Why I was MIA

I was busy planning this plus a million other events. Will post more info after City Fresh...

What it is.
I have had six (is that right?) events in the works since the beginning of September. We had our friend Kevin visiting from Nicaragua a couple of separate weekends as well. First it was the Food Co-op's 40th Anniversary celebration that I had to help organize (as the chair of the membership committee), followed by Jon's surprise (very early) 30th birthday party with The Big Lebowski theme (link to photos above). His birthday isn't actually until November, but what with one of his bestest friends in from Central America, it became necessary to do it much earlier. He was very surprised and after getting over the shock of it, we all had a wonderful time bowling and quoting Lebowski (the seminal cult classic) .

The third event was a Croning ceremony for a wonderful woman who is in my Consciousness Raising group, Sally Tatnall. Sally is 71 and has been dedicated to social justice issues in Northeast Ohio and around the globe for 40+ years. Her focus has been on issues affecting women and lesbians in particular, and in finding ways to challenge basic assumptions about organizing and living with each other. She has been a part of a housing collective for decades and also worked on or helped found nearly every local women's organization or event. My good friend Lyz Bly decided that we should do a Croning for Sally after I once asked if she'd ever had one. I put together the ceremony and we went off in the woods to perform it. I will write out the outline at the bottom of this post, if anyone is interested.

Yet to come, I still have a two-day event for the Co-op's 40th anniversary (again) which I still need to do quite a few things for and then we usually do a Halloween party because I'm awesome at Halloween parties. There wasn't really a 6th event, but I did just remember that I should probably do something for my Dad's 60th birthday at the end of November. Plus Jon and I are going away for a weekend for our 10th wedding anniversary (our first ever without both kids!) November 7th. I've also been doing a table at City Fresh each week and helping with some of the cleanup there. Then there's assorted fall tasks like Fall in the Garden, buying mums, new clothes for the boys, sorting through old clothes that no longer fit, and on and on and on. Jon's been equally, if not more busy with applying for jobs & post docs, putting together his very own class to teach in the spring, finishing his dissertation, teaching, and working for the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History.

The boys have been busy with their usual shenanigans as well as being dragged about all over town in search of the necessary items for the changing weather, our daily existence, and the endless array of parties I've been planning. We also made several trips to the doctor to check on Aleks' ear tubes (and schedule a surgery for new ones), to investigate Aleks' swelling, infected hand after he touched a dead bird then got a splinter, to check both boys' height, weight, and general well-being and discover that Aleks may not in fact require the surgery for a fourth set of ear tubes, which will require yet another trip to the otolaryngoloist to confirm or deny (though I canceled the surgery anyway). Otherwise, what it is is everything you see here. I am much more able to document their existence than keep up with my own, but I have not, of late, been quite able to actually get all of that up on the internets.

Oh - and one last reason I was not posting very much lately - Blogger keeps giving me $^%*&! error codes every time I publish. ARGH!!!

Croning
1) Everyone gathers, the croning is explained by the "priestess." There should be flowers, candles, and food - if outdoors, a fire in lieu of candles. The priestess says:

We gather together to celebrate Sally entering the Wise Age. Her proper title among women from now on is Crone. Who is the Crone you ask? Crones are women of wisdom, age and power. They embody all the wisdom gained through their experiences of the three phases of womanhood - Maiden, Mother and Crone. The Crone is the Ultimate Teacher of the deepest wisdom. When we look at Her through our own life experiences, we are looking into the most profound inner work of our lives. Every woman ultimately must face the night, the winter, the abyss, the end of cycles - in everyday life - to enter the Gateway of joy, self-healing, wisdom, and rebirth. In ancient times Elder Wise Women honored the Crone through secret initiations - similar to our Croning this evening.

2) We form a hand archway for sally to enter, proceeded by everyone else, until the archway is no more. Everyone stands in a circle.

3) We offer a crown of flowers, a foot bath, some ritualistic cleansing to Sally. We did a smudging.

4) We all introduce ourselves, saying our age and the stage of life we are in (Maiden, Mother, Crone). Then sit.

5) The gathered recite the following in unison:

Ancient Crone,
Cleansing waters of wisdom,
I embrace you within myself,
And dance with you 'round the well.
Let me be a seeker of knowledge,
And courageous in the face of darkness.
My heart sings your melody
And my spirit is forever whole.

6) We pass a bottle of wine from person to person, each taking a drink then telling a story about the crone and her wisdom/gifts. Then each asks the Crone/Elder for a memory about a time in their life. This is the essence, after all, of the Croning; that our Crone/Elder has gone through every state, that they are all ages, and yet beyond all.

7) The priestess or other selectperson presents a major gift to the Crone - the "crowning" of the Crone with an item chosen to symbolize the initiation - a flower or star garland crown, a crone staff, a cloak or shawl, a ribbon or flower lei, a special gourd. Also anointing with essential oil on the forehead.(We just did an anointing, presenting a staff after the other gifts)

The following is recited with this crowning:

"The paths you have walked have presented you with many options. Your life has been rich with experience, and filled with both sorrow and joy. Your teachers have gone on, and now you must assume their role. There are many who look to you now, eyes filled with wonder, hearts open, ready to learn. Now you must decide whether or not to honor your own teachers by following their steps. You possess more than just the answers. You have learned the questions."

The priestess asks for her crone name (if she is going to take one) and commitments. drumming/rattling/noise making from the guests

8) Each of the gathered presents a small gift to the Crone - each comes forward, bowing or dropping to a knee, and gives Sally a croning gift, explaining it's significance. they should then rise and bless the Crone, and exchange with her a kiss and hug. Lastly Anna presents Sally with her Crone Staff.

9) The new crone speaks her wisdom, gratitude, expands on her commitments.

10) The ceremony is ended with each guest holding a candle, the crone having hers lit first, then each lighting theirs off of hers to symbolize the passing of wisdom. Repeat:

Ancient Crone,
Cleansing waters of wisdom,
I embrace you within myself,
And dance with you 'round the well.
Let me be a seeker of knowledge,
And courageous in the face of darkness.
My heart sings your melody
And my spirit is forever whole.

11) Party. Make noise. Must have cake.