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 first key is to our annual event that occurs this weekend.  (Rite of Her Sacred Fires)  There is a group set up on Facebook with members who have planned rituals around the full moon to honor the Goddess Hecate.

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. 

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.

Namaste & Blessed Be

Sosanna

)O(

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 13^th 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 30^th.  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.

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.  

Namaste & Blessed Be

Sosanna

)O(

C is for Correspondence

cor·re·spond·ence  [kawr-uh-spon-duhns, kor-] 

noun

1. communication by exchange of letters.

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 20^th 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.

Namaste & Blessed Be

Sosanna

)O(

For this week’s Witchy Wednesday I've decided to focus on one of the most popular tools in the witch’s possession.  The altar can take on many forms.   From an outside space to be joined with nature to an inside private area to complete chants, the altar can be as complex or as simple as desired.

I’ll start by dissecting my own altar.  I am Hecatean, which means I am a follower of Hecate (Hekate).  I do not have a consort or a male deity that I set alongside of her.  She is my only deity. 

Above is my altar to Hecate.  I have a red candle plate that holds round dishes that my tea light candles go on.  These are for the directions. When I call the quarters I light each tea light starting in the North and circling around to the West.  In the center is a large red taper. This is my candle for Hecate.  To the left is a painting of the Goddess and incense burners which hold my sage are here as well.  To the bottom right of the photo is my chalice.  This is to represent again the feminine on an altar.  Many accompany this with a wand or a dagger/Athame.  I do not have either of these on my altar but I do have a large wooden walking stick that sits on the back behind the triple Goddess emblem. I'm still searching for the correct dagger for my altar. This is the only “phallic” type object that I keep.    To the top right there is a small tin of salt, a wooden pentacle and a ceremonial broom that I made to help “sweep” the negativity out.

This next photo shows a close-up of the red candle and the Triple Goddess symbol that is carved into the back of the wooden Altar.  I have a bell in the rear for air and to the right there is a small bottle of water and some dirt.   Just next to the red candle dish is a small green candle that I've added for prosperity.  To the back right is my hand fasting cord.   Hubby and I plan to renew our dedication to each other on Samhain, our ten year anniversary using this cord.  It’s been on my altar for a month now collecting energy. 

Most altars will have representation of the particular Deity.  I have several of Hecate on my altar. I've the painting above of the Goddess in Red.  I have a key, a piece of Lapis Lazuli as well as a small red bag that contains the cord I used in the “Rite of the Red Cord”.

The representation can be something as simple as a small stone or a candle or as complex as a huge statue.  Many believe that making the object yourself adds more power to it, however I believe that if this is something that speaks to the individual, which gives it a power of its own.  Selecting an image for your deity is a completely personal decision and can take years to complete.

Here are a few examples of some of the Goddess representations I've created.

Creating your sacred space to work with the deity of your choice is a very personal process.  Each item can take years to find its way to you.  You will know when you find it.

When I’m working with my altar I use a playlist on Youtube to help me get in the Witchy state of mind.  Recently I found a new chant called “The Charge of the Goddess”.    I’ll leave you with that now.

Namaste & Blessed Be

Sosanna

)O(

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.

I am a follower of Hecate, also known as Hecate Kleidoukhos – Keeper of the Keys or Key bearer.  The key she holds is the key to the underworld.  Images show Hecate holding a key, a rope and a dagger as well as three torches.  In her trifold form Hecate is often seen at a cross roads, where her offerings are left.

For many years I’ve always had an attraction to keys. Before my dedication I collected keys.  Today I have two altars.  My ancestor altar and Altar to Hecate.

On my ancestor altar you can see my skull, the hand embroidered cloth belonging to my great grandmother and a lovely key.

After my dedication I took my red cord and placed it in a small velvet satchel and tied a small key to the bag.  It lives just above my altar.

On my altar next to my salts tin and my wooden pentacle I have a small key to represent Hecate.

Some other great sources of information on Hecate are below:

DragonOak.com

Goddess a Day

Sibylline Order

Namaste & Blessed Be

Sosanna

)O(