Hecate's Curse

She walked past the old barn, where her horses were, hearing the old barn owl, not normally a comforting sound, but tonight it meant something different. Her raven hair cascading down her back, blowing in the breeze. The seasons were changing slower than usual, it was late December, and the chill in the air was more spring like than autumn or winter. During the day, the sun had been shining brightly, which had made her heart feel happy. It had been a long while since she had felt good inside. She carried with her a small box, and a small spade. She was heading once again to the crossroads. In times before, she had gone to banish some bad news, gossip, or negative people from her life or from the lives of those she loved. She could still smell the memories of the camphor from such dealings. In those days, she walked with her sister, but this time, she walked alone. It was something you didn't invite companions to; announcing the very thing you wished to banish would never be practical.

This time was different, she wanted to banish all the negative feelings from within herself, all the pain, grief, torment, anguish, frustration, restlessness, fear, doubt, sorrow, negative self judgement, and past ridicule that nagged at her. Her heart could take no more, and she was determined to cast it all to Hecate. The owl is a companion symbolic to Hecate, but its calls are typically associated with banshees and death, but sometimes seen as simply any transformation, her mind thought and pondered as she walked. She felt that Hecate was confirming with her, that it would be all right. Just give to me your worries and troubles, she felt she could hear Hecate whispering to her heart. She carried a small lantern, an athame, and a talisman. To her, she carried light, direction, and protection, respectively.

The moon was full, and it lit her path clearly as she walked. She took stops to gaze up at the star filled sky, pondering positive things she wanted to draw into her life. She thought, my home is restored, my heart is healed, love has found me, I am supported, I am provided for, I am free, I am renewed, I have succeeded in my goals, I am creating, I am doing things I love to do...

She remembered crafting, singing, playing, dreaming with her sister. How much fun and joy they had together no matter what was going on. Each was the comfort to each other. Now, she felt so vulnerable instead of strong, so fragile instead of full of faith, yet it was her faith that was carrying her forward. Everything had begun to feel so distant and far from her, in her loneliness she was losing what good she could remember. All was turning to tears. Despite future hopes, which also felt far away, she just cried all the time.

It was to be the new year, and she just had to banish away these terrible feelings. Into the woods she continued on to reach the four way crossroads, seen as the gate to Hecate, wherever they meet. She kneeled down with her lantern at the crook of one of the meeting points. She prayed to Hecate, repeating softly to herself, "I am free. I am healed. I am restored." She dug a small hole in the ground. Then she placed into the hole from her box a broken crystal, a charred piece of paper, dried roses, an acorn, some saw dust, an old nail, a piece of broken mirror, and a whole star anise. She proceeded to bury the items, and then she stood and stomped and jumped up and down on the ground, thinking to herself, "I am free."

Just then the barn owl swooped by, startling her, and causing her to duck. It sat in the middle of the crossroads staring at her. It screeched and morphed into a feather cloaked old woman, who pointed at her. "Witch," the old woman said, "You have been through much, my young Priestess. It has taken your youth and bouyancy. I can not restore you. I would rather trade with you, for where you find heartache, I find freedom. I will curse you to take my form, and you can seek out others like you. You will feel in your heart, and it will be your task to heal and comfort them, to dry their tears, take their pain upon yourself, free them of their burdens by taking them onto your wings, until you are heavy with age, as I am now. Then, one day you will find one as yourself, and you will trade with her. Cursing her to do this task I now place onto you."

A young red haired woman stood near a barn with horses inside, and she heard an old barn owl screeching. She smiled to herself, knowing with all her wisdom the truth of that owl...