Beyond the Crone

A Modern Guide to the Wise Woman Years

Most of us learned the classic trilogy of womanhood: Maiden, Mother, Crone. It’s a beautiful, ancient frame.

The word crone comes from an Old French word meaning “crown,” originally tied to the authority, wisdom, and skills of a woman who had lived a full life—a woman who had earned respect and often served as a leader in her community.

Over time, however, the word crone picked up negative stereotypes, conjuring images of a haggard, undesirable old woman. That’s why I prefer to use the term Wise Woman for this stage of life—it honors the dignity and depth this time truly represents.

And for modern women—who often spend half of our lives in the Wise Woman years—the simple trilogy is no longer detailed enough.

As a holistic practitioner of 33 years (and a woman fully in this passage), I know that the Wise Woman stage is complex, powerful, and deeply creative. It’s not a single doorway; it’s a three-part journey—each phase asking different things of our bodies, our hearts, and our identities, and offering distinct gifts to our families and communities.

This series is my love note and roadmap to that journey. It weaves science + spirit, practical health supports + archetypal wisdom, so you can navigate midlife with vitality, power, and wisdom—and help create a better world while you’re at it.

The Three Phases Within the Wise Woman Stage

1) The Enchantress (Perimenopause to Menopause)

Roughly starting as early as 35 to early 50s (from the first hormonal shifts through 12 months after your final period).
Essence: Vitality—creative fire, sensuality, energy, renewal.
Reality check: Hormones fluctuate. Chaos ensues. Sleep gets weird. Emotions run strong. And your brain is not working the same.
Gift: Reclamation. You re-negotiate identity, boundaries, and desire. You remember what lights you up and make space for it. You learn how to receive.

2) The Sovereign Queen (Early Post-Menopause)

About 1 year after your last period into the 60s.
Essence: Power—authority, freedom, deep self-worth.
Reality check: The metabolism and microbiome change, muscle and bone loss accelerate, and energy tanks.
Gift: Leadership. You design your life on purpose, choose where your energy goes, and protect it like a Queen.

3) The Oracle / Sage (65+)

Beyond the mid-60s and into your luminous elder years.
Essence: Wisdom—intuition, authenticity, truth.
Reality check: Increased risk of heart disease (number one killer of women), dementia and bone fracture (leading to lower quality of life and shorter lifespan).
Gift: Stewardship. You transmit lived wisdom and become a stabilizing, visionary force for your family, community, and culture.

A note on linearity: We don’t lose Maiden or Mother as we cross thresholds—we carry them forward. We also move fluidly among these 3 Wise Woman energies during this stage. But our bodies do follow a reliable timeline, and each phase benefits from specific kinds of support.

Why This Map Matters Now

We’re living longer, with more possibility—and more noise—than any generation before us. Technology is accelerating. Medical science is evolving rapidly. And there’s a palpable shift in consciousness toward greater coherence, compassion, and connection. Call it the New Earth, fifth-dimensional living, or simply leading with the heart—Wise Women are uniquely positioned to anchor this change.

Who better to help midwife humanity through a global identity shift than women seasoned by cycles, loss, love, resilience, and return?

The W.I.S.E. Pillars: Your Foundation for Thriving

When I think about what it really takes to navigate these Wise Woman years, I always come back to four pillars. They’re simple words, but together they form a map—a way of understanding how to stay vibrant, grounded, and aligned no matter which phase you’re in.

It begins with Wholeness—because this stage of life isn’t just about hormones or symptoms, it’s about identity. Who are you becoming, and how do you integrate all the parts of yourself so you can live fully as the woman you are now?

Then there’s Intelligent Nourishment. I’m not just talking about food—though yes, what we eat matters. I mean the kind of nourishment that seeps into every part of life: rest, relationships, even the way we allow ourselves to receive.

Somatic Strength is another key. Our bodies carry stories, tension, and resilience. Learning how to move, strengthen, release, and reconnect with our physical selves is how we build both vitality and calm energy for the long run.

And finally, Endocrine Optimization—the part most women aren’t told enough about. Hormones shift, and with them our motivation, clarity, and energy. When we learn how to support our inner chemistry wisely, everything else becomes easier.

These four pillars weave together into a foundation that can carry you through every phase of the Wise Woman journey. In my new program, we’ll explore each one step by step, not as abstract ideas, but as living practices you can integrate into your everyday life.

If I Could Go Back…

I wish I’d had a mentor who said: “Here’s what’s changing. Here’s what matters most at each phase. Here are your options. And here’s how you keep your aliveness at the center.” I would have made some choices sooner and with less struggle.

That’s why I created The Energy and Physiology of Menopause—built on the proven concepts of my signature program, The Energy and Physiology of Trauma. We’ll braid ancient teachings with cutting-edge science and, most importantly, walk step-by-step through the identity journey of the Wise Woman.

What This Series Will Cover

• Part 1: The Enchantress
  Spotting perimenopause early, stabilizing energy and mood, supporting libido and creativity, and crafting a nourishment/sleep plan that actually works.

• Part 2: The Sovereign Queen
  Reclaiming power post-menopause: muscle, microbiome and metabolism basics, as well as motivation, boundaries, and building a life you love.

• Part 3: The Oracle / Sage
  Longevity with meaning: speaking up with full authentic expression, brain and cognitive health, community, legacy, spiritual practice, and transmitting your wisdom.

Each part will include checklists, experiments, and reflection prompts—so you can personalize the path and feel real momentum.

A Gentle Prompt to Begin

• What phase are you in right now—and what is it asking of you?

• If your body could speak plainly, what would it ask for this week?

• Where could one bold boundary or one nourishing ritual change everything?

Write it down. Choose one action. Begin.

Want a Guide for the Journey?

If you’re ready to receive support that honors both your biology and your becoming, I’d love to walk with you.

• Learn more about The Energy and Physiology of Menopause and how it can support your exact phase by clicking HERE.

• Want to chat with me directly? Schedule a free Introductory call HERE.

• Together, let’s change the experience—and the cultural perception—of the Wise Woman years. Let’s honor our ancestors and embrace modern tools, so we can lead this era with vitality, power, and wisdom—for ourselves, our families, our communities, and a world that needs Wise Women more than ever.