Hecate Hecate, Greek goddess of the three paths, guardian of the household, protector of everything newly born, and

the goddess of witchcraft. Once a widely revered and influential goddess, the reputation of Hecate has been tarnished over the centuries. In current times, she is usually depicted as a "hag" or old witch stirring the cauldron. But nothing could be further from the image of Hecate's original glory. A beautiful and powerful goddess in her own right, the Greek goddess Hecate was the only one of the ancient Titans who Zeus allowed to retain their authority once the Olympians seized control. Zeus shared with Hecate, and only her, the awesome power of giving humanity anything she wished (or withholding it if she pleased). Usually classified as a "moon goddess", her kingdoms were actually three-fold . . . the earth, sea, and sky. Having the power to create or withhold storms undoubtedly played a role in making her the goddess who was the protector of shepherds and sailors. A lover of solitude, the Greek goddess Hecate was, like her cousin Artemis, a "virgin" goddess, unwilling to sacrifice her independent nature for the sake of marriage. Walking the roads at night or visiting cemeteries during the dark phase of the moon, the goddess Hecate was described as shining or luminous. In other legends she is invisible, perhaps only glimpsed as a light, a "will-o-the-wisp". Perhaps it was this luminous quality that marked Hecate as a "moon goddess", for she seemed quite at home on the earth. Some scholars believe it is also was because her mother was Asteria (the Titan goddess of the Shining Light or "Star") or perhaps it was because she sensibly always carried a torch on her journeys. Like Artemis, Hecate was usually depicted with her sacred dogs, although Hecate and even her animals, were sometimes said to have three heads and that they could see in all directions. Although usually depicted as a beautiful woman having three human heads, some images are fearsome indeed (one with a snake's head, one with a horse's, and the third a boar's head). This farsightedness, the ability to see in several directions at once (even the past, present, and future) featured largely in her most famous myth, the abduction of Persephone. For it was the goddess Hecate who "saw" and told the frantic Demeter what had become of her daughter. The goddess Hecate continued to play an important role in the life of Persephone, becoming her confidante when she was in the Underworld. Hades, thankful for their friendship, was more than hospitable, honoring Hecate as a prominent and permanent guest in the spirit world. Surely this had the effect of enhancing her reputation as a spirit of black magic with the power to conjure up dreams, prophecies, and phantoms. Hecate's ability to see into the Underworld, the "otherworld" of the sleeping and the dead, made her comfortable and tolerant in the company of those most would shun out of fear or misunderstanding. In her role as 'Queen of the Night', sometimes travelling with a following of "ghosts" and other social outcasts, she was both honoured and feared as the protectress of the oppressed and of those who lived "on the edge". In Rome many of the priests in her sacred groves were former slaves who had been released to work in her service. The goddess Hecate was often accompanied on her travels by an owl, a symbol of wisdom. Not really known as a goddess of wisdom, per se, Hecate is nevertheless recognized for a special type of knowledge and is considered to be the goddess of trivia. Hecate's farsightedness and attention to detail, combined with her extraordinary interest in that which most of us discount as irrelevant or arcane, gave her tremendous powers. She knew what the rest of us did not.

Not surprisingly, the people thought it best to give the goddess Hecate (and any friends that might be accompanying her) a lot of honour and a fairly wide berth. When darkness descended they wisely retired to the fireside for supper, but put the leftovers outside as an offering to Hecate and her hounds. That the homeless and destitute were often the actual beneficiaries hardly mattered...after all, they were under Hecate's protection. In a similar fashion, food was often left at the crossroads to honour Hecate, especially at junctions where three roads converged --what we often call a "Y-intersection". Frequently a pole was erected at the intersection and three masks would be hung from it to pay homage to Hecate and to request her guidance in helping to choose the right direction. Three-faced masks also adorned the entrances of many homes, honouring the goddess Hecate who could, of course, wield her influence over "the spirits that travelled the earth" to keep them from entering the household. It is hardly surprising that a woman who needed to make a trip alone at night would say a brief prayer to Hecate to seek her protection. The goddess Hecate, like her cousin Artemis, was known as a protector of women, especially during childbirth. Not only was Hecate called upon to ease the pains and progress of a woman's labour, but especially to protect and restore the health and growth of a child. Similarly, Hecate played a role that, in contemporary times, we would describe as "hospice nurse", helping the elderly make a smooth and painless passage into the next life and staying with them, if need be, in the otherworld to help prepare them for their eventual return to the earth in their next life. Familiar with the process of death and dying as well as that of new birth and new life, the goddess Hecate was wise in all of earth's mysteries. The Greek goddess Hecate reminds us of the importance of change, helping us to release the past, especially those things that are hindering our growth, and to accept change and transitions. She sometimes asks us to let go of what is familiar, safe, and secure and to travel to the scary places of the soul. New beginnings, whether spiritual or mundane, aren't always easy. But Hecate is there to support and show you the way. She loans her farsightedness for you to see what lies deeply forgotten or even hidden, and helps you make a choice and find your path. Oft times she shines her torch to guide you while you are in dreams or meditation. Hecate teaches us to be just and to be tolerant of those who are different or less fortunate, yet she is hardly a "bleeding heart", for Hecate dispenses justice "blindly" and equally. Whether the Greek goddess Hecate visits us in waking hours or only while we sleep, she can lead us to see things differently (ourselves included) and help us find greater understanding of our selves and others. Although her name may mean "The Distant One", Hecate is always close at hand in times of need, helping us to release the old, familiar ways and find our way through new beginnings. (Internet search author unknown - Jade