This year was an amazing time for Rite of Her Sacred Fires.
Sorita d'Est founder of the Covenant of Hekate presented the rite live online which was live streamed to every corner of the globe. I had the honor of taking part while moderating our group. If you have not had the opportunity I wanted to share the rite with you, some of my images from the evening and the text of the event.
Rite of Her Sacred Fires
1. Preparation
Find a quiet place where you will be able to perform the rite undisturbed. You will need a candle (or another form of devotional fire such as a lamp or hearth fire) and something with which to light it. You may wish to consecrate the candle or other materials you will be using in keeping with your usual tradition of working, otherwise please simply ensure that it is clean.
2. Prelude
Make yourself comfortable, breathe deeply and find your point of balance, a balance of mind and soul and body, which will present you proud and beautiful to the world. Breathe deeply and find your voice, the voice with which you will speak words of true and pure intent. Breathe deeply and call upon the freedom within your heart so that you will be able to express yourself with purity of intent and with strength of desire.
Place both your hands on your heart (three heartbeats), your forefinger and middle finger of your dominant hand to your lips (three heartbeats), and then to your brow (three heartbeats). Now enclose your thumbs within both your hands (in fists) and raise both your arms to the heavens.
Open your hands and with palm upwards in your left hand, bring your right arm to your side palm facing downwards and invoke the Goddess.
3. Invocation
“I invoke thee, Great Mistress of the Heaven, Earth and Sea, By your mysteries of Night and Day, By the Light of the Moon and the Shadow of the Sun I invoke thee, Mistress of life, death and rebirth Emerge now from the shadow realm to feed my soul and enlighten my mind, Triple-formed Mistress of the three ways I entreat thee, Key-bearing Mistress of the Nightwandering Souls To bring forth your wisdom from amongst the stars To bring down your starfire from the darkness between, Creatrix of Light! Goddess of the Shadow Realms! Light-bearing queen! Whisper now your secrets! Fire-bringer! Earthly-one! Queen of Heaven!”
[Raise both hands with palms facing upwards to the heavens (three heartbeats) and then touch the ground palms downwards]
[Sit before the candle and prepare to light it]
[Take three deep breaths and allow your senses to awaken]
Say
“Hekate, companion and guide to the mysteries I light this sacred fire in your honour, [light fire] Its light uniting the stars and stones, the heavens and the earth, With this fire I express my desire for a greater understanding of your mysteries
Great Hekate, who spins the web of the stars and governs the spiral of life Guide me through towards pathways of understanding, From Crossroad to Crossroad, The Torchbearers and the Keybearers of your mysteries will always find one another”
Now sit and watch the flame flicker and dance, allow yourself to focus on the different colours in the flame, the yellows and reds, the blues and whites, and the black. If you wish you may decide to spend some time meditating on the flame, skrying for visions or omens. Likewise you may wish to extinguish it and keep the candle. Let your true self radiate brightly its beautiful mysteries from this day on forth, the flame of the fires of Hekate burns on in your heart!
Say
“I banish now the shadows of doubt from my mind, Infused by the silence and warmth of our union I feel your golden radiance within my heart And the glory of knowledge on my brow, I am a student of your mysteries.”
Extinguish the flame, then place both your hands on your heart (three heartbeats), your forefinger and middle finger of your dominant hand to your lips (three heartbeats), and then to your brow (three heartbeats).
Open your palms reaching towards the heaven, then reach down and touch the Earth.
[Copyright Notice]
This ritual was written in celebration of the completion of the book Hekate Her Sacred Fires and as an act of Devotion to the Goddess Hekate. Permission is given for the adaptation of this ritual for personal and group use. The ritual is designed to be performed as is but can also be incorporated into longer rituals and is compatible with most magical traditions. Whoever performs this rite takes personal responsibility for the results (or lack of results!) thereof the author cannot be held responsible for any undesired effects. This ritual may be reproduced freely for non-commercial purposes in any format electronic or printed, providing that this original notice remain intact.
For any changes, updates and further resources see www.hekatecovenant.com
(c)Sorita d’Este, 2010
Feel free to share your photos here or on the Facebook page. We'd love to see how you connect on this wonderful event. To connect with others on this journey, please scan this qr code with your smart phone and join the Facebook Group - Rite of Her Sacred Fires.
Rite of Her Sacred Fires is just around the corner. On the first full moon in May devotees of the Goddess come together in this modern celebration of her mysteries!
This is one of the most amazing rituals you can take part it. I found it to be just as rewarding the first time I participated in 2010 as it is today.
To help give an example of what to expect, here's a video of Kenn Payne, Keybearer to the Covenant of Hekate and founder of the Sanctuary of Hekate Polymorphos. I highly recommend checking it out.
