Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Pagan
Rites of Passage: Eldering of Crone and Sage

Rites of Passage: Eldering of Crone and Sage

Last updated on: March 8, 2020 at 12:14 pm by Heron Michelle

Rites of Passage: Eldering of Crone and Sage 2020-03-08T12:14:41-04:00 Heron Michelle

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Our coven just held the first Eldering ritual for one of our founders. It was my privilege to co-officiate this Rite of Passage, and I look forward to honoring many more elders in the future. As the Pagan and Witching communities grow in wisdom and accomplishment, Eldering Rites become a vital sacred task. We share our ritual in hopes that it will inspire the diverse traditions of Pagandom to develop their own.

Creating a New Tradition

Having never even witnessed such a ceremony in any other tradition, a few of our coven members took it upon themselves to create our own. They researched, divined, communed with Deity in meditation, and then creatively contributed their talents to make something special.

She says, “As I helped plan the first ever Croning/Eldering ceremony for the coven I knew I didn’t want it to be a big high ceremonial type of thing. I just wanted it to be a recognition of this new stage of my life. I had already done much of the internal work, the spiritual work, on my own during the preceding years of my 50s, and just wanted to create the Eldering ceremony legacy for the coven to build upon, leaving plenty of flexibility for such future ceremonies to suit particular individuals.”

Creating Rites of Passage for the emerging magickal communities raises important questions. Establishing a new framework through which we process our lives demands deep consideration of what it means to live a meaningful pagan life. We have to start by asking what our neo-pagan society values.

Eldering Cords

Eldering Cords of Purple, Silver and Black, presented to an Elder to wear as a ritual garment. Photo by Lynn Caverly, used with permission

Rites of Passage in the Witching Community

When our coven formed officially, we made it part of our mission statement that we would facilitate Rites of Passage for our members and their families. Honoring these milestones along life’s path may be the most important function of “religion” in our society.

We outline Pagan Rites of Passage as such:

Wiccanings for welcoming new babies to the world. Here is an example of our first coven wiccaning.
Adulthood rites to welcome teenagers to the ranks of adults. Also called “Coming of Age.” This is a good gender-neutral term, but can also be broken down further into Maidenhood or Manhood rites, depending on gender identity and preference. We aim to hold these after the 13th birthday, after physical entry into puberty. For females, after the onset of menses. For males, some recognize the voice deepening as a physical milestone.
Hand-fastings for bonding two people in partnership. Also known as “Marriage.” Here is an example of a handfasting I officiated.
Hand-partings for severing the bonds of partnership. Also known as “Divorce.”
Motherhood and Fatherhood Rites to honor new parents for the birth of a child. Potentially at first saturn return, should a person choose not to have children.
Eldering Rites: Elder may be chosen as a gender-neutral term; Crone may be chosen by women; Sage may be chosen by men. Usually held for women after the completion of menopause.
Funerals for honoring someone’s life and legacy, upon their physical death. I’ve written on the funeral rite I’d prefer, and a pagan funeral song that reflects that process from a pagan point of view.

Typically, there is a giant gap between “parenthood” and “funeral.” Blatant fear of “getting old” is a big part of society’s problem. This has not served us well at all, and paganism is working hard to correct that, deciding that we VALUE the wisdom of age. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that we would also commemorate that passage into elderhood with the same vigor as we celebrate a new baby.

What qualifies someone as a Pagan Elder?

Community respect:

First of all, I’d say that if a coven of long-practicing Witches already consider someone to be an Elder among them, it is a good first qualifier. Regardless of what that person thinks they are, having the respect and support of your community is pretty important.

Second Saturn Return:

Astrologically, this occurs between the ages of 58-60. This is the second lap of Saturn around the Sun, crossing through the same house it was in at the time of your birth. Your first Saturn return (28-30 years old) heralds your entry into spiritually-mature adulthood. The second one heralds your entry into Elderhood. Here is a good resource.

No longer actively parenting their own children:

Not to say that one couldn’t be actively GRANDparenting, but there is a societal milestone of having successfully launched a generation into their own independence that shouldn’t be undervalued. Active parenthood of your “own” kids has a “phase” that comes with its own titles and rites. Best to wait for Eldering until the demands of parenthood shift.

