Hecate has been one of my patronesses, as besides being a Goddess of crossroads, transitions and witches, is also a Goddess of midwives. At this time of year, she seems a good person to "midwife" us through any transitions currently underway in our lives.

Hecate is an awesome woman. I see her face all the time in the incredible wise crone midwives whom I've had the privilege to meet. Gentle? Well, sometimes...to those who truly need gentleness; to those truly in pain and suffering. But she's not afraid to give us a whap with the reality stick when we need it. And she'll take you aside, and really give you that "shape up or ship out" talk when you need it. And she'll be there to help you pick up the pieces afterwards...and help you move on.

Blunt? Heck yeah. Patient? Not really. She's ancient, for Gods' sake...she doesn't have the *time* to be patient. She lays it on the line. You might not appreciate it at the time, but eventually, perhaps grudgingly, you'll thank her. She's the teacher that you may not have hugged after the semester, but boy, did you LEARN from her. Hecate's not in it for popularity points...she knows what she is, and she wants you to be what you can be...no excuses.

A note...I've heard Hecate pronounced a bunch of different ways (and arguments spring up thereabout). The one I hear the most is Heh'-kah-tah (Heh pronounced as in Heck) but frankly, since none of us can claim to know exactly how the ancient Greeks spoke, pronounce it however you like!

NOW, the spread...

This is, as mentioned, a spread based on transitions, on giving birth, using the physical process of labor & birth as a metaphor for other life transitions. I'll post a reading from this spread later.

The spread is designed to look like a pendulum...or like a valley in the horizon, into which the sun (card 1) is setting...or is it rising?

         1
2                 6
   3           5
         4

1: The Transition

What are you giving birth to? What is in transition? What process can Hecate help "midwife" you through?

2: The Beginning

Analogous to the pregnancy. The time of planning, of dreaming, of fantasizing. What are your plans, your dreams? Are they realistic or not? How are you visualizing this transition? Hecate stands aside, with a wry smile on her face.

3: The Pain

Reality sets in. Labor hurts. Transition is not what you expected. Plans may crumble against the wall of reality. Dreams may be revealed as painfully unrealistic. Disillusionment is a possibility...giving up a temptation. Hecate gets in your face...who ever told you change was easy? So it's not what you expected...time to deal with it! Then she rubs your back, and helps you find ways to cope with the pain.

4: The Allowing

It becomes clear that you are in the grasp of something larger than yourself. You have to allow change; to allow growth. It's time to undig your heels; you're along for the ride. It's not giving UP...in despair...it's giving IN...acknowledging that you must allow change, that the world is larger than yourself...and with this comes peace.

What must you ALLOW to undergo this transition? How do you need to stop fighting, and work WITH it, rather than against it? Hecate smiles, and hugs you. You're on the right track.

5: Pushing

It's time to get to work...you're not done yet.

Push...try...DO. Get out of your head, and into action. How can you put this into motion? Hecate gets back in your face, challenging you, encouraging you, not letting you give up until the baby is out, the task is done, the race is run.

6: The Joy

You've worked, and pushed, and tried, and just when you thought you couldn't do any more, when you thought you didn't have it in you...it's there. It's done.

It's DONE! The baby is born...the project is completed...you're through the door! Where does your joy, your reward, your satisfaction, come from?

Hecate cheers with you...and then sobers. "You realize, don't you, that this is only the beginning?"

Janet

anotterchaos@yahoo.com

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