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Jul. 20--Age may be merely a number, but the age of 50 is a rite of passage for the eclectic group of women who make up the Desert Crones of Tucson.
"Crone means, to me, a wise woman who has come into her own. She knows who she is, and she is who she is," said Bobbie Guillory, 68, co-leader of the group that meets every Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Fellowship Square apartment complex, 250 N. Maguire Ave.
"Crone, to me, is the third phase in a woman's life where we get to bring out into the world what we've learned. It is a magical and freer time in life," added co-leader Ingrid Aspromatis, 56.
The ladies believe that there are three phases in a woman's life, those of maiden, mother and crone. As crones, they no longer have to worry about child care and are free to celebrate dignified aging with their "sisterhood" of crones.
"We think aging is not for sissies," Aspromatis said. "We like to think of ourselves as wild and juicy -- we don't dry up."
Aspromatis, a professional belly dancer and part-time saleswoman at Mac's Indian Jewelry, discovered the Crones in 1995 during what she calls a national movement that had "elder women uniting and dealing with aging in a positive way."
She and Guillory assumed leadership of the group in May 2005 when Charlotte Wykoff stepped down after leading the group for six years. Around the same time the group began meeting at Fellowship Square, an apartment complex for the elderly.
The group is able to use the facility free every Thursday for events including guest speakers, arts and crafts, writing workshops, and drumming -- yes, drumming.
"Drumming has been a worldwide thing since ancient times," Guillory said. Drumming is a tradition used to honor the earth, as well as to reduce stress.
Though most members of the Desert Crones of Tucson are over 50, age isn't really a steadfast rule of membership.
"Our youngest member is 49," Aspromatis said. "I told her she's a wannabe, but we let her in." She said the group's oldest member is 92.
"I started coming years ago and couldn't wait until I turned 50 to join," said Diane Raab, 59.
"I wanted to be around women my age, and I found how much they were able to teach me," she said.
Crones events are full of laughter, smiles, hugs and chocolate -- lots and lots of chocolate.
During an introduction exercise at the event last Thursday, the women took turns wielding a purple wand and declaring what they would do as queen.
"As queen I would declare chocolate the national vegetable," Guillory said with no hesitation.
Others echoed similar thoughts, saying they would ban all diets.
Thursday's meeting was a "Wise Woman Writing Workshop" led by Aspromatis. The women were asked to wear a hat that they used for the writing exercises.
The lively women arrived in hats of all colors, shapes and sizes. Raab even donned her wedding veil for the event.
The group has about 70 women on its membership list, with 20 to 25 attending the Thursday events.
Guillory and Aspromatis stressed that the group is not meant for therapy, but rather lets the women focus on learning from one another and having fun.
"We've had many women tell us that their lives have changed because of the group," Aspromatis said. "It profoundly affects women's lives."
Become a Crone
--The Desert Crones of Tucson meet from 1 to 3 p.m. every Thursday at Villa IV of Fellowship Square, 250 N. Maguire Ave.
--Dues to join the group of women, age 50 and older, are $15 per year, though no one will be turned away because of cost.
--For more information on Desert Crones or to learn how to become a guest speaker for the group, call Bobbie Guillory at 390-1787 or Ingrid Aspromatis at 742-0559.
--Learn more about the Crones online at www.desertcronesoftucson.net.
--Send community story ideas to Erin Coulter at ecoulter@azstarnet.com or call 573-4175.
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Copyright (c) 2006, The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
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