The Aspects of Fate

Across several cultural mythologies, there is a story of the three aspects of fate - the personifications of destiny. 

They are portrayed as sisters; one who spins the thread of fate, representing the present moment; one who measures the thread, representing the future; and one who cuts the thread, representing the past and everyone’s eventual end of life. 

Some believe that our destinies are fixed, and other believe in self-determination. The symbolism of The Aspects of Fate works either way - whether they are literal energies that dictate our fate or symbolism for the facets of self that determine our destiny. Whatever the matter, The Aspects of Fate are engaging us, asking the question that Mary Oliver asks “What will you do with your one precious life?”

Our time in this form and reality is finite. Wherever we came from, wherever we are going, this time is only NOW. While there are many things in this reality we do not get to choose, how we choose to move within what “is” shapes our life experience and touches all life around us. In this image the center human holds “freedom” in the form of a bird and time in the form of a clock perched on their hand. The bird is dripping life blood, indicative of the finite amount of time we have in this corporeal form. The human is focused, pensive, with the aspects of fate also focused, intrigued to see which way the human will go. We are being reminded that focus is what is we required in this world of overstimulation and distraction to tap into the deepest aspects of ourselves, to discern our heart’s calling, and to direct and shape our life’s journey. Not making decisions is technically an option, but that too is making a decision that carries consequences. No matter how much we hope it to be different, time continues on, nothing stays the same. 

To bring to our attention the things that are out of our control, in the lower corner is a stork delivering a grenade baby. Babies have their own way of blowing lives up, their impact causing pain and pleasure, drama and peace and everything in between- all in intermittent balance. They require focus and attention at the expense of our own desires, needs and capacity. Babies are indicative of both life and death. They are the harbingers of new beginnings and potential, while at the same time bring about the death of current ways of being and the ending of life chapters. This symbol urges us to do the things that compel us while we still can, because there will be circumstances birthed into our lives that will blow apart our access to these things. Some examples of this are; losing our physical/mental ability to do certain things; the loss of nature due to natural disasters; the loss of people and places that we love; the loss of freedom due to political regimes and so many more.

 It urges us not to take anything for granted. Everything we love we will lose. 

In the words of John Lennon “Life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans.” The Aspects of Fate call us to engage in our lives fully despite distraction, because when we are distracted, they will step in in ways we are not prepared for. 
Points to consider:

In what ways are you being present with setting intention in your life and letting that intention guide your actions, and in what ways are you allowing life to sweep you up in ways that do and do not support your vision?

In what ways do you feel you have say in your life journey and in what ways do you feel like you do not. Can you think of ways to shift the things you do not have say over, even if it is just your relationships with it?