"Waning Moon Woman"

11"x17"

acrylic wash with Berol Prismacolor on Illustration board

This is an interpretation of the Crone, one aspect of the Triple Goddess. I chose to portray her as a Native American woman, growing up in New Mexico, I always thought the Navaho women of age with their long silver hair and lines of experience must have some great secrets and wisdom behind their knowing eyes. My wonderful friend, an Elder in a tribe in Wisconsin advised me on some aspects of this piece as well as a crash course on the medicine wheel. ( just the smallest tip of the iceberg)

In the basket before her are herbs including Chicory and Sweet grass. A smudge stick, for cleansing, corn representing nourishment, a gourd bowl filled with water representing the cauldron of rebirth, and a tortoise rattle. The two arrows in her hand are a version of the two spears associated with her Celtic Crone sister, as is the cauldron. Her prayer shawl is the deep blue night, alive with stars, crescents, and spirals of rebirth. She draws down power from the waning moon, mysteries, magick and wisdom are hers. A crow, her totem animal, soars through the dark of the waning moon. She reminds us of all things great that come with age, the wise women we can learn from and must show respect to, for they hold the whisperings of our ancestors.