Feature photo: Energy work is a key part of the program.
Welcome to midlife. You have lived through the highs and lows, the first marriage, and maybe even the second. Your kids are out of the house or back in it. Your skin care routine is as high-maintenance as your last relationship, and your hormones have decided to take you on sweaty roller coaster rides. As women, what we are up against in midlife is not just wrinkles or empty-nester syndrome; we are battling a much bigger misconception — the cultural myth that says we are meant to slow down and settle for less as we age.
For the past 27 years as a family law attorney, I have witnessed firsthand what happens when women internalize these crone stereotypes. After divorce or a life shakeup, they are told to accept a “new normal” that involves being less vibrant, less relevant and less everything when what they often do not realize is they are actually on the cusp of an incredible new life chapter.
Enter Becoming Crone, my solution for rewriting the midlife story and bringing science, energy, spirituality and fun together. I started these retreats to help women reconnect with their innate power, gain practical tools for moving through midlife with purpose and recognize midlife as a new beginning, not an ending. By learning to utilize these tools, I help clients identify and release energy blockages that inhibit mental and emotional growth at any age.
Becoming Crone was born as an effort to help women push back against negative myths, rediscover their voices and connect with each other through authentic, transformative practices. It is a space where women can come together to rewrite their own midlife stories.
The name is intentional. Across other cultures and in myth, the crone represents women of wisdom, strength and resilience — qualities that midlife women possess in abundance. Here at home, however, the crone has long been a stereotype laden with negativity, cast as old, irrelevant and even witch-like. The trope often evokes images of isolation, loss of purpose and a perceived decline in worth.
By reclaiming this title, we challenge outdated stereotypes and celebrate midlife as a powerful period of transformation, learning and connection. Midlife is not the beginning of the end; it is just the middle, and it is a middle with a lot of potential.
What makes Becoming Crone unique is the use of science-based approaches alongside energy-based practices. Becoming Crone draws on spirituality, neuroscience, psychology and physiology to ensure that the methodology is rooted in science while still being responsive to individual needs. My background as an energy coach complements this focus by helping women recognize and release energy blockages, creating space for growth.
When I talk about energy, it is not the “more coffee” type of energy but real foundational energy, the kind Albert Einstein said makes up everything around us. Einstein’s theory of energy shows us everything we see, touch or feel is vibrating, moving energy. That means we are energy, too, and constantly interact with the energies of the people, places and even thoughts around us. When you see life that way, the crone years look a lot less like a decline and more like a new energy shift we can embrace and direct.
The work of Japanese researcher Masaru Emoto shows how powerful the flow of energy is and how much our surrounding energies influence us. Emoto’s experiments with water reveal how positive sounds and words create beautiful, symmetrical water crystals, while negative words lead to chaotic, disordered shapes. Considering our bodies are more than 60 percent water, the implications here are striking; the energies we surround ourselves with — and the thoughts we feed ourselves — are literally shaping us from the inside out.
We all carry subconscious beliefs that act like energy blockages, everything from toxic relationships to habitual negative self-talk that impacts our mental and physical health. For too long, midlife has been framed as a kind of energetic dead end. We are told our brains, personalities and outlooks are cemented when we are children, and by the time we are middle aged, it is too late to change, a lie woven into the fabric of our culture.
Without a deliberate effort to reframe this stage of life, we risk becoming a product of those negative energies, held back from creating lives aligned with who we truly are. That is what lies at the heart of Becoming Crone, the principle that our minds and bodies are not stagnant and that our brains are capable of incredible growth throughout life.
Women work on activities to tap into their inner crone.
This belief is rooted in a concept called neuroplasticity that shows how the brain, with the right types of stimulation, has the ability to form new neural connections that allow for fresh perspectives and even rewiring old patterns at any age. Methods that stimulate neuroplasticity involve more than just traditional learning. Activities that engage the senses, challenge the mind and body, and encourage creativity can all spark new neural pathways and keep the brain supple.
Becoming Crone is not a cookie-cutter self-care routine; it is a holistic approach that recognizes the power of energy in all its forms — physical, mental and social. We are tapping into ancient practices, modern science, spirituality, and the deep human need for connection and purpose. By consciously curating our relationships, our environments and even our thoughts, we create a life that is not just meaningful but joyful and vibrant.
This approach opposes the stereotype that as we age, we lose our capacity for learning, curiosity or creativity. Instead, we embrace the idea that our minds can become more agile and receptive over time. For example, journaling has proven to be a transformative practice for many of my clients, allowing them to explore their thoughts, process emotions and clarify goals. Journaling has also been shown to improve mental health by reducing stress, helping manage anxiety and even boosting immune function.
