Crone

BOUNDARIES ARE BEAUTIFUL | WELCOME CRONE WISDOM
Tessa Lingren

Folks often ask why I call myself ~hag. I was not born hag; I chose those initials because I want to reclaim the archetype of the Wise Crone. In our modern culture, the Crone is either invisible or scorned. If a woman is wise & powerful she is often feared or demonized. It’s true that we can often be outspoken & sharp, which in a woman is not prized.

The Crone is featured in many myths & fairytales. She is the witch – the haggard old woman who lives in the forest; a friend of death, dreaded by children. From Hansel & Gretel to Baba Yaga, this archetype has become one to avoid. In folklore the Crone may also exhibit supernatural, magical capabilities, either for helpful or obstructive purposes.

Letters for George: Me and Thor Are Battling Elli

The ancient archetype of the Crone held a more holistic ideal & can be traced back to the Middle East, Balkans, Scandinavia & Ancient Greece.  For example, in Norse mythology the God Thor wrestled the crone Elli.

The word ‘crone’ only entered the English language around 1390. It was derived from the Anglo-French word ‘carogne’ (an insult), which itself was derived from the Old North French ‘charogne’ or ‘caroigne’, meaning a disagreeable woman (or literally “carrion”).

Pin on crone

However, when we reclaim this archetype, The Crone is said to derive from another more positive origin, with the Word Crone coming from Crown, indicating wisdom emanating from the head. She plays the role of Hierophant or initiator, demanding seemingly impossible tasks, which are often only completed with the help of supernatural elemental beings.

Paula Belle Flores.

The crone aspect of the Female Metaphor is not just about age, it the mysterious time of the waning crescent, & dark Moon phases. It is about the acceptance & valuing of the darkness, as an essential life process. Once this aspect was connected to regeneration & acumen – Ancient cultures understood the dark as the source of being.

In a culture where the darkness is thought of as evil – where there is no place for the compost, this aspect is avoided or loathed. Where only the Light is valued as positive, where the nurturance of the Dark has been forgotten, real wisdom & compassion will never be realized.

Dark Waves Curve Toward Light Center in Space - Abstract Painting "Vortex"
Rachael Harbert

If we are stuck in the duality of light vs. dark, good vs. evil, blue vs. red – or any other either/or frame of mind, we will never escape the prison walls of division – we will never escape the jailer – the executioner who divides one I from another.

Freedom is to be able to live in the frame of mind that is guided by an all-inclusive attitude, always able to consider & even accept contradiction, whose outlook on life & interaction with the world is not cause for division but guided by the searching for a higher unity.

The world has been run for too long by the analytical mind-set of either/or. A new mind-set of ‘As Well As’ brings the opening to choice, & promotes both, with the heart in the center, weighing & balancing the 2 with the transcendent third.

And so let us write a new story, where we embrace the gifts of darkness, the hard truth of death in life, which makes true regeneration possible.

~hag  

***Listen to the podcast on this theme HERE

Light Vs Dark Painting by Szabolcs Bodo
Scabolocs Bodo

It is good for a person to endure the misfortunes of this earthly life, for this attracts him to the sacred solitude of his heart, where he finds himself, as it were, an exile from his native land and must not trust any worldly joys. It is also good for him to meet contradictions and reproaches when people think and speak badly of him, even if his intentions are pure and his actions are correct, for this way of action keeps him humble. This is good, because at such moments when we are despised, disrespected and deprived of love in the world, we can talk with God who lives in us”. ~Thomas of Kempis.

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4 December 2020 – “Speaking with the Stars”: Bright Jupiter & Saturn are coming ever closer together now in their celestial dance toward their Winter Solstice marriage.

tunnel, Light, Painting, Fantasy, Dark, Cave, Abstract, Landscapes  Wallpapers HD / Desktop and Mobile Backgrounds
Albert Valas

Rudolf Steiner’s Lectures on this day

 ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

If we give up ourselves to mutual help, through this giving up to the community a powerful strengthening of our organs takes place. If we then speak or act as a member of such a community there speaks or acts in us not the singular soul only but the spirit of the community. This is the secret of progress for the future of mankind: To work out of communities. “ ~Dr. Rudolf Steiner, BROTHERHOOD AND THE FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL, Berlin, November 23, 1905

Anna Porphyrogenita, Princess of Kiev and the Christianization of Rus – a  quick view – Novo Scriptorium

1000 – Birthday of Anna Porphyrogenita ,  Grand Princess of Kiev; married to Grand Prince Vladimir the Great. Anna was the daughter of Byzantine Emperor Romanos II & the Empress Theophano,  born in the special purple chamber of the Byzantine Emperor’s Palace. Anna’s hand was considered such a prize that some theorize that Vladimir became Christian just to marry her. Anna did not wish to marry Vladimir & expressed deep distress on her way to her wedding. By marriage to Grand Prince Vladimir, she was referred to as Queen or Czarina. Anna participated actively in the Christianization of Russia, she acted as the religious adviser of Vladimir & founded convents & churches herself.

