@jessica72 I thought I would like this book but it wasn’t something I’d recommend. The authors view of witchcraft is primarily as psychology. Understandable since that’s her background but I couldn’t connect with it as magic or spirituality. She’s also what she calls “mostly monotheistic” and I don’t fully know what she means by that but it can at times feel like a relabeled blend of Wicca and Christianity, swapping out their God for Hekate as an all knowing ever present all powerful goddess instead. Again, not a view I could relate to. Just my thoughts, you may find it useful and love it😀 Full disclosure I may also be biased due to my days in the authors online school “Covina.” I left due to her occasional “men are pigs” routine, so there’s that.
No thank you! That really does help. Thank you for letting me know. That’s all I can ask for is honest opinions. I have far less experience than so many in the coven. I am so grateful for any wisdom and guidance that anyone is willing to share with me.
By any chance have you read Hekate: Goddess of Witches by Courtney Weber? That was another one on my to read list. I am grateful for all honest feedback.
I haven’t read that one but I did read Keeping Her Keys and I don’t remember a bit of it. It wasn’t a very memorable book. Hope Hekate: Goddess of Witches goes well for you!
Thanks for mentioning the Courtney Weber book @jessica72 I think I’m going to order that one.
I’m Trying to put together something special for this year’s Hekate Night as I was born on November 16 so this one will also be my 50th birthday. Feels like I should mark the occasion somehow. If anyone has any thoughts or ideas on acknowledging a birthday in a ritual I’d love to hear it Maybe it’s a bad idea but 50 seems meaningful to me.
50 is big deal! Happy birthday early! Not sure if I know any good birthday rituals or not, though. Sorry.
Thank you for this post it will help me honour and feel closer to Hecate
I’ve got a video on Hekate I made awhile back! Hekate Invocation - YouTube
I started reading about Hekate and found I was really drawn to her. So I started to dig deeper…boy you can really get lost in the vast of information that is literally at our fingertips!
Making this video was fun and I learned a lot about Hecate/Hekate. There were some conflicting findings, so I deciphered and sifted through the best I could to find the most accurate info. I took most of my information from sources such as: Britannica, Ancient Origins, and Learn Religions.
(I find that these sites have been pretty great and packed with information)
There is a TON of information on her…this video is just a small piece of her and a small invocation spell if you wish to have this Goddess in your life.
Hecate or Hekate (/ˈhɛk. ə. ti/; Ancient Greek: Ἑκάτη, Hekátē is a goddess in ancient Greek religion and mythology, most often shown holding a pair of torches or a key and in later periods depicted in triple form.
Symbol: Paired torches, dogs, red mullet, serpents, keys, polecats, daggers, and Hecate’s wheel
Parents: Perses and Asteria
Offspring: Scylla, Aeëtes, Circe, Pasiphaë, Empusa
The spelling of HEKATE (with a K) is closer to the transliteration of the name of this goddess directly from Greek into the English language.
The spelling of HECATE (with a C) is the Latin transliteration of the name of this goddess, as it was used by the Romans.
I always spelled her name with a ‘c’. Thanks for the info because I would’ve never had known
A way to give tribute and as a offering to Hekate; in our way, I’m writing this in plural, because I’m not the only one on done it in this way. Is besides of using in the offering candles with the colors and oils with the scent she likes. By adding a pinch of my own blood in the candle, using a lancer to measure the sugar in the blood. I just pinch my finger, squeeze it and add a little drop of my own blood; which it symbolize life, and dress the candle I choose with it.
This method might make to some to say and write; WHAT? and WTF!
My personal experience and for those I know that have had use this method, it works and offering accepted. This is my take as a offering for the record, because I read from @anon87969570 of using red mullet for it. Wanted to add this to the community. Is a personal thing, do has your heart feels to do so. Most of all wish the best moment in the16th, Hekate’s night.
The Greek spelling is with a K, but the phonetic sound that the Greek K represents is, in the Latin alphabet, represented by C or K.
What that means, I think, is that either spelling is okay as they represent the same sound.
EDIT: I meant to add that K is probably more proper, as C is used for both the hard K sound and the S sound. K is used only for the K sound. I’d say ask Her.
A very auspicious and blessed day for a birthday, Valen- wishing you a happy birthday in advance!
As for birthday rituals, I think anything working with a cycle ties in well with a birthday (which is the celebration of the completion of a yearly cycle). The lighting of candles and making a wish is always a good birthday ritual, and you could possibly make an offering of cake or sweets to honor the occasion
Thank you for this, Silverbear! I often see it written both ways, so it’s interesting to know the reasoning behind the spellings
To all those that work with Hekate- I knew that November 16th is Hekate’s Night, but I’ve also been seeing a lot of information lately for Hekate’s Night on November 30th as well.
