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The Triple Goddess: Maiden, Mother, Crone

archetypes
mother, maiden, crone triad

 The eternal cycle of becoming, creating, and releasing.

The Triple Goddess represents the cyclical nature of feminine power, life, and the rhythms of nature. Found in myth, ritual, and folklore across cultures, she embodies the phases of the moon and the stages of life: the Maiden (youth, potential, and new beginnings), the Mother (creation, fertility, and abundance), and the Crone (wisdom, endings, and transformation).

Together, these aspects form a complete cycle of birth, growth, death, and rebirth. The Triple Goddess invites us to honor life’s seasons, recognize the gifts of each stage, and embrace the wholeness of change.

Symbols

  • The triple moon (waxing, full, waning) 🌒🌕🌘

  • Cauldrons and chalices

  • Spirals and cycles

  • Sacred groves and crossroads

  • Animals linked to phases: deer (Maiden), cow/lioness (Mother), owl/crow (Crone)

Stories & Myths

  • Hecate (Greek): Often depicted as triple-formed, goddess of crossroads and the underworld.

  • Moirai/Fates (Greek): Three sisters who spin, measure, and cut the thread of life.

  • Norns (Norse): Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld—who oversee past, present, and future.

  • Brigid (Celtic): Sometimes seen as a triple goddess of poetry, healing, and smithing.

  • Maiden-Mother-Crone cycles in Wiccan and neopagan traditions, reflected in lunar rites.

Light Aspects

  • Embodies the fullness of life’s cycles

  • Honors the sacred feminine in all stages of being

  • Brings balance through birth, creation, and death

  • Connects humans to the rhythms of moon, earth, and nature

Shadow Aspects

  • Over-identifying with one phase and rejecting the others (e.g., clinging to youth or fearing age)

  • Rigidity in gender roles (if taken too literally)

  • Romanticizing one stage while undervaluing others

  • Fear of transitions and endings

Practices

  • Moon Rituals: Honor waxing, full, and waning phases with reflection, creation, and release practices.

  • Life-Stage Mapping: Reflect on your Maiden, Mother, and Crone experiences—or how they show up symbolically in your journey.

  • Circle Work: Gather in women’s circles to embody and honor each archetype.

  • Creative Rituals: Write, paint, or dance each aspect of the Triple Goddess as it lives in you.

Journal Prompts

  • Where in my life am I currently embodying the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone?

  • Which of these aspects do I resist or undervalue, and why?

  • How do I honor the cycles of beginning, creating, and releasing in my daily life?

  • What does the cycle of the moon teach me about my own cycles of growth and rest?

Go Deeper

  • The Moon and the Virgin by Nor Hall (explores feminine archetypes and cycles)

  • The Triple Goddess by Adam McLean

  • Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés (many stories reflect the cycle)

Closing Reflection

The Triple Goddess reminds us that life is not linear but cyclical. Each phase—the innocence of the Maiden, the creative fullness of the Mother, and the wise release of the Crone—is essential and sacred. In her light, she unites us with the rhythms of the moon and earth. In her shadow, she warns against resisting change or rejecting parts of the cycle.

She asks: Can you honor every stage of your becoming, knowing that each is part of a greater wholeness?

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