Issand Jumal, juba kuues jaanuar. Juhtunud on nii mõndagi, kirja pandud pole midagi. Nädalavahetuse road-trip Albuquerque’sse näiteks. Jätsin Pauli ja Yarko omapead - yehaa! - ning võtsin vastu Pamela lahke kutse osaleda ta noorema õe - kuidas seda nüüd tõlkidagi? - üleminekuriitusel? Rite of Passage inglise keeles. Meeldejääv kogemus, nais-energia ilus, võimas manifestatsioon. Noh, pühalikkusega õnneks üle kah ei pingutatud, õhtu teises pooles voolas vein ning tantsitud sai nõrkemiseni:)
See, miks tänapäeval vanu tseremooniaid üles soojendatakse, on omaette küsimus. Ja kuivõrd see ülessoojendamine toimib. Pole ma isegi sest patust prii, et üht või teist olen 'indiaanlaste mängimises' süüdistanud. Aga iga asja võib mitme nurga alt vaadata, mu meelest. Kui defineerime igivanu tarkusi kui tööriistu, siis miks mitte neid kasutada?
Anyway, mul on siin üks inglisekeelne tekst teema kohta, kui teid huvitab, kulla naised. Või ka mehed.
Ain’t life great?!!
In Pagan traditions, women are often defined by their stage of life as maiden, mother, or crone. These stages are symbolized by the phases of the moon as representative of the Goddess or female energy. The maiden phase is symbolized by the waxing moon, the mother phase by the full moon, and the crone phase by the waning moon.
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"Croning" is a ritual rite of passage into an era of wisdom, freedom, and personal power.
There was a time in history when older women were revered as wise elders and turned to for advice on settling disputes, healing and knowledge of her particular culture. In a current age where women are exhorted to recapture or cling to their youth at every turn, the idea of the wise woman has become unpopular at best and nearly disappeared at worst. Choosing to have a croning ceremony to celebrate the phase of life allows women to recapture some of that respect and reverence that was once their due upon reaching certain age milestones.
Choosing to have a croning ceremony indicates a choice to celebrate all phases of life. Pagan religions, like many other mainstream religions, do not view aging as an end, but rather as a transition. As such, it is not to be dreaded or avoided, but rather to be accepted as a natural part of the journey. Women who choose to have a croning ceremony recognize this and embrace the changes as something to celebrate rather than deny.
Celebrating Changes - Feminine at Any Age:
More women in their fifties, sixties, and even seventies are forgoing all the
trappings of "false youth" that have been a part of society for the last few decades. It's not uncommon to see mature women with glorious manes of silver hair, when ten years ago they might have spent a small fortune to hide the gray strands. Older women are dating younger men - after all, we live longer than they do - and they have busy, active social schedules.
Women today are far more willing to embrace their sexuality and womanhood during the years which not too long ago were considered the time of, for lack of a better phrase, drying up. We're finally able to take back the notion that with age comes wisdom, and we're welcoming the power of our own energy. We're living longer, we're willing to share our knowledge and experience with others. We're smart and confident - and that's sexy.
Reclaiming the Name of Crone:
In early cultures, the female elder was considered a wise woman. She was the healer, the teacher, the imparter of knowledge. She mediated disputes, she had influence over tribal leaders, and she cared for the dying as they took their final breaths. For many women in Pagan religions, reaching the status of Crone is a major milestone. These women are reclaiming the name of Crone in a positive way, and see it as a time to joyfully welcome one's position as an elder within the community.
Rejoicing in Our Own Wisdom:
Any woman can have a Croning ceremony, although traditionally most choose to wait until they are at least fifty years old. This is partly because of the physical changes in the body, but also because five decades of learning is nothing to sneeze at! In some traditions it is recommended that you wait until after menopause to become a Crone. However, some women in their thirties no longer have periods, andsome women continue menstruating into their sixties, so the timing of your ceremony will depend on the guidelines of your particular path.
A Croning ceremony itself is typically performed as part of a women's Circle. There is no set rule for how a ceremony is conducted, but many women who have achieved the title of Crone find they like to include at least some of the following:
- A ritual bath or cleansing beforehand
- Singing and chanting
- A guided meditation honoring the archetype of Wise Woman
- Symbols of initiation a staff, a special cloak, a garland or crown
- Drumming, music or poetry celebrating womanhood
- An altar with photos of female relatives and friends who have empowered you
- A celebratory meal
- A symbol of the passage into Cronehood -- entering through a curtain or tunnel, crossing a ceremonial threshold
- An exchange of gifts or blessings (a basket filled with chocolates and herbal teas is popular)
- Some women choose to adopt a new name -- this is certainly not mandatory, but just as we take new names for other milestones in our lives, if you feel that this is right for you, do so. Your Crone name can be one you keep to yourself, share only among friends, or announce to the world.
Crossing the threshold into Cronehood can be a major event in a woman's life. It's a celebration of all that you've learned, and all that you will come to know in the future. For many women, it's a time to make new commitments and vows.
If you've ever had an interest in taking a leadership position in some aspect of your life, now is a great time to do so.
This third cycle of your life is the one in which you've joined a special group. You have a lifetime of achievements behind you, and decades more to look forward to. The word Crone should now be a word of power for you, so celebrate it. You've earned it.
-------------------------------------------------Allikas: Internet.
