Author: A Solitary Pagan
Hekate…6. Hymn to Hekate.
Hail, many-named Mother of the Gods, whose children are fair. Hail, mighty Hekate of the Threshold. Shape the course of my life with luminous Light And make it laden with good things, Drive sickness and evil from my limbs. And when my soul rages about worldly things, Deliver me purified by Your soul-stirring rituals. Yes, give me Your hand I pray And reveal to me the pathways of divine guidance t...
Hekate…5. The Orphic Hymn To Hekate.
I invoke you, beloved Hekate of the Crossroads and the Three Ways Saffron-cloaked Goddess of the Heavens, the Underworld and the Sea Tomb-frequenter, mystery-raving with the souls of the dead Daughter of Perses, Lover of the Wilderness who exults among the deer Nightgoing One, Protectress of dogs, Unconquerable Queen Beast-roarer, Dishevelled One of compelling countenance Tauropolos, Keyholding Mi...
Hekate…4. Rituals.
In whatever guise Hekate presents Herself to you, regular devotions are an important part of spiritual practice. A simple, basic way to do this is offered here for you. You may perform your rite indoors or outside; if working indoors, take and leave the offerings and libation outside. Offerings of any of the following or combination thereof are suggested: garlic, eggs, almonds, barley, pomegranate...
Hekate… 3, Primary Cult Centers, Festivals & Ways to Honor.
Primary Cult Centers. Lagina, Miletus, Argos, Eleusis, Aigina Festivals. Hecatesia or Hekate’s Night (celebrated on different dates – August 13 or 16, November 16) Dark Moon – last day of the lunar month (Deipnon) Day of Hekate at the Crossroads (October 31 or November 30) The last day of the calendar month December 31 – Roman Ways to honor. Keep sacred the Deipnon and Her festivals. Study Her his...
Hekate…2. Symbols, Animals, Offerings & Sacrifices.
Hekate…2. Symbols, Animals, Offerings & Sacrifices. Symbols: torches, keys, rope, knife, dogs, snakes Animals: dogs, owls, crows, snakes, frogs, the toad (conception), snakes (guardian and underworld), dogs (guarding and hunting) Offerings/Sacrifices: yew, cypress, hazel, black poplar, willow, black dogs, black bulls, black lambs, myrrh, civet, camphor, aloe, menstrual blood, red mullet, bread...
Hekate…1, Epithets.
Aidônaia (Lady of the Underworld). Anassa eneroi (Queen of those Below, Queen of the Dead). Angelos (Messenger). Antaia (the One in Front). Antania (Enemy of mankind or Sender of Nocturnal Dreams). Atalos (Tender, Delicate). Brimo (Angry One). Dadophoros (Torch bearer). Despoina (Lady). Epiphanestate Thea (Most Manifest Goddess). Enodia (Of the Roads, Of the Paths). Erodia (Gatekeeper). Khthonia/C...
Hekates Night, 13th August, 8, Hekates Night Conclusion.
The middle of August coincides with many things that relate to Hekate. The Nemoralia festival, the Kourotrophos festival, possibly a Deipnon one year, the Ides of Hekate, and loosely the dog days of summer. Nemoralia is however the most likely originator for the modern festivals date. The things observed in the festival all match with Hekate to some degree – She is associated with storms and pro...
Hekates Night, 13th August, 7, Further Dating.
Hekates Night, 13th August, 7, Further Dating. There are two more possibilities or connections to the 13th and Hekate. The first is the possibility, though I call it the least likely, that the date is simply because one year the Deipnon fell on the 13th of August and people got confused thinking the festival always happened on the 13th. The other is this interesting statement, “The time was at han...
Hekates Night, 13th August, 6, Kourotrophos.
The ancient Greek calendars were luni-solar. The years were marked by the solstices or equinoxes (region dependent), for example the first day of the year in Athens was the first new waxing moon after the summer solstice. The months thereafter were purely lunar, beginning on the first waxing moon, ending on the dark moon. This means that no matter how we spin it, the calendars back then can never ...
Hekates Night, 13th August, 5, Nemoralia.
There is an ancient Roman festival called the Nemoralia which was held on either the 13th-15th of August or over the full moon of August. This festival is in honour of Diana Nemorensis. Women would hold a torch procession to Lake Nemi, they would leave Diana various offerings as well as tokens of gratitude and requests for various help especially healing. Diana was often heavily conflated with Hek...
Hekates Night, 13th August, 3, Offering at the Crossroads.
The crossroads offering is seemingly a later addition and it’s pretty obvious where it comes from – the Deipnon. Every lunar month, on the dark moon, we offer to Hekate at the crossroads to honour Her of course, but it is also a propitiation offering that in some ways asks for protection. On the dark moon She wanders the world as leader of the host of the Restless Dead. So we offer at the crossroa...
Hekates Night, 13th August, 2, The Modern Line.
Hekate Night is mentioned in several modern Pagan books, by that name and sometimes not by any name, simply listed as a night sacred to Hekate. When these books cite other modern, but still older, books this makes the festival seem a touch more legitimate. Then you get a book by reputable or at least popular Pagan authors, they don’t even need to cite a source. They say it, it must be true. “Her ...