A Croning Ritual

I think a Croning should be a wonderfully green celebration! It should take place in the sunlight, or on a warm spring evening, there should be flowers on the altar and a feast of fresh fruit.

YOU WILL NEED:

• A crown for the Crone/Elder--go for sweet grass and/or flowers Either rainbow candles or a white and a black candle A cauldron! (Symbol of the Crone) Wine (or some other appropriate drink) Pictures to pass around of the Crone/Elder, of key points in their life. A special gift for the Crone/Elder: A traditional crone gift would be a crystal or crystal ball, or a special cauldron or, if they are very herbal minded, a "lab" in which to mix and make their own herbal potions, or a special medicine pouch.



• In addition, each guest should bring a small, personal gift (A bottle of essential oil, a special candle--or each guest can give of themselves, presenting a song, a dance, a poem).



• You might also want to have a special, Croning cake topped with little black candles.

CLEANSING:

Our Elder should go through a special self-cleaning ritual of their choice.

CAST THE CIRCLE:

Call on the Quarters, and the gods--as decided on by our Elder -- who/what they want there.

PURPOSE:

HP/S States purpose of ritual. Bringing forward the Elder/Crone to be seated in a place of Honor to the North, likely before the Altar.

BODY:

Now, at this point, there are several things that can be done. I would suggest a bottle of wine (or other appropriate drink) passed around OR pass round a black candle OR the pictures of our Crone/Elder. As they're passed around, each person relates a story about our Crone/Elder, and asks the Crone/Elder for a memory about a time in their life. This is the essence, after all, of the Croning; that our Crone/Elder has gone through every state, that they are all ages, and yet beyond all.

Or, you may make the ritual short and simple by getting right to the "Croning" itself--our Crone/Elder kneels before the HP/S who, with appropriate (and short!) words, then crowns him/her (if kneeling is a problem, the HP/S can make sure they are "higher" than the crone/elder--up on a step or stone--and set the crown upon their head that way).

One suggestion I was offered on what to say at this point (or at the beginning of the ritual) comes from Tzipora Klein's book "Celebrating Life - Rites of Passage for All Ages":

"The paths you have walked have presented you with many options. Your life has been rich with experience, and filled with both sorrow and joy. Your teachers have gone on, and now you must assume their role. There are many who look to you now, eyes filled with wonder, hearts open, ready to learn. Now you must decide whether or not to honor your own teachers by following their steps. You possess more than just the answers. You have learned the questions."

After our Elder/Crone has been crowned, they are reseated, and each person comes forward, bowing or dropping to a knee, and gives them a croning gift, explaining it's significance; they should then rise and bless the crone as they might a baby in a Wiccaning, only with more whimsical wishes ("may you win the Nobel Prize"), and exchange with him/her a kiss and hug.

Last should be the HP/S, presenting to the Crone/Elder his/her crystal/Crystal ball/cauldron/medicine bag.

Crone/Elder should say a few words, and then lead everyone in raising up the cone of power: new, ageless, reborn energy to be sent out.

Open the circle and party!