The Magical Crone: Celebrating the Wisdom of Later Life [Paperback]

Jennifer Reif (Author), Marline Haleff (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Citadel (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806525010
• ISBN-13: 978-0806525013
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,002,813 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crone Magic, December 9, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Magical Crone: Celebrating the Wisdom of Later Life (Paperback)

I have just finished reading the MAGICAL CRONE and it has been a wonderful experience that I'm passing along to other friends of crone age. It was most empowering of all to see the wealth of material throughout the past centuries that refers to the powers of the crone. The book is extremely well researched and documented with an excellent bibliography, which I plan to explore further. The authors seem to have examined every shadowy corner where crones are hiding and brought this information to light. I was especially interested in the Indian, Middle Eastern, Greek and Native American aspects of the crone. It is gratifying to see that major cultures worldwide have considered this time of women's life. Being an American, I am aware of a general worship of youth and tendency to dismiss the importance of those who grow older, especially women.

Besides the scholarship, I also made use of the spiritual aspects. It is a great thing to connect one's spiritual beliefs with what we know of our roots and ancestors (no matter how far away they may be in human time.) Besides offering much information, the book is a good read with many meditations and verses that can be used in rituals, such as the following one of my favorites:

Mother of One Thousand Names
I hear your voice in the wind
As rustling leaves speak your many names:
Bare Branch, Ripening Fruit, Unfurling Green
You are all...vast and enchanting
You are every power that is.

For many coming into cronehood or who are crones themselves, it is good to be reminded that the crone contains aspects of all three stages of life - mother, maiden and crone. So there is much wisdom to draw from studying the crone. With a charming cover and engaging pictures, the book is an excellent compendium of all things "crone" from Magical Seasonal Sabbats to Wise Woman Crafts (which I have tried) to bios of the Crone in Modern Culture. It's a book for all seasons.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Magical Read !, September 26, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Magical Crone: Celebrating the Wisdom of Later Life (Paperback)

"The Magical Crone" is really a deeply moving book, not only for those of us women who are a bit older, but for young women who also recognize the power of the Crone inside of them. Reif and Haleff see the Crone as containing Maiden-Mother-and Crone, and so all of the powers of the Great Goddess triune are hers. Here is a view that sees women as increasing in power as each day passes by. I love this.

Resource information includes some history of the Crone, a great review of Goddesses, Dark, and Wise and Magical, wonderful Wise Woman Crafts, Crone Symbols, Rituals and Meditations and so on. The info on herbs, herb gardens, and incenses were of special interest to me, and the chapter on Wise Blood really grounded me in the awareness of my Crone Power.

By the way, the cover is really spectacular. I swooned over it for a bit ! Don't miss this terrific book, its a treasure.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Magical Crone, February 1, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Magical Crone: Celebrating the Wisdom of Later Life (Paperback)

A flurry of feminine refreshment! A necessity for those inclined towards a magical life! This book is rich with knowledge and a great assistant to reawakening the majesty within each of us. A long overdue writing that finally addresses the eminence of cronehood. The activities provide for real bonding and are such great fun! Thank you and thank you and we so look forward to your next publication.