The view of the Goddess, as triple aspects, goes back as far as recorded history (and maybe further). The concept of Maiden, Mother and Crone is embodied in many myths, and legends, and throughout many cultures. Fiona Morgan in her book Wild Witches Don't Get the Blues: Astrology Rituals and Healing lists the names of some of the Triple Goddesses: ... The Three Fates, The Norns, The Gorgons, The Erzulie, The Graces, The Furies, The Zoryas, The Maries, The Morrigan, Bhavani and Triple Pussa. ... The energy of the Triple Goddess is alive in the universe and inside of each woman. It is transforming energy, just as the seasons transform, so we transform and change from Maidens, to Mothers, to Crones, then back to Maidens again. In the wheel of the year the Crone of Samhain becomes the Maiden of Spring Equinox.  Maiden, Mother, Crone represent time periods in a woman's life, but primarily are archetypal energies that also correspond to the phases of the New, Full, and Dark Moons. [n.1]

From the Witches' Goddess by the Farrars:
"The theme of the Triple Goddess is found in the mythology of all lands... She is Maid, Mother and Crone; Enchantment, Ripeness and Wisdom; the waxing, full, and waning moon."

Behold the Three Formed Goddess;
She who is ever Three - Maid, Mother, and Crone.
Yet she is ever One;
She in all women, and they all in her.
Look at these Three who are one, with fearless love,
That you too may be whole. [n. 2]

The Farrars suggest visioning the Maiden Mother Crone as a rainbow in order to hold all three in your awareness at one time. "Realize that the whole spectrum, with its shifting colors, is the one glowing rainbow. To pursue the analogy further - red orange for the Mother, yellow/green for the Maid, and blue/indigo/violet for the Crone... Which wavelength predominates for you at any one moment depends on your own tuning. But make the effort to grasp the whole rainbow, and you are face to face with Woman, the manifested feminine principle..." [n. 2]

To increase our understanding of the natural phases of our lives, and to deepen our inner growth and connection to the Goddess of Many Names, we honor the aspects of the Triple Goddess in many ways. Not all women identify with just one aspect of the divine female, some can't identify with any of these aspects. This information is provided to show the wonderful variety of how she touches our lives.

If you have another experience, we encourage you to bring that experience to the festival and show it off, teach it to us, and we will incorporate it into our growing traditions. That is how Mothers and Amazons were added to our initiation rituals.

In the beginning, there was no crone program, someone came, and took charge to start it. Then we noticed we needed to encourage the girls, and the Maiden initiation was born when a grandmother took the initiative to start a menarche ritual for her granddaughters. One year, a woman in the full strength of motherhood, but who had no children said - "Hey! What about us Mothers?" - and the Crowning Ritual was manifested into the festival. And finally an Amazon who had been attending the festival said - "The protectors of all women and the earth need an initiation ritual here too." - and the Amazon Ritual was born at Elderflower Womenspirit.

A Maiden is any young girl or woman who is in the seeking phase. Maidens are searching for who they are in the world, how to connect with the world, how to connect with their inner knowing and with their own higher power (highest self).

Elderflower Womenspirit's Maiden program focuses on girls under 18.

The Mother aspect of the Goddess is the time of full fruition - like the full moon phase - when projects are undertaken with great care. Children, careers, works of art, and a myriad of possible creative adventures are planned and brought into being. This is the summer of a woman's life marked by full power and strength, potency, creativity, and productivity. This is a time when she declares herself sovereign over her own life. She rules her own dominion with the courage and dignity of a queen. She wields her power, conscious of her impact. She nurtures, heals, loves, and encourages herself as well as others. She protects with ferocity, nurtures with tenderness, loves with passion and commitment. She teaches, shares, facilitates, sings, dances, laughs, and works with the enthusiasm of a creatress.  This does not mean that you have to have given birth to a child or have adopted one, to become a Mother at Elderflower Womenspirit.

Mother Crowning Ritual

This is a ritual open to women ready to honor entering or being in the mother phase of a woman's spiritual life. You do not have to have had a child to be a mother.  Depending on the choice of the Mother Coordinator, other festival attendees may welcome to attend the ritual to provide support to the Mothers.

Thanks go to Suzy P. who started this tradition at Elderflower at the 1995 festival.

What is a Crone?

Crones are women of wisdom, age and power. They embody all the wisdom gained through their experiences of the three phases of womanhood - Maiden, Mother and Crone.  We will each progress into Cronehood as our lives continue.

Some of the qualities that characterize a Crone are that her bleeding has stopped for at least year and a day, she is either literally or figuratively grandmother, and she has experienced her second Saturn return, which always occurs between the ages of 56 and 60. She has often developed deeper awareness of her own mortality, either through her brush with death or through facilitating the passage of another. She is shifting from an external focus to a more introspective state. She experiences a sense of urgency to get on with the real business of her life, and she has begun to shed the old in order to pursue what has now emerged as her life purpose.

At Elderflower Womenspirit, any woman 56 years old or older who chooses to claim her status as a Crone is invited to attend a pre Croning workshop in preparation for declaring herself a Crone at the Croning Ritual.  Not every woman who is over 56 years young declares herself a Crone. When to make that declaration is every woman's personal choice.

Dark Crone Mysteries

Initiation into the Dark Crone Mysteries is probably the least understood aspect of a woman's spiritual journey. The Dark Crone is the Ultimate Teacher of the deepest wisdom. When we look at Her through our own life experiences, we are looking into the most profound inner work of our lives.

Every woman ultimately must face the night, the winter, the abyss, the end of cycles - in everyday life - to enter the Gateway of joy, self healing, wisdom, and rebirth. In ancient times Elder Wise Women honored the Crone through secret initiations - similar to the annual Elderflower Womenspirit Croning.

Croning Ritual

The Croning Ritual is closed to everyone except Crones and Crone initiates. This ritual is a time for those of Croning age who identify with the Dark Goddess to publicly affirm their commitment to Her service. The Croning Ritual is an initiation, and marks a woman's transformation into Cronehood, into the beauty and expression of her inner Crone wisdom and her deeper Crone understanding - within a community of other Crones.

Crone Policies

The Crones set all of their own policies at Elderflower Womenspirit.  At Elderflower, any woman 56 years old (or older) who chooses to claim her status as a Crone is invited to attend a pre-Croning workshop in preparation for declaring herself a Crone at the Croning Ritual.

Any woman between the ages of 50 and 55 (or over) who wants to explore the meaning of becoming a Crone is also invited to attend the pre Croning workshop and to sit at the Crones' table where she can interact with the Crones at mealtime.

Crones at Meals

At the festival, Crones are honored by having a dedicated table at mealtime.  Others may join them by invitation.  Not every woman who is 56 or older declares herself a Crone.  When to make that declaration is every woman’s personal choice.  If you are 56 or older and interested in becoming a Crone, check in with the Crone Coordinator at the Crone’s table in the dining hall.  Any woman between 50-55 who wants to explore the meaning of becoming a Crone is invited to attend the pre-Croning workshop on Friday morning and to sit at the Crones’ Table where she can interact with the Crones at mealtime.  Crones may also claim a front place in line at meals if they choose. 

Declaring Oneself a Crone

If you are 56 years old or older and are interested in becoming a Crone at Elderflower Womenspirit, you can leave a message on the message phone listed below, and we will put you in touch with this year's Crone Coordinator. Or you can check in with the Crone Coordinator at the Crones' table in the dining hall during a meal.