Within the deepest darkness,
There is true sight.
Medicine of the depths
Shaking dreams to light.
Entering Hekate’s realm,
Returning home-flight.
Richness of the shadows,
Truth in what I write.
All is well, in the
Womb of Night.
Moon-arrows aim true,
My soul ignites.

Confession: I have never been comfortable in the spotlight. I didn’t set out on this path, claiming the key that I was offered, to get attention. It’s not in my nature. The shadows are where I belong. Yet, here we are. Perhaps this is a metaphor of how the darkness reveals the sight. I’ve been thinking a lot about social media lately. There’s been times when I took a break from it entirely, but over the past several months I’ve made my peace with it. How this happened is a bit of a mystery. I started making humble videos of altars and other energetic offerings that I felt called to share. I went into this phase of sharing with the intention that those meant to find what I posted would. I stopped trying to best the algorithm.

Rights purchased. The womb-cave of the shadows offers comfort and discomfort.

What Does This Have to do With Sacred Darkness?

Years ago, I wrote about Hekate’s Holy Darkness. It caught fire. People either deeply resonated with my reflections or were enraged by my words. Going into her darkness is like that. Speaking the truth, for in the healing womb-moon-tomb cave the truth is obligatory, as we know it, can lead to strong emotions. Those who find connection will deepen our lives, those who fear their own darkness will lash out.

There is comfort in her womb-cave, and equally it can be deeply unsettling, especially if we’ve been in denial about the dark, whether within ourselves or otherwise.

Living in a World of Artificial Light

There’s enlightenment in the darkness. The dance between our shadows and soul enriches us in ways that unlock meaning, potential, peace, and empowerment. Yet even in shadow work, there’s much on social media that feels like artificial light. To go into the shadows is to walk in the time of kairos, it is slow work. There’s no one-minute reel that’s going to do the work. Only we can. In my personal understanding, Hekate is the guide that can support us as we wander in the depths of our souls.

Shadow Work: Recognizing Projection

I’d like to say that I have one ritual or spell that’ll bypass this deep work, but I’m not much of one lies like that. I will say that I’ve seen people do this work, sometimes supported by my books and courses, sometimes without. There are some keys to shadow work, including studying dreams, shamanic experiences (spontaneous and planned), and ending the addiction to projection. So much on social media is projection. There’s the positivity side of it: buy this thing and your problems will evaporate. There’s the negative version, when people position themselves by sharing other’s content and then criticize it.

Projection, simply stated, is when we (because we all do it) take our own issues and insecurities and push them outward rather than examining them. Now there are times when we need to speak out against injustices, but a lot of what I’ve seen is more about virtue signaling than information sharing. It’s like “look at me, I am not this thing.” However, within the lens of exploring our projections, it may be that our deepest fear is that we are, indeed, that thing.

The opposite of this is healthy engagement with identity. Coming to terms with who we are includes figuring out what we aren’t. But that’s only part of it. The richness of the dark is that our own truth comes to light. The need to define ourselves in terms of what we aren’t, over-identifying with our enemies, evaporates. This creates the space to express all we are.

Bringing Near Enemies To Light

In Buddhism, there’s a practice regarding “near enemies.” I’ve found this approach so helpful in my own shadow wanderings. The near enemy of toxic positivity is toxic negativity. The near enemy of compassion is virtue signaling. Projections are driven by these near enemies. At the surface level, it can look as though we are doing good, but underneath our insecurities are running the show. Co-dependency can look like connection. Superficial content can feel like meaning. Going into our darkness can reveal how these near enemies are working on us.

The Keys: Time, Intention, and Capacity

This takes time, intention, and capacity. Time to reflect on who we are, what projections are working on/through us, and figure out those near enemies. Intention that sets the energy to personal inquiry, seeking to understand our shadows rather than project them outwards. Capacity includes time and intention, and the ability to increase self-awareness, to cut off distractions, establish boundaries, and choose the way of truth. How this looks can take so many forms. For me, Hekate has been an enduring companion, through examining her history, observations, and personal experiences.

What Does Hekate Have To Do With All This?

When we are at a crossroads, or already in the Underworld, Hekate can rise up out of the deeper world, showing up in the cracks of our lives. She sends her emissaries—angels and hungry ghosts alike—to do her bidding. They occupy our dreams, invade our imaginations, and drop their uncanny hints until we pay them heed. Although their faces vary and their methods may be disparate, their message is always the same: Wake up! They intrude on our quiet minds until we hear them speak. And when we do, they tell us stories that unsettle us. They bring back the past, show up our own faults, and generally shake us to the core. That is the work of Hekate in action. She scares the life back into us. She is the spirit of the sacred feminine that calls us to embark on the journey of the soul. - from Entering Hekate’s Cave.

Hekate is a spirit of the shadows, both bringer of light and the darkness. She represents the duality of the universe - light and dark co-exist. In a world where artificial light prevails, from social media and elsewhere, she calls us to elevate the depths.

Watch: Hekate’s Darkness: Shadows, Psychopomps and Dreams

In this episode, Christen and I talk about the profound connections between Hekate and the themes of darkness, night, and the afterlife, while contrasting her illuminating aspects. The discussion highlights the importance of embracing darkness as a sacred journey towards personal healing and empowerment, featuring rituals and practices guided by Hekate. Christen and I share personal stories illustrating the challenges of confronting one’s shadows, alongside insights from psychological theories on dreams and shadow work. We encourage a mindful exploration of inner darkness, seeking community support and the gradual nature of healing, ultimately unlocking Hekate’s transformative darkness.

WATCH this episode wherever you do podcasts, and right on the Keeping Her Keys website. GO THERE.

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