- Discussion
The crone archetype
updated 2 months, 2 weeks ago 2 Members · 19 Replies
I feel like the high priestess *should* be that archetype, but is chronically portrayed as young and nubile because the occult orders that influenced the development of esoteric tarot at the time were misogynists and every female in the whole deck had to look young.
Thea’s Tarot deck 😀
There isn’t any crone archetype exactly but the Queen of Pentacles will be the closest that you get really. The Empress wouldn’t fit because it is the mother archetype.
I have the medicine woman’s guidebook tarot and the moon is displayed beautifully as the grandmother’s, describing it as a card of ancient wisdom from our ancestors
empress
My initial thought was Queen of Wands. Then I thought for a bit longer and I thought the Moon. But it would be nice for it to be a person and I think I agree with others about the High Priestess
Tarot isn’t “missing” anything. Jungian archetypes are anachronistic to it.
6 of cups, totally
Awesomely, ELP created Tarot of the Crone—it’s pretty amazing. I do wish the archetype of Crone was more appreciated—of course especially the times we are experiencing.
Someone burning up from menopause and coming out of the ashes like a phoenix lol!! Speaking from a 52f who suffers from hot flashes
Nine of Pentacles always seems like a mature female energy to me.
I have seen a few decks (names do not come to mind…I know, BIG HELP!) where they have 78+ cards that has included a Crone card. Seems to make sense to me. Norse myth talks about the Crones of Fate that decide everything we do by the plucking of a string. Or the wizened woman who knows everything about the important things who lives in the corner house.
u/iiiiiiggggggvs I love this post! Frankly, as someone who is 53 years-of-age, even when I was in my 20s I was crystal clear that not everyone is young and beautiful. Not to mention that many societies place greater importance on someone who is under 30, and discarding anyone who is above that age, but I digress.
For me, The High Priestess is one of those Tarot Cards that represent Crone Energy. Then again, since the Goddess more commonly known as Isis Is my Mother Goddess, I see Her as a Triple Goddess, and as The High Priestess, the Crone Energy is strong with Key II. I also get that Crone Energy from the Queen of Swords, as she seems to be the oldest of the Queens, and not the “typical” mother type of energy represented in the other Queens.
I would also nominate: The World, Ace of Pentacles, Ten of Pentacles and The Hermit Card, as well.
Hermit or High Priestess
I’ve heard the Queen of Swords described as the “widow” card
