My Journey with Hecate

 

Story created by CathyMoon

Initiate, Sisters in The Goddess Tree

 

hecate.jpg Hecate image by ghostrider1960

 

 

I could not stop myself from turning around and looking, even though mother had warned me not to. As I watched in horror, mother, grandmother, and eleven other women were roughly pushed up on the platform.  The women all stood proudly as a rope was placed around their necks.  They were not afraid nor did they cry out for mercy. As if my mother sensed I was watching, in my mind I heard say, “Run child…RUN!”

 

Run I did, until the pain in my sides became unbearable, and it hurt to breath. Keeping to the shadows, I escaped into the woods. It was almost dusk, and I did not know where I was or where I was going.  In the distance, I thought I heard howling. Walking now, my breath began to return to normal and the ache in my sides left. I heard howling again but this time it seemed closer.  As I came out of the wooded area, I stopped and froze with fear.  The hounds were right in front of me!  I thought I was going to faint, when suddenly out of the dark sky came a woman riding in a box with wheels. She looked at me as she stepped out of the box and lovingly petted her hounds. Looking closer, I realized it was just one hound with three heads!

 

She said to me, “Do not fear me.”  She tied what looked like reins to the hound or was it hounds?  Turning to me She said, “Well, are you coming with me or not?”  Still frozen with fear, I managed to shake my head yes.  She offered her hand to me and said, “Come, ride with me in my chariot.”  As I stepped into Her “chariot” an owl flew overhead and dropped keys into Her hands.  She held them up for me to see and said, “The owl is my messenger, and she wants me to take you on a journey.”  In an instant, after invoking the words, a huge shimmering gate appeared.  As if there was magic in the air, the gates opened.

 

The hound looked back at us and, to my surprise; the heads were not of dogs but of three beautiful women.  In one giant leap, the hound, the Lady and I, and Her chariot went through the shimmering gates.  The Lady laughed as I struggled to keep my balance holding tightly to the sides of this box she called a chariot.  We arrived in a place that was foreign to me. As if she could read my mind, she said, “I have come to show you where it all began, where I began.” Mustering my courage to speak, I asked, “Who are you?”  She looked down at me, as she was a very tall woman, and said, “I am known as The Strong One, The Most Lovely One, The Distant one, The Queen of Heaven, Earth, and the Underworld.”  Still looking at me she continued, “Those that do not fear me call me… Lady Hecate.”  

 

“Where are we?” I asked, feeling a bit more comfortable with Her. “We are in an ancient land called Karia, the Black Sea Region,” she spoke with pride. “You have been chosen to keep the history of the Goddess alive.”  She saw my confusion and continued, “We need you to keep women’s history alive; give women hope and let them know what freedom is.”  I asked, “Me?  Why me?”  Lady Hecate looked off into the distance and quietly said, “Because it is written.” So many thoughts flowed through my mind.  What is this Lady, this Lady Hecate, talking about?  I am only 9 years old.  What could I possibly do for women? I searched Her face for answers, and I began to notice it changing from a young woman to a woman that looked about my mother’s age.   

 

Off in the distance I heard cries and shouts.  Lady Hecate and I followed the shouts. There were many strangely dressed women hovering around something. Coming closer, I could see a very young woman in extreme pain.  There was an older woman hovering over her. The older woman was chanting and waving a sweet smelling stick of smoke around the young woman.  As the Lady and I drew closer, I could hear what they were saying. “Lady Hecate, be here with us now. Protect my daughter as she gives birth.” All the other women began repeating this chant over and over. On cue, Lady Hecate walked over to the women.  I could tell they did not see Her. She touched the young woman’s brow and kissed it, then touched her big round belly.  She began murmuring something in a language I did not recognize. The young woman instantly stopped her crying, and began pushing. Within minutes, she miraculously gave birth to a girl child.  The older woman wrapped the baby in a blanket and raised the tiny baby in the air saying, “This girl-child has been blessed by the Lady Hecate.  She will be called Acate’.”  

 

Lady Hecate returned to me and laughed as she saw my expression of awe and wonderment.  She commanded, “Come! There is much more for you to see and learn.” I quickly followed Her. The night air had begun to get chilly, and I wrapped my torn and dirty cloak around me. It was easy to see where we were walking because the moon was big and bright. The Lady and I walked quite a distance when She suddenly stopped and stepped aside as if She wanted to show me something. We had walked to a road where three roads met.  I looked up in surprise at a statue that looked exactly like the Lady Hecate, but older in the face.  Behind me, I heard the shuffling of feet. Turning I saw many women quietly coming towards the statue of Hecate. They were carrying something. It must have been food because my mouth started watering and my belly began screaming for food. I realized I had not eaten in days!

