Among the most fascinating pieces of evidence for the blending of Greek and Egyptian spiritual traditions are the magical amulets produced in the Roman Imperial period. These engraved stones—sometimes called magical gems or intaglios—carried images of deities alongside strings of mysterious words of power known as voces magicae. Their purpose was both protective and transformative, drawing on the combined powers of gods who crossed cultural and spiritual boundaries.

One particularly striking example shows Hecate and Anubis standing side by side.

On the left, Anubis appears in his jackal-headed form. He wears a short tunic and holds ritual implements, sometimes depicted as a whip, scepter, or circular object. In Egyptian religion, Anubis was the god of embalming, guardian of tombs, and guide of souls into the afterlife. In the context of Greco-Egyptian magic, however, his role expanded: he became not only a psychopomp but also a protector against hostile forces and a powerful ally in magical rites.

On the right stands Hecate, depicted in her multi-armed form, a visual shorthand for overwhelming magical authority. In some versions she holds torches, daggers, and whips, emphasizing her dominion over crossroads, thresholds, and unseen realms. To see Hecate carved with six or more arms is to see her as a goddess whose power radiates in all directions at once.

Beneath the figures runs a line of Greek letters. While they may look like a secret message, these are not meant to be read as ordinary words. They are voces magicae—the “barbarous names” or divine syllables that appear throughout the Greek Magical Papyri (PGM). Spoken aloud in ritual, these strange sequences of sounds were believed to carry the raw power of the divine, bypassing the limits of human language.

The pairing of Hecate with Anubis is not accidental. Both are liminal deities—those who dwell at the thresholds between life and death, light and shadow, the mortal world and the divine.

Hecate: Guardian of crossroads, torch-bearer, key-holder, mistress of magic and necromancy.

Anubis: Protector of tombs, guide of souls, overseer of the weighing of the heart in the halls of Ma’at.

Together, they amplify one another’s authority as chthonic protectors and guides. A practitioner carrying such a gem would be invoking not just protection, but the ability to move safely across boundaries, whether those boundaries were physical, spiritual, or magical.

I have a written work on the paring that you can find here.

These amulets remind us that the ancient world was not neatly divided into “Greek” or “Egyptian” religion. In cities like Alexandria, spiritual traditions blended, evolved, and cross-pollinated. Hecate, once a goddess of the Greek world, and Anubis, deeply rooted in Egyptian tradition, could meet in the magical imagination of practitioners who sought the strongest allies possible in their ritual work.

This is not historical syncretism for its own sake—it is evidence of living devotion, where worshippers and magicians found resonance in the shared roles of deities who guided souls, guarded the in-between, and held the keys to mystery.

For modern practitioners, this amulet offers a reminder that the sacred often resides in the spaces between traditions. Hecate and Anubis both invite us to face thresholds with courage. Where Hecate’s torches illuminate the unseen paths, Anubis’s steady presence ensures that the journey through shadow leads to truth, not fear.

Together, they show us that wisdom and protection are not bound by culture but arise wherever humans seek the divine at the crossroads of life and death.

Devotional

Hecate, torch-bearer,

light the crossroads with your flame.

Keeper of keys, opener of ways,

guide me through shadow into truth.

Anubis, guardian of souls,

jackal-headed protector,

stand beside me at the threshold,

weigh my heart with justice and courage.

Together, walk with me in the liminal,

that I may pass safely,

learn deeply,

and rise transformed.

Have a glorious day!!

Rev. Renee Sosanna Olson

Torchbearer and Keybearer - Covenant of Hekate

Have a glorious day!

BY HER FIRES.COM

Sources & Further Reading

Campbell Bonner, Studies in Magical Amulets (1950).

The Greek Magical Papyri (PGM), translations by Hans Dieter Betz.

The Magical Gems Database (Universität Wien).

Devotional

Hecate, torch-bearer,

light the crossroads with your flame.

Keeper of keys, opener of ways,

guide me through shadow into truth.

Anubis, guardian of souls,

jackal-headed protector,

stand beside me at the threshold,

weigh my heart with justice and courage.

Together, walk with me in the liminal,

that I may pass safely,

learn deeply,

and rise transformed.

 In ancient Egyptian belief, every soul faced the Hall of Ma’at after death. There, Anubis weighed the heart of the deceased against the feather of truth. Thoth, the scribe of the gods, recorded the outcome faithfully. A heart heavy with lies, cruelty, or neglect tipped the scales — while a heart light with truth, compassion, and balance earned eternal life.

