A couple of crusty old friends challenged my use of the word CRONE in connection with myself. So while reading the usual demeaning definitions; ("a term of abuse, a beast, a hag, an ugly withered woman") --
I was delghted to find this one: "AN OLD EWE"!
I rather like the idea of 'an old ewe'. Look at this touching picture of her here... plodding up the mountain! She looks exhausted. Her coat is in tatters. Her old face is tender and resigned.
I love her. I often feel like she looks.
I also admire her. It is her nature to climb. She's a mountain goat. She keeps on doing what she's meant to do.
Me too.
But the real reason I call myself a Crone isn't just because I'm withered and tattered. It comes from Jungian analyst Marion Woodman in her book, Conscious Femininity.
"In the middle ages, the word Crone meant The Crown of Life.
..the Crone is the woman who has gone through her crossroads --The crossroads represents a place where consciousness is crossed by the unconscious -- a place where you have to surrender your ego will to a higher will.
(Alas, I don't know the photographer so I can't give proper credit for this perfect picture.)