It seems a bit unusual, but there will be a gathering of crones next month. A group of 200 women will be coming together October 21-25th for 4 days at Simpsonwood Conference and Retreat Center in Norcross as part of the annual Crones Counsel meeting. Roswell resident, Betty Brown, Chair of the local planning committee, said when she found this group seven years ago in the Western U.S. it became her dream to plan a gathering in the South. “This gathering will be the 17th and women will be coming from all over the country plus England,” states Betty. “There is such a stigma around aging and this group knows you will never win against it so why not embrace it, look to these years as our wisdom years and celebrate it.”

These women are part of the Crones Counsel, a national association of women dedicated to empowering and honoring aged women. Crones Counsel uses the term crone to reference, and to reclaim, the name of the wisewoman of ancient times. The concept existed tens of thousands of years ago when women’s life patterns were conceptualized in three stages – Maiden, Mother, and Crone. The Maiden was the youthful, independent woman; the Mother was a woman who guided others – as a biological mother or as a teacher; the Crone was the postmenopausal woman who enjoyed a special, revered status. The elder woman was viewed as a font of wisdom, law, healing skills and moral leadership; her presence and leadership were treasured at every significant tribal ceremony and each personal occasion from birth to death. That is what the Crones Counsel celebrates.

And celebrate it they do with ceremonies, workshops, no-talent talent show, singing, dancing and even drumming. “And, the best part of all is the women themselves with their great attitudes, spirit, support and zest for life,” says Roswell committee member, Donna Melcher, who is in charge of the closing ceremony Sunday morning. “The theme of the gathering is ‘Transformation – Spiraling Through Life Within and Without.’ Our opening ceremony will help women go inward to see what they would like to transform and our closing ceremony will represent a spiraling out to help others.” Before the closing ceremony, Roswell’s Drake House will receive funds collected from participants as part of an Outreach Program done every year in the city where the gathering is held.

“I’m in charge of a wonderful line up of workshops,” states Roswell resident, Melody Le Baron, such as: “Laughter Yoga,” “A Natural Medicine Cabinet,” “Money Wisdom,” “Writing Our Stories,” “Birthing Our Creativity” and many more, and these are only supplements to the daily storytelling time and group circles that are enriching events during the conference.

“Everyone from across the country is looking forward to our Friday morning event when we’ll be bussing into Roswell to tour Bullock [Hall] and Smith Plantation, shop and close down Greenwoods for a special southern, family style lunch.” says Brown. “We would have had the entire event in Roswell if there had been a conference center like Simpsonwood.”

All three planning ladies agree that the favorite event each year is Thursday evening’s  “Honoring the Elders” Program. You must be 80 years old to be honored and it is a special time not only for them but for all the 50-, 60- and 70- year old women in attendance.

“There is nothing richer than having our elders share their wisdom and be our beacons of life’s celebration.”

To learn more about this gathering, go to www.cronescounsel.org.