Thank you for your assistance, traveler! The key is buried deep enough for now, I would say. It will be obvious if we did an insufficient job anyway. The connection between the buried key and the one I wear will be lost if that one is ever unearthed. Thanks to your help, though, I don’t foresee that being an issue.
 
Before we continue our journey, let us sit a spell and take in the crossroads and the dark of the moon. We will eventually need to determine which way to proceed, but first we must simply be still and…just be. Let’s listen and absorb the energies that are present.
 
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Liminal spaces have been an object of both fascination and unease for humans ever since we developed the desire to categorize and compartmentalize our world. Crossroads are an excellent example of this, as they are the intersection of separate and distinct paths. A decision must be made before leaving the crossroads; however, while in the center of it…prior to any decision being made…you are in an unidentifiable space. For example, you are neither inside nor outside when standing in the front doorway to your home. While contemplating a major life transition, you are neither in your old life nor have you yet embarked on your new journey. You are in the in-between.
 
Since ancient times, one of the deities ascribed to the crossroads is Hekate. This is fitting, really, because, as demonstrated last week when we dove into her connection with Kore, she has the ability to move freely between the realms. She facilitates transitions and therefore can linger at the crossroads without concern. She is certainly not the only deity associated with the crossroads. In fact, even within the Greek pantheon, liminal spaces are shared with the god Hermes. Other cultures and pantheons have their own deities guarding the crossroads as well, of course, and we have combined elements from our ancestors into the magic that is practiced today.
 
It is important to note that these guiding deities are not the only entities present at the threshold. Restless spirits congregate at the crossroads as well. Perhaps it is the combined power of the crossroads deities and the restless spirits that made this location a place of intense emotion. Certain crossroads that were known for increased activity were to be feared and/or avoided but also were sought out under particular circumstances. Such circumstances, at least according to the historical record, came about when people were pushed to their limits.
 
The crossroads have yielded evidence of our ancestors’ beliefs and allowed us to connect with them in ways that would otherwise be lost in time. We have found trinkets, bones, and wax dolls buried in these liminal spaces. We have discovered tablets that call upon Hekate and other deities, their names scratched into sheets of lead that were rolled, bound, and buried into the ground. These have become known as curse tablets and could be found in all manner of transitional spaces, from graves to doorsills.
 
In some cases, we have records as to how the rituals were carried out. In one instance in particular, after completing the ritual at the crossroads, one must turn around and flee before Hekate makes her appearance. She cannot be seen. Of course, there are ways to know when she is close even if you cannot see her: hearing her hounds, for example, just as we did earlier.
 
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But, as I said, there are other beings that inhabit the crossroads. It is as much a shared space as it is a transitional one, and it is best to remember that.
 
How are you feeling? What are your senses perceiving?
 
Do you feel that chill in your bones?
 
Tell me, traveler, that you felt the winds rush in from all directions to engulf us here as we sit at the center.
 
Do you hear that??
 
Someone...
 
something…is coming.
 
 
 
Until next time,
Heather
 
 
Further reading:
 
Betz, Hans Dieter. The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation. The University of Chicago Press, 1996.
 
Foxwood, Orion. The Candle and the Crossroads: A Book of Appalachian Conjure and Southern Root-Work.   Weiser Books, 2012.
 
Gager, John G. Curse Tablets and Binding Spells from the Ancient World. Oxford University Press, 1992.
 
Johnston, S. I. “Crossroads.” Zeitschrift für Papyrologie Und Epigraphik, vol. 88, 1991, pp. 217–224.
 
Ogden, Daniel. Magic, Witchcraft, and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds: A Sourcebook. Oxford          University Press, 2009.
 
 

​Welcome back, traveler! We must get moving as we have a destination to reach before the dark of the moon.
 
Where are we headed?
 
Well…we are headed to a liminal space.
 
A veil between the worlds.
 
A sacred place.
 
