You will need:
Purple Altar Cloth (symbolic of the full Power of
womanhood) atop a black one (emptiness in embracing
a new path)
White Candle (white is totality of color spectrum)
atop a glass jar (filled with herbs symbolic of each
element)
Sage (earth) ~ for healing, prosperity
Lavender (air) ~ for love, protection, purification
Rosemary (fire) ~ for intellect and remembrance
Hops (water) ~ for healing
Cauldron for incense oil
Tea Lights (4)
Incense Oil (sage, lavender, rosemary)
Salt Water
Symbols of Each Direction:
East - Air - a blank journal (for a new life, you
want blank pages on which to write it)
South - Fire - red negligee (passion, sexual power,
determination)
West - Water - sea shells (emotional fruition) and
tissues (for emotional upheavals)
North - Earth - Japanese vase (design, purpose, support)
and Excedrin for Migraine
Music - "I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy
Order of Service
(This is designed as a solitary ritual because each
woman's passage into the Crone stage of her life is
a personal one.)
Set up your Circle with a small tea light for each
quarter, cleanse and purify the space.
Enter either skyclad with a white cloak or in a simple
white gown (symbolic of the way she came into the
world).
Chant to sing softly as the altar is set up: Earth
my Body, Water my Blood, Air my Breath, Fire my Spirit.
Invite the Elements and
the Lord and Lady.
Light the Candles and Incense burner.
Invitation to the
Crone - Cast off the old, Welcome the new
Bless the Symbol of the
Triple Goddess (for Hekate, a triple Goddess:
the cross symbolizes the crossroads of life).
Allow a time of meditation.
Thank the Elements and
Lord and Lady for their Attendance; open the Circle.
Calling
of Quarters and Lord and Lady
"Guardians of the East, Ancient Ones of Old,
Powers of the Air, I am Your daughter! I invite Your
presence here this night and ask Your guidance in
wisdom of word and thought, clarity of mind, and understanding.
"Guardians of the South, Ancient Ones of Old,
Powers of the Fire, I am Your daughter! I invite Your
presence here this night and ask Your guidance in
knowing my heart and my desires, shaping my passions,
and expressing the fullness of all these in my life.
"Guardians of the West, Ancient Ones of Old,
Power of the Water, I am Your daughter! I invite Your
presence here this night and ask Your guidance in
expressing the richness of my soul's depth of feeling
with understanding, clarity, and prudent care.
"Guardians of the North, Ancient Ones of Old,
Powers of the Earth, I am Your daughter! I invite
Your presence here this night and ask Your guidance
in knowing the purpose and path of my life, Your strength
in fulfilling my hopes and dreams, and in protecting
my health and well being throughout my life.
"My Lady and my Lord...Mother and Father...I
call and invite Your presence with me this night as
I take a step into a new life and embrace the Crone,
casting off the old and embracing a new stage and
all the wondrous experiences that will entail."
Invitation
to the Crone (inspired by Dorothy Morrison's
"In Praise of the Crone")
"I welcome you, Crone of myself, without alarm
For you are guide and teacher with sheltering arm
I offer acceptance and welcome you in
To share my hopes and my dreams
And walk with me in life till its end
I offer my love and bid you never part
As I open to you all I am in both my life and my heart"
Blessing
the Symbol of the Triple Goddess (inspired
by Dorothy Morrison's "In Praise of the Crone")
Pass the symbol through the smoke of the incense.
"Blessed now by Air and Fire
Embody for me what I desire."
Sprinkle it with salt water.
"Now reborn of Earth and Sea
I will be all that I was born to be."
Place the symbol around your neck.
"Now conjoined with this symbol of your wisdom
Forever bound without measure
Complete in you and you in me, we are one
I embrace and accept you, Crone, with pleasure."
Farewell
to the Quarters and to the Lord and Lady
"Guardians of the East, Ancient Ones of Old,
Powers of the Air, I am Your daughter! I thank You
for Your presence here this night and for Your continuing
guidance in wisdom of word and thought, clarity of
mind, and understanding...stay or go as You will,
and blessed be!
"Guardians of the South, Ancient Ones of Old,
Powers of the Fire, I am Your daughter! I think You
for Your presence here this night and for Your continuing
guidance in knowing my heart and my desires, shaping
my passions, and expressing the fullness of all these
in my life...stay or go as you will, and blessed be!
"Guardians of the West, Ancient Ones of Old,
Powers of the Water, I am Your daughter! I think You
for Your presence here this night and for Your continuing
guidance in expressing the richness of my soul's depth
of feeling with understanding, clarity and prudent
care...stay or go as you will, and blessed be!
"Guardians of the North, Ancient Ones of Old,
Powers of the Earth, I am Your daughter! I think You
for Your presence here this night and for Your continuing
guidance in knowing the purpose and path of my life,
Your strength in fulfilling my hopes and dreams, and
in protecting my health and well being throughout
my life...stay or go as you will, and blessed be!
"My Lady and my Lord...Mother and Father...I
now thank You for Your presence with me this night
as I took a step into a new life and embraced the
Crone, casting off the old and embracing a new stage
and all the wondrous experiences that will entail.
I thank You for Your continued Love, Protection, and
Guidance as I go through each day. Stay or go as You
will, blessed Ones, and blessed be!"
