The Ugly Witch Figure as the Crone Aspect of the Goddess They emerge in the fall every year. You've seen them: stereotypical images of Witches. They're always female, wear a pointed black hat and a cape, and have a broom. Most of these Witch figures have faces that few would find attractive.1 Such images abound in the month preceding Samhain (Hallowe'en). They're used in print and television advertising. They peer out from the windows of gift shops, float among floral arrangements and are even iced onto cakes. And every year, many contemporary Witches complain about them. The complaints are not without good reason, of course. The original motif of the ugly Witch was created during the persecution of alleged Witches.2 Few (if any) of those who were tortured, brought to trial and executed were Witches.3 Many were simply elderly, lived alone and had no close relatives. Even so, these images, and Witches' supposed connection with Satan, negative magic and pure evil, have lived on this day. In the past three decades, Witches have done much to demythologize the common beliefs about themselves. The continuing existence of negative stereotypes such as these Hallowe'en figures, they argue, are a symbolic step backward. They reinforce the ancient (and incorrect) picture of what Witches are.4 However, there's another way of looking at them, one that I've rarely (if ever) heard mentioned. The title of this article encapsulates this idea: can't we view the ugly Witch figure as the Crone aspect of the Goddess? 5 Let's face it. We're going to continue to see these images for the time being. Like it or not, they'll be there. So why not change our mode of thinking? The Ugly Witch Figure
as the Crone Aspect of the Goddess. Hmmmmm. Most Wiccan traditions see the Goddess as having three aspects: the Maiden (which is associated with the waxing of the moon and its first quarter); the Mother (full moon) and the Crone (the waning of the moon and its last quarter). 6 The Maiden contains within Herself the potential for all fertility and fruitfulness. She's young and as refreshing as moonlight, as beautiful as a field of spring wildflowers. The Mother is just that the—Matrix, the Creatress. She's grown in power since the first quarter. She's comforting and caring, but knows when to scold her children. The Crone radiates the wisdom that can only be attained though experience. She is honored for her accomplishments and strengths.7 Many modern women see parallels with their own lives in the Three Aspects, as they're often called.8 But because of our society's prejudice against age, many of us have had difficulty fully appreciating and attuning with the Crone aspect. Could the ugly Witch figure serve as a symbol of the Crone, as least during October? Decidedly yes. Most of these images aren't beautiful; but then again, the Crone has no need to artificially enhance her beauty. Her beauty is within—the complex combination of her experiences, trials and triumphs. Here's what I suggest: See these ugly Witch figures as symbols of the Crone. See the blackness of the clothing as the blackness of the sky during the waning moon. See the hat as a symbol of her life: as the Maiden at its brim, as the Mother at its midpoint, and finally as the Crone at its top. See the broom, if any, as a symbol of the Crone's ability to travel backward in time to retrieve of experience. Her white hair represents the moon. The cat is her companion, a minion of the night. Most importantly, see within that face—however disfigured it may seem to be—her determination and fire, her caring for her children, and the wisdom and strength that she's acquired. If it's green, see it as the green of the Earth, the coming fertility of the Maiden and the Mother that she'll bear anew at the first quarter of the moon. Yes, yes, I agree that we should destroy negative stereotypes But the next time you're confronted with one of these figures (as you will be), I suggest that you release any anger that you may feel about it. Try to see the ugly Witch figure for what it can be, not as they would have us see it.9 If you decide that an unattractive witch dressed in black and riding a broom is a negative depiction of Witches, perhaps you've simply been looking at it in the wrong light. Maybe you should ask Her what She thinks during the waning moon, as the Crone. Notes: 1) Though tastes and personal definitions of beauty are considerably varied. 2) The so-called Witch persecution (which was actually more a matter of dealing with suspected heretics) really gained steam in the late 1400's and continued until the 1700's throughout Western Europe. Witch trials occurred in the United States, too, of course, and not only in Salem. 3) I use the term Witch here to refer to either: a practitioner of nature-based magic, which utilizes herbs, stones, water, fire and other Earthy tools; or a Pagan who attunes with Deity either as the Goddess or as the Goddess and the God; i.e., a decidedly non-Christian person. (Both of these definitions apply to women and men.) There can be little doubt that 99% of those who were put to death during the persecutions were at least nominally Christian. 4) Such ugly Witch figures are also often though to be sexist. This is certainly true, but if the stereotype Witch were a sensuous young woman, the same charge would be made against them. Many modern Witches believe that these ugly figures sum up men's subconscious attitudes towards women, and the male fear of women discovering their own power and identity. 5) I'm referring only to physical images of ugly witches, made out of straw, iron, wood, paper, ceramic, tin and other materials. This doesn't include dramatic presentations of Witches as Satan-worshipping evildoers. These should, of course, be discouraged. 6) Traditions vary. 7) Our youth-oriented pop culture must keep in mind that, in many other parts of the world, age still evokes these feelings on a non-symbolic level. 8) There are many other aspects of the Goddess. 9) Christians invented this image. By agreeing that it represents evil Witches, we're agreeing with them. In other words, we're doing as we've been told—accepting the negative image. However, if we can alter our view of this figure, we can defeat its creators' original purpose and transform the image from a negative into a positive. | 
