My Craft name- AmethJera- was given to me at my 3rd degree initiation into  the Gardnerian Tradition. Ameth was also the Craft name of one of the first high priestesses of that tradition, Doreen Valiente. ( Jera is the 12th rune, representing completion of a cycle, or "harvest".)

The thing I have admired the most about Doreen Valiente-despite having such a wealth of knowledge- is that she always unfailingly conducted her Craft activities with dignity and discretion. She avoided publicity and the press, unlike her mentor Gardner, who relished any attention, paid him in the media. It was later noted by biographer John Belham-Payne that her reason for being so low key was that her mother didn't know her daughter was a Witch, and she was acting out of courtesy.

After the death of both her mother and Gerald Gardner in 1964, Doreen was initiated by Robert Cochrane into the Clan of Tubal Cain. With the social upheaval of the 1960's, it was not only okay to be out of the broom closet (momentarily), it was 'cool' to be a witch. Sybil Leek, Alex Saunders, and Raymond Buckland quickly became media personalities. For a while there was a bit of elitism and resentment going on among those who were 'out' and those who chose to practice in secret. Those who had gone public and were teaching openly were accused of betraying the Craft. Doreen found a  quiet middle ground.

Though low-key, Doreen never denied her involvement with the Craft, nor failed to speak up when necessary about it. She continued her quiet approach to teaching, never actively seeking attention.Leaving the Gardnerian Tradition reportedly over disagreements with the Gardner sometime before his death, Doreen was pleased to be able to shun the nasty politics which had reared its ugly head within Gardnerianism by being initiated by Robert Cochrane into the Clan of Tubal Cain. But all was not well with Doreen's choice, and she became disillusioned by Cochrane's less than forth coming honesty and inconsistency about the roots of his supposed hereditary tradition. She became dismayed in particular with his obsession with mind-altering herbal concoctions, and the fact that he was prone to sexual promiscuity with female members of the coven (at the expense of his wife who was also a member.) Once again, Doreen stood up to the patriarch of a tradition because of her ethics, and ended her association. By then she was someone to be reconned with on her own merits in the Wiccan Community.

It was Doreen Valiente who is credited with editing and re-writing Gardner's Book of Shadows. While Gardner claimed the ritual content of his BOS was taken de facto from the New Forest Coven he'd been initiated into by ‘Old Dorothy'- and that it contained the last remnants of the Old Religion, which had been passed down through the ages- Doreen noted a passage used by Gardner was taken from Aleister Crowley's Gnostic Mass. She went to work editing the BOS and eventually removed most of the Crowley material. One of the ritual poems she created was  the much beloved Charge of the Goddess.

With the death of her second husband in 1972, Doreen threw herself into her writing . Her books, An ABC of Witchcraft (1973), followed by Natural Magic (1975), established her as an authority on magic and Wicca. Her extraordinary contribution of counseling, research, writing, poetry, and ritual, must beheld up as a legacy that helped to firmly established Wicca.

One of her last wishes was that the poetry she had written over the years be published.

 Classic Wiccan/Pagan Texts Available On The Web

I've come to realize that many new to the Craft ( and some of us who have been around a few years,too) have for one one reason or another never read the classic works of our founding elders. How can you claim a tradition  comfortably without ever reading the actual works ( and words) of the likes of Gerald Gardner or Doreen Valiente ? Some books written by pioneers like Raymond Buckland, Patricia Crowther  or Alex Sanders are still  available at most large chain bookstores, even if they have to be special ordered. Others are out of print; early works are unavailable in this country, or so expensive that they are beyond a reasonable budget.