Retirement:

This is a tricky one, because some folks have the sort of jobs that one may never stop doing until the day they die. Others have the types of careers, where at some point they either *must* pass the torch to the next generation – perhaps because of their physical demands – or *choose* to retire from the day-to-day grind, to slow down a bit and pursue more personal endeavors. I think the key consideration here is this: Did you accomplish some sort of legacy with your life’s work, that you now feel is complete enough for you to pass the baton to those you’ve mentored into leadership? Have you stepped into a more advisory role? Again, the “active work” phase has its own time.

Menopause:

This is an easy one for women. In the physical world, to be a female mammal is much about cycles of fertility. We welcome a girl to Maidenhood at the onset of menstruation. Motherhood is honored with the birth of a child, or her first Saturn return, should she not choose to have children. Cronehood would therefore be honored after the completion of menopause, when fertile cycles cease.

All these parameters for “Eldering” should be considered uniquely for each individual, because biology loves diversity, and physical fertility and spiritual maturity don’t always sync. There are many modes of being and attainment. Like any initiatory experience, you’ll know when you are ready. Beyond that, if your community is on-board in honoring that achievement, the time is right.

Heron's original design for a cycle correspondences map, in henna on a calf skin frame drum

Heron’s original design for a cycle correspondences map, in henna on a calf skin frame drum

Timing of an Eldering Rite

In our tradition of Modern Witchcraft, we look to the west/north-west to align with the elder phase of life. The elements of water and earth would be key. On the monthly cycle, all this corresponds to the New Moon and Crone Goddess. Samhain, the Grand-sabbat at the midpoint of autumn, is when we honor the Sage God/Dark Lord of Death as they descend to the underworld. Samhain is the midpoint of Scorpio – the sign of death, the occult, psychic insights, and all mysteries of the veil between.

Therefore, an eldering rite would be especially powerful sometime between Mabon and Samhain, on a New Moon, after sunset, but before midnight. All that said, our group chooses to hold Elderings at our Grand Sabbat of Samhain, because we are already camping out and its like a big homecoming. This year it happened to fall on the full moon in Scorpio, four days before astrological Samhain, and it felt like a perfect time.

Eldering Rite of Passage

I’ve been given permission by our Elder and Epona Petra to share this ritual they’ve developed, in hopes that it will inspire similar celebrations in your own communities.

Altar:

Position of altar is in the Western edge of the circle.
Fire burning at the center of circle
Chair set for Elder near the fire (A rocking chair would be so perfect.)
Black cloth covering
Silver candle for goddess and picture of Grandmother Spider
Gold for God and picture of Janus
Purple Candle dressed for Croning or Saging
Sage bundle for smudging
Sage leaves scattered on altar and on ground in front of it
Cauldron with water
Sodalite and Apache Tear stones
Package of perennial flower bulbs to be planted in the fall, for flowering in the spring. We chose Alium flowers, for their deep purple color, and the spherical shape, which was indicative of the completion of cycles.
Eldering Cords: A braid of black, silver and purple cords to be worn around the waist as a belt on ritual robes, or draped around the neck like a stole.

Alium Flowers – Fall-Planted Bulb CC0 Creative Commons – Pixabay

Create the Temple

The Coveners entered to the beat of the drum, through the Eastern Gate of our sacred space under the clear and starry night, the weekend of Samhain and on the night of the full moon in Scorpio. We formed a circle in the fire-light. Our eldering candidate was the last to enter, passing through to stand near the altar in the West. We then consecrated the space by passing around deosil the incense, fire candle, water and salt. Each stating “Welcome (element)” as we wafted or sprinkled each. We cast circle by our linking of hands and chanting to reach a cone of power, then opened the gateways above, below and cardinal points, forming the cross-roads, as we typically would do for an esbat ritual.

Statement of intent:

Priestess: As the sun sets, and the earth turns, we pass through stages of life. Honored among these is Eldering- whereby a person is recognized for a coming of age and wisdom.

Priest: An elder is a teacher: they have experience to share.

Priestess: An elder is a mentor: they can help guide others.

Priest: An elder is a storyteller: they can tell stories to entertain and teach.

Priestess: An elder is a guardian of traditions; one who passes down customs that might otherwise be lost.

Priest: It is our intention today to recognize (name) as an elder within our community. It is our belief that their guidance is a benefit to the collective growth of our tradition, and we take joy in learning from their wisdom. We now welcome (name) to take this time in sacred space to call upon her own guides, as we each bear witness, with love and support.

Our eldering candidate then availed herself of the consecrated altar in whatever personal way she saw fit to do, calling upon her personal Deities in a heartfelt prayer, speaking her gratitude for specific lessons and memories of their guidance and inspiration in her life. She called upon particular guides and loved ones in Spirit. As she called them, she lit their candles.

