crones
Wizened old women
Crones is the plural of crone, an old woman—especially one considered ugly, withered, or sinister.
The word carries negative connotations of decrepitude and menace: The fairy tale featured three crones stirring a cauldron.
In some feminist and pagan circles, crone has been reclaimed as a positive term for wise elder women who have passed through maiden and mother stages of life.
Frightening elderly witch
- shrewIll-tempered woman, or insectivore
- harridanIll-tempered older woman
- beldamUgly old woman
- battle-axeHeavy bladed war tool
withered · wizened · bent · gnarled · toothless · cackling · ugly · fearsome
Frightening elderly witch
- witchPractitioner of dark arts
- beldameElderly woman, often ugly
- wise womanFemale with profound understanding
- old womanAged female person
ancient one · village elder · medicine woman · cunning woman · hedge witch · wisewoman · healer · herbalist
Slavic witch of legend
- HecateGreek goddess of sorcery
- NornsNorse controllers of destiny
- fatesOutcomes that befall people
- goddessFemale sacred being
banshee · harpy · gorgon · enchantress · sorceress · spellcaster · hexer · shapeshifter
Wisdom keeper or seasoning
- elderSenior figure of authority
- counselorOne who advises
- mentorTrusted wisdom-giving advisor
- guideLeader or instruction book
storyteller · truth-teller · advisor · seer · diviner · intuitive · experienced · weathered
Realm of the departed
- transformationThorough change in form
- rebirthSpiritual or physical regeneration
- cyclesRecurring sequences of events
- waning moonMoon after full, before new
shadow · threshold · liminal · initiation · mystery · sacred feminine · divine feminine · Kali
hag
Frightening elderly witch
battle-axe · withered · wizened · bent · gnarled · toothless · cackling · ugly · fearsome · frightening
hag
Frightening elderly witch
- witchPractitioner of dark arts
- beldameElderly woman, often ugly
- wise womanFemale with profound understanding
old woman · ancient one · village elder · medicine woman · cunning woman · hedge witch · wisewoman · healer · herbalist · midwife
Baba Yaga
Slavic witch of legend
goddess · banshee · harpy · gorgon · enchantress · sorceress · spellcaster · hexer · shapeshifter · trickster
sage
Wisdom keeper or seasoning
guide · storyteller · truth-teller · advisor · seer · diviner · intuitive · experienced · weathered · knowing
underworld
Realm of the departed
- transformationThorough change in form
- rebirthSpiritual or physical regeneration
- cyclesRecurring sequences of events
waning moon · shadow · threshold · liminal · initiation · mystery · sacred feminine · divine feminine · Kali · Morrigan
cronesbeauties
Exceptionally attractive ones
belles · sirens · ingenues · fair maidens · vixens
cronesmaidens
Unmarried young women
virgins · mothers · brides · princesses · mother figures
- crony capitalismEconomy favoring the connected