Written in 2010 by Sorita d'Este, it quickly grew and is now available in over 25 languages. You can find all the translations on the Covenant of Hekate Website.
This year Sorita will be hosting the event online and all devotees are welcome. You can attend free of charge by signing up on Eventbrite on this link.
Rite of Her Sacred Fires
1. Preparation
Find a quiet place where you will be able to perform the rite undisturbed. You will need a candle (or another form of devotional fire such as a lamp or hearth fire) and something with which to light it. You may wish to consecrate the candle or other materials you will be using in keeping with your usual tradition of working, otherwise please simply ensure that it is clean.
2. Prelude
Make yourself comfortable, breathe deeply and find your point of balance, a balance of mind and soul and body, which will present you proud and beautiful to the world. Breathe deeply and find your voice, the voice with which you will speak words of true and pure intent. Breathe deeply and call upon the freedom within your heart so that you will be able to express yourself with purity of intent and with strength of desire.
Place both your hands on your heart (three heartbeats), your forefinger and middle finger of your dominant hand to your lips (three heartbeats), and then to your brow (three heartbeats). Now enclose your thumbs within both your hands (in fists) and raise both your arms to the heavens.
Open your hands and with palm upwards in your left hand, bring your right arm to your side palm facing downwards and invoke the Goddess.
3. Invocation
“I invoke thee, Great Mistress of the Heaven, Earth and Sea, By your mysteries of Night and Day, By the Light of the Moon and the Shadow of the Sun I invoke thee, Mistress of life, death and rebirth Emerge now from the shadow realm to feed my soul and enlighten my mind, Triple-formed Mistress of the three ways I entreat thee, Key-bearing Mistress of the Nightwandering Souls To bring forth your wisdom from amongst the stars To bring down your starfire from the darkness between, Creatrix of Light! Goddess of the Shadow Realms! Light-bearing queen! Whisper now your secrets! Fire-bringer! Earthly-one! Queen of Heaven!”
[Raise both hands with palms facing upwards to the heavens (three heartbeats) and then touch the ground palms downwards]
[Sit before the candle and prepare to light it]
[Take three deep breaths and allow your senses to awaken]
Say
“Hekate, companion and guide to the mysteries I light this sacred fire in your honour, [light fire] Its light uniting the stars and stones, the heavens and the earth, With this fire I express my desire for a greater understanding of your mysteries
Great Hekate, who spins the web of the stars and governs the spiral of life Guide me through towards pathways of understanding, From Crossroad to Crossroad, The Torchbearers and the Keybearers of your mysteries will always find one another”
Now sit and watch the flame flicker and dance, allow yourself to focus on the different colours in the flame, the yellows and reds, the blues and whites, and the black. If you wish you may decide to spend some time meditating on the flame, skrying for visions or omens. Likewise you may wish to extinguish it and keep the candle. Let your true self radiate brightly its beautiful mysteries from this day on forth, the flame of the fires of Hekate burns on in your heart!
Say
“I banish now the shadows of doubt from my mind, Infused by the silence and warmth of our union I feel your golden radiance within my heart And the glory of knowledge on my brow, I am a student of your mysteries.”
Extinguish the flame, then place both your hands on your heart (three heartbeats), your forefinger and middle finger of your dominant hand to your lips (three heartbeats), and then to your brow (three heartbeats).
Open your palms reaching towards the heaven, then reach down and touch the Earth.
[Copyright Notice]
This ritual was written in celebration of the completion of the book Hekate Her Sacred Fires and as an act of Devotion to the Goddess Hekate. Permission is given for the adaptation of this ritual for personal and group use. The ritual is designed to be performed as is but can also be incorporated into longer rituals and is compatible with most magical traditions. Whoever performs this rite takes personal responsibility for the results (or lack of results!) thereof the author cannot be held responsible for any undesired effects. This ritual may be reproduced freely for non-commercial purposes in any format electronic or printed, providing that this original notice remain intact.
For any changes, updates and further resources see www.hekatecovenant.com
(c)Sorita d’Este, 2010
Feel free to share your photos here or on the Facebook page. We'd love to see how you connect on this wonderful event. To connect with others on this journey, please scan this qr code with your smart phone and join the Facebook Group - Rite of Her Sacred Fires.
Today I celebrate great news! I have been accepted ad the cartomancer for the Covenant of Hekate's newsletter, Noumenia News. My first publication features cards from the Angels and Ancestors deck. Take a moment and check out Noumenia News's information on the Covenant of Hekate's website. You do not have to be a member to subscribe! There's tons of great information in there and I highly recommend reading it.