Full-moon Croning Ritual Altar, Photo by Heron

Full-moon Croning Ritual Altar. Note the interesting “double exposure” of the three candle flames, though it was taken with an Iphone, so I don’t know how that would happen. Photo by Heron Michelle

Story time:

Then we took a seat, enjoying the “campfire story” setting. She shared tales of her spiritual journey since the religion of her childhood, her growth into witchcraft, and shared wisdom teachings from her own experience with us all.

She spoke of the sacred mission she’d worked long through her life to accomplish, and claimed her accomplishments with pride, as she should. “…learning to love and accept myself as a single, divorced mom of a teenaged son, enjoying the freedom of having my only child raised and successfully launched into adulthood and on his own, finishing graduate school, completing a doctoral level masters thesis on the spiritual development of college students, growing the local interfaith movement in my community and establishing a similar initiative on the campus of the public university where I worked for 30 years in student activities/affairs, and helping the Sojo Coven grow in size, stature, influence, and organization.”

She then stated what further work she intended yet to do in her role as Elder.

Blessings and Legacy

Priestess: Now that she has given to us, we ask the blessing of the Gods for her Eldering.

Elder approaches altar: Smudges self with sage. Lights purple candle. Anoints self with water, asking for the powers of acceptance and daring. Kneels and makes private or public communication with the gods, as he/she sees fit. Turns to face group when he/she is finished.

Priest: (Name of Elder,) As an Elder what would you like your legacy to tour community to be? (Elder answers)

Priestess: (Name of Elder,) what would you like to take with you from today as you move through the mundane world? (Elder answers)

Presentation of Elders Cords and Gifts

Priestess places the Elder cords of purple, silver and black around here neck like a stole.

The bag of flower bulbs is presented as a magickal reminder that what is planted in the autumn of decline, emerges as great beauty in the next cycle of spring growth.

All the coven members are then invited to offer the elder words of blessing and gratitude, along with any token gifts. I presented her with a polished labradorite palm stone, which has always carried Crone Goddess energies, and aids in psychic insights. We each spoke of our memories of the things the Elder taught us.

Power-Raising Chant written by Epona Petra

Elder stands in the middle of the circle, and the coven circles him/her 3X and sings:

Elder ours, wise crone or sage,
We join you now in turn of page.
We celebrate the eldering
With song and dance. For you we sing!

Elder ours, please teach and guide
We need your wisdom at our side.
Mentor those with much to ask
To share the work of learning tasks.

Elder ours, wise crone or sage,
We join you now in turn of page.
We celebrate the eldering
With song and dance. For you we sing!

Elder ours, please stories tell
Of things in life you know so well.
Joy and pain, gladness and sorrow
Your passage through helps us tomorrow.

Elder ours, wise crone or sage,
We join you now in turn of page.
We celebrate the eldering
With song and dance. For you we sing!

Release Sacred Space in your usual manner

Ceremony ends with coven making a passageway by lining up in two rows and joining hands overhead, to form a tunnel. The elder makes his/her way outwards through the tunnel and once out, everyone applauds. Hugs as people wish.

As a final thought, our Elder recommends an additional stage of a woman’s journey, prior to Elder: Queen. “I wasn’t quite ready to go right from the Mother stage to Crone stage, so I spent my 50s in the Queen stage as promulgated by urban shaman Donna Henes lays out in her book The Queen of Myself .”

Best wishes,
~Heron

Previous Post

November 8, 2017

Wiccaning Ceremony: Welcoming a Child to the Witching Community

Next Post

November 16, 2017 Lessons of Autumn's Holy Mess

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Arts, Crafts & Cooking Business Cermony and Liturgy Columns Comedy Community Death Elemental Witchcraft Health and Wellness Holidays Interfaith Life Love, Sex & Relationships Magic or Magick Nature Politics Prayers, Poems, Blessings & Stories Recipes Rites of Passage Ritual and Practice Science and Research Shopkeeper Saga Technology Theology, Ethics, Philosophy Uncategorized Witch on Fire

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 November 2025 September 2025 August 2025 May 2025 November 2024 September 2024 August 2024 March 2024 February 2024 December 2023 September 2023 August 2023 May 2023 February 2023 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 April 2022 March 2022 December 2021 November 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 December 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 August 2015 July 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Jesus do for His disciples at the Last Supper?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Washed their feet Sent them away Fed them fish Gave them money