“Wise Women in the past symbolized maturity, wisdom, intuition, knowledge of this world and others, authority and power. The patriarchal culture feared the Crone as she often outlived her husband, and set about to marginalize Her by ignoring Her and rejecting Her, even finally demonizing Her.
She struck fear into men, and some women, because She could not be bound, slowed down, or controlled by being made pregnant. Without Her monthly bleeding, She kept all her Power within Herself and would use it as She willed.
She personified that aspect of life that men longed to, but could not, control - Death. The Hag was the Prophet, the Diviner, the Healer and Medicine Woman and when death came, as it comes to everyone,
She was the Midwife in the Transformation to the next life. She still holds the Power and Mystery of Life, Death, and Rebirth within Her.
At this sacred time in which we live of the Re-Membering of the Goddess, and the season of the death-cycle of the earth, let us set our hearts and minds to embrace the Crone and hold fast to us the Hag.
If we are lucky, we too will become old, and wise with greater sight, and within that will be our Power and Beauty, and we will know the Mystery, for we will find it within ourselves.
For behold, She has been with us from the Beginning and She is that which is attained at the end of desire.”
~Diane Horton -
Painting by : Frank Howell (Santa Fe, New Mexico)