A past Reflections article by Olivia Robertson, Samhain 2002 - "The Fates":
"How
pathetically we submit to fate! Whether we see fate as the inevitable suffering
terminated by death of our brief earthly lives, or as the inexorable judge who
punishes us for sundry sins, we never seek guidance from the fates themselves!
We avoid them like the Athenians, who banished them from Athens to a provincial
temple, hopefully designating them as the "Benevolent Ones." Men
might defy the Fates and be designated heroes: women, never. The ideal women
not only submitted to father, husband and son, but also Fate. From China, where
the three obediences were laid down for the "lesser ones", to Ben
Bolt's "Alice", who rejoiced in his smile and trembled at his frown,
women were most honoured for obeying the rules laid down by men, to whom they
were possessions: laws vaingloriously attributed to God. Now is the time for
women to realise that within themselves are the Fates. Generously, we concede a
like realisation for men! We are Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos. We are Urd,
Vivandi and Skuld. We create our own Nemesis. But this hurts. It is so much
easier for women to blame others: our parents, childhood abuse, lack of
opportunity: and of course, men! Then there are the patriarchal establishments
who have stunted our development. Yet we women are half the human race and we
need to protect our children and bring them to their own potential. How may
this be done? Not by creating new regulations, new laws, new mind-born customs.
Not by conformity, duplication. Truly we weave our part of the tapestry of life
we need to be creative, to invent our own designs, not copy other patterns from
times long gone. The myths we create in this dream called life will bring us
the fulfilment our souls, our only contribution to that Greater Reality from
which we all emanate. But there is a warning. Let us contemplate that
perfection of woman's art, the Spider's web. Its star within, its logarithmic
spiral, forms a perfect pathway for the spider to glide on silken feet: but do
not let us suffer the fate of her mates, and get entangled in a web of
delusions. Let us weave legends, but not make them spin our shrouds. But if we
are entrapped in self-created nightmares, only the fates show their compassion,
and with their mysterious fingers, unravel the imprisoning threads."
(Painting of the Fates by Olivia Robertson, Foundation Center Temple)
Archival Link: Letters from Olivia Robertson