New to the Comm!

[cynful_cynic]

Hi there! Its been a long time since I've put myself "out there" lol, but I'm really hoping to find like-minded people to talk to. I've been lurking for a while and really enjoy this comm so I decided it was time to make another journal for this side of my life and jump in!  I linked to my post in order to introduce myself. Hope to hear from you ;)

Comments

[gwenyvere4]

Wow, well - I've actually never talked about it before, really. I guess, basically, I consider myself a cunning woman or hedge witch. I draw from multiple religions (I basically feel that all religions stem from the same ancient well, so to speak), and feel particularly close to Artemis, Hecate, the Holy Virgin, and Saint Meriadoc. I also believe in a variety of spirits, and (like many of us) feel a deep spiritual tie to nature and its spirits - and generally spirits of places, like lares. I've always had psychic ability and am regularly visited by people I know (relatives/friends) and people I don't. Trying to understand more about that ability is what eventually lead me to realize I am a hedge witch. Your comments about Hecate's liminal qualities hit home with me!

I tend not to think of myself as having found a definitive way (for myself - I know my practice is unique to me), but rather that the path is fluid. I accept that as part of "riding the hedge", as they say. Also - I've never heard anyone else here mention this, but maybe others practice this way - I practice all my rituals/spellwork/prayers/etc. in silence. Always in silence. The only exception is when I'm performing a cleansing/blessing on someone else; if it's only my personal work, I never, ever speak. It just feels right to the core for me.

Honestly, this is the only time I've spoken openly about what I really believe. My husband knows about most of it, and is fully accepting (he even helps me on holidays!), but I often don't feel that I WANT to speak about it. My family basically knows - everyone is aware of my psychic abilities, and sometimes my mother, aunt or brother will ask me to read for them or cleanse spaces, or basically just for my gut feelings on various situations. They follow my advice on what is really spellwork, but they would never, ever think of it that way. I've recently found out that my great-grandmother apparently had some witchy leanings herself that no one talked about, which has actually been a little thrilling for me and explains why, even though they aren't comfortable enough to have a straight-up, out-in-the-open conversation about it, they believe and respect my talents and spiritual leanings. So that's been really wonderful.

Wow. I kind of spewed there, didn't I? Jeez. Sorry if it's TMI or doesn't make a lot of sense! It was nice of you to ask. : )

[cynful_cynic]

Oh my goodness, what you wrote about silence gave me chills! I don't speak during a working, or any time actually. If I chant, its internal. When I talk to Hecate, its silent - just between her and I. It doesn't feel right to do it the other way. I've read so much about using chants etc. to raise energy but I have never felt the need to do so. My girls know what I believe and are fully accepting and my best friend is aware of my practices but she just shakes her head and says she'll call a priest when I eventually need it lol. I file that firmly under the "agree to disagree" category! I appreciate your willingness to share your story. ;)

[gwenyvere4]

Well, thanks for asking! It's really actually nice to know someone else also practices in silence. I'm happy to do things "my way" whether anyone else does them or not, but it's really neat to find out others do similar things!

Re: Hecate, I always get the sense she appreciates the silence. I'm most in tune with her "crone" aspect, and - I don't know - I just get the sense that she "gets" that. What do you think?

[cynful_cynic]

I agree. I definitely get a sense of what she approves or doesn't approve of...its not really a subtle feeling lol. I've never experienced her as anything but her maiden form. Maybe Crone in the sense that she's wise beyond our ability to fathom and I usually feel an almost amused sternness. Those things tend to convey age yet she's always been youthful to me. Truthfully she doesn't present to me at all like she's portrayed in most withcraft books, not as a triple goddess at all, but once I started researching her identity in ancient Greek texts it was pretty spot on ;)

And I agree. I have never gotten the sense that she needs me to verbalize anything...I think she speaks in the silence ;)

[gwenyvere4]

I wouldn't be surprised if she approaches us in the guise that she knows will be most relatable to us, if you know what I mean? I bet there are people out there who only really experience her in her motherly form.

So amazing. : )

[cynful_cynic]

Exactly ;)

re: Hecate as maiden

[ianphanes]

Given that Hecate is specifically identified in the Orphic Hymn to Hecate by two of the Greek words that mean maiden (numfh and korh), I think it's clear that the ancients saw her primarily as youthful in appearance.

However, most descriptions of the modern Triple Goddess conflate the grandmother of the old crescent with the queen of witches of the dark moon, calling them both "crone", as if they were interchangeable. Hecate is clearly the queen of witches of the dark moon, but there is no evidence for her manifesting as the grandmother of the old crescent.

Re: Hecate as maiden

[cynful_cynic]

I discovered this myself when I delved into deeper research of historical Hecate rather than modern understanding of her. I was a little relieved at the time because I did not feel like I was developing a relationship with a deity that felt like the one discussed in many of the modern witchcraft books I'd read. I've recently ordered a translated copy of the Magical Greek Papyri to add to my research--probably should've been a significant part of it from the start lol. I'm especially interested in researching her possible Annatolian beginnings. From what I've read there's some evidence of her worship along with Cybele as the Magna Mater. Fascinates me and is truer to how I feel.
On another note though, I don't necessarily feel that those that worship her as a Crone now are wrong simply because so much of worship in ancient times was syncretistic. It just seems like a continuation of ancient practices in some ways. I mean, who's to say that deity wouldn't assume the role modern worshipers give her? I don't know (there's a lot I don't know lol). I've never really understood her as a triple goddess either. Though I did read an interesting viewpoint. It stated that as a crossroads goddess and a goddess of liminal spaces, Hecate was guardian of the triple crossroads at death, when people either went to the Elysium Fields, Asphoedel Fields or Tartarus. That kinda made me go Hmmmmmm, time to research some more ;)