Galvani, Luigi (1737-1798)

1798 – Deathday of Luigi Galvani, Italian physician, physicist, & philosopher. Galvani’s report of his investigations were mentioned specifically by Mary Shelley as part of the summer reading list leading up to an ad hoc ghost story contest on a rainy day in Switzerland—& the resultant novel Frankenstein—with its construct of reanimation.  Galvani’s name also survives as a verb in everyday language  to galvanize. The crater Galvani on the Moon is named after him.

Rainer Maria Rilke quote: To be loved means to be consumed. To love is...

1875 – Birthday of Rainer Maria Rilke, Austrian-Swiss poet and author

Amazon.com: The Karma of Untruthfulness: Secret Societies, the Media, and  Preparations for the Great War, vol. 1 (CW 173) (9781855841864): Rudolf  Steiner, Terry M. Boardman: Books

1916 – Rudolf Steiner begins a series of 25 lectures called the karma of Untruthfulness GA 173, 174, on the background that led to the World War.

Dottie Zold – How We Will 2020 : in person + online

1962 – Birthday of Dorothy Zold, Anthroposopher, champion of at-risk youth, & the Three-fold Social Order given by Rudolf Steiner, Founder of Elderberries Three-Fold Cafe in LA & in Chicago, the Biodynamic Outpost & Cultural Center – Urban 1st Aid Art as Medicine.

Black Panther Fred Hampton's then-girlfriend remembers the night he was  assassinated - ABC News

1969 – Deathday of Black Panther Party members Fred Hampton & Mark Clark, shot & killed during a raid by 14 Chicago police officers.

Answering Our Own Wave | Reverse Ritual

1976 –Deathday of Hagen Biesantz, Vorstand member of the Anthroposophical Society; author of ‘The Goetheanum: Rudolf Steiner’s Architectural Impulse’

Crackdown on Protests by Hong Kong Police Draws More to the Streets - The  New York Times

2005 – Tens of thousands of people in Hong Kong protest for democracy & call on the government to allow universal & equal suffrage.

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Sacred Dance Painting by Candy Schultheis
Candy Schultheis

POD (Poem Of the day)


~My life is craft…
My body sculpted by the word
Shaped by desire
Fired by deed…
I stand poised between fate & will
& in my rhythmic heart, the suck of breath & the pull of space
I am the universe creating
Thru my sacred dance
anew with YOU…

~hag

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Thursday’s Dec. 3/10/17 for Advent 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm CT

Johannine Painting Circle with Nancy Melvin

At Elderberries Urban 1st Aid – Art as Medicine 4251 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago

Urban First Aid – Art As Medicine is initiating a Johannine Painting Circle that will begin on Thursday, December 3rd at the Elderberries space on Lincoln Avenue, next to the Rudolf Steiner Branch of Chicago. Nancy Melvin will be our instructor during the season of Advent.

Calling all wistful painters who long to explore but are afraid for lack of skill.

We will work very simply. Not painting an image, rather an exercise in perception, a meditation using simple brush work to develop a keen eye for relationships, worked in silence with the finest of watercolor paints and papers. 

Immersing ourselves in the flow of the year, we open ourselves to the Advent season.  The richest botanical colors of the year have flared and now passed.  Bold yellows and sharp puce, flaming reds, dark burgundies and deep blue greens dominated our vision just last week.  Let us come together to find color on our paint brushes and immerse ourselves in the elementary color exercises given to First Graders at a Waldorf School.  

Angela Lord’s book, Color Dynamics is a practical workbook that you can purchase from Hawthorn Press to augment our sessions if you’d like.  After attending the first session to learn the set up, practice and clean up, you can miss our group and still do the work at home with your own materials and join us when you can.   Socially distant tables with paints and paper provided.

There are no paywalls. You are invited to make a contribution that will help the cost of supplies and initiative. A sliding scale from $0 to $15. If you’d like to gift a higher amount this will support others who are unable to contribute financially.~Nancy Melvin

Nancy Melvin is a watercolor, lazure, natural dye and textile artist who is married to a trompe l’oeil muralist who also specializes in signage, oils, gold leaf and woodblocks.  They run Melvin Studio together and raised two Waldorf students. Nancy taught at Chicago Waldorf and Great Oaks Waldorf School before founding MADE HERE, her clothing line currently at Union Handmade, 3860 N. Lincoln Ave and Buddy in the Chicago Cultural Center.   

