Weekly Witchy Challange - Working With Higher Powers:
Hecate, companion of the dark nights, and of the soul, keeper of the keys, Goddess of the crossroads, the underworld, and depicted as carrying a light in hand has become a strong support figure and fierce protector in my life.
Hecate’s beginnings are shrouded with mystery and contain many layers. Far too many to fill in here. I am constantly learning about her and by no means am I an expert, nor would I dare to claim to be.
Fun fact: I stumbled upon Spells8 searching for fresh literature on Hecate, so she actually led me here. Pretty cool haw?
I found the information provided by Spells8 is valuable and extremely helpful and I enjoy doing Hecate’s prayer that is provided here:https://spells8.com/hecate-witches-chant/#:~:text=▶️%20Hecate’s%20Devotional%20Chant
The information is written in a dialog that is easy to understand unlike some of the ancient text that made me feel like I was reading a foreign language that I had to translate almost word by word, so thank you Spells8 for the wonderful info!
I have come to realize that Hecate might be the most misunderstood figure in Greek Mythology and a Goddess of mystery. There are so many conflicting stories that it can be confusing and overwhelming. Some people see her as a dark entity, scary and evil but she really is not that simple. To me, Hecate is about a lot more than witchcraft, sorcery, and magic. She is very much so a guiding light and a protector. I don’t follow the mythology by a T because to me those stories were handed down to us by the patriarchy and they’ve been changed so much by those who have recorded them. There is so much we don’t know from the stories that I would rather get the story from Hecate herself. (If we work with a Deity, they can tell us their story)
My relationship with Hecate and the ways she assists me(with the exception of a few) are very personal. I will share this tho:
Hecate is always with me even when I feel like the world abandoned me, when the world turns its back she is always here with open arms. When I mess up and face the consequences, she is here to help me pick up the pieces. When I am hurting, broken, and full of sorrow, Hecate is here to help heal my heart. When I feel lost, in the dark, and unable to find my way, Hecate is here with her torches to light my way. When I am angry, bitter, or full of hatred, Hecate is here to hear my cries for justice. At the lowest of lows, she is here. And even when I am far away from her light, Hecate is still here. I carry a piece of her in my soul. I talk to her in my head and aloud every day and night, she visits me in my dream state and protects my body when I am in a meditative state during astral travel.
Hecate helps me deal with the shadow aspect of myself. She holds back the evil and the harmful to bring my shadow into the light, in turn making me a better person. (I am forever grateful)
I enjoy Hecate’s company and working with her, I find her to be a kind goddess when treated with respect and tolerant if I am sincere. Hecate has taken an increasingly important role in my worship and ritual. I am regularly asking her to protect my home and my family. When I make sigils, I ask her to guide my hand to make more powerful sigils and I give her offerings during the dark moon.
The most important thing she has taught me up to now is that I had been at war with myself and self-created darkness within me (anger, fear, resentment), she told Me that if I don’t free myself then no one will. She is helping me work towards being a whole and complete version of my authentic self.
I have found that choosing to be kind honors Hecate and she will reward those who are but being kind can not be forced or told to, it must be a personal choice.
I am currently searching and studying about learning on spending time with her epithets and oh my! there are so many!
My home protection prayer:
(I light a black candle with a bottle of red wine at hand)
As I light my candle, I say:
"Goddess Hecate, mother and protector of all witches, I light this candle in your honor. Just as the candle burns bright, so may your torches never be extinguished and guide us externally please look upon my home and protect from all harm and misfortune. She who stands before the threshold and guards my doorway, I call upon your aid, averter of evil bless this door so that it defends the threshold of this home and shields me and mine from all harm. She who stands before, in between, and within lend to this door your powers of protection for my home and those who dwell in it."
I then thank her and pour the bottle of red wine into the earth near my front door as a gift for her. I let the candle burn down and then bury it in a spot near the door. I like to do this every 6 months.
I have learned that Hecate is a just Goddess who must be respected (she demands it) She is kind and warm but also carries with her darkness and the power to harm. I have found her to be a Goddess of balance and liminal spaces, the in-between of life and death. She has even pushed me down when I wasn’t listening, just to help me up again in order for me to pay attention and to learn the lesson at hand. Hecate calls me to recognize the part of her that resides in me, as my soul came from her. She urges me to learn my position in the cosmic order, teaching me when to be confident and when to be humble and I am striving to be balanced like her.
"Praise the Lady Hecate, Goddess of the moon and the night, Thank you for being here, Thank you for your help, Thank you for your
blessings. Thank you for your divine protection.
May many wolves howl for you."
"Hail Hecate"
-Much love and may blessings