Dear Hecate
I work for a respected advocacy organization and the new Administration is recruiting me to a farly high level position in the Agency that largly manages the programs we've all been working on to improve for years. Ironically, the position is the one that is responsible for "building positive and productive relationships with outside constituencies"-- the community of providers as well as the community of advocacy organizations and parent consumer groups. The person who used to hold this position was a real jerk with a lot of control issues -- to say the least. Frankly her rudeness gave us all an excuse to go around her to her boss, who would have to meet with us to mend fences. While I can imagine how a friendly, visably concerned sincere person could really help defuse angry advocates, who would want to be "gentle" with a former colleague, I'm really uncomfortable with being used that way. On the other hand it's a lot more money than I make now.
Dear Don't want to sell out.
This ain't going to be easy for someone with principles. On one hand you might be able to be the vehicle for genuine input for outside advocates and experienced providers who have really good suggestions. On the other hand you might be setting yourself up to be a flak in charge of bringing in those same people for a cuppa coffee in order to help them try and understand the difficult choices that your boss has to make sometimes. Have an honest conversation with your prospective boss about your worries, and set up an internal process for measuring your own abilities to absorb the inevitable compromises you'll have to accept. Can you keep taking that big paycheck if you have to explain away only three stupid decisions out of ten. Five out of ten? You can sell out at any price you choose.
Who is Hecate?
Hecate is a Greek Goddess who served as a guide and coach at the crossroads of Hades, where after crossing the River Styx, Greek souls found themselves facing three choices: the Elysian Fields, abode of the great and heroic; the Fields of Asphodel, for all who had led a blameless but ordinary life; or to Tartarus, a sunless land of punishment for criminals.
Hecate's best known role in Greek mythology was guiding Persephone, the goddess of spring, on her annual journeys between Hades and Earth. In the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, Hecate is portrayed as a nurturing and protective guide for Persephone on those annual journeys.