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Pin by RanishaArt // Floral & Landsca on Landscape oil paintings | Starry  night van gogh, Van gogh art, Paintings famous

Sunday 20 December 2020, 2 pm – 3pm CT

‘Awakening to the Light in the Darkness’: A Christmas Contemplation with Rev. Craig Wiggins. In-Person at The Rudolf Steiner Branch Chicago & online

Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/7052931041?pwd=ai94YmhnS1k3cWN3TFFlL3ozTDgxdz09 Meeting ID: 705 293 1041 – Passcode: Peace

http://donate.rschicago.org/

For more info. contact Hazel Archer hag@rschicago.org

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Wednesday 23 December 2020 – 7:15 pm – 8:30 pm CT

Unwrapping our Cosmic Gift: Thoughts on the Christmas Conference 1923

with the Central Regional Council. Themes inspired by Prokofieff’s book: May Human Beings Hear it! include: Turning Points of Time; Christ, Sophia and Michael; Foundation Stone Meditation.

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83533262486

for more info. contact Alberto Loya aloyavaca@utexas.edu

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A Rose by Any Other Name Painting by Mary Benke


24 December 2020 – 5 January 2021, 11 am – 11:30 am CT

ASA Holy Nights 2020-21 “A Rose By Any Other Name…”

International online gathering on the Theme of the Divine Feminine. 

Hosted by Laura Scappaticci & Tess Parker, featuring the Sophia Working Group.

27 December – Leading Thoughts by ~hag

29 December – with Ultra-Violet Archer calling in on the Full Moon from Sweden

For the full schedule contact Tess Parker tess@anthroposophy.org

Register Here. Then check your email for a confirmation with the Zoom registration link. 

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Masked ball Painting by Marcel Garbi | Saatchi Art

Thursday 31 December 2020-21 Our Annual Conscious NYE Gathering 8 pm-1 am CT

In-Person at Elderberries Bio-dynamic Outpost & The Rudolf Steiner Branch Chicago

This Year’s Theme is a Masked Ball – Live Music, Folk Dancing, Potluck, Mask-making with Lucien Dante Lazar, more TBA

$20 per person http://donate.rschicago.org/

Stay tuned for details. For more info. contact Hazel Archer hag@rschicago.org

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Nancy Poer

Wednesday 6 January 2021, 2 pm – 4 pm CT

Joan’s Epiphany ‘What Joan of Arc Calls for Today’

In-Person at Elderberries Bio-dynamic Outpost & The Rudolf Steiner Branch Chicago & online Today on the Birthday of Joan of Arc we welcome special Guest Nancy Poer

We will also explore ‘The Destinies of Individuals and of Nations’, Lecture 5, ‘The Nature of the Christ Impulse and the Michaelic Sprit Serving It’ by Rudolf Steiner with Leading Thoughts by Hazel Archer-Ginsberg

Social Sculpture: “The Passage” with Luicen Dante Lazar, + Singing & Eurythmy

http://donate.rschicago.org/

For more info. contact Hazel Archer hag@rschicago.org

Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/7052931041 Meeting ID: 705 293 1041

6 thoughts on “Crone

  1. Hi “HAG” I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the CRONES…I never heard of them…then you led to witches, their image of evil and its importance, and the “positive” archetypes of wisdom, initiation. RS has alluded to the light being born out of the darkness. I personally can’t get past political divisions, taking the other’s position to understand. If it’s clear they persue evil and oppression I can’t get past that even though I’m sure it must be right to rise to a higher level of understanding.
    Also can you possibly cite the RS quote beginning with”If we give up ourselves…”?
    Warn regards, Mike Bogil

    1. Greetings Michael – Thanks for being open minded & being willing to step up to meet ‘the other’.
      Yes, the political thing is a hard nut to crack, I still get upset & full of righteous anger. I try & have compassion – mostly people are just deeply wounded & are looking for love & understanding.

      the Steiner quote is from BROTHERHOOD AND THE FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL, Berlin, November 23, 1905
      https://wn.rsarchive.org/GA/GA0054/19051123p01.html

  2. Dear hag,
    How deeply I appreciate your blog; it has become a primary source of “sense” & “sustenance” as I orient through, to, and with tumultuous daily life and relationships. Your voice and inspired visions shine/call, beacon-like, unique and bold, truthful and c-l-e-a-r ~ a thread of stabilizing sanity tied round my pinky ~ Thank you for speaking it all.
    x

    1. Wow, Thanks RJ, you have a gift for the word, yourself, so I am truly honored & delighted & grateful for your reply.
      Let’s keep reminding each other that there can be true communication that unites heart & head!
      xox

  3. I wish I could add a perceptive comment to it, but no such inspiration – just wanted to thank you for the awesome theme of this post!

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