 

I could smell fish, eggs, onions, and honey!  I was about to faint with hunger when I heard someone say, “Lady Hecate, we bring you offerings of food on the eve of the full moon. Lady, please know that we do not fear you. We welcome and honor you. We ask that you bring us creative inspiration.” I heard the murmuring of “Blessed Be, Hail the Lady Hecate.” As they walked away, they sang, “Maiden, Mother, and Crone………” I began to understand why Her face had changed from that of a young maiden, to a mother.  Looking at Her face, she now looked old…as the Crone.  I could feel Her wisdom and Her power. She said, “I am the Triple Goddess.  I know the mysteries of Birth, Life, and Death. You have been sent to be initiated into the mysteries.” At that moment, I knew. I knew why I was here with the Lady. All I remember before fainting was Her saying, “I am you, you are me, we are one. Blessed be.”

 

I awoke feeling well rested. I noticed we were not in that odd place anymore, but at the shimmering gate.   This time, the Lady held two torches in Her hand, and she gave one to me. As we lifted the torches, the moon seemed to come alive. The moon wrapped us in Her light, and Lady Hecate told me that this was Her grandmother, Phoebe. Hecate said to me, “I am the Moon Goddess in all her phases… The New, The Full, and the Dark.

 

Especially the dark, for the dark is the moon’s true color. Divine wisdom comes from going into the darkness. There is nothing to fear in the dark, remember that.”

 

 

 

FullMoon.jpg Full Moon image by mav31622

 

For an instant I closed my eyes. When I opened them, I was back in the land I had grown up in. Somehow it had changed. I looked for the Lady but she was gone. As I began to walk, I started wondering if I had dreamed all this? I came upon a lake, feeling thirsty; I knelt down and cupped my hands to scoop up some water.

I looked at my reflection and noticed that I looked different. I was older and had breasts! As I stared, She appeared behind me in the lake’s reflection. She told me not to turn around. “We have journeyed together for reasons that will be revealed to you as you experience your life. You can always call on me,” she said. “How do I do that?” I asked. “When the Moon is at Her fullest the words will come to you, but beware, for I am not a Goddess that will coddle you. Be careful what you ask of me for I am swift in my answering,” and She left as quickly as She came.

Sitting for what seemed like an eternity, I again looked into the lake. This time I noticed I had grown even older. I was a Crone now. Behind me a child was running and yelling towards me, “Grandmother, grandmother, it is time, it is time!” I looked at my granddaughter with such love, remembering my own daughter at that age. Then sadness filled my heart as I remembered my daughter taking her last breath after the babe was born. Sighing softly, I smiled at my granddaughter.

Hand in hand, Katie, and I prepared for our ritual. “Katie, I have always taught you that the best time to call on Her is when the moon is full,” I began. “I know grandmother,” she said. Looking at the dark sky, I continued, “I know you know child, and now I must teach you another time to call on Her. On the 13th day of every August, we must call on Her and ask that She keep the fierce thunderstorms away until after the harvest.” Before I could continue, Katie impatiently said, “I know grandmother, I know, but this time, this time I would like to know how to call on Her myself.” Walking towards the statue that many years ago the men had built for me we placed the dish of food before Her. “I have named this Hecate’s Supper,” I began. “Here you will meet Her.” Katie eagerly listened as I began teaching her the mysteries.

Many years later on my deathbed, I smiled for the last time at my weeping granddaughter beside me. “Grandmother, why are you smiling?” Katie asked sobbing. “Because child, She is here, the Lady Hecate. It is time for me to go,” and I drifted quietly into the light of the moon. The Lady smiled and said to me, “It is good to see you again Acate’. Come ride with me again in my chariot.” I looked up at Her and smiled as She took my hand.

 

 
 

 

alter.jpg Altar for witches image by Jurnee413

 

A Ritual to Call on Hecate

Ritual created by CathyMoon

 The purpose of this ritual is to call on Hecate when

urgency and quick action are essential.

 

Suggested Items
Honor Hecate by choosing black and/or silver colors, especially your ritual garb, altar cloth, and candles; scrying tool; tarot cards; journal and pen. 

Best Time to Perform Ritual is on the eve of the Full Moon; the 29th day of the month; when urgency is needed. 

Ritual
Write your intent in your journal before the ritual. Purify yourself and ritual space; cast a circle; and light the candles. Quiet your thoughts, deepen your breath and when you are ready, invoke the Lady Hecate by chanting:

 

Chant to Call on Hecate

Original chant created by CathyMoon

 

Hecate, Hecate hear my call

Maiden, Mother, Crone to us all

In the darkness dwells the key

Unlocking light, setting me free

I am whole and I am pure

As we unveil Mysteries’ door

Blessed be…

 

Meditate on these words and your intent.  Focus on your scrying tool , being aware of any images, thoughts, or feelings. When ready, shuffle the tarot cards and spread 3 cards in front of you. Write your interpretations in your journal.  Thank Hecate, blow out the candles, and open the circle.

 

 

Original Art

Created by CathyMoon

   

Meeting at the Crossroads

 

 

 

Resources:

http://www.hecatescauldron.org/

http://www.tarotbyolympias.com/olylakegoddess.html

Photos:

http://photobucket.com/ Photos #1, #2, & #3

Original Art:

Photo #4 – Wall Hanging

 

 

this page is the creative property 

of CathyMoon

Initiate, Sisters in The Goddess Tree

May, 2008


 

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