The availability of these texts on the Internet has given some the chance to read ( and perhaps print out) books of historical significance. I've found a very useful site at  www.thewica.co.uk/.  The site links to some very nice photos and biographies of the founding mothers and fathers. Some other links are listed below:

Gardner's classic Witchcraft Today ( in PDF format):

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/wisewoman/WiccaWitchcraftToday.pdf

For Gardner's novel High Magic's Aid:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/wisewoman/HighMagicsAid.doc

Leland's historical classic Aradia:

http://www.thewica.co.uk/Aradia.pdf

Dr. Margaret Murray's blockbuster The Witch Cult in Western Europe:

http://www.thewica.co.uk/TheWitchCult.pdf

The Internet Sacred Text Archive has hundreds of useful books:

http://www.sacred-texts.com/index.htm

There are even instructions for flawlessly leading a Spiral Dance at:

 http://www.dreamroads.com/witchkids/sd.php

These days, the witches are hardly old crones
with twisted noses. They've got fishnets and
you'd just want to jump in their cauldrons.

-- John Majdoch

Everything, everything, everything! I want to
know everything. I want the privilege of being
a crone.

-- Susan Powter

The croning ceremony honors a woman's passage into the third phase of life. Often celebrated at age 50, ceremonies range from spontaneous cronings at birthday parties to pre-planned ceremonial rites of passage. Some ceremonies are personal, others are shared, some are convened by an ongoing group for new crones, and others are large rituals at women's conferences and gatherings.

Being initiated into the ancient sisterhood of wise old women involves response-ability. We have an opportunity to personally reclaim the once-honored designation of crone, to take a special name, and to make commitments to ourselves, our communities, and the earth. Intention is primary and that is what we declare, our intention to be true to ourselves, to walk our talk, to become a link between the crones of the ancient and recent past and the women of the future.

At what age can I be croned? Although traditions vary, it's generally accepted that age 49 (one's 50th year) is the minimum. Many women wait to be croned until they're 56 or 60. In my experience, each decade, starting with the 5th, brings its own challenges and blessings, resulting in newly harvested wisdom.

Do I have to be post-menopausal? No. Today some women still bleed in their 60s and others experience menopause after an operation in their 30s. We honor this rite as a woman's (blood) mystery, but the timing depends more on age (see above) and personal readiness than biological factors.

Who does the actual croning? Again, traditions vary. Typically initiations are conducted by those already initiated. If initiated crones are not available, women who deeply appreciate and acknowledge what it means to be a crone can conduct/priestess the ceremony.

Who can participate? Croning Ceremonies often take place in women's circles, gatherings, and conferences. Private ceremonies can include crones only, women only, or women, children, and men. While those conducting the ceremony and performing the actual croning should be women, all participants can honor the new crone and engage in other aspects of the ceremony.

Can I be croned more than once? Can I be croned for the first time at 70 instead of 50? Claiming our wisdom is a constant process: One can never be croned too many times, and it's never too late. I've been croned in a personal ceremony, with circle sisters on a weekend retreat, and with new and previously initiated crones in gatherings of 100-300 women. Each ceremony is a unique celebration, an opportunity to reaffirm old commitments and make new ones.

Can I be croned in a group ceremony before I have my personal ceremony? Yes; there is no order in which to be croned. Participating in large group cronings will often spark ideas for a personal ceremony and vice versa.

Do I have to have a crone name? Many women take this opportunity to rename themselves or take a special name, but it is not a requirement.

Do I have to make commitments? Croning is a significant step, a recognition of wisdom gained through years lived. Although not required, I strongly encourage the new crone to act on her wisdom by making a three-fold commitment to healing--herself, her community (however she defines it), and the earth. This can be simple or elaborate, general or specific.

** Article abridged from www.croning.org ;Copyright © 2001-2002 Bayla Bower (unless otherwise noted). All rights reserved.

References:

Crone Chronicles, formerly a print magazine, continues online--stories, articles, letters: www.cronechronicles.com

Elderwoman: The Elderwoman concept is all about that "rapture of being alive" in an aging, female body: www.elderwoman.org.

SHE WHO IS KNOWN BY MANY NAMES

(Please turn off the music player on the bottom of the page before clicking on video)