She approached the cottage along the path hidden deep in the misty wood. A creek could be heard behind the small dwelling. If she found it odd that a Goddess would reside in such a small space, it was not at the forefront of her mind currently. Hesitating once more, she shook herself and moved forward again. The home was well tended and cozy looking. Smoke coming from the chimney smelled of sage and lavender. There was lemon balm plants along the walk that led to the door. Dark, blood red roses grew along the cottage itself and ivy clung to the walls. As she got closer, the door opened, bells that hung from the knob chimed a merry tune, a clear invitation. Her nervousness increased ten fold and she stepped inside.
A figure was moving around what could only be described as a workings room/kitchen. A dark haired maiden, slim in a white slip dress. She moved about confidently, gathering herbs and putting them into an ancient looking cauldron.
The wheel of Hekate, a tattoo on her neck. Her hair heavy coils that hung long down her back. As she turned and gave her her back, she could see that she was barefoot. When she turned back, she was no longer a maiden. Now she was older and heavily pregnant. A mother. Still in the same white slip dress, with the same tattoo on her neck. “Sit.” She said and gestured to a chair by the work table. She set her bag down by the door and sat in the chair.
“You have come to ask me a question, yes?” The Goddess questioned, her voice three simultaneous voices. A young girls, a woman’s and a crone’s voice all at once. It was disorienting for a moment, and she had to pause to figure out what she was hearing. Apparently her hesitation was too long because the Goddess started to speak again. “Most who seek me have one of three needs. “ She turned again to grab a spoon and when she turned back to the cauldron, she was now an old crone. Her hair white instead of dark. Her hands gnarled, her eyes white. The same white slip. The only color that seems to come from her is the wheel that is still tattooed on her neck.
“Wealth,” she said, jarring her from her observation. “Fertility,” starting to stir the cauldron with the spoon. “Knowledge.” Another turn of the spoon.
“Does no one ask for power?” She couldn’t help but ask. The goddess chuckled, turned to take down a tea cup and saucer. When she went to pour the tea into the cup, she was once again a maiden. “What kind of power? Power from wealth? Power from knowledge? Or power from fertility?” She cackled at that last one and hand her the tea cup. “Drink.” She commanded.
Hurriedly drinking the cup, the goddess just watched and then held out her hand for the cup.
“Let’s see,” Her hand going to her now pregnant belly. “ Ah, knowledge.” She said and it sounded proud. “Out with your question then.”
“Yes, Goddess, I wanted to know if I would become a good high priestess” she stammered out quickly. The goddess moved forward and cocked her head. “That is not the real question you seek. You already know the answer to this one, you have seen it.” She felt chagrined, and clutched her hands together. “I’m sorry but I knew it was what my mother wanted me to ask and it’s traditional for your daughters on their journey.” She looked up into the old crones white eyes and tried to read her expression. The goddess waited and her eyebrow rose.
“Are we really your descendants?” She blurted out and squeezed her hands tighter, expecting to be struck down on the spot.
Nothing happened. She peeked up and saw the wicked grin on the maidens face. “I’ve had quite a few high priestess’s and only the best ones have asked me that.” She turned away from her and started to gather more herbs around the work room, the cauldron empty again.
“You don’t mind that we question our heritage?” She asked, curious now and empowered. This was going much better than mother expected it would. “You need to think for yourself, I don’t want mindless creatures sharing my teachings” the maiden said continuing her new tincture. “You are my descendants in that I claim you, not that you are off my blood.” A hand on her pregnant belly again, the other hand stirring.
“So you are a virgin goddess then?” To this the goddess threw her head back and a laugh boomed out of her. “How you vex me with all your questions Samara” the goddess said but in a perfect imitation of her mothers voice. Samara cringed.
“Now I see why she prayed extra hard for you. She forgot your grandmother’s teachings” the crone dipped her finger into the concoction and walked in from of Samara. She used the finger she dipped into the cauldron and drew the triple moon onto Samara’s forehead.
“I give you my blessing” she said and then leaned in close to Samara’s face, “Question everything.” And then kissed her lips.
When Samara opened her eyes again, she opened them to the ceiling of her bedroom. She was laying on her bed with her bag beside her. She remembered what the goddess said and also remembered that that was a saying that her Grandmother used to say to Samara all the time as she grew up. She smiled and thanked her Goddess in silent prayer.
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