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No one knows where
Hecate’s true origins are
found. Some believe her to be a primordial Goddess daughter to
Nyx, Ancient Night (4.Demetera George); others believe she is the
daughter of Asteria and Perses. The one thing agreed on is her
being a Pre-Olympian Chthonic goddess. She is believed to have
stood with the Olympians against the Titans. After the Titans
were overthrown by the Olympians, Hecate maintained her powers over
Heaven, Earth, and the Underworld.
Hecate has been depicted as a threefold lunar Goddess and the
equivalent to the Roman Trivia. In this form she has been
associated as the Maiden/Mother/Crone and has been depicted with
Persephone/Demeter, Selene, Diana/Artemis fulfilling the crone aspect
of the Triple Goddess. It is also believed that she is all three
by herself.
Her abilities make her a patroness too many different people. She
has been a goddess patronized by midwives, a goddess of sorcery
contributed with the abilities of herbal potions, divination, spell
casting and other attributes associated with witchcraft. Hecate
has also been invoked to provide protection against evil spirits.
Her abilities are also to help transport/guide spirits and keep them
from harming others or being harmed. She was often invoked
at night whether it was for a safe journey somewhere or just to have a
safe night. People would leave offerings to her on their doorsteps or
at crossroads.
Festivals and Places of worship: In Greece two days were sacred
and festivals held August 13 and November 30, Romans observed the 29th
of every month (1). December 31 Hekate’s Day
(6) (7. Wikipedia). Hecate was also worshipped in Thrace. Her
most important temple was in Lagina. One of the major sacred sites of
ancient Anatolia. Today Lagina is a small town in southwestern
Turkey called Turgut. Until recently the town was called Leyne.
(1. Jade So luna, 2 Gary R Varner). She was also a part of the
Eleusinian mysteries. A modern festival the rite of
her sacred fires is performed on the full moon of the month of May (7).
Other names associated/attributed to Hecate: Chthonian
(Earth/Underworld goddess), Crataeis (the Mighty One), Endoia
(Goddess of the Paths), Antania (Enemy of Mankind) Kurotrophos (Nurse
of the Children and Protectress of mankind), Artemis of the Crossroads,
Propylaia (the one before the gate), Proplos (the attendant who leads)
Phosphoros (the light bringer) Soteira (“Saviour”), Prytania
(invincible Queen of the Dead), Trioditis (gr.) Trivia (latin: Goddess
of Three Roads), Queen of the Crossroads, Queen of Witches,
Patroness of the Priestess, Patroness of the Witch
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Associations:
Elemental: Earth
Moon Phase: Dark Moon
Plants/herbs: yew, cypress hazel, black poplar, cedar, willow, garlic,
thyme, almonds, myrrh, mugwort, mint, dandelion, cardamom, hellbore,
belladonna, hemlock, mandrake, hecateis (aconite, wolfsbane) opium
poppy, verbena, sage, purple honeysuckle, camomile.
Animals: Wild Animals(4), Black dogs, ravens, night owls, donkeys,
bats, horses, bears, lions, snakes, dragons, cats(possibly)
Emblems: Torch, Keys, Rope, knife, flowers, pomegranate, phial
Color Association: Purple, Black, Grey, White, Silver, (5)
Wheel of the Year Association: Yule, Imbolc, Samhain, (5)
Attributes: : Abundance Agriculture, Animals, (4) Arts&
Crafts, Magickal Brewing, Cemeteries, Childbirth, Midwives/Birth,
Children, Clarity, Communication, Contracts, Creation, Creativity,
Crossroads, Darkness, Death, Decisions, Destruction, Diplomacy,
Disaster, Discipline, Disease/Illness, Divination, Dreams,
Enchantments, Exorcism, Fate, Fear, Fertility, Forgiveness, Freedom,
Friendships, Gates, Cave Portals and Doorways, Grief/Sadness, Healing,
Mental health, Hearth & home, Heaven, Herbs, Hunting, Illusions,
Independence, Judgment, Longevity, Magick Dark, Magick Lunar, Magickal
Arts, Motherhood, Mysteries, Nature, Night, Obstacles to remove,
Protection, Psychic Abilities, Purification, Reincarnation,
Regeneration, Renewing, Rituals & Ceremonies, Sciences &
Alchemy, Seasons, Shape shifting, Sisterhood, Sky, Sorceress,
Spell casting, Thievery, Time, Transformation, Travel, Truth, The
Underworld, Vengeance, War and Battle, Wealth, Weather, Weapons,
Wisdom, Witchcraft.
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Original Artwork by: Chrissy Treeflyer
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A Ritual to the Goddess
Hecate, for following your own path
by Chrissy Treeflyer
This should be done during the dark phase of the moon.
Items needed:
Candles: One (1) Purple, One (1) Black, One (1) Silver, One (1)
White.
These will be used for calling the corners.
One (1)
Grey for the center
Mugwart herb
Take a quite bath with a sachet of mint and chamomile. Or you can burn
incense instead of putting anything in the water.
Call in directions/Cast circle
Lighting the candles in order purple, black, silver, white, and then
the gray say the below invocation:
Goddess Hecate, please help to guide my connection
Goddess Hecate, please help to dispel my fear and self doubt
Goddess Hecate, please help me to understand my dreams and build my
intuition.
I ask for your help in guiding my journey, so I may grow to the witch
I’m supposed to be
So mote it be
Meditate and feel the energies working
Thank the directions and close the circle
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References:
1. Hecate Death, Transition and Spiritual Master
(second edition) by Jade Sol Luna
2. Hecate The Witches Goddess by Gary R. Varner
3. Hekate Liminal Rites-A historical study of the
rituals, spells and magic of the torch bearing Triple Goddess of the
Crossroads
by Sorita d’Este and David Rankine
4. Mysteries of the Dark Moon by Demetra George
5. The Goddess Guide by Priestess Brandi Auset pgs.
17,28,38-39,84-86,88,93-99,
101-102,104-107,109-111,113-114,117-119,122-127,130,133,136,138-139,142,144-145,147-151,
154,156,158-161,163-165,169-171,173,175-177,179-182,
184-187, 202-203, 206,208,210,218,233,235,246,258-259,265
6. 365 Goddess by Patricia Telesco
December 32
7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hecate
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