Crones Don't Whine: Concentrated Wisdom for Juicy Women 
An Interview With Jean Shinoda Bolen, MD

Webster's dictionary definition of a crone is "a withered old woman." Does a woman have to look like a crone to be one? Warts on nose? 

This is not what being a crone is all about--at all! Another name for a crone would be "inner wise woman" or "wise and compassionate elder"--the development of which grows through life. "Crone" is ageless though she develops mostly in post-menopausal women. Crone is what a woman is in her psyche and not what she is expected to look like. 

Why use "crone" at all -- it's off-putting?

Crone is an honored state of soul that has been denigrated terribly. It is associated with the third aspect of the great goddess, who prior to the conquest of the goddess worshipping peoples of old Europe, was the third aspect of feminine divinity. This was when women could be seen as reflections of the Goddess in her phases as Maiden-Mother-Crone. It is my intention to redeem the word "Crone" and the post-menopausal phase of women's lives, beginning with defining active, vital, attractive third phase women as "juicy crones."

"Juicy crones?" 

Makes you smile, doesn't it? Especially if you are one! It seems like a contradiction in terms, until you look around at women who are: Susan Sarandon, Gloria Steinem, Goldie Hawn, Jane Pauley, Isabel Allende -- are public figure examples, but so are any number of women in everyone's life. They have vitality and verve, it's hard to keep up with what they are doing, thinking, nuturing, and creating. They have energy--juice and the ability to make a difference where they are. 

Why "Crones Don't Whine" as a title?

I think that this is the litmus test. "Crone" is a goal worthy of aspiring to and a whiner will never make it. Growing older doesn't necessarily mean growing wiser, as anyone can see. Whiners assume they were entitled to more, which makes them unappreciative of what they do have. They can't accept that What was, was. What is, is. To get this perspective and work toward letting go of past resentments or present comparisons and envy are psychological and spiritual tasks of maturity. I hope women who are incipient martyr-whiners will see this and work toward becoming crones, instead. "Crones don't grovel" either! Healthy self esteem, valuing and respect for yourself as well as others, is part of being a crone. 

If you can't spot a crone by her looks, what are some identifying marks? 

She's got authenticity, maturity, integrity, compassion and strength of character. Meaning, she can laugh and be spontaneous, has a big heart but is not a co-dependent patsy; she can be fiercely protective and active on behalf of what matters to her, has had her share of suffering which makes her compassionate and able to savor the good in people and her life. She meditates and is spiritual in her fashion. Whoever or whatever she cares about and tends to, as a mentor, grandmother or gardener will thrive because she has "green thumb" abilities. She helps people and things to grow. She stays juicy. 

What do you mean by saying "Crones Together Can Change the World?" 

I mean this literally and am also doing my bit to exhort individual women who have a natural bent toward involvement in the world, in whatever activist way they are so inclined, to do so. There has never, ever in history been post-menopausal women like us. This is a generation that are the beneficiaries of the women's movement. We have had access to education, careers, resources, positions of responsibility in the world, we had the pill and could be sexually active and could decide whether or not to have children. We bonded with each other, and have seen history changed in our lifetime. If we are lucky, we may hold on to our minds and health into our nineties, which means that the crone phase can last way more than half our adult lifetime. And, if the misogynous fundamentalists have their way, we will be a one-generation historical aberration that had a chance to change the world and missed it. 

Can a man be a crone? If a crone is an inner archetypal figure and has such positive qualities, surely this is not limited to the female gender? 

I have a chapter titled, "Exceptional Men Can be Crones." Male physiology, socialization, and social roles makes it harder for men to develop crone qualities, but they increasingly are doing so. 

What might a reader gain from reading Crones Don't Whine? 

I think it does provide--as the subtitle promises: "Concentrated Wisdom for Juicy Women." More a meditation on the qualities than a how-to, readers will see positive aspects of themselves reflected in words, and will find support to trust what they know "in their bones." 

What about you? Do you consider yourself a crone? 

I had to be old enough, before I could write this book. I have my Medicare card and get senior rates, so I definitely do qualify on the basis of age. It's been a time of garnering honors and yet far from retiring, I am more active than ever, with renewed enthusiasm and energy for teaching, writing, and traveling. I live on the side of Mount Tamalpais and enjoy the vistas and quiet pleasure of living close to nature and to San Francisco. I stay in touch with old and new friends, and take pleasure in my life. I'd say, it's and I'm quite juicy!

What about some professional details about you? Credentials? 

This year I was named a "Distinguished Life Fellow" by the American Psychiatric Association, which is a high honor. I remain a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco, am an internationally respected Jungian analyst, and besides Crones Don't Whine, am the author of eight other books, all still in print, and translated into many languages. I relocated my office to Mill Valley this past year and am delighted with it. 

I have a pretty unmatchable combination of professional accomplishment and womens' movement credentials: I'm a former member of the Ms, Foundation Board of Directors, and was the recipient of the 2003 Woman of Vision and Action award by Women of Vision and Action. My involvement with Healing Journeys: Cancer as a Turning Point Conferences, author of Close to the Bone, and teaching led to being the honoree at the annual prestige event by Pacific Medical Center's Institute for Health and Healing as the 2002 recipient of "Pioneers in Arts, Sciences, and the Soul of Healing" award. Another book, The Millionth Circle inspired the formation of an organization and a grass-roots women's circle movement in 2001 (see www.millionthcircle.org) It has taken me to gatherings on both coasts of the United States, and to England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and Germany, and to conferences at the United Nations in Geneva and New York City.