Dreams and Pathfinding and being scared of a Goddess

[Kodi R.]

First off, Hi. I'm Kodi. A little nervous to be posting here.

I've been interested in Paganism for a while and I've looked on these boards a couple times before. I made a post once a long time ago but got scared and left.

Anyway,

I've been searching for the Path to take, I'm interested in a lot of mythology but I haven't been specifically drawn to anything and that No One really took interest in me.

A while ago ago though, I did have a dream that I tried to put in the back of my mind because it scared me. Or, rather, the Goddess that was in the dream did.

In the dream I was standing on a hill with a storm approaching. A huge twister. It was coming right at me. I was right in it's path and I was going to die.

And then I dived behind a hill and started repeating a name over and over again in my head. A prayer. Hecate.

Suddenly, the storm passed over me and I was left alive and completely unharmed. When I got up to leave the hill, a voice/name was shouted in my mind in red: "HECATE".

The problem is that Hecate has always scared me. I'm a very easily intimidated person and whenever I do read about Her, She makes me feel all weird. Somewhat tingly and a little afraid. Energetic but jumpy.

She does make me scared though.

So, I'm not sure why in my dream I had called for Her for protection or why She was there.

Recently, my life has been just like a twister, so I'm not sure about that either.

I was wondering if anyone knew if this meant anything, or if I just had a bad piece of food one day.

Thank you.

--Kodi

[Aspiria]

First off, Hi. I'm Kodi. A little nervous to be posting here.

I've been interested in Paganism for a while and I've looked on these boards a couple times before. I made a post once a long time ago but got scared and left.

Anyway,

I've been searching for the Path to take, I'm interested in a lot of mythology but I haven't been specifically drawn to anything and that No One really took interest in me.

A while ago ago though, I did have a dream that I tried to put in the back of my mind because it scared me. Or, rather, the Goddess that was in the dream did.

In the dream I was standing on a hill with a storm approaching. A huge twister. It was coming right at me. I was right in it's path and I was going to die.

And then I dived behind a hill and started repeating a name over and over again in my head. A prayer. Hecate.

Suddenly, the storm passed over me and I was left alive and completely unharmed. When I got up to leave the hill, a voice/name was shouted in my mind in red: "HECATE".

The problem is that Hecate has always scared me. I'm a very easily intimidated person and whenever I do read about Her, She makes me feel all weird. Somewhat tingly and a little afraid. Energetic but jumpy.

She does make me scared though.

So, I'm not sure why in my dream I had called for Her for protection or why She was there.

Recently, my life has been just like a twister, so I'm not sure about that either.

I was wondering if anyone knew if this meant anything, or if I just had a bad piece of food one day.

Thank you.

--Kodi

It's OK to get scared. I'm still seeking, but I do know Morrighan is my Goddess. And lately I'm thinking Apollo is my God. There's still a lot of things I'm unsure of doing, I was raised Christian and so I have obstacles to overcome. Sometimes whispers say I will go to hell for this. I know It's just old inlaid beliefs and so That's one obstacle. It seems to me though, that this forum is full of highly intelligent people who know their stuff. I'm sure you'll get lots of advice. Just give it a try. I'm so much happier inside since I got off the Christian bandwagon. Good luck!
P.S. I think your fear probably extends more from the unknown rather than Hecate herself. That's Where mine is from. Acknowledge that so you Can overcome it and move past it.

Merry meet!

[Annie Roonie]

Recently, my life has been just like a twister, so I'm not sure about that either.

I was wondering if anyone knew if this meant anything, or if I just had a bad piece of food one day.

Thank you.

--Kodi

Hi Kodi. Welcome to TC.

I've had twister dreams in the past and only in retrospect have I been able to place their meaning for me. They have happened prior to fairly large life changes. Not immediate changes, but larger ones that take a while to resolve. I had them prior to changing careers and again prior to a divorce. Each of those things happened several months later, but the twister dreams stuck out enough for me to remember them after and think of them during the changes (though during I never really understood what they might mean or didn't want to).

Not saying that is what they mean for you. There are some possible meanings on this page at Dream Moods that might fit better. I think they fit for mine in the feeling that life was out of control and overwhelming and my resolving that led to the life changes.

If you want to develop a relationship with Hecate that drive might help you bust through the fear. Have you read the Theoi entry for her? Sometimes reading the mythology helps fears abate. I think when dealing any deity that feels real has an element of fear to it. There are the elements of the unknown and unknowable mixed with intense power. IMO it is normal to have fear with things like that, but you get to decide how you deal with it and that can be empowering.

