Valerian and Hecate

There she was in my dream. I met her on a road somewhere, recognised her straight away from her Orphic hymn;

I invoke you, beloved Hekate of the Crossroads and the Three Ways
Saffron-cloaked Goddess of the Heavens, the Underworld and the Sea
Tomb-frequenter, mystery-raving with the souls of the dead
Daughter of Perses, Lover of the Wilderness who exults among the deer
Nightgoing One, Protectress of dogs, Unconquerable Queen
Beast-roarer, Dishevelled One of compelling countenance
Tauropolos, Keyholding Mistress of the whole world
Ruler, Nymph, Mountain-wandering Nurturer of youth.
Maiden, I beg you to be present at these sacred rites
Ever with a gladsome heart and ever gracious to the Oxherd.

She looked at me and said

'You never ask me for anything.'

I didn't quite know how to reply to her. Respect and all that, but I connect the Dishevelled One of Compelling Countenance to unhinged people, and already have access to enough crazy lady vibe to last me a lifetime. Having said that, anyone who protects dogs gets my thumbs up.It did occur to to me that I would like to draw her or try to turn her into a painting, but given the chances of it being absolutely terrible, decided not to offer it.

I can't remember what happened then, only that next I was a teacher of some kind going to school, when a pupil visited me at home and told me she was sick. She was an ordinary dark haired girl, and I have seen a face like hers before in my dreams connected to malice unfortunately. But this made no difference in the context. She was sweating and trembling copiously, and her skin had a very unhealthy pallor. I asked her if I could place a hand on her forehead to take her temperature, and she refused, saying that touch hurt her. I knew she could be lying but it would be the loss of one day if she was. I let her stay and gave her instructions on contacting an ambulance if she needed it.

Then I tried to go to school and got lost. Came back to find the house was full of my housemates, who were all men. One yelped when he saw me, talking about how badly I had applied my makeup. Glancing at my reflection, I saw that I appeared to have applied lots more eyeliner to one eye than another, but when I found a mirror, it was much more dramatic than that.

My eyeliner had congealed in thick lines along my lower eyelids. Underneath them sat a wild design, blue white sparkling crystalline stalagtite shapes covering my cheeks and most of my face. They looked great but I had no idea how they got there. I took them off and got myself ready for school.

Valerian's pretty amazing for sleep, it really suits me. At some point before this dream I saw my dear old dog being let out of the back of a car, alone with another dog, and watched him dragging some poor shmo along on a walk because his distate for leashes has not changed in over 30 years.