The Crone Archetype:Women Reclaim Their Authentic Self by Resonating with Crone Images

Joanne Sienko Ott, CFAMaster of Arts in Holistic Health Studies jsott7@comcast.net • 952-693-8835 • Twitter: jsott7

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Background - Why this research is importantConcept of aging is “socially constructed,” is

based on society’s beliefs and values (Cruikshank, Heidrick, Minkler, Thomason, Woodward)

Degrading & harmful myths about older women are internalized

Negative perceptions, thoughts, & emotions are embedded as cellular memories – affect wellbeing (psychoneuroimmunology - Pert)

Reclaiming myths that honor older women – restores them to the intrinsic relationship to the feminine in the psyche (Estés, Kolbenschlag, Ulanov)

DefinitionsArchetypes – are pre-existent behavioral

forms or patterns that exist in the psyche, the collective unconscious, and are universal across time and culture (Carl Jung, 1968)

Mythology – provides a framework of connecting symbolic figures (the archetypes) to interpret & create meaning for our own personal experiences through myth, stories, & folktales (Joseph Campbell, 2008)

“Hagia Sophia” = Greek for “Holy Woman” Hag

Zabe da LocaPhoto: Ricardo Peixoto

The Crone is synonymous with the Hag image

Crone sources: (Bolen, 2001; Madigan, 1998; Walker, 1996)

Inner Wisdom

Transformative Wrath

Three-fold formCycle of life

CharacteristicCRONEFORMS

Research PurposeTo describe the lived experience of women who activate or resonate with a crone archetypal image

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Orientating Theories – Trinity of Theories

Feminist Critical Perspective (DeVault, Hess-Biber, Smith)

Critical Pedagogy Theory (Paulo Freire)

Liberating Theology for Women (Ivone Gebara)

Method: ExcavationThree-pronged

Fork

Phenomenology Ethnographic slant

OrganicInquiry

Feminist Ethnographic Principles Women’s perspective &

voice Hierarchal relationships Different ways of

knowing Empowerment of our

own knowledge Social justice & activist

role of researcher Appropriation &

dissemination of knowledge

Awareness & transformation

Sources: Clements, DeVault, Hess-Biber, Smith

Organic Inquiry: The Vibrating Fork

A methodology that impacts the entire research process

Focuses on the psycho-spiritual realm of researchRooted

Foundations• Sacred• Personal• Chthonic• Relational• Transformationa

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Research disciplinePreparationInspirationIntegration

Sources: (Braud, 2004; Clements, Ettling, Jennet, & Shields, 1998; Clements, 2002, 2004; Curry & Wells, 2006)

Guidelines for Interviews & Selection Process

Informants utilized to recruit women

Question Guide sent to Women

Women were asked to bring image of Crone to interview

Disclosure of research purpose

Consent form & pseudonyms

Demographics described by women

Women reviewed transcripts & summaries

Researcher as the instrument

Preparation steps◦ Intention – lit candle◦ Aware of ego

wanting to control process

◦ Open psyche to liminal experience – leads to inspiration

• Data analysis – common threads

THE SEVEN WOMEN INTERVIEWED DESCRIBE THEIR CRONE IMAGES FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE & IN THEIR VOICE

ANDREAWhen I connect with Sophia, I can be that free person! Completely open & accepting [like the rose].Sophia is what comes from inside, not what came from outside; what we were taught. Sophia is the truth from my perspective. I get to the truth of the matter.

Andrea’s crone image: Rose flower from garden represents Hagia Sophia – Feminine wisdom, Greek Goddess Sophia

• Gnosis (Greek) = Feminine Intuitive way of knowing inside of us = represents Sophia

• Logos = knowing outside of us = rational & objective way of knowing – this has been engrained as the only valid way of knowing – basis for suppressing sacred feminine

• Andrea has found freedom & confidence to be herself & to trust her own insights, even if they are contrary to systemic beliefs (e.g. Bible story-Mary & Elisabeth)

CAROLINESophia has given me the courage to be different, to not follow the styles of the day. I don’t fit a stereotype. To just be who I am. Sophia as a wisdom figure has helped me to recognize all of the ways that the divine is present in the world.

Caroline’s crone images: Sophia – Owl (Greek Athena) & the Book of Wisdom; Native American Women with wrinkles (images from internet)

It doesn’t matter that she is wrinkled, except that it is an honor to have those wrinkles that signifies she has really lived.