My own experiences with Hecate have been learning experiences, and the power dynamic between student and teacher in itself has some fear to it even between humans. If only the fear of not wanting to disappoint. Fear isn't always pointless. It can be very useful and a great motivator depending on how one responds to the fear.

Perhaps trying to communicate with her will help you to find a productive relationship dynamic. I cannot say that she always responds or responds in a way that is expected, but I can attest to coming to realizations of my own in simply mediating about her and her roles over time. In doing that, I was able to come to a place with her that was very intuitive and productive for me.

I am sure you have read that she is a goddess of the liminal. And when a life is amid changing that is a liminal time. At the very least, you were protected in dream through the tremendous change of a twister. That's not bad!

[Gilbride]

In the dream I was standing on a hill with a storm approaching. A huge twister.

In my experience, dreams of twisters, whirlpools or any other spiraling force indicate the presence of a numinous power such as a deity.

[Aster Breo]

In my experience, dreams of twisters, whirlpools or any other spiraling force indicate the presence of a numinous power such as a deity.

Interesting.

I've had a recurring dream about a tornado since childhood.  Complete with a mother figure who rescues me.  I never thought of it as a dream about deity before, but now that you mention it...

[Kodi R.]

Not saying that is what they mean for you. There are some possible meanings on this page at Dream Moods that might fit better. I think they fit for mine in the feeling that life was out of control and overwhelming and my resolving that led to the life changes.

If you want to develop a relationship with Hecate that drive might help you bust through the fear. Have you read the Theoi entry for her? Sometimes reading the mythology helps fears abate. I think when dealing any deity that feels real has an element of fear to it. There are the elements of the unknown and unknowable mixed with intense power. IMO it is normal to have fear with things like that, but you get to decide how you deal with it and that can be empowering.

My own experiences with Hecate have been learning experiences, and the power dynamic between student and teacher in itself has some fear to it even between humans. If only the fear of not wanting to disappoint. Fear isn't always pointless. It can be very useful and a great motivator depending on how one responds to the fear.

Perhaps trying to communicate with her will help you to find a productive relationship dynamic. I cannot say that she always responds or responds in a way that is expected, but I can attest to coming to realizations of my own in simply mediating about her and her roles over time. In doing that, I was able to come to a place with her that was very intuitive and productive for me.

 
I looked at the dream meaning and one of them said that it could mean you were having emotional issues. I'm a Rapid Cycling Bipolar so maybe that has something to do with it...

I think the reason I'm scared of her is that I read she was very blunt and harsh and powerful and I'm a very easily intimidated person who shies away from most people, I can't stand large crowds, etc. etc.

So I'm not quite sure if this is her, why she'd want anything to do with me.

Sorta scary for me.

I might try to communicate though, if I can.

Thank you.

[Kodi R.]

In my experience, dreams of twisters, whirlpools or any other spiraling force indicate the presence of a numinous power such as a deity.

 
Would it be natural to be scared if there was such a presence in your life?

(Also, sorry if double posting is against the rules. I don't know how to double quote and I didn't see anything about it when I read the rules)

[Aster Breo]

(Also, sorry if double posting is against the rules. I don't know how to double quote and I didn't see anything about it when I read the rules)

Double posting like this is fine.  In fact, we prefer for people to respond to posts individually, as you've done here, because it usually makes the thread easier to follow.

~ Aster
TC Staff

[Kodi R.]

Double posting like this is fine.  In fact, we prefer for people to respond to posts individually, as you've done here, because it usually makes the thread easier to follow.

~ Aster
TC Staff

 

Okay, thank you!

[Gilbride]

Would it be natural to be scared if there was such a presence in your life?

 
Check out the work of Rudolf Otto. He was a Protestant theologian, but his ideas are very relevant here:

http://www2.kenyon.edu/Depts/Religion/Fac/Adler/Reln101/Otto.htm

Otto coined the word "numinous"- a word frequently used by modern pagans.

In his view, numinous experiences contain an element he calls the "mysterium tremendum," which "provokes terror because it presents itself as overwhelming power" as well as an element he calls the "mysterium fascinans," which is "merciful and gracious."

Taken together, the numinous experience is the "mysterium tremendum et fascinosum" which means "the terrible and fascinating mystery." I really love that phrase.

Deities sometimes exemplify the fascinans aspect (think: Brighid), sometimes the tremendum aspect (think: the Morrigan), sometimes both.