This image still resonates today: the weight of the heart tells the story of how we lived, not what we owned or claimed.

The Weighing of the Heart is one of the most iconic rituals from the Book of the Dead. Archaeologists have uncovered painted papyri and carved tomb scenes showing this moment: Anubis guiding the soul forward, the heart on one side of the scales, and the feather of Ma’at — representing truth and cosmic balance — on the other. Thoth stands nearby, writing the results with precision.

To the Egyptians, this wasn’t allegory. The heart was the seat of the soul, holding memory, morality, and character. Every deed was inscribed there.

A Light Heart: When the heart balanced with or was lighter than the feather, the soul was found pure and in harmony with Ma’at. Such a soul passed peacefully into the blessed afterlife.

A Heavy Heart: When the heart weighed heavier, burdened by falsehood or cruelty, the soul was destroyed by Ammit, the devourer. For them, this was a second death — the loss of existence itself.

The Papyrus of Ani and the Tomb of Hunefer are among the clearest examples of this ritual preserved across millennia. In both, Anubis adjusts the scales, Thoth records, and Ma’at witnesses. These scenes remind us how deeply the Egyptians understood that truth is the foundation of eternity.

Though this ritual belongs to Egyptian tradition, Hecate’s role as torchbearer of the crossroads echoes the same truth. She does not weigh or record, but she guides — illuminating the threshold and amplifying the prayers of the soul so they are heard. Compassion, one of the virtues associated with her, also makes her presence here feel natural, reminding us that guidance is not only about direction but about care. Though these are completely separate belief systems, in our humanity we cross over boundaries and allow our lives to be shaped by what is just, fair, and right.

Together, the triad embodies a cycle of truth and passage:

For the living, their message is just as vital: how we live shapes the weight of our hearts.

Card Pull: Justice (Crossroads Oracle)

The Justice card appears as a reminder that the heart is always weighed — in myth, in ritual, and in life. To walk with a lighter heart, we must be willing to live fairly, to release bias, and to remain open to truth even when it is uncomfortable.

When your actions are impartial, when you treat others with fairness, and when you hold yourself open to growth, your heart becomes lighter. Not because you are perfect, but because you are honest. This is the balance that the scales of Ma’at demand, and it is the balance we seek.

Ask yourself:

Where in my life am I refusing to see the truth because it would demand change?

Where do I need to soften my judgments — of myself or others — to find balance?

How can I act with more fairness and openness today?

Justice teaches that the weight of the heart is not fixed. Every choice lightens or burdens it. Today you are invited to choose truth, fairness, and openness — so that when your heart is weighed, it will not be heavy with what you refused to face.

If you're interested in daily affirmations based on the Crossroads Oracle cards you can find an e-Book download here.

Guided Reflection: What Would Your Heart Weigh?

Take a quiet moment. Close your eyes and picture the Hall of Ma’at. See Anubis steadying the scales, Thoth holding his pen, and Hecate lighting the hall with her torches.

Ask yourself:

What am I proud to carry in my heart right now?

What weighs me down? What truths or regrets have I avoided?

If my heart were weighed today, what story would it tell?

Journal your reflections. Keep them safe as a reminder, or release them — burn or bury them as a ritual act of renewal. This is not about punishment. It is about clarity, honesty, and choosing what you want your heart to hold.

A Gift for You

To support this reflection, I’ve created a Protection Visualization that helps you ground, release fear, and face your truth with courage. Use it before journaling or altar work.

Download the Protection Visualization here.

The weight of a heavy heart is not just a story for the dead. It is a mirror for the living. Each day we decide what to carry, what to release, and what legacy we will leave behind.

Our conscious reminds us that truth matters, that our choices are recorded, and that wisdom endures beyond time.

If you’d like to go deeper, my oracle decks, eBooks, and classes offer ways to bring these lessons into your own practice in my shop.

And every purchase supports the Blessing Box of Goldsboro, providing food and care at the crossroads of our community.

May the weight of our actions be guided by fairness, compassion, and truth, so that when the scales of judgment are balanced, they reflect a world moving toward justice and peace.

Have a glorious day. 🔥

BY HER FIRES.COM

This triadic connection has been quietly shaping my practice for years, but only recently have I felt ready to share it. Hecate has always stood at the center of my path, and over time Anubis and Thoth began appearing in ways that felt natural — inevitable, even. After sitting with their presence for years, I finally feel called to speak about how their roles intertwine as guides, guardians, and keepers of wisdom.

