The Clark Bar

Convenience Stories Chapter 13

We are gearing up for the thrilling conclusion of Convenience Stories! If you’re new to this mailing list, the previous installments are available here.

Hecate, the goddess of transitions and transformations, is associated with the new moon, the beginning of the lunar cycle. This is the darkest phase of the cycle, which resonates with Hecate’s role of protector through dark and uncertain paths. Implied in all this talk of transitions, transformations, and darkness is death and the afterlife. The ancient Greeks dedicated rituals to Hecate at crossroads, and in return she acted as an intermediary between the living and the dead.

On the new moon in February, I felt a very strong pull to the goddess, so I prepared an offering, lit some candles and incense, and recited the words and phrases of the ritual I had been taught and waited. And waited, and waited some more. So I pulled out the pendulum and asked her if she had a message for me. The answer was clear, unambiguous:

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“No.”

“Alright,” I shrugged and closed up shop.

Even if a ritual failed to get tangible results (and it often did), I felt a quiet calmness afterward that was unlike anything else in my cluttered, anxious life.