The triple goddess is a familiar symbol and figure in many
pagan and Wiccan traditions. Alexandrian, Gardnerian, Dianic and solitary
followers of Wicca often honor this form.
To me the triple goddess can have two meanings. For this week’s Pagan Blog Project post, I’d
like to explore both.
The basics of the triple goddess from this perspective is
that the Goddess forms and the moon forms mirror each other. In that the waxing moon represents a new
beginning and youth which would be evident in the Maiden. The full moon would be power and ripeness,
such as the round full belly of the Mother.
Finally the waning moon would be the dead, darkness and death which
would be the final aspect, or the Crone aspect of the Goddess.
We can see this influence throughout much of modern Wicca
and paganism through the art of Mickie
Mueller for example. The follow photo is an image that reflect the
Maiden, Mother & Crone aspect of the Goddess.
Maiden, Mother & Crone - Mickie Mueller
Photo used with artist permission
A few months ago I saw this picture show up on my
news feed. I was very familiar with
Mickie’s work but I was not aware that she was hand painting items and dealing
directly with her fans that so loved her work.
I watched the progress on this piece and was astounded as she shared new
pictures each day. I even watched as the
new owner proudly shared the final product on Mickie’s page. With the mass marketing and pagan
supermarkets that have littered the internet I was extremely pleased to see how
truly appreciated and how gracious Mickie was to her client.
Another example from Mickie, is this pendant which is based on
the same Maiden, Mother & Crone aspect.
Another aspect of the triple goddess that I have encountered
in my studies is the triple form goddess.
These are goddesses that are represented as having three forms, three
heads or from the three ways.
Hecate, illustration by Stéphane Mallarmé, in les Dieux Antiques : nouvelle mythologie illustrée (Paris, 1880). A Neoclassical rendition of a late Hellenistic or Roman original – Public domain
Hecate is depicted throughout history as having three
bodies. She appears as three females of
the same age, unlike the Maiden, Mother, Crone representation. She appears to be a young woman and carries
torches, rope and daggers. She is often
accompanied by dogs.
Richard Cosway [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
This triple form of Hecate is said to be a representation of
the areas of her dominion, the heavens, the earth and the sea. Because she is said to be the night wandering
goddess of the crossroads, the three forms are said to watch each
direction.
Antonine
Imperium issued a coin in honor of Hecate (Hekate) available for
purchase. I found this coin online and decided
to order one. Side one shows Hekate in her triple form with the inscription
“Hekate Soteira” and the reverse has a crescent moon at the top, a key at the
bottom and the minting information inscribed on the bottom.
Hekate Soteria coin - Designed by John H. Carlson
Photo used with artist permission
I like to think of the triple formed goddess Hecate as watching
in the three directions at the crossroads, torches held high to light the
way. I’ve tried several times to create
my own Hecate Triformis. Thus far I’ve
only been able to come up with this abstract version. I’ll certainly keep
trying.
Hecate is a sometimes called a Greco-Roman Goddess, though
she predates this era. She is said to be
the key bearer to the underworld.
Granted dominion over the heavens, the earth and the seas; she is
associated with fire, light, moon, magic and witchcraft. She is considered a goddess to the midwife and
with the magic of necromancy. Sometimes
called the Goddess of the Witches, Hecate is often depicted as a triple form
goddess. Though tagged as the Crone by
Aleister Crowley, Hecate is certainly represented by each stage of the Goddess
including maiden and mother.
In Mythology, Hecate, a Titan was favored by Zeus before all
others and granted dominion over the Earth, Heavens and seas. Hesiod referred to her as the only daughter
of Perses and Asteria. One of the more popular
and my favorite Myth involving Hecate is the abduction of Persephone.
The story goes; Persephone was abducted by the God of the
Underworld – Hades, while she was out collecting flowers. Demeter searched to find her daughter. While she looked her sadness caused the
world to fall into state where nothing could grow. Hecate assisted Demeter by telling her that
Helios, the Sun God sees everything and he should know what happened to
Persephone.
It wasn't until after
Persephone was tricked into eating pomegranate seeds that she was found. It was the rule of the Fates that if someone
consumed food or drink in the Underworld, they had to stay there for all
eternity. A deal was made with the
distraught Demeter that allowed Persephone to spend four months in the
Underworld with Hades, and the rest of the time with her mother. This is where the winter season comes
from. In her sadness for her missing
daughter, Demeter mourns and nothing can grow on the Earth until she returns in
the spring.