GRACEI liked her power, she wasn’t afraid of life, she was her own person. She helps me to draw on my own experiences and my own wisdom. I just kind of grew into her. She just captured my imagination. Yeah, I’m an old hag!

Grace’s crone images: Cailleach she resonated with the Shape-shifter image as a metaphor for transition & renewal - later the Cailleach morphed into the Halloween witch – she could not be smothered out (images produced from internet)

ISISI think in our crone years, it is all about dipping into our own wisdom. The crone has been a term that has been demonized, which I really want to help redeem – it is a very wonderful word. We came into this world complete; at our core we are divine.

Isis’s crone image: Amethyst rock – crone energy (photo from internet)

We write old women off. The truth of the matter is that they [society] are terrified of us. Older women who really don’t care what you think anymore are really dangerous. If they write us off, they don’t have to take us seriously. Deep down, I think there is a real fear of the old women. Why have we turned old hag into in such a pejorative word? Crone into such a pejorative word? Witch into such a pejorative word? It is all based on fear!

JULIAThe crone represents the end of the cycle and the seed for the next. The feminine is the earth. The feminine needs to come out because of the recklessness. [refers to the misuse of the earth’s resources]. Wisdom comes from experience and life and not just from what the books represent.

Julia’s crone images represent: Sophia Owl – inner wisdom; Artio-Celtic Bear Goddess – birthing creativity & goddess of shamanistic journey; Triple-Goddesses & Pheonix rising – restore the feminine balance to the earth (researcher retrieved photos from internet)

LISA[Collage below] The moon cycles are a reminder about the feminine cycles; an older woman represents the depths of her wisdom in the roots of a tree; a woman half underground is reaching for the gift from the spirit. If I pay attention, the answers will be revealed to me. [Of Lucretia Mott] she is an affirmation of myself… maybe this is a way of being! [Lisa resonates with Lucretia’s words] “In a true relationship, independence is equal, dependence mutual & their obligation reciprocal.

Lisa’s crone images: The Grandmothers; Lucretia Mott; Ancient Dolls named Blackthorn & Rowan; Collage with Proverbs 8:1 Does not Wisdom Call(Images from Lisa’s Altar)

WANBLICerridwen has given me the courage to grow into myself… to taking my own power on and has helped me through transitions. She is [symbolic of] going into the darkness and brings the light back. She holds the space open, safety for the underworld – the deepest part of ourselves.

Wanbli’s crone images: Cerridwen, Shape-shifter, Triple Goddess; Corn necklace talisman that represents Kachina/indigenous corn dolls

Resonating aspects to Cerridwen: Cauldron symbolic of her

tincture-making & salve- making (has done extensive study with herbalists Matthew Wood)

Cerridwen’s story of birthing the sun on Dec. 21st & Wanbli actually birthing her son on the same date

Cerridwen as the Grain Goddess & Wanbli’s long connection with American indigenous culture identifying with corn – representative of fertility & abundance

Reclaiming/honoring the Authentic Self

Denial of the Sacred Feminine Linked to

Demonizing of Older Women

Metaphor for Transformation & Transitioning the life Cycl

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Common Threads Excavated from the 7 Women Interviewed

Discussion – Activating the Crone

ReclaimingAuthentic

Self

Exclusion:Feminine Intuition

+ Feminine spirit

Transformation

Going inwardAnima - Animus

Women ExperienceTransformation

differently

Transitioningthe Life Cycle

“When the feminine is not present, honored in ritual, or in a culture’s sacred image of the divine, the entire social fabric is affected and violence against women becomes commonplace” (Ress, 2006, p. 142)

Implications for Holistic Health +

Awareness - Paradigm Shift

Balanced relationship with self

Acceptance of Intuitive way of

knowing

Reclaim & Affirm SelfBalance Wellness

Take-away The crone archetype that exists in the collective

unconscious, when activated, may resonate more deeply over time and may be influenced by the collective behavioral experiences of older women identifying with the crone archetype

Women’s experiences of connecting with crone images that affirm and honor them, over time may thus have a ripple affect & influence society in a way that changes its negative perceptions of older women

Collective experiences of older women who find honor in their true self may in return create a society that values the sacred feminine, accepts the inner way of knowing & honors our connection to the universe