It seems that November 16th is Hekate’s Night and November 30th is Hekate’s Night at the Crossroads (source here from Keeping Her Keys). I hadn’t heard of this before- it’s interesting!
Question for all those that worship and/or work with Hekate: do you usually celebrate one night (and if so, which) or both nights?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and learning more!
I was doing my thing & came across Hekate’s Wheel… I have heard of the Key(s), but not the wheel. Does anyone know the significance of the Wheel?
(I was on Etsy looking for witchy jewelry related to Brigid & the Morrigan & a charm for Hekate was in the search results with the wheel, it looked very interesting to me)
I have noticed through my findings on the Morrigan, that Hekate is a close resemblance of Her. They are both very old in their histories & Hekate is Greek, but Morrigan is Celtic. There are a lot of similarities between the 2 & then they each have their own qualities that make them completely unique to each other.
Just something I sort of picked up on because I know of more than a few people that work with Hekate & have learned a little from each about Her.
As I heard it the Nov 16 observance came about likely some time in the 20th century and may be a result of someone marking the date of the new moon for Hekate as it occurred on the 16th and then the date just stuck. The new moon is the day for Hekate suppers or “deipnon.” This would be the night to leave food offerings at the crossroads. The last day of every month is also said to be dedicated to her. And then there’s Friday the thirteenth as well. August thirteenth is apparently a festival to Diana and Hekate somewhere in Italy. As for the popular symbol of Hekates wheel, this came to be associated with her in the 1980s although the symbol was found carved into stone in Greece I think but there’s no evidence it had anything to do with her in ancient times.
Personally I have been observing the new moon offerings. At midnight in the darkness of the absence of the moon, out in the woods often accompanied by the calls of the owls and deer, I light two candles as her torches, leave a food offering upon a circle of oak leaves, chant and do whatever spell work is appropriate before giving thanks and ending the rite. In bit of synchronicity the last 3 times I have done this the electricity to the house has gone out leaving me to trust she will guide my way back in darkness. The trail is only maybe 100 yards into the woods but that’s enough to get pretty disoriented. Her affinity for darkness is potent! I also do a daily meditation/offering with her.
I find that having too many observances can make things less special, less meaningful in a way. Like, once a month feels like something to look forward to but every moon phase every month and the whole wheel of the year to one deity makes it feel kind of watered down. Hekates popularity and all the info out there is a bit overwhelming for me.
I plan to celebrate the 16th, maybe the 30th depending on whether my 100’ driveway counts as a crossroads
I agree with @Valen that saturating ourselves with celebrations can be tiring and counterproductive. I generally honor Hekate every day in some way, but full on, Call the Quarters style observances are limited to New Moon and her special days.
@anon87969570 I’ve made the driveway crossroad offering once or twice as well Sometimes I go with what the situation allows. I’ve heard of people making a crossroads path of sorts in their backyards as well.
In case, you don’t have enough here’s another link about celebrating Hekate, this one at months end:
That’s really interesting about the similarities you’ve found between the Morrigan and Hekate, @Susurrus. I wonder if they could be considered “faces” of each other, or are somehow related across Pantheons, or are mirrors of each other in different parts of the world. Sounds like something fun to research!
Thank you for your wisdom, @Valen- it sounds like there are many auspicious days and times that one could worship Hekate ! You make a really good point about taking care to avoid observance overdose too- even too much of a good thing is still, well, too much. It seems like it’s best to pick the dates and occasions that best suit your personal practice rather than trying to keep up with what’s written on the calendar. Thanks for your tips!
Thanks for your input too, @anon87969570! I guess it depends on how literally one interprets “crossroads”- I imagine anywhere that serves as a pathway or place of movement in different directions could serve for the ritual given the right intention Thanks for your thoughts and also for the article!
Something that’s caught my attention too, I’ve been drawn to the “bad girls” of the pantheons too… Hekate, Lilith, most recently Kali… shadow work definitely is a common aspect and a major part of my practice. I have a huge respect for anyone who can look at themselves, shadow and all, and say “this is who I am, and this is not even my final form!”
Then there’s the aesthetic of course… liminal spaces, abandoned and overlooked places and creatures, underdogs of the society, facing the darkness and unknown, forbidden knowledge and desires, blood and guts… everything that’s been deemed too scary to face and cast aside into the shadow. Those who are afraid of their own shadows see evil and danger, those who are willing to face their fears ultimately see love and acceptance that transcends everything.
Happy Hekate’s Night to everyone who’s celebrating, and whenever the time is right for you!