Maiden, Mother, and Crone

Details and Artist’s Notes

  • Shades of Silver and Blues: These colors represent the Moon’s light and the gentleness of motherhood; silver is also highly antimicrobial, acting as a natural healer

  • Hecate as the Triple Moon Goddess: The Moon is associated with many Goddesses in Greek Mythology: Selene (personification of the Moon and Goddess of childbirth), Diana (associated with childbirth & crossroads; Goddess of the Underworld ushering people between life and death), and Artemis

    • The Crone assists the Mother in the birth of the Maiden; this trio is associated with Hecate

  • Statue

    • Marie Laveau (pictured right) represented as the Virgin Mary, used as symbolism in Black spiritual practices midwifery, included

      • Medallion with Gris-Gris: symbol also used in Midwife spiritual practices

      • Crescent Moon Earrings

  • White Rose and Myrtle

    • White Rose: Purity of the child and of the love of the mothers

    • Myrtle: Love and loyalty of family

  • Seashell Jewelry

    • Seashells: A tie to Cancer’s oceanic origins as well as their resilience and ability to protect themselves and others

Further Reading:

The experiences of Black womanhood during enslavement significantly shaped spirituality, just as midwifery and spirituality significantly shaped motherhood. Within these shared experiences, midwives would transmit and "mother" the culture of African American womanhood as generational mediators. Grandmothers, mothers, daughters, and granddaughters through shared experiences understood the “essence of what it was to be an African American woman.” 7 (Pg 35)

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