 
You shall see…
 
 
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There are few deities in myth who have the power to freely traverse between the worlds. The gods are limited in their domains, really, but the ones who have the ability to move between the realms…theirs are the stories most interesting to tell.
 
In the pantheon of ancient Greece, Hekate is one such deity. She helped the goddess Demeter in her most desperate time of need.
 
You see, one beautiful day, many moons ago, the beautiful young Kore was joyfully playing in the meadows, gathering and admiring the wildflowers while in the company of some of her friends. She was naïve and unsuspecting that day when the ground suddenly shook beneath her feet, and she was forced to meet a fate which she did not choose.
 
The earth split and Hades appeared. He ripped Kore from her realm down into his. He retrieved her as his prize. She was to become his new wife--just as he had been promised by his brother, the great god Zeus. Hades had admired her from afar for some time and was unwilling to wait any longer. She was to be his. She was to become his queen.
 
Kore’s screams were heard by only a few before the earth closed behind her. Her actual abduction was seen by even fewer.
 
Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, and more importantly (for this story) the mother of Kore, was broken. She searched the earth for days without any luck. Her daughter was gone.
 
Hekate was one of the deities who heard the moment Kore was stolen away from this realm, and she approached Demeter, offering aide in any way she could.
 
Demeter, upon discovering that wicked pact which had been formed between Zeus and Hades, threatened to halt the progression, reproduction, and fruitfulness of all the natural world if her daughter was not returned.
 
It was Hekate who helped her discover this betrayal. She knew that the god Helios would have seen what she could not. It was Hekate who walked with Demeter through the veil to the lower world. It was Hekate who provided her torches, which can burn brightly even in the realm of the dead. It was Hekate who, once Kore was reunited with Demeter, was forever at her side, easing her annual transition from the world of the mortals to that of the darkened realm of her betrothed. Hekate has become Kore's most important companion.
 
Hades ensured that this cycle must always continue. Kore is bound to him eternally because he fed her pomegranate seeds before she was rescued by Demeter. The seeds were a safeguard for Hades, and her consumption of them means she cannot abandon him for any extended period of time. She must always return to the land of the dead. 
 
When Kore is with her mother, Demeter’s maternal joy rewards us. The world is bright and beautiful. There is abundance. We are fed. We are happy. But we must steady ourselves for the inevitable. Kore must leave; Demeter will mourn her loss. It is during this time, however, we must remind ourselves that Kore will return. Hekate will guide her back to us.
 
You see, without Hekate, we wouldn’t have the seasons. Demeter is so distraught in the absence of her daughter that she plunges the world into darkness until they are reunited again. Crops will not grow for months. Without proper planning, humans will starve and therefore the gods would, too. For we know life is a cycle. Their power feeds off of our devotion, doesn’t it? Without Hekate helping Demeter find her way to Kore, we would be in an eternal winter. Without Hekate helping Kore traverse the realms, we would all suffer. The cycle would be broken.
 
That is according to the stories handed down from ancient Greece, at least…
 
 
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As it is said in the Homeric Hymn to Demeter: “Gods are hard for mortals to see.”
 
So, we must go by the sounds we recognize and the landmarks we know….
 
Do you hear it--the hounds baying? We are close!
 
Ah, yes, there we are. We have arrived at the crossroads. Now, if you excuse me, I have to attend to an important matter. If you wish, you can follow me. In fact….here! Carry this torch for me. I need a free hand for digging, anyway.
 
Now, as you can see, I need a hand to dig with this here spoon and one to hold these keys. Once…I…get…deep enough…
 
Yes! That should do! Here…hold this spoon while I bury a key. Keep the torch high, though! I still need to be able to see that it is buried tightly. We can’t have it coming unburied, you know!
 
Perfect! Now…the other key will remain with me. Keys keep us connected. They are important. So are the crossroads….
 
