These wise women define a Crone this way;
"Both Mother and Crone engage in caretaking. The Mother nurtures her young, or some brainchild or creative endeavor, while the Crone, in her wisdom, nurtures society. These are the basic natural roles for women, yet neither comes easy in this culture. For instead of being sought out and honored for her seasoned perspective, the Crone is relegated to obscurity, guilty of the crime of aging. And the Mother has the overwhelming task of caring for children, partner, career and self in relative isolation.
Crones of the early matrilineal cultures of the Middle East and Egypt dominated the healing arts, working as physicians, surgeons and midwives. As scribes they recorded for both temple and court, maintaining vital records and histories, setting up calendars and official tables of weights and measures, transcribing and editing scriptures, running libraries. In many indigenous cultures, Crones have been revered for their Blood Mystery of menopause. By virtue of retaining their "wise blood" with all its magical and visionary properties, they are considered ready to lead society." from the book, "The Circle of Life" by Elizabeth Davis and Carol Leonard.
My wonderful husband came up with the name "The Crones' Kitchen" after we spent several weeks coming up with name ideas for various business endeveours. (So cool that this idea was birthed by my man:) You go, baby!)
The Crones' Kitchen symbolizes the place where the Wise Women gather, to cook up nourishing and deeply satisfying food and ideas. The ideas they share come from their deepest meditations, visions, dreams, revelations and talks & walks with Spirit. They come together in a powerful and unified way. They come from different corners of the earth, from wide and varied experiences and circumstances. Having had children is not a prerequisite to being a Crone, however, she must have given birth to something greater and larger than herself.
She is fully awake in her power, and her beauty is not just in the subtle or deep lines in her face, but most importantly deep within her heart & spirit. This beauty radiates from her being as healing energy for all who are open to accept it.
The Crones' Kitchen is like coming into your favorite grandmamas or aunties house, where you find solace and advice, comfort and welcoming energy. Where wonderful aromas pervade the environment, instantly bringing you a deep peace. It's where you go when you think you might need to leave your husband, and/or your children have hit on your last nerve, and/or you are ready to smack your boss. When you feel so overwhelmed by it all, by your role as a woman that you don't know where else to turn and you are not quite sure if you can make it another day, another minute! To be clear, they are not just there for women, they are there for society; man, woman or child.
When you call on them, they are there. All you have to do is ask for their help. When you do, they take you in, they feed you, provide you rest and their listening ear. With their wise and wonderful magick they effortlessly entertain and soothe your children. When you are ready, they give counsel, instructions and creative solutions for you to take on your journey. The time comes, you leave feeling reborn, empowered, strengthened and validated. You have been fortified with energy that enables you to face whatever challenges that come your way.
This is "The Crones' Kitchen".
When we examine the true meaning of the Crone and her incredibly positive energy and her ability to co-create with Spirit, I can't help to wonder how we managed to relegate and define her simply as (and with negative connotations) an "old, withered, witchlike women". The cantakerous part, I get!!!
How, my friends, do you think this happened? Your thoughts are encouraged and appreciated:)
Mama Kim
4 comments:
Girl, As usual, you've taken me to a new place, given me something new to ponder and all I can say again is THANK YOU. I'm so pleased that you've taken the plunge and from this very first post I can feel the the fullness of your well. Come on, give us more! Love, mangomama.
finally, there is some one out there who explains why all the female members of my family would always congregate in the kitchen of the home we were partying at.
Whether it was at my
Aunt Christie's, my grandmother's, or my cousin Cherie's house, all the women would claim this holy part of the house and advise, love, council, and update one another on any and everything. They would even command a male family memeber who was errant in their ways to sit and receive devine instruction from the sorital order of the crones....Peace, Ira
you inspire me...keep the love flowing!
Wow! It's good to be able to be in yo' kitchen from across the country. I can hear Nina Simone singing in the background as something good is simmering on the stove. I can hear the tea kettle whistling and the coffee pot purcolating while I feel your "food" pouring out from every pore in your body. The kids are all over the house preparing for the next fashion show or playing with some reptile that I don't want to be near. Is that jerk turkey that I smell coming from the backyard? Did yo' love make some of his famous chocolate chip cookies? I hear our men out back laughing loudly as they support us by giving us the kitchen. I can feel my shoulders release, my smile increase, my brain open and my spirit revive. I thank God for you! In your kitchen, you've got "food on the table, and everything is alright." Continued blessings...Love, Jillybean
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