Watercolor illustrations of the Praying Mantis as symbolism in my art holds meaning in a refreshing way. It is meant to be humorous, provocative, and honest. I have practiced the Crone’s Crowning ritual for years now. It is seeing death on the same terms as transformation. One and the same, yet the idea of transformation is easier to deal with than death.
I have been working on this project for some time and waited until the summer solstice to complete. This ritual is part of the native American medicine wheel of nature.
It is helpful in times of change, pain, and grieving. All about transformation and death, yes, we are all going through a type of world initiation, making this small offering to help others seems a creative opportunity to share from the inside out. Where the feminine and nature come tighter together to heal.
It is almost as if humanity is collectively going through a civil war between the ego and the psyche, science and religion, common sense, and emotionalism.
As I watch big black bumble bees take nectar from the praying mantis tree of purple and green… I can see that nature is consistent and dependable.
I look out the computer room window, my cave. and wonder and talk with the crones from the four directions.
East Crone
Crones of The East
those who sing
the songs of the transforming
The songs of the dying
And songs of the universe.
South Crone
Crones of The South
those who stir the caldron
Of change
That set the feast
For the transforming
And dying.
West Crone
Crones of The West
those who open the door
To the transforming
And the dying
And shed the tears of letting go.
North Crone
Crones of The North
those who wait in the realm of the transforming
The realm of the dying.
Silently helping with smiling faces.
Inspired by Susun S. Weed
Book: Menopausal Years, The Wise Woman Way
Alternative Approaches for Women 30 – 90
I think you have a brilliant mind and a beautiful heart…Hecate is calling me to meet her at the crossroads and I am traveling towards my fate releasing the fear and replacing it with hope. This crossroad will be the most important of my life and my last. May I humbly and without fear accept the path that is meant for my Soul because now all I truly care about when it comes to myself is to call to my Soul forward and give her the wheel. I tell her that her time has come. There is nothing more important to me as a spirit in a human body than to let go of the oppressive voice of the human I inhabit. I am the Crone. I am the older woman on the verge of true transformation so that the rest of my days will be spent as my Soul chooses. I truly send out to all the Crones of the world, loving supportive energy to give them the strength to understand our time here is limited and the ability to actually still move vibrantly in the world is even shorter. I hope to enter my last days with peace and love for myself and the world. Blessed Be to all who seek The Red Road.
I was lucky to find the medicine wheel at close to 13 years old. Through books and nature… riding my horse. I find that the red road is part of who I am. I have viewed the lava glowing of powerful owl beings, to the singing of chiefs in the air, to finding a rainbow knitted bag in the snow when I was lost. I love the red road way…. my soul speaks naturally… yes I love it so. A big part of my religiosity.