So, yes, fear is a natural response to the sheer power and Other-ness of the divine presence- but that's not a bad thing. It just means you had an experience potent enough to inspire awe.

[Kodi R.]

Check out the work of Rudolf Otto. He was a Protestant theologian, but his ideas are very relevant here:

http://www2.kenyon.edu/Depts/Religion/Fac/Adler/Reln101/Otto.htm

Otto coined the word "numinous"- a word frequently used by modern pagans.

In his view, numinous experiences contain an element he calls the "mysterium tremendum," which "provokes terror because it presents itself as overwhelming power" as well as an element he calls the "mysterium fascinans," which is "merciful and gracious."

Taken together, the numinous experience is the "mysterium tremendum et fascinosum" which means "the terrible and fascinating mystery." I really love that phrase.

Deities sometimes exemplify the fascinans aspect (think: Brighid), sometimes the tremendum aspect (think: the Morrigan), sometimes both.

So, yes, fear is a natural response to the sheer power and Other-ness of the divine presence- but that's not a bad thing. It just means you had an experience potent enough to inspire awe.

 
I will check it out.

Thank you.

Another question (Sorry, I'm just full of them),

How do you know for sure if a God/Goddess is interested in you?

I'm notoriously bad at reading signs and social cues and everything like that so I figure that there might be a problem...

[Gilbride]

How do you know for sure if a God/Goddess is interested in you?

Well, appearing in front of you accompanied by a tornado and with their name in big red letters might be a clue...

[Catherine]

I think the reason I'm scared of her is that I read she was very blunt and harsh and powerful and I'm a very easily intimidated person who shies away from most people, I can't stand large crowds, etc. etc.

Truth be told, just like many other deities, She can be kind of terrifying. She's just so...Big? Vast? I'm not finding the right word, but there seems to be so much of Her... Anyway, I've not found Her to be overly harsh. In my experiences with Her, She's not one for coddling. If She wants something done, that you're capable of doing, She expects you to do it. But, She does have the patience to teach you how to do the things you don't know how to do. Once She's taught you what you need to know about a thing, She doesn't stick around to hold your hand. She expects you to use the knowledge she's given you independently and at your own discretion.

Hmm, I hope some of that is helpful. Describing experiences with deities is very difficult for me.
 

So I'm not quite sure if this is her, why she'd want anything to do with me.

Sorta scary for me.

My guess is, you have potential. Potential to do the things (or a thing) that She needs/wants done in the world. The thing is, you don't have to figure it all out right away. You can take your time and move at your own pace. If you're obviously slacking, She'll let you know. But figuring out the whats, whys and hows doesn't happen over night.

You can also say no if you find you're not comfortable working with/for Her.

I might try to communicate though, if I can.

I see no reason why you shouldn't. I would suggest taking the time to learn about Her first, don't make any promises you can't keep, be polite and don't behave as if you aren't worthy of Her attention. If She's showing up in your dreams, my guess is that She's already taken an interest in you.

Anyhoo, this is all based on my experiences. YMMV.

[Kodi R.]

Well, appearing in front of you accompanied by a tornado and with their name in big red letters might be a clue...

 
Very true.

[Kodi R.]

Truth be told, just like many other deities, She can be kind of terrifying. She's just so...Big? Vast? I'm not finding the right word, but there seems to be so much of Her... Anyway, I've not found Her to be overly harsh. In my experiences with Her, She's not one for coddling. If She wants something done, that you're capable of doing, She expects you to do it. But, She does have the patience to teach you how to do the things you don't know how to do. Once She's taught you what you need to know about a thing, She doesn't stick around to hold your hand. She expects you to use the knowledge she's given you independently and at your own discretion.

My guess is, you have potential. Potential to do the things (or a thing) that She needs/wants done in the world. The thing is, you don't have to figure it all out right away. You can take your time and move at your own pace. If you're obviously slacking, She'll let you know. But figuring out the whats, whys and hows doesn't happen over night.

You can also say no if you find you're not comfortable working with/for Her.



I see no reason why you shouldn't. I would suggest taking the time to learn about Her first, don't make any promises you can't keep, be polite and don't behave as if you aren't worthy of Her attention. If She's showing up in your dreams, my guess is that She's already taken an interest in you.

Anyhoo, this is all based on my experiences. YMMV.

 
Thank you, this was really helpful.

(Can you tell me how to quote multiple parts of a post like you did? Do you just write in the code?)