A Womyn Unto Herself

The triple goddess, The Maiden / The Mother / The Crone, is a beautiful archetype set of the stages of a womyn’s life.  Yes, I use an unusual spelling because this is about womyn without the patriarchal “man/men” in the name. From the know-nothing, innocent, virginal maiden to the mother full of new life and full of creativities and opportunities to the crone, the progression is one of collected and collective wisdom. The roles the maiden and the mother play lead to the wise crone who becomes a womyn unto herself. While there is a book, a movie, and a poem with the title’s name, they are not what I am referring to. Yes, this blog post is for men too.

“In 1949, the French philosopher Simone de Beauvoir asserted that ‘one is not born, but rather becomes a woman’ ; in doing so, she grasped how the raw facts of our bodies at birth are operated on by social processes to transform each of us into the people we become” (qtd in https://time.com/5795626/what-womanhood-means/). For me, biology has less to do with aligning with what it means to be a womyn than how a womyn aligns with the triple goddess archetype. Societal expectations on and stereotypes of womyn are passé’, although some in the culture attempt to force everyone into binary gender roles, perhaps because they are afraid of the power of womyn (biological, trans, and by choice) who do not embrace the scheme of the patriarchy.

What is a womyn unto herself? To understand this concept, it may be helpful to review the archetypes leading to the Crone, a womyn unto herself.

• The Maiden: According to Dr. Carl Jung, “The Maiden archetype is a phase which most women are said to pass through when they are young, though some never escape from this phase of their lives are remain as Maidens, or displaying some of their characteristics, for the rest of their lives “(not a direct quote from Jung, but a paraphrasing qtd. in https://knowyourarchetypes.com/maiden-archetype/). The “Maiden is a young girl or [womyn] who is not [married yet]” (https://knowyourarchetypes.com/maiden-archetype/).  The archetypal Maiden’s characteristics / traits include:

“- …displays a youthful, effervescent and vital quality

- She possesses an uncorrupted, virginal quality, being pure in both heart, mind. body, and ever innocent.

- The Maiden is a sensitive, emotional being who is in touch with her feelings.

- She represents innocent playfulness and fun, possessing a sense of curiosity which she displays through her energetic exploration of the world around her.

- They display an experimental nature and an adventurous interest in everything they perceive.

- The Maiden possesses a creativity and an instinctive approach to the world.

- They enjoy developing their strengths, gaining new knowledge, discovering new things and exploring the possibilities which the world has to offer them.

- However, Maidens do not enjoy silence or loneliness, preferring the company of other people and being far more at ease in the company of others.

- Their innocent nature and lack of worldly experience can cause them to be more compliant and passive than the experienced, older woman.

- She may appear to wait for life to happen to her rather than seeking to actively influence her own fate” (https:// knowyourarchetypes.com/maiden-archetype/).

Maiden- know-nothing, sweet, innocent, may become ‘damsels in distress’ as they get a little older and if their person growth is arrested.  The Maiden is not a person unto herself.  She is dependent, vulnerable, innocent unless interfered with by predators.

• The Mother: This archetype represents nurturing, caregiving, loving - not just to their children, but to their partners, their older parents, their community.  She symbolizes fertility, creation, giving life. Even if a young womyn isn’t technically a ‘mother’ who has guided children through childhood, she has nurtured a career or a primary relationship.  She is often depicted as a guide; her wisdom is growing.  She may also be viewed as a fierce protector. Consider Demeter in Greek mythology whose profound grief over her daughter Persephone’s abduction by the god of the underworld led her to make the earth die out (winter season)until her daughter was returned (spring season).  Or, think about Celtic Queen, Boudica, from around 60 CE, who was publicly flogged, her daughters raped in front of her and her people by Roman soldiers. Boudica’s tribe were oppressed by the cruel Romans.  She made fiery speeches and rallied her people to fight the Romans; she was a fierce protector of her people and the memory of her daughters.  Other common characteristics / traits of the Mother archetype include:

- Maternal attentiveness, sympathy, helpful, instinctual

- Cherishes and sustains life that fosters growth and development

- Bringer of love and satisfier of sexual urges

- There are negative sides of the Mother archetype: secrets, anything hidden, seducer, poisons, sneaky.

Mother - The Mother is gaining wisdom, but is still not a womyn unto herself even if she is single. She is likely still experiencing monthly bleeding and is in th height of the tumultuous years of building a career, getting education, and/or parentinig her children.