In my spiritual work, I’ve long honored Hecate as torchbearer, guide, and amplifier of magic. But pairing her with Anubis and Thoth reveals a powerful harmony — each distinct, yet deeply interconnected.

Hecate: Messenger and Amplifier

Hecate is often described as a messenger goddess, a carrier of words between realms. She doesn’t just deliver prayers and invocations — she amplifies them, ensuring they reach the ears of gods and spirits.

She also has a role as escort of the restless dead — those caught between worlds, untethered, or forgotten. With her torches, she lights their way, guiding them toward passage and peace.

And as a goddess linked to the moon, she governs cycles, thresholds, and illumination in the darkness — a thread that connects her directly to Thoth.

Anubis: Guardian and Witness

In Egyptian tradition, Anubis stands as psychopomp — guiding all souls into the afterlife. Unlike Hecate, whose domain is often the restless, Anubis escorts every soul to their rightful place.

He is also the witness of the heart-weighing, present when a soul’s deeds are measured against Ma’at’s feather of truth. His role is not only to guide, but to guard the sanctity of justice.

In this way, Anubis shares a role with Thoth, who records the outcome of judgment. Both stand in the liminal moment where a soul’s eternity is decided.

Thoth: Scribe, Magician, and Lunar Guide

Thoth may not lead souls like Anubis, but he is always present at the moment of judgment. His task is to record the truth — inscribing the results of the weighing of the heart.

Beyond this, Thoth is a god of wisdom, language, and magic — the one who gave humankind writing, knowledge, and the power of sacred words. Without him, the truths of the cosmos would remain unspoken.

Thoth, too, is a moon god, linking him to Hecate through their shared lunar influence. Where she shines torches at the crossroads, he reflects celestial light onto wisdom and memory.

The Triad Connection

When we see these three together, a powerful sequence emerges:

This triad doesn’t just govern the passage of the dead — it also teaches the living. They remind us that our words matter, that truth will be weighed, and that wisdom is eternal.

When I was becoming a Keybearer, I had to choose a title — and I chose Scriba, the Latin word for Scribe. At the time, it felt like the right fit, but over the years its meaning has deepened for me.

As Scriba, I hold the key to our stories — our past, our present, and the possibilities of our future. In this role I seek to preserve, share, and amplify the words of our community: the experiences of those who walk with Hecate, and the wisdom of those who honor her companions.

It wasn’t until I began working more closely with this triad of Hecate, Anubis, and Thoth that I realized just how aligned this choice was. Thoth, the divine scribe, recorded the truths of the heart-weighing and safeguarded wisdom for eternity. Hecate carries messages between worlds, amplifying them so they are heard. Anubis witnesses, guarding the process of passage and judgment.

In my own way, I step into that lineage — recording the voices of our covenant, witnessing our struggles and triumphs, and carrying forward the words that matter so they will not be forgotten.

And just as words become sacred when written, so too do symbols become sacred when placed with intention. One way I honor this triad is not only through story, but through space — by creating an altar that embodies their presence and brings their roles into daily practice.

To honor this connection, you might create a small altar with three simple symbols:

A torch or candle for Hecate

A scale or jackal image for Anubis

A pen, feather, or journal for Thoth

This altar becomes a threshold itself — a space where messages are carried, truth is weighed, and wisdom is preserved.

Invocation

Here is a short prayer you can use at your altar or in ritual:

Hecate, torchbearer and messenger, carry my words.

Anubis, guardian and witness, weigh my heart.

Thoth, keeper of wisdom, record my truth.

To support your work with this triad, I’ve created a free Visualization you can use before altar work or meditation. It helps you ground your energy, set boundaries, and open safely to divine presence.

➡️ Download the Triad Visualization here.

Working with this triad has opened new pathways in my practice — reminding me that magic isn’t just about casting, but about speaking truth, moving with integrity, and learning from wisdom across cultures.

If you’d like to go deeper, my oracle decks, eBooks, and classes offer guided ways to strengthen your spiritual connection in my shop.

And remember: every purchase supports the Blessing Box of Goldsboro, helping provide food and care at the crossroads of our community.

Let wisdom, new beginnings, and creative expression shape your day.

Have a glorious day. 🔥

BY HER FIRES.COM