Reclaiming The Crone

A probing account of the honored place of older women in ancient matriarchal societies restores to contemporary women an energizing symbol of self-value, power, and respect.

Many women assume that midlife marks the end of their most powerful period, when their sexual intensity, emotional vitality, and persuasiveness was at its peak. Not so, shows author Susan Schachterle in this warm, funny, and gorgeously written book. Using incidents from history, case histories from her counseling work, stories from her life, and examples from her corporate and non-profit consulting career, she shows that midlife in fact represents a time when women's sexuality, wisdom, and power can come into full bloom.Schachterle describes three archetypes that guide women's unfoldment after midlife. The Bitch is a woman who can make things happen. The Crone is the repository of hard-won wisdom and experience. And the Harlot gives herself time to absorb the beauty around her-as well as reveling in her deep store of sexual knowledge. For a generation of women who are healthier, wealthier, and more attuned to their spiritual fulfillment, this book engages the heart and the senses to offer a grand new image of the rich possibilities available to women at midlife.

Urging the reader to embrace silver hairs, wrinkles and the change of life, this text shows how to create your own ceremony of age and to recognise the power, wisdom and the Goddess within.

The Way of the Mysterial Woman is for every woman who feels the call into greatness, authenticity, and meaningful living. This is The Way for women who are stepping into their lives with mind, body, heart, and soul fully engaged, ready to awaken to their true potential. We hear the clarion call, but how will we meet it? It’s almost like we need a completely new internal operating system. The Mysterial Way is the upgrade we’ve been searching for. Women’s leadership development pioneers and co-authors Suzanne Anderson and Susan Cannon know that we’re not alone in our yearning to meet this call. In fact, they assure us that this is a naturally occurring global imperative for women. The Way of the Mysterial Woman reveals a Feminine source code, helping us once and for all break through our old limitations, and effectively take our lives to the next level so we can meet the unique callings and urgent challenges of these dynamic times. This is not a passive book for armchair travelers. Drawing upon real life success stories, based on their 12 years of running University certificate women’s leadership programs, readers are guided through a step-by-step, transformative “Mysterial Sequence.” Each interactive chapter offers practical and fun insights and practices that compel us toward genuine shifts and solid growth. The Way of the Mysterial Woman is a blend of cutting edge transformational psychology, ancient Mystery school secrets, and visionary evolutionary thinking delivered in a warm, down-to-earth style. Here is the elegant code we‘ve been searching for that finally unlocks our greatest potential.

Pivotal Perspectives on Modern Magic Now featuring more articles than ever, Llewellyn's 2025 Witches' Companion makes it easy to stay on top of the trends in today's Pagan and Witchcraft communities. Packed with advice from prominent practitioners and hands-on tips to fortify your magical prowess, this inclusive almanac provides nearly thirty articles exploring the forefront of contemporary magic. Coming Out to Your Non-Witchy Friends Befriending Deities Climate Change and Paganism The Wheel of the Year for Modern Witches Avoiding Scams for Spiritual Services Rituals to Honor Military Service People Magickally Responsible Travel Morning Coffee with the Ancestors Finding the Spiritual Side of a Fight Witchcraft's Human Element in the Age of AI This year's edition includes spells, rituals, projects, and advice from some of the most popular Witch and Pagan writers: Elizabeth Barrette • Emily Carlin • Autumn Damiana • Lilith Dorsey • Emma Kathryn • Phoenix LeFae • Najah Lightfoot • Kate Freuler • Dodie Graham McKay • Ari & Jason Mankey • Melanie Marquis • Diana Rajchel • Stephanie Rose Bird • Michelle Skye • Tess Whitehurst • Laura Tempest Zakroff Includes lunar information for spellwork and rituals

Ever since Eve was banned from the garden, women have endured the oftentimes painful and inaccurate definitions foisted upon them by the patriarchy. Maiden, mother, and crone, representing the three stages assigned to a woman’s life cycle, have been the limiting categories of both ancient and modern (neo-pagan) mythology. And one label in particular rankles: crone. The word conjures a wizened hag—useless for the most part, marginalized by appearance and ability. None of us has ever truly fit the old-crone image, and for today’s midlife women, a new archetype is being birthed: the creatrix. In Creatrix Rising, Stephanie Raffelock lays out—through personal stories and essays—the highlights of the past fifty years, in which women have gone from a quiet strength to a resounding voice. She invites us along on her own transformational journey by providing probing questions for reflection so that we can flesh out and bring to life this new archetype within ourselves. If what the Dalai Lama has predicted—that women will save the world—proves true, then the creatrix will for certain be out front, leading the pack.

"For women there is nothing more liberating than age if we learn to use our energy, power and compassion." -- Back cover.