Hecate is the Goddess of the Crossroads. It is thought that offerings made to her
should be placed at a three way intersection.
Garlic, honey, mushrooms and eggs are placed with a flame. The plate is left and it is said that one
should walk away without looking back.
Hecate will decide who gets what is left for her and at times, it was
thought that she fed the homeless and needy with her offerings. The torch, the dog, the key and the dagger
are often found in her representations.
The willow and the yew tree are sacred to Hecate. Black dogs are also associated with
Hecate. Being the Goddess of Witchcraft
and necromancy, Hecate is often called upon to assist those traveling from the
land of the living to the Underworld.
Many see her as the guardian to the Underworld and the holder of the key
to the gates there. Because of this
association many call upon Hecate in their workings with the dead.
Typically held on the 13th of each month,
Hecate’s supper is a ritual where eggs, fish, garlic, mushrooms and honey are
left at a cross roads in her honor. The
Night of Hecate is November 16, while the Day of Hecate is considered November
30th. Modern festivals
include an event held on the full moon in May called the Rite of her SacredFires, where Hecateans around the world participate in a ritual to honor the
Goddess.
For many years I considered myself Wiccan and had no
particular deity. After working with
Christian Day’s “The Witch’s Book of the Dead”, I began to research Hecate and
found a connection with her. I completed
my dedication in January 2012 and now work my circles and rituals in her honor.
I've created a Shrine to Hecate on my blog found here and much of my published work around Hecate can be found in the quarterly publication called Askei Kataskei available for free download here. I also have a board on Pinterest dedicated to locating images of the Goddess Hecate.
I spend a lot of time working with clay and created this piece below for Hecate.
The Goddess Hecate - Artist - Renee Olson
Photo Credit - Renee Olson
I found this awesome ambigram on the web and had hubby clean it up, maybe I'll make it into a neat Tattoo.
Photo Credit - Elijah Olson
I'm extremely happy working with the Queen of the Witches today. She speaks to me and I invite her knowledge into my soul every Tuesday evening.
2. a letter
or letters that pass between correspondents: It will take me all day to answer
this business correspondence.
3. Also,
correspondency. an instance of corresponding.
4.
similarity or analogy.
5.
agreement; conformity.
In Magic,
correspondences are items used to correspond or relate to an item. For example, the stone (actually a resin)
Amber corresponds to the element of fire, the Sun and it thought to be related
to clarity, confidence and strength.
Amethyst is a form of quartz crystal.
It corresponds to the element of water and the astrological signs of
Aquarius and Pisces. It is said to be a
healing stone and helps relieve stress, anxiety and depression.
There are
correspondences for everything from Gods and Goddesses to plants and
seeds. A quick search
on Amazon.com will give you a full list of assorted books that will assist
with some of the comparisons. One of the
more popular is Llewellyn’s
Complete Book of Correspondences.
I've not
done a great deal of across the board research on all correspondences. I have worked mainly with crystal and candle
magic. I use blue candles for healing,
green for prosperity and red as my Goddess candle. Red is thought to represent Hecate/Hekate.
Other correspondences
for Hecate are:
Animals –
Dogs, red mullet, frogs, serpent and sheep. Hecate has been depicted with the
heads of a cow, dog, boar, serpent and horse.
Plants –
Garlic, belladonna, willow, leek and mandrake.
The Greeks would hang yew around the necks of black bulls which were
sacrificed in Hecate’s honor.
Other
Associations – keys, as she holds the Keys to the underworld to assist in the travel
from life to death. Torches – as she is
a light bringer.
These are
not the only correspondences to Hecate and some of these may cross over to
other deities as well. As I read more and more I learn that there
many have a lot of ideas around what is and is not related to a particular
Goddess.
The most
common discrepancy I see today is that Hecate represents the crone aspect of
the Triple Goddess. In all the images
showing Hecate she does not appear to be of any “older” age. In her Triple form statues all the faces
appear to be the same age. The concept
of Maiden Mother and Crone is a relatively new idea and usually is found in
Wicca.
