I’m excited to post today. It feels relevant and poignant in a World desperate for some nurturing Mother Earth energy.
Having navigated menopause in what is now seen as alternative, I wanted to advocate for more compassion and understanding when addressing women’s health both physically and emotionally.
Perhaps a step back into traditions that honour her worth is actually the magic formula?
During the powerful moon energy of 9/9/2025 (9 is my number) 3 women ventured into the woods and created some magic!
Caroline @tropicalbird.london, a gifted costume designer, manifested a vision of empowerment, ritual and BECOMING and together with Kellie @kellieahlart created what felt like my own ritual into my Crone energy.
What is Crone energy I hear you ask? Well…
In many ancient and pagan traditions, menopause was not viewed as a medical condition or a decline, but rather as a powerful and transformative rite of passage. It marked a woman’s transition from the ‘Mother’ phase to the ‘Crone’ phase, a time of heightened wisdom, spiritual power, and freedom. This perspective stands in stark contrast to the historical and modern view of menopause as a devaluation of a woman’s value and function.
The concept of the ‘Triple Goddess’ is central to understanding this perspective. The Triple Goddess – Maiden, Mother, and Crone – represents the three stages of a woman’s life, often linked to the phases of the moon:
The Maiden represents the youthful, pre-menopausal phase, symbolising new beginnings, growth and the waxing moon. The Mother is the fertile, nurturing phase of life, representing the fullness, creativity and the full moon. The Crone being the post-menopausal phase, symbolising wisdom, deep intuition, and the waning or dark moon. This was a time of great reverence, as the Crone was seen as a keeper of ancient knowledge and a bridge to the spiritual world.
Ancient Beliefs and Rituals
While specific rituals varied among different cultures, several themes emerge from historical and spiritual sources:
The ‘Wise Blood’: In some Celtic traditions, a woman’s menstrual blood was referred to as ‘wisdom blood’. It was believed that once a woman stopped bleeding, she retained this blood and its power within her, making her a permanent source of wisdom and spiritual strength for her community.
Release and Rebirth: The end of menstruation was often seen as a release from the burdens of childbearing and the monthly cycle, freeing a woman’s energy for other pursuits. This was a time of ‘spiritual fertility’, where her creativity and power were no longer directed toward physical procreation but toward her own personal growth and the well-being of her community.
Communal Celebration: In many pagan and matriarchal societies, the transition to Crone-hood was celebrated with a ritual known as a ‘Croning Ceremony’. This was a communal event where a woman was honored for her life’s journey, her accumulated wisdom, and her new role as an elder. These ceremonies often involved honouring her past as both Maiden and Mother, acknowledging the challenges and triumphs. Then embracing the future by publicly stepping into the role of the Crone and being recognised by her community as a source of guidance and wisdom. Symbolic rituals included a spiral dance, a ritual bath, or the giving of symbolic gifts, such as a staff or a shawl, to signify her new status.
Modern Paganism and Menopause
Today, many people are reclaiming these ancient traditions and creating their own rituals to honour the menopausal transition. Just as I did with Caroline and Kellie and these rituals are often deeply personal drawing on the core themes of the Maiden, Mother, and Crone.
Here are some modern day ideas:
- Journaling and Reflection: Take time to reflect on one’s life, let go of old beliefs and set some intentions for the new phase.
Ceremonies with Loved Ones: A Croning Ceremony, as seen here in our photographs, held with a circle of female friends and family, to honour the transition. - Connecting with Nature: Spending time in nature, especially during the waning or dark moon, to connect with the cycles of the earth and the goddess.
The underlying principle of these pagan rituals is to reframe menopause not as an ending, but as a powerful beginning – a time of liberation, self-discovery, and the culmination of a woman’s power.
My own Croning Ceremony embodied who I am and have become. A true expression of my soul. I feel blessed to have had this experience and recommend that all women consider a similar ritual during menopause.
Women are beautiful beings with a whole life to enjoy. It’s time to change the rhetoric and instead live and love our life.
The secret is BECOMING…
Become your authentic self and love her!