• The Crone: This powerful archetype is associated with the later years of womynhood, usually around 50-60, after menopause.  It incorporates the keen “transformation and personal growth that is achieved through introspection and an unwavering connection to the self. The concept of the Crone holds a significant place in the spiritual realm, representing an essential aspect of feminine wisdom and inner knowing. As an archetype deeply rooted in the collective unconscious, the Crone symbolizes the culmination of a woman’s life experiences and the innate understanding that arises from traversing the various stages of life. The etymological origins of the word, ‘crone’ can be  traced back to the term [kronos], which signifies [spiritual ]time and highlights the invaluable wisdom that can only be acquired through the accumulation of experiences and the passage of years. Additionally, the term ‘crone’ is also connected to the word ‘crown,’ signifying the woman’s ability to confidently embody her true nature and proudly wear the mantle of her hard-earned wisdom” (https://thereadingtub.com/crone-spiritual-meaning/). Characteristics / traits of the Crone include:

 - Wise, compassionate, authentic, sovereign

- A spiritual mentor, guide, counselor

- Understander of life and death - the cycle of existence

- Personification of the rich feminine power

- Inspirer and equipper

- Intuitive and the voice of reason

- Holder of inner strength, hope, enlightenment

- Unfortunately, often overlooked in this culture as ‘over the hill’, not productive or useful

- Legacy leaver (https://thereadingtub.com/crone-spiritual- meaning/)

- Negative depictions exist: wicked witch, spiteful old hag, recluse, mean old ugly female, crazy cat lady.  Consider these childhood stories that feature the negative views of the Crone: Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel.

Crone - This is a womyn unto herself!  She is no longer the know-nothing, innocent baby-girl Maiden; she is no longer actively parenting children or building a career like the Mother.  She statistically outlives men and I believe this is on divine purpose.  “Women tend to live longer than men. This trend is observed globally and can be attributed to various factors:

• Biological Factors - Women generally have a biological advantage, including genetic factors and hormonal differences that contribute to longevity.

• Lifestyle Choices - Men are more likely to engage in riskier behaviors, such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, which can negatively impact health.

• Healthcare Access - Women often seek medical care more frequently than men, leading to earlier detection and treatment of health issues.

• Statistical Evidence - According to the World Health Organization, the global average life expectancy for women is about 73 years, compared to 68 years for men. This gap varies by region and is influenced by socioeconomic factors” (https://ourworldindata.org/why-do-women-live-longer-than-men). The tendency for womyn to live longer than men makes sense when we look at the purpose of the archetypal Crone. If they once had life partners and others to provide caregiving to, in this stage, they are often free from those responsibilities. They answer to themselves.  They do not need to check with anyone else to do, be, go, live, buy/sell, dress, ‘behave.’  They may become womyn unto themselves.

Of course, some people experience arrested development and may not move from Maiden, to Mother, to Crone.  Some people resist becoming the Crone because it ages them. Still, the natural progression through life for a womyn is to grow from Maiden, Mother, and then Crone. Some people are not guided to know about these stages in a womyn’s life and are at risk of taking on the negative traits of the archetype.  No, it does not have to become a lonely time in life.

This poem resonates with the Crone:

“A woman that chooses herself...

In the quiet dawn of her awakening,

She stands alone, a beacon in the night,

Casting off the shadows of doubt,

Embracing the whispers of her soul.

She chooses herself, a radiant flame,

No longer confined by the chains of expectation,

Her spirit dances, unbound and free,

A symphony of self-love and grace.

The world around her may not understand,

But she is not here to be understood,

She is here to live, to breathe, to be,

A testament to her own becoming.

In the stillness of her heart,

She finds the strength of a thousand storms,

The courage to walk a path untrodden,

To carve her destiny from the stars.

She is a warrior, a poet, a mystic, and a stoic,

Her power lies in the choice to be herself,

Unapologetically, fiercely, lovingly,

She is the hero of her own story.

And as she walks her chosen path,

Her light illuminates the darkness,

A beacon for others lost in the night,

A reminder that to choose oneself is to find one's way home”

(https://allpoetry.com/poem/18145327-A-woman-that-chooses-herself...-by-SA-Lightworker).

I have been, archetypally, a Maiden and a Mother, and I’m now a Crone.  I embrace my Cronehood!  I am a womyn unto my self and love it!  Where are you, as a womyn, archetypally?  Are you a Maiden, a Mother, or a Crone?  If you are a man reading this, how do you relate to the womyn in your life who are, archetypally, a Maiden, a Mother, or a Crone? Please share your stories, thoughts, insights, and suggestions by either commenting below this post if you are reading this on social media, or, if you are reading this through your email subscription, please share, by emailing me, at reimaginelife22@gmail.com.

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