In her video
“Is Hekate the “Crone” of the 20th Century Maiden Mother Crone
Triple Goddess”, Sorita D’Este discusses the way Hecate may have been added in
this ideology.
When setting
up my altar for Hecate, I’ll add eggs, leeks and honey. This I take out and leave at my offering spot
at the physical crossroads.
In looking
at all the information out there keep in mind that everyone has their own ideas
about correspondences. There are times
when many of these will cross over to other deities.
For more
information on The Covenant of Hekate check out this webpage or this Facebook Page.
Queen (‘Kwen) defined by merriam-webster.com
as a goddess or thing personified as a female having supremacy in a specific
realm.
Hecate (Hekate) has many titles. One of which is Queen of the Witches. Hecate is thought to be the last of the
Titans. She was granted dominion over
the Heavens, Earth and Sea by Zeus. She
is thought to be the seen as a triple goddess figure and holds the keys to the
underworld. She is often depicted at a
cross roads where decisions are made and offerings to her are left there.
So how did she become Queen of the Witches? Hecate has a long history and can be traced
back 3000
years. She can be found in early
writings such as Oddyssey, Homer – C9th BCE and Theogony, Hesiod C8th BCE. Some of her titles include Hekate Desponia
(Mistress), Hekate Phosphoros (Lightbringer) and Hekate Trioditis (of the three
roads). Looking through the list that I
found, I did not locate “queen of the witches”, however it may be a modern
term. Since the resurgence of religions
such as Wicca, groups select a deity or are called to a deity. Since Wicca is “craft of the wise” or witch
craft Hecate is often selected as the deity or Queen of the Witches. Many in Wicca associate Hecate with the Crone
Goddess. This depiction can be traced
back to Robert Graves.
This video is by Sorita d’Este discusses Hecate and the
Maiden Mother Crone aspect.
In this next video, Sorita d'Este discusses if Hecate is the Goddess of modern Wicca.
For many years I was a light and love follower of the
feminine. I did not have a specific
Goddess, I only knew that there was something there and it would find me. I’m creeping up on my introduction
anniversary to Hecate soon; my dedication is not far behind. I find that all the titles that she has or
all the names she is called by there are many similarities.
She helps me find the strength within myself and the
dedication to keep going. I see her in
the trees and feel her in the wind. I
see her in the flames on my altar and know she is near by the smell of the sage
burning there. The candle on my ancestor
altar flickers and I know that she is there standing between me and the land of
the dead.
My chants call out to her:
Hecate Mistress of
the three ways
Offerings at the crossroads, you find
Hecate, Light bearing Queen
Come forth and enlighten my mind.
Hecate, Queen of the Witches
Give power to my magic this night.
Hecate, Keeper of the Keys
Unlock your power and bless this rite.
By: Sosanna
Hecate is a goddess of antiquity. Take a bit of time to get to know the history
of this Goddess. I am a member of the Covenant of Hekate, you can find more
information on this here. We also have a
Facebook page for the Friends
of the Covenant.
Last year for the Pagan Blog Project letter Q, I did a blog
post on Q
is for Queen of the Witches. I went
back to re-read the post to see where I was then and how I may have changed my
perspective today.
I noticed this this week is the week of August 13; a day in
which many followers/devotees of the goddess call the Day of Hecate. This day is often used to make offerings to
the Goddess in the form of a Supper prepared for her. It is then left at temples or crossroads.
I have issue with the use of a particular day being
attributed to the goddess Hecate, as she predates our current calendar is very
difficult to say which day would be a particular holy day. Hecate has been called a Greek Goddess, a
Titan as well as being the daughter of the goddess Asteria.
Even following the phases of the moon to worship can be
questionable because we are not in the exact same position to see the exact
same skies of those in antiquity. Still
to me, I believe that when you feel that need to conduct rites and rituals,
those are the times to conduct them. Don’t
wait for a particular day or month. Some
say that full moons are better for this and new moons for that. Yes, these can indeed be better, better in
the sense that your mind is more focused on cleansing when you see a new moon,
or ready to channel the moon’s energy when it is full. But when your mind is ready is the best time
to feed it.
