And meet your inner guardian archetype

December is a month in which we are standing on a threshold. The threshold of the ‘old’ year passed and the new year coming. Some of us are busy ending things at work, just before the Christmas holidays. Some of us take their time to reflect on what happened in the past year. And some of us start already to look forward to the upcoming year.

In this blog about crossing the threshold I’ll stand still to focus on the archetypal meaning of ‘thresholds’ in our lives. As we cross thresholds every day consciously and subconsciously, we aren’t always aware of the deeper meaning of this movement in our lives. If we stand still and take time to connect with our inner guardian we are able to use her -and therefor our own 😉- inner intuitive wisdom more consciously on our journey, called life.

Stand still to cross a threshold deliberately

It might sound strange, but in order to cross a threshold in your life deliberately you need to stand still on it first. There is always a reason why you should or could cross a threshold. You come across it in your life at moments when you need or want to change. Thresholds mark therefor moments of transition and transformation. If you don’t take time to stand still, there might be a big chance that you take the wrong road into the future.

And that is exactly what we do or should do at the end of the year: we stand still and look back on the passed year and from there we look forward to the new year coming in order to continue our journey in the direction we want.

Letting go to create space

In your life moments of crossing a threshold take of course place during the whole year. But if you look closer, you’ll see that they are still on moments you end something or end up with someone. Transformational changes often happen in times you are ‘in between’. In between jobs or in between relationships, for example.

Archetypically seen, crossing the threshold is all about letting go of something or someone in order to create space for something or someone new to come. In other words said, it is all about what needs to die within us in order to be able to give birth to something new. You need to stand still to be able to go through this transformational process deliberately.

Enter the ‘twilight zone’

The thresholds in your live mark the twilight zone in which you are able to see things differently. If you stand still you’ll get the insight in what needs to die and what wants to be born in your live. These times often aren’t easy. You have the feeling you are in a dark tunnel. There might be light seen at the end, but all around you it is dark.

But…. You are not alone there. In this twilight zone you have your inner guardian accompanying you, although you might not see him or her.

In stories told in December heroes are often accompanied by ghosts, people who crossed the threshold of live and dead. Those ghosts often have the role of guardian, who help the hero to take the right decision in the end. For example in ‘A Christmas story’ by Charles Dickens. In this beautiful story Scrooge meets Marley, his former companion in business. Marley supports Scrooge to get the insight and change profoundly from a miser to a beloved man.

In your life you are accompanied too, not by ghosts literally of course, but by your inner guardian archetype. Stand still and meet him or her.

Meet your inner guardian archetype

When you are in the middle of these moments of change, you might feel very lonely. Not knowing what the next step should or could be and not knowing whom to ask for advice. Yes, you might have friends with great ideas what you should do or don’t, but often there is still that voice insight you which doesn’t totally agree on what your beloved ones say to you.

That’s the voice of your inner guardian. The archetype that stands on this crossroad in life waiting for you. In my case her name is Hecate, the goddess of thresholds and crossroads. But in your case your inner guardian can have a different name. The characteristics will be the same.

Your inner guardian one of the thousands or millions of archetype within you. She represents the ability of clairvoyance. The wisdom of the clear seeing, hearing, sensing, feeling, smelling and knowing we all have in our bodies. Hecate can see in three different ways at once. By doing so she sees the connection between your past, present and future in one moment. Through this she helps you seeing the bigger picture of what you are doing and why. She helps you avoiding getting lost, if you stand still and take the time to listen to her….

Hecate lights up your path

This inner guardian has two functions. On one hand Hecate lights up the path you are taking towards your goal. On images and in stories where she comes to the fore she has always a burning torch in her hand. She helps you to focus on what you want to achieve.

While you are symbolically walking in the dark, wandering around, maybe not knowing where to go and what your next step should be, she is there for you to enlighten your road. She helps you to choose the right direction. She kind of tells you not to be afraid of this darkness. Walk on and focus on the light flickering at the crossroad. By going through the uncertainty and having hard times, you grow in depth and wisdom.

Stand still on that threshold together with Hecate and listen to her counsel: “Look back, reflect and then look forward. Face the truth on what needs to be done.”

Hecate helps you to face your obstacles

In line with this lies the second function of your inner guardian. She makes you aware of the obstacles that are holding you back from achieving your goal. These are the reasons why you are symbolically wandering around in the dark. Your inner guardian represents them. By facing these obstacles you become aware of what needs to be changed. She helps you to try something new in order to overcome your own challenges.

So the maybe annoying habit of Hecate is that she will stand in your way avoiding you to continue your journey unless you face those obstacles and change. You will and need to stand still on that threshold and face the truth about yourself, your behaviour and what you are doing in life and what not.

Hecate is a companion travelling along you

Hecate is a witness. A companion that travels along with your whole life. But she will only be visible in your darkest moments, when you are in the twilight zones of your life. If you listen to her then she helps you in the choices you need to make. She won’t blame, nor shame you. She helps you to see yourself as whole. She shows you your hidden parts. Those less dominant sides of you that probably are helpful to bring up in the near future in order to achieve your goals.

So when you feel you are standing on a crossroad, connect to your inner guardian and ask her: “What truth do I need to face?” Stand still on that threshold and listen to the information that comes from Hecate. This can be an image, some words or a sentence you hear, a sound, a smell. It can be anything. You might not understand her answer in the beginning, but if you open up for it, the explanation will come later when you are ready to face the truth. You’ll stay in that twilight zone of life until you’ve discovered what needs to be done in your life.

Let Hecate join you on your journey during the whole year

So yes, we are standing on a threshold at the end of the year, but we cross them throughout the whole year over and over again. Sometimes consciously and sometimes unconsciously. Sometimes voluntary and sometimes we are forced to cross a boundary due to circumstances. But we aren’t alone. Our inner guardian, in my case called Hecate, is with us lighting our paths.

Stand still and listen to her. Ask her what is the truth you need to face. Take account of her inner wisdom. Or better said take account of your own inner intuition, because Hecate is part of you, as all archetypes are. Most of the time she is invisible. But she is there for you in your ‘darkest moments’. Then she lights your path with her torches and she will help you crossing whatever threshold you are facing as long as you are ready to let go of what needs to die and dare to try something new.

Happy New Year

To be continued….