 
Until next time,
Heather
 
 
Further Reading:
 
Homeric Hymn to Demeter
 
https://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/Persephone.html
 
https://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/Hekate.html
 
http://hoodoohillrootworksupply.blogspot.com/2013/04/crossroads-keys.html
 
 
 

​Welcome back to the Caravan! Last week we discussed the importance of noticing the signs that nature leaves behind…sometimes there are hidden meanings, after all. I entreated you to look up and notice some of the stories the sky may have to tell. Did you listen? Did you note the rising of the full moon last week? That was the Flower Moon (northern hemisphere) or the Hunter’s Moon (southern hemisphere). Each month’s full moon carries a specific name (or names, depending on where you live), and our ancestors relied on these lunar signs to know when to plant, when to harvest, and when to hunt. Perhaps we can still take some knowledge from our predecessors…
 
For example, Appalachian lore suggests you should plant according to the phases of the moon. That is, above ground crops should be planted under the new of the moon. Below ground should not be planted until closer to the full moon. If planting isn’t of concern to you, perhaps you would be interested to know that Appalachian wisdom dictates wooden shingles should be put on a house during the week around new moon (the ‘dark of the moon’) or they will turn up and be ruined. Likewise, one should cut tobacco near the new moon if you want it to cure well.
 
According to a tale recounted by Michael Rivers, being aware of the types of full moon can save not only your life but also the life of your hunting companions. The Hunter’s Moon, which is in October in the northern hemisphere, is not always as enticing as it may seem. During the light of this moon, a bear may appear that is so alluring that you will follow it for miles and miles, unwittingly risking your life in the process. It is important, therefore, to not only know the world around you; but also, it is respectful to know the lore native to the area you currently inhabit.
 
We can look to our ancestors for interpretations of other astronomical phenomena as well. Appalachian lore dictates that the appearance of comets and shooting stars can be prelude to disaster. In similar fashion, history tends to paint the appearance of such wonders as portents of war or doom. My heart, however, has always been attached to the appearance of a comet as a sign that deification has occurred. You see, Julius Caesar was assassinated at Pompey’s Theater (the Senate house was under construction at that time) on the Ides of March in 44 BCE. Aside from his murderers, much of Rome was plunged into great mourning after his passing. A few months later during Caesar’s funeral games, an astronomical wonder shown in the sky that would be unrivaled for millennia. Caesar’s comet, Sidus Iulium, was so bright that it was visible even in the middle of the day, and this brilliant magnificence lasted an entire week. This was a sure sign to the Roman people that Caesar had ascended to the heavens as a god. This event was later used by the first Roman emperor, Augustus, as he won over the populace of Rome by emphasizing his familial connection with a deity. We have evidence of Caesar’s comet on Roman coinage minted under Augustus’ reign, proving that he utilized such an extraordinary event for his own gains.
 
All of this Roman lore is being mentioned to bring you, dear reader, back to current day events. Right now, if you live in the southern hemisphere, you should be able to step outside during the evening this coming week, look up, and spot the SWAN comet before it breaks into several pieces. If you aren’t able to see this before it fades out of view, or you are on the opposite side of the planet for this spectacle, no worries. In July, the northern hemisphere should see the appearance of Comet С/2020 F3 (NEOWISE). Now we can be left to wonder, based on ancient Roman beliefs, who might be ascending to deification?
 
Until next time,
Heather
 
 
Further Reading:
 
Gainer, Patrick. Witches, Ghosts, and Signs: Folklore of the Southern Appalachians.
 
Montell, William Lynwood. Ghosts Along the Cumberland: Deathlore in the Kentucky Foothills.
 
Moser, Heather. From Tyranny to Clemency: How Julius Caesar's Memory has Fluctuated over Time as a Reflection of Imperial Sentiment.
 
https://www.appalachianhistory.net/2012/11/beware-the-hunters-moon.html
 
https://starwalk.space/en/news/may-2020-comet-swan-c2020-f8

http://aerith.net/comet/weekly/current.html

Have you ever felt like the outside world is trying to tell you something? Nature constantly communicates with us. Don’t feel odd if you haven’t noticed. A lot of us have forgotten the language. We have forgotten how to see the signs. Sometimes we need to be reminded.
 
