin enough to see through a little.
A new gardening trowel. Cotton ball.
(Real, 100% cotton, not man-made fibre!)
Black
cord, nine feet long. Instrument
for
pricking finger, sterilised with alcohol unless pre-packaged
and guaranteed sterile until opened. The ritual: Light red and white candles.
Ground. Bless Elements. Cast Circle widdershins
(Something is ending). Call Quarters, etc. by your
usual methods, or write new words
for this ritual. Evoke your choice of Crone
Goddess into Circle, not into passagee. Be
careful
Who you summon!
Friend(s) bring
passagee to altar. HPS:
Our sister
_____ is here to enter the
Crone phase of her life, and assume the responsibilities that become
the Crone.
(Own words to this effect, and throughout.) I ask you
once, ______, are you prepared within yourself to be a true Crone, to
yourself
and your Community and the world at large? Passagee: I am. Passagee puts
out Maiden Candle. Passagee: I have been a
Maiden. That is past. Passagee puts
out Mother Candle. Passagee: I have been a
Mother. That is past. Passagee lights Crone (Black)
candle. Passagee: I become the
Crone. That is my future. HPS:
I ask you
twice, _____, are you ready
within yourself to be a true Crone, to yourself, your Community, and
the World
at large? Passagee:
I am. HPS hands
passagee the piercing instrument. Passagee pierces the side of a
fingertip, and HPS catches
blood on cotton ball. Passagee holds cotton ball in
place until bleeding stops (a
few seconds.) Then she places one hand on the plastic bag holding her
menstrual
blood on the pad or tampon, and in the other she holds the cotton ball. Passagee: On this, my
old blood as a Mother, and on this, my new blood of a Crone,
before the Goddess and this family of friends, I swear that I accept
the status
of Crone, and that I will bear the responsibilities of the Crone, and
enjoy Her
privileges. (States those
responsibilities and privileges as she sees them.) These things I
will do
to the benefit of myself, the Community, and the world. So mote it be! HPS assists passagee to
consecrate the trowel. If outdoors,
the passagee now buries the two bloody objects. Otherwise, this is done
after
the Circle is lifted. Passagee says what she wants
to about this act, and the
ongoing fertility it represents. Back at the altar, HPS tells
Passagee to remove her cords. HPS consecrates the black
Crone cord, and twines it about the
other two. HPS:
You will wear
these cords as they now
are, in token that your Crone-self is now in the ascendancy. You have
sworn
the oath of the Crone. You have donned the black cord of the Crone.
This is
your only chance to take it back. I ask you thrice: Are you ready
within
yourself to be a True Crone to yourself, your community, and the world
at
large? Passagee: I am. HPS:
(second
time:) Are you ready within yourself to be a True Crone to
yourself, your
community, and the world at large? Passagee: I am. HPS:
(third
time:) Are you ready within yourself to be a True Crone to
yourself, your
community, and the world at large? Passagee:
I am. (At any of the
three challenges, passagee may
decide not to take on her Cronehood.) HPS places black cloth over
the head of the passagee, covering
her face entirely. HPS:
Wear the
mantle and veil of the Dark
Goddess, in honour and love. I share with you my rights and privileges,
as well
as my cares and responsibilities, as a true Crone! This is said while HPS passes
her hands from the crown of the
new Crone's head down to her shoulders and breasts, and to stay at her
womb.
(Or its former position.) HPS then hugs, kisses, and congratulates the
new
Crone, followed by the other people present. New Crone may lift her
veil, at
this point, if she wants to. The new Crone consecrates
cakes and wine, in her own words.
(The God has nothing to do with this rite.) Sacred bullshit and gifts to
new Crone, if any. Thank Goddess for her presence
and blessings. Dismiss Quarters. Uncast Circle deosil
(something has begun.) Feed everyone. Celebrate. If there are
more than a few people, by all means recruit them to call Quarters,
consecrate
Elements, cense and asperge, sing and/or play appropriate music,
whatever they
can and want to contribute. This can
worked over to suit the individuals concerned. Nothing is cast in stone. Return to Chapter Three -- Applications |