Angels and Ancestors by Kyle Gray with art by Lily Moses
I'm thrilled to be back on the staff at Noumenia News. A few years ago I resigned my position as Editor in Chief after birthing this amazing piece of volunteer work in the name of the goddess. From the beginning the goal was provide a place for the members of the Covenant to come together and share their works of art and experiences around Hecate.
Today, I feel like I am returning home. I look forward to working with the other staff members and I hope to provide a service to the community as a whole.
My readings will be listed each issue using, for now, either my go to deck, Angels and Ancestors or I may use decks that I will be reviewing. Ultimately, I will be featuring my own, self printed cards (yes, I'm making the cards from scratch and printing them myself) dedicated to Hecate.
The images are created by my wonderful partner and best friend Elijah and will include a pdf booklet that will outline the meaning and layout of the deck. I'm using an old process to create this magical item the same way witches have done for years. I'll be making them by hand and crafting a single card at a time. The first deck will be mine to work with and get a connection to. Afterwards, I may offer printings for those interesting in obtaining a deck for their own work.
Below is an example of one of the cards in the deck. I'm super excited about getting this deck completed and can't wait to share a few readings with you.
Crossroads Card from the Crossroads Oracle by Renee Sosanna Olson
I'm going to preface this piece with the assertion that I do not speak for all those who claim the title Atheist Witch. This speaks directly to my experience with religion over the years and the current quandary I find myself in related to what I believe my path is. I would also like to say, I find it extremely hilarious that there is an entire section of a website dedicated to "proving" that I do not believe in god(s). Let me save you the trouble. I do not believe that a physical person walked this planet with three heads. I do not believe that a man turned into a swan to have sex with a woman. I do not believe that Titans roamed the earth in the religious aspect. There, I said it. This blog can now move on to new topics.
To be sure we're on the same page, I am speaking on this subject with the following definitions in mind. This is my belief. I'm happy to answer questions.
Atheist - a person who does not believe in god or gods.
Witch - a person who uses magic to impart change on their world.
Oddly enough I have found more resistance from those in my Pagan community than those in the Christian Community. That tells me one thing. Christians believe that Pagans and Atheists are the same thing. They see no difference between not believing in their God, regardless of perspective. If I believed in Pan instead of Jesus, they see that as an equal believe structure as not being in God at all.
What I found really surprising was the direct and out right attacks from those in the Pagan community. Now let me be clear, this isn't from "all" of them. So please don't take the "No True Scotsman" approach here. I'm speaking from a direct situation I seem to have found myself in with members of the Hellenic community.
Recently I have had several individuals send me direct messages on Facebook asking some interesting questions. They see me as an admin in several magical groups (groups that focus on magic or that are dedicated to a specific deity) and are confused by my religion listed on my profile which displays "Atheist". The latest conversation consisted of someone who said, if I question the existence of Hecate, is that wrong? I took a step back and thought, wow. This is the same thing most people ask when stepping away from Christianity. Has Paganism become the new Christianity? Incredible.
While many people understand completely the natural progression of the trek many Atheists talk about on their journey from believe to non-belief. I was raised Southern Baptist in rural North Carolina and was told that my "sin" is what made my step-father rape me. My "sin" is what made my family be on welfare. My "sin" is what made me have the life I had. If I would simply donate money in the offering plate weekly and profess my "sin", God would forgive me and "bless" me. I would then be worthy of having a good life.
Exactly how fucked up is that? What kind of message is that to give a seven year old? I wanted to be blessed. Just like those rich folks who drove the church bus around to the poor neighborhoods bring in the poor kids to church. I put my pennies in the offering envelope, walked to the altar and prayed with the folks in the fancy suits and big diamonds, waiting for my turn to be "blessed".
As you can probably guess that time never came.
I was introduced to Paganism through a girlfriend when I was around 25 and used it as a way to explore my interest in science. Oddly enough the references to alchemy actually pulled me in. I'm pretty sure that is an odd way to end up in a religion.
Recently I was asked directly, what do you believe?
In 2013 I worked with The Covenant of Hekate to outline what the virtues of Hekate may be. This process is what started my exploration into Atheism.
We agreed to the following five virtues and definitions:
Compassion
– Sympathy and/or concern for others who are suffering or find themselves in an
undesirable position. A person attempting to develop the virtue of Compassion
within their daily life and practise would desire to aid in the alleviation of any
undesirable situation or at the very least not be a contributing factor towards it.
Real Life Example – You could try to help the homeless or less fortunate be they of the
two or four legged variety. Volunteering at local shelters or organising food drives are
great ways to learn and show compassion.
Courage
– Strength or character or fortitude to stand firm in your convictions and face
adversity or distress without fear. A person attempting to develop the virtue of
Courage within their daily life and practise may chose to stand firm against those
who would chose to undermine their beliefs or convictions or to speak out
against those who hurt and undermine others.
