Blessings of the Dark

Like our general way of discussing aspects of the Goddess, the Dark Goddess is easily perceived as the Triple Aspects of the Dark Maiden, the Dark Mother, and the Crone.

The Dark Maiden

You know the Dark Maiden. She is the arch-typical young woman, full of passion, confidence, and self-righteousness. Demeter George, in her book Mysteries of the Dark Moon: The Healing Power of the Dark Goddess, cites the dark moon time as that of menstruation, with full moon being the time of ovulation (p. 19): "However, at the dark moon menstrual period, the life force is no longer other- and outer-directed, but rather self- and inner-reflective."

Most commonly, she is portrayed as the Temptress, the Vamp.

The Dark Maiden is the one who whispers in your ear to turn around and face the stranger who is walking too close behind you. She gives you the strength to stare him down. She is the relentless muse. She gives you the moxy to speak up when you see a wrong being done. She reminds you to take quiet afternoons in bed, reading favorite books. She loves when you go out into Nature, alone and silent. She reminds you that you are a sexual being. She insists on self preservation and autonomy. She acts on matters of principle and ideals.

She is known as Menrva, Athena, Lamia, Shakti, Artemis.

The Dark Mother

The Dark Mother is both the most frightening aspect of motherhood, and perhaps the most comforting. The symbol of the Great Sow who would eat her young invokes images of the life-altering trials, "That which does not kill is, makes us stronger." She is also the formidable entity of the Protective Mother, the Lioness who would face any manner of beast to protect those she loves.

She fetters the psychic bonds between family and friends. She upholds the laws that protect the innocent and seeks retribution when they are broken. She controls the harvest. She is intuition. She reminds you of the necessity of cleansing, albeit painful. She knows that sex can heal. She loves it when you toss out everything that is safe and familiar and walk, head-up into a new chapter of life. She insists that you keep learning and growing, perfecting your talents and discovering new ones. She acts on matters of community and creativity.

She is known as Lilith, Nyx, Nemesis, Hera, Kali, Fortuna, Medea, Demeter.

The Crone

There is no need to include "dark" in the defining of the Crone aspect. She is the most wise and most feared aspect of the Goddess, which is why Western society has generally demoted her to the "wicked witch" or the "senile old lady" -- as if to make her evil or to make her weak might diminish her power, but of course we are wrong.

The Crone is most commonly associated with the Final Knowledge, the culmination of a lifetime, the facing of Death that prepares us for Rebirth.

She is the fountain of history and knowledge. She is the head of the family. She knows with a look what is wrong with you, and how to fix it -- although, some times it's not what you wanted to hear. She is the teacher of the next generation. She speaks of Truths. She expresses complexities simply. She reminds you that Death means Change. She gives voice to the Oracle. She knows all the rites of birth, life, and death. She assists in Passage between Life into Death. She insists that you face your fears. She acts in matters of completion and the Great Mysteries.

She is known as Hekate, Medusa, Baba Yaga, Umbria, Atropos, Cerridwen.