Other activities, like chanting, drumming, singing, praying and creating art projects are not simply feel-good activities; they are powerful tools to engage different parts of the brain to form new synapses, fostering the creativity and self-expression many women feel they have had to suppress.
By surrounding ourselves with affirming, joyful practices, per Einstein’s theory, we are literally reshaping our internal energies. For Megan Witzke, this meant seeing the power of what could be.
“I thought I was too young for the retreat, and I thought my life circumstances were too hectic for me to step away for a weekend,” she said. “Honestly, the retreat challenged preconceived programming I didn’t even know I had. It was incredibly powerful and life changing for me.
Becoming Crone provides programming to help women embrace middle age.
“Just seeing so many beautiful, strong women learning and growing and making community cracked my heart open to what could be instead of hanging on to what I thought should be.”
Becoming Crone retreats include movement practices like qigong, which is as much about moving energy as it is about moving muscles, and other tools that help clear inner blockages. That gives women physical ways to ground themselves, improve mental clarity, align the body’s energy flows, and bring a sense of ease and connection. Such practices also help access the parasympathetic nervous system, reduce stress and activate the body’s natural healing abilities, leaving us not only relaxed but also empowered to take on life with a fresh perspective.
Becoming Crone retreats help facilitate a sense of community among participants.
Becoming Crone also emphasizes the energy of community. The people we surround ourselves with matter profoundly. Many of the women who attend our retreats are not just facing menopause but are navigating the transitions that often coincide with midlife. For some, it is divorce or the death of a loved one. Others might be adjusting to an empty nest, a career change or the realization that their lives look different than they once imagined. These shared experiences form a foundation of mutual understanding, allowing each woman to feel seen, understood and supported.
Studies show close friendships among women have a profound impact on health and longevity. By contrast, simply having a spouse or children, while fulfilling, does not show the same correlation with longevity and quality of life. In fact, in the blue zones — regions with the longest-living people in the world — strong social connections are one of the most common longevity factors.
At our retreats, women bond over shared experiences, break free from isolation and walk away with a supportive network of friends. The community energy reinforces the powerful internal shifts each woman experiences on her journey. Women who come in feeling isolated often leave with a renewed sense of belonging and support.
“I left the retreat filled with so much love and peace,” said Janice Carter, who arrived feeling guilty about being away from her husband and kids and in the midst of teenage drama issues. “I came home able to relate to my daughter and with tools to help her cope. I also gained seven new best friends.”
Our community also brings together women across generations. Some younger women attend our retreats, eager to learn from those who have navigated similar life changes, creating interactions that foster a mutual exchange of wisdom and inspiration. The younger women gain insight and strength, while the older women are often reminded of the depth of their experience and knowledge. This process is at work on all manner of topics women face, from the emotional to the psychological to the physical.
For example, hormonal health is more than just hot flashes and night sweats. It is linked to our mental health, energy levels and overall quality of life. Balancing hormones is not about turning back the clock. It is about helping us thrive at every stage, but for too long, society has either ignored or stigmatized women’s midlife physiological changes, leaving them to navigate them in silence.
By understanding and embracing these changes, women are empowered to take control of their health, make informed choices and reframe these natural processes as something to respect rather than fear. Conversations about menopause, sex, hormonal shifts and the physiological effects of aging are not just welcome; they are necessary, practical ways for us to stay in harmony with our bodies.
Crafts, yoga and other activities help balance the body’s nervous system and promote wellness.
The transformative nature of these retreats has inspired me to create an online program for Becoming Crone. The digital curriculum will include a series of courses integrating the same methods I use in person — brain-stretching activities, energy practices, community-building exercises and guidance on hormone health. With this platform, I hope to bring these techniques to a wider audience, helping more women embrace midlife with joy and helping retreat-goers continue their transformation at home.
The ultimate goal of the program is to help women reclaim their narrative and honor their journey. Instead of seeing midlife as a slow descent into irrelevance, it is reframed as a powerful time to connect with wisdom, embrace change and find community. The approach does not sugarcoat challenges but offers tools to navigate them with grace, humor and the deep knowledge that energy — both within and around us — is something we can influence.
After all, becoming a crone is not about becoming old; it is about becoming wise, powerful and fully engaged with the energy of life itself, embracing the journey, owning our quirks, supporting one another, laughing, and continuing to evolve. There is no expiration date on growth, no age limit on transformation and no phase of life where we cease to matter. We do not have to accept a one-size-fits-all version of aging. Midlife is ours to shape.
Learn more at:
Website: www.becoming-crone.com
Email: katherine@becoming-crone.com
Or find the Becoming Crone Facebook group