Real Life Example – Try standing up for someone you or your friendship group may
deem unpopular. Also when someone shows remorse for a wrongdoing some people
will continue to be angry and unforgiving. Instead state your position calmly (in itself an
act of courage) and then allow the situation to pass.
Temperance
– Moderation and self-control are both acts of Temperance. A person attempting to
develop the virtue of Temperance within their daily life and practise may chose to
restrict some part of their life be that thought or action in an attempt to find a
balance rather than choosing to allow extremes.
Real Life Example – Try abstaining from certain types of food or drink or showing
restraint in discussions online. An example would be to learn to hold one’s tongue and
listen a bit more before jumping into an argument.
Justice
– Moral and physical rightness are both aspects of Justice, as is the sometimes
contradictory act of behaving fairly towards other people. A person attempting to
develop the virtue of Justice within their daily life would strive to act fairly,
truthfully and with personal integrity when dealing with others and themselves.
Real Life Example – Try to treat others fairly, in action and tone be it online or in person.
Try to not pass judgement on another based upon your own feelings for a person, your
understanding of the situation or hearsay. There are often two (or more) sides to a story
and the truth lies somewhere between. If the truth cannot be ascertained then try being
impartial.
Wisdom
– To have the common sense, foresight and understanding to think or act in a
manner most objectively and beneficially to any given situation. A person
attempting to develop the virtue of Wisdom within their daily life would strive to
apply their knowledge and experiences in a prudent and practical way.
Real Life Example – Try volunteering to share on a topic that you are knowledgeable
on with a local group or center. Offer to do a guest blog post or write an article for an eZine
on a particular subject.
Now, we agreed that we should all try to maintain these virtues in our daily lives. Look at each one of these; are they specific to Hecate? Are they specific to a follower of Hecate?
Not really. Any person can display these attributes. Any one who chooses to have wisdom or justice can do so without any requirement to commit to a deity.
So why have a deity? We are creatures of habit. We need reminders. We like reminders. When we see a key, we think of unlocking mysteries. When we see a cross road we think of decisions or choices made. We apply so much more to the simple image than is actually there. So when we see Hecate for example we think of a mighty Titan Goddess who rules the underworld or walks through the space between the living and the dead. We ask for her guidance and her power to help us understand, remove or command those forces we feel only she can command. This is typical human behavior. If not, how would organized religion taken such a hold on our world.
I mean just over Easter my house payment was nearly late because my electronic banking system and payroll couldn't decide who was going to observe Good Friday. Why in the hell is my bank evolved in a religious holiday? The answer is, it shouldn't be. But here we are.
For those out there questioning your current belief system, my direction to you is just read as much as you can. Open a book on science, talk to those who don't believe. Talk to those who do. Look for evidence. Most of all, think for yourself. Don't be bullied into agreeing with someone simply because they send you hateful messages or they are so deep in their own delusion that they cannot get past simple things like treating LGBT with dignity. Any religion, any religion at all that tells you have to treat a group of people badly because they do not believe as you do is simply wrong. Oppression is not holy. Making others feel less than because they're not in your club is simply bulling.
Recently I was approached by a family member that said to me, You just want me to believe what you believe. You're witnessing, just like I am. Actually, no. No I'm not. As long as you don't try to push religion into our legal system, or education system or individually oppress people, I really don't give two shits what you believe. Want to worship someone who raped an six year old? (LINK) That's your business. If you want to follow the Christian bible, yeah well that's up to you too. (LINK)
Unlike those touting this belief, my worth isn't measured in the number of people I can bring under me. It's like Christianity is some big pyramid scheme. The more people I bring in under me the bigger my crown is in heaven. What a crock of shit. (LINK)
So where does witchcraft fit in here. When I was a small child I watch "religiously" (pun intended) Arthur C. Clark's Mysterious World. (LINK) This started my journey of questioning everything. I wanted to know more. I wanted to learn more and I knew that out there somewhere was the answers I was looking for.
He formulated three adages that are known as Clarke's three laws, of which the third law is the best known and most widely cited:
When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.
The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
To me, I believe in telepathy. I believe in the power of the mind to change your body's appearance. I believe in the mind to heal. I believe in pre-cognition and the ability to learn from those who have passed on. Though it may not be in the traditional ways we think of them, each of these abilities are directly related to our brain and how it works in the world around us.
I have rambled on with this post much longer than I expected. I want to clarify that I don't see my position as superior to any one else. This isn't a race or pie. There isn't a set amount out there. We can share knowledge and grown. I'm open to suggestions and education. I am however not going to fondle over a pile of scrolls found in a cave in antiquity when I have a machine in my hand that most of those people would have hailed as a god.
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