title: Experiences from Pagan Women: A Closer Look at Croning Rituals.
abstract: In this qualitative study I explore how Pagan women conceptualize aging, more specifically social aging, through the ritual process of being a Pagan and becoming a Crone. The central question of this research revolves around how older women who identify asPaganexperience, understand, and conceptualize their social aging and their role as aging women in American society. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data and explore the meaning of aging for women identifying as Pagan. Major emergent themes within the data demonstrate that the croning ritual, a central aspect of Paganism, affirms these women in their process of aging. These women, through the ritual of croning, are able to understand their aging as celebration, maintain a positive sense of self while aging, and reclaim visibility as aging women. These women were able to embed their experiences of aging within a unique and specific cultural framework, a spiritual and foundational framework cultivating a spiritual connection with nature.
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University, Durham, NC.
authors.forename: Lydia K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Manning
keywords: ageism; crone; croning ritual; feminine spirituality; goddess-worship; spirituality; spirituality identity
references.citation: Dev Psychol. 2006 Nov;42(6):1269-77
references.pmid: 17087559
references.citation: J Women Aging. 2008;20(1-2):99-114
references.pmid: 18581703