A few years ago I had someone message me frantically because
they didn't have a blue candle to finish a ritual. They needed a corresponding candle color
immediately. I gently explained to them,
the color of the candle, is there only to remind you of what you’re doing. It is there to remind you to focus your
healing energy by showing you the color blue.
The candle could be any other color you have, as long as you focus on
healing, it will always be blue.
At first I was met with annoyance and was told I couldn't possibly
be a “real witch”, but as we continued our dialog I explained that the candle
had no power. The power came from
within. She was the tool, the fire and
the force of the magic. The candle was
merely a tool in her box. Finally she
understood and the rites were completed.
So, looking at the 13th of August as “THE DAY”
for Hecate, leads me down the same road.
I believe this day was created as a reminder for us to give back to the
world, give back to our community and give back to our deity what we have
collected. It’s not so much the day we
need to observe but all those aspects of the Queen of the Witches that we want
to admire.
Hecate is followed by all types of people, from nontraditional
solitaries such as myself, to full on covens who see her as the Crone aspect of
the Triple Goddess. No matter how we
celebrate her mysteries we all embrace her.
I think since this time last year my perspective remains the
same. Celebrate the deity not the
ritual.
"With her daggers, she cuts away that which is no longer necessary.... "
Cover Photo - Circle for Hekate
Photos Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Circle for Hekate - Volume 1, History and Mythology will become the go to primer for anyone interested in the mysteries of the Goddess. Sorita has taken her extensive knowledge of Hecate and combined it in one manuscript, being sure to leave detailed references for the reader to take these keys she has given and unlock the door to more discoveries. Always being careful to include the subtle nuances that make Sorita d'Este the authority on the subject. This book contains detailed descriptions of Hecate's influence in antiquity through the use of stunning visual imagery. Including the Minoan Snake Goddess, one of my particular favorites. I also appreciate the way that the author takes the time to guide the reader into being more accepting of those who may have a different view of Hecate by addressing quite directly the Maiden Mother Crone aspect and the simple spelling of her name that has led to debate and contempt for years.
By foto feta per J. Ollé el 6 d'agost del 2005.
Sorita continues to explore the Goddess by taking us on a journey which explains conflation and lore. We learn of her lineage, her place in the company of Zeus and then all the way to the the shores of Ellis Island and how the personification of Libertas is often tied to the mother Goddess of the Chaldean Orcales. The image from page 139 of the book labeled 59-Hekate Chiaramonte is one of my favorite depictions of the Goddess.
https://www.ancient.eu
For the beginner and scholar alike, the chapter dedicated to the Symbols will be a quick reference to all things Hecate. From the modius to her sandals Sorita takes us on a head to toe exploration of all the imagery associated with Hecate. Many immediately know of keys and serpents but how many take the time to explore the others such as lions, poppies or star wheels.
One of many aspects of the goddess is most intriguing to me is her relationship to the dead and necromancy. Sorita delves into this with precision and with of course careful reference to her sources. References to spells and charms related to the dead is just another section that will challenge the reader to continue to discover more about the goddess.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/evil/tee/tee14.htm
Finally the chapter related to Hecate and plants is a must have for the devotee. If I had a dollar for every time I saw a request for Aconite to place on someone's altar I would be a millionaire. The table provided in this book is filled with non lethal plants and should be required reading for the budding Hecatean in my opinion.
Overall this book encompasses what we know and adore about the Goddess from a historical perspective but also include modern references by authors and bloggers alike. Sorita d'Este confirms her place as a scholar of Hecate and shares that knowledge with the masses in this well referenced and easy to read book. I, for one anxiously await Volume II.
---------------
I would like to take a moment to personally thank Sorita for my inclusion in this book. I have worked diligently with the Covenant of Hekate over the years and spent many nights researching the mysteries of Hecate. Sorita has been a supportive influence in my study and practice. I was excited to see Sara Neheti Croft referenced in the book as she too, was/is a huge resource on Hecate and I still reach out to her with questions and comments on the Goddess. You can find information on the Covenant of Hekate on this link and the amazing blog by Sara here. Be sure to head over and check them out.
This morning I felt the urge to talk about the evolution of spirituality. As many of you know my path has evolved from its inception. As a child (roughly age 8) I was raised Southern Baptist. I was taught that if I donated money to the church, I would be blessed. If I were blessed, my step father would stop molesting me. My mother would stop living in soaps and we would have more food on the table.