As we wind down these old dirt roads here in the caravan, I want you to notice the trees in full bloom. Do you see them? The buds are giving way to new leaves that will unfurl and grow with each passing day. Some of the branches are already overtaken by beautiful blossoms. The dogwood, in particular, shines radiantly amongst the other species in the forest. The bright distinct petals make this type of tree easy to spot from a distance. The color of the petals is important to note, particularly if it is a purple-blossomed dogwood. When you see such a sight, you can be sure that the nearest graveyard is full, even if it doesn’t appear to be…
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Nearly a century ago, the Tennessee River Valley underwent a massive change that ultimately brought electricity to areas that had, until that point, been unable to access such a luxury. During this time, the United States was trying to claw its way out of the Great Depression, farmers were losing the ability to produce crops as desired, and many people were falling ill with malaria. Change was both imminent and needed. Dams and reservoirs were created throughout the region over a span of 11 years in an attempt to address all of these issues.
 
Life was improved overall, but it wasn’t without sacrifice. Because of the redirection of bodies of water in the Tennessee River Valley, some towns were flooded. Residents were forced to find new homes, but their ancestors could not relocate quite so easily. In preparation for the flooding, bodies had to be dug up and reinterred in new places of rest.
 
During the relocation phase, a crew of workers came to begin clearing out one of these cemeteries that would soon be submerged. Upon their arrival, the workers noticed a woman standing near the entrance. She was weeping while staring at an empty section beyond the headstones. She was unwilling to communicate with anyone, so the men continued with their work. A short time later, she disappeared only to return with a bouquet of wildflowers. She held the flowers as she wept, staring at the same empty place, still without speaking, and made no attempt to move beyond the entrance. No one recognized the distraught woman, so they felt it best to just let her be. Eventually she vanished.
 
The woman never appeared at the cemetery again, but on two separate mornings when the crew arrived to resume their work, items were left in that empty corner of the cemetery. One morning, they found a vase of fresh flowers. Another, their tools were placed where the vase had been. This was especially unnerving as the tools had been locked away in a toolbox at the end of the previous workday. After several days, the crew unearthed and relocated the final body, and they returned home with a bit of relief that they had finished their task and would be heading to a different location in the morning.
 
That night, however, the foreman awoke to see the weeping woman standing in his bedroom. She held wildflowers in her hand, and she spoke for the first time. She begged the foreman, “Please don’t leave my baby there!” before vanishing. It was then that he understood.
 
The next morning, the foreman, against the wishes of his crew, insisted they return one final time before moving to their new location. He led them to the empty corner of the cemetery and told them to dig. Sure enough, after some time, they unearthed the skeleton of a baby who had been buried a few feet deep in an unmarked grave. The baby was placed in a coffin and sent to another cemetery so that it would not be lost forever under the waters of the soon-to-be-flooded valley.
 
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So, remember, the next time that you see that purple dogwood, Mother Nature just might be trying to let any passersby know that the closest burial grounds are full, even if a lack of headstones might suggest otherwise.
 
Sometimes it pays to slow down and listen to the world around you. Reconnect with our shared language. You never know what you may learn.  Take a moment. Breathe in the fresh air. Memorize the sounds of the leaves blowing in the wind and the birds chirping amongst themselves. Observe the world around you, and always look up…sometimes the sky has its own story to tell…
 

Until next time,
Heather
 
 
 


Further reading:
 
Jones, James Gay. Haunted Valley and More Folk Tales of Appalachia. McClain Print. Co., 1997.

Montell, William Lynwood. Ghosts along the Cumberland: Deathlore in the Kentucky Foothills. University of Tennessee Press, 2000.

https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/about/history/index.html
 
https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/history-of-the-tva