Women should feel good about aging. They should celebrate long, full lives, and be respected and honored for the wisdom they bring to the community. Croning rituals, such as this one, are the signal to the group that a woman has ascended into a new role of service and leadership to the family, the tribe, the village, and the sisterhood. Elders say this coming of age occurs at the woman’s second Saturn return, which is at age 58 to 60, but modern women now often decide for themselves.
While this ritual can last as long as is needed, the actual crowning lasts for 5 very magical minutes.
Gather together
* a flowering branch
* a crown or tiara (you can easily obtain one at any costume shop), placed on the altar table
* enough candles to represent every year of the crone’s life
Upon the arrival of the soon-to-be-crowned crone, the eldest woman present should take a flowering branch, dip it in water, and sprinkle it on the crone’s head, just a few drops, and speak this blessing:
I bless you in the name of the Goddess.
I bless you in the name of Mother Earth.
I bless you in the name of every woman.
Sister, do you accept the role of teacher and leader as crone?
The crone responds. If she accepts the title, then the eldest woman says:
She is crowned.
The eldest woman places the Crown of Cronehood upon the new crone’s head. Now everyone should speak together:
We gather together to celebrate that [new crone’s name] is entering the Wise Age.
Now the eldest woman and the youngest woman present light the candles. After everyone has spoken her tribute to the crone, she can speak her thanks. When the newly crowned crone has spoken from her heart, she ends with “Blessed be to all.” Food is then served, and it should be a birthday party to remember for a lifetime.
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