My path as an adult has moved from a general interest in Wicca, to a Devotee to the Covenant of Hekate, to a Torchbearer and today, it still progresses.
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
Over my stay with the Covenant of Hekate I was encouraged to explore my path. Read more books and learn more about the path I was traveling. As we look at our past, we can see that as we learned more about the world around us, we began to understand that some things we attributed to a deity was actually science, magic or insanity.
Let's start with Abraham. (Link) - In the Hebrew Bible, a very dedicated servant of God is told by his God that he must kill his son in order to prove his loyalty. Abraham puts his son on an altar and pulls out a knife to sacrifice him to his God. The story continues that an angel stops Abraham from killing his son.
Here we have a man killing his child because a voice told him to. Today, if this happened, we would tell the person they were insane and lock them up for attempted murder. We frown on parents who use religious objections to not seek medical care for their children. In fact the American Academy of Pediatrics is against these types of medical objections. (link)
Remember, there's a huge margin here as it relates to insanity vs. hearing voice or reading images. I certainly don't believe or mean to imply that everyone who has "heard" the voice of their deity is insane. We have to look at literal vs. figurative.
Then we have this, in the United States the government has passed a religious freedom bill that allows medical professionals to decline treatment those those people or for those procedures that are against their religious beliefs. Which basically means, LGBTQI people get kicked to the curb, OH and if you want an abortion or birth control, guess what?? You don't get that either. (link)
(I follow my book, but only when I want to)
Today many out there like to use words like "I'm not that kind of Christian" or "That's not what Christianity is about today". They see their religious frame work as being some thing that has evolved to include LGBTQI - People of Color (because yes, in the not so distant past, these same folks used the Bible to defend slavery)
One of the things that I watched along my journey was Caesar's Messiah. I'll link the trailer below. I highly recommend taking a look at this.
**Just for the fun of it, here's another website that lists all the times "murder" is called for in the bible.
Just to reiterate, I do not believe that those who "hear" their deity are insane. I believe that there are some that are, but there are also some who are indeed hearing their message.
In this example oracle goes into the Temple of Apollo where there are assorted fumes and then the oracle gives a reading and provides and answer to the questioning from the Gods.
Today we see groups that still engage in the use of drugs to contact a deity. Peyote for example is in the same class of drugs as Heroin.
A quick look at the ingredients of "Flying Ointment" will quickly reveal, if we weren't flying, we certainly thought we were. (lol)
Source - Wikipedia
Still anyone using drugs today and telling us they speak for a God/Deity is generally met with a huge amount of skepticism. Today we look to make sure that those who claim to have contact with a deity are not in a place where they can hurt themselves or others. This is another form of religious evolution. We move from blanket belief to a healthy does of critical thinking to ensure the safety of our people.
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson
In our final example, I want to have a look at Hecate Devotees.
Followers of the Goddess Hecate have certainly changed from what we see in the assorted historic texts related to her. We know, for example that many of her followers were/are vegetarian or vegan. (Hekate: Liminal Rites (Avalonia Press, 2009). You can find more on vegetarianism and Hecate here.
Now does that mean everyone who follows Hecate should be/is vegan or vegetarian? Of course not. Each person follows their own dietary practices. Science tells us that some people cannot eat only a vegan diet. My DNA tests revealed that when I eat animal products, I tend to put on more weight and have more adverse side effects. So I choose to eat vegan. Not for the goddess but for my own health and well being.
Hecate has a thirst for the blood of black dogs and puppies? Or so I've read. There are several references to black dogs in various documents that equate them to being evil or the devil. Dogs which are said to be sacred to her were sacrificed as well. Today very few cults still use animal sacrifice as part of their ritual practice. For me, as an animal lover, I completed my dedication to Hecate by helping homeless animals. This allowed me to embrace the part of the Goddess that was said to love dogs and then to weed out or EVOLVE my practice away from something distasteful into something useful.
To round out this discussion on Hecate, you cannot complete her story with out reference to the Eunuchs who were said to follow her in Lagina. This discovery has led to many discussions and all out fights online as to if men were even allowed to be Devotees of Hecate. Because of her further association with childbirth as well as being seen has as a virgin/maiden Goddess, it could be said that she was, indeed a Goddess for women. The following link has a great deal of information on Hecate and women, however the association of Hecate with the Crone aspect of the MMC construct is not something I subscribe to. That being said, I do like to supply all views so here is the link.
Video from the Temple of Lagina.
Today we do not expect ritual castration, sacrificing puppies (your kids) or even inhaling noxious fumes to follow your path. Today, our thoughts have evolved to allow for others to follow their own path. If that path contains a deity or if that path is absent of one, it is still one's own path and should only be judged by themselves. It is not our place to say one way is right or wrong but more of which way grants peace to all those involved.
Our science has shown us where an eclipse comes from. Where earth quakes and hurricanes originate. We know that we have the ability to think freely for ourselves and not rely on some antiquated text (don't even get me started on that) or messages from a doped up oracle for our direction in this world. We have evolved to understand that our magic, our religion can usually be explained by science. And where it cannot, my hope is that one day we will be able to tap into those areas and explore them fully. Because we know that space is there. We can all feel the magic when we are in our ritual, in our meditation or even just walking into our sacred space to commune with what we may call our deity or our reality.
I'm a reader. I read photos and people to learn about them. I can see extramarital affairs. I can see illness and sadness. I can spot resentment and evil. I do not attribute this to any deity. I have had it my entire life. From Baptist to Atheist, my skill at reading has improved with age and my disconnection with negativity. I know that it is real and cannot be explained currently by science. But we'll get there.
We have to remember that each person, even those ancients that some embrace as being the only way, were merely interpreting what they see/heard/felt. It was the UPG of its time.
So until you're walking around tossing black puppies in wells and hacking off your testicles I really don't need to hear about how your way is the only way to follow Hecate. Each person makes their own way. They have to walk that path, not you.
There's always room to evolve. No matter where you are in science, religion or magic.
Generally I like to start out with a disclaimer. I am identify as a magical Buddhist. I look for the connection between magic and science without the need to search for a creator. I believe in spiritually and holistic wellness. I find that we can heal the world if we just sit down and and listen to the breath. I believe that magic, science and nutritional well being are the cornerstone to a well rounded holistic life. I have recently updated my site from Confessions of a Modern Witch to my new page To Live Whole. I welcome you to come along for my journey of health, wellness and self exploration. I receive no compensation for these reviews and all my links are standard Amazon links and not affiliate links. I am a practicing photo reader and have spent the last 16 years honing my craft. I offer personal readings by request and have a strong online history that boasts over 438,000 views.
As you know I'll be switching over to reviewing only e-copies of books shortly. I will miss handling the books but the amount of trash that I had piling up for all the shipping was just overwhelming. I will be doing a giveaway for the remaining physical books that actually arrive as well as asking my publishers to provide giveaway copies shipped directly to my winner's homes going forward for all giveaways.
My review copy as a medium sized soft cover book that would easily travel in a larger handbag or backpack. This book has an extensive index! I really love a good index. What good is a book if you can't fine what you're looking for. This one does not disappoint. I jumped in looking up a couple of my favorite deities and found them quickly. Never underestimate the power of a good index.
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson Photo Source - Book
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson Photo Source - Book
This book is divided up by the months of the year. Each month has an assortment of deities within. January contains Sophia, Skadi, Xi Wangmu, Athena and Brigid for example. I was pleasantly surprised to see that there are some of the more common deities such as Kalli and Diana but other deities like Maeve, Tiamat and the Spider Woman were also represented. The author did a really great job going across several cultures to pull together an assortment of Goddess figures that can appeal to a wide audience.
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson Photo Source - Book
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson Photo Source - Book
I quickly jumped to my month to see what Skye Alexander had in store for those born in February. February (each month for that matter) begin with an brief introduction into the month. In my case a poem from Oscar Fay Adams was on the top of the chapter page with some beautiful birch trees in the background. We begin with Saraswati. The author provides insight on when we should invite her and provides a Herstory of the deity. She tells us about the symbols and corresponds as well as reasons to work with her. There is a section on how to invite her as well. For February we have four Goddesses presented each with the same outline as above. Joining Saraswati is Lilith, Nut and Aurora.
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson Photo Source - Book
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson Photo Source - Book
I couldn't review this book without seeking out Hecate. I found her quickly in this book thanks to that handy dandy index in the back. Hecate was found in October! Where else? She was joined by Frigg, Ma'at, Hera and Aphrodite. The author recommends we work with Hecate from October 30 - Nov 5. She gives us a brief history of Hecate and but refers to her as an elder Goddess. Despite all the drawings and writings of Hecate, people still like to refer to her as a crone. Hecate has never been anything presented other than a maiden. I would like to see this reflect more in this newly written books. I did like the way the author said to leave veggies as an offering. This appeals to the vegan in me, however we know historically that offerings to deities were less compassionate.
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson Photo Source - Book
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson Photo Source - Book
Overall I felt this is a great book for a house warming party or maybe for a graduation gift. It is certainly female positive in its language. I think this would be a great addition to any library focusing on female empowerment or a great way to bring the feminine divine anything any traditional magical library.
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson Photo Source - Book
Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson Photo Source - Book
Kleidouchos is one of the many titles given to the Goddess
Hekate/Hecate. It means Key bearer. Hecate is said to hold the keys to the
underworld, the keys to hidden mysteries and the keys to unlock the secret knowledge. The term is also used in reference to the
priest who hold the keys to her temples.
In this modern age of social media I see all of the
followers of Hecate to be these key bearers.
We all hold the key to information and can help guide others to learn
about the Goddess. On my key ring I have decided to share keys to locate
resources about the Goddess.
My second key is to my
web shrine to the Goddess Hecate. Here
I list some of my favorite videos, publications and a prayer I wrote to the
Goddess.
My third key is to a playlist
created by Sorita D’Este
which lists various groups preforming the Rite of Sacred Fires.
To me, these will help open the doors and unlock many of the
mysteries around the Goddess. She is
much more than a representation of the Crone aspect of the triple goddess. She is an ancient Goddess with a life that precedes
modern Wicca. She is a light bringer, a holder of knowledge and a
deliverer of justice.
The video below is an introduction and a FAQ around The Rite
of Her Sacred Fires 2013.
This year in celebration of the Goddess and The Rite of Her
Sacred Fires I had a new tattoo created.
Photo Credit - Elijah Olson - Tattooist
Photo Credit - Elijah Olson - Tattooist
I’m readying myself by collecting my offerings and adding a
single key to my altar. This key
represents my place in her service. I
hope that my key will open doors for others to learn about her many mysteries.
I want to start by prefacing this review as I do all my reviews. I do not follow Wicca. I am an atheist witch and follow the more scientific side of magic. I look at chemical reactions, elemental reasons and avoid attributing to the magical what can explained by the mundane. That being said I review each book based on the subject matter, the quality of the binding and the author's presentation of the material. I hope you enjoy.
I'll start out with the physical attributes of the books. When I hold a book, it has to feel good. I hate those slicky covers or the ones that feel like suede. This book is great. The size is nice, slightly shorter than most books but I find it more comfortable to hold when reading. The pages are slightly thicker than most pages as well which gives the book the feel of a deck of tarot cards. There are 75 Goddesses in this book and each one has a full color artist quality image of each. I was really impressed with this. I won't go through each of Goddesses listed and the photos attached are the photos from the publishers' page but I will say you will not be disappointed with these images.
Of course due to my relation with the Covenant of Hekate, my first desire was to find her in the book. I was pleased to see some actual historic reference to her and not surprised to see the author jump back into the old crone references just as quickly. I agree with her underworld associations and with the darker and even dead/death aspects, however just because one guy called her Crone doesn't set that in stone. As with most that follow the path of Wicca, this author did put her in that place and I was disappointed tot see that. (see references at the end of this review)
That aside I feel that this is a great book for an introduction to female deities across pantheons. Tiamat, Spider Woman and Hel all grace the pages of this book. I was pleased to see representations from around the globe to include not only the expected Greek/Roman deities but also Goddesses representing Africa, Egypt and even the Aztec culture. Freya, Sedna and Selene also make an appearance. My own ancestor line make an appearance with references to Celtic Goddesses, the Morrigan, Danu and Brigid.
Overall this is a really good beginner reference book for introducing the feminine deities and would recommend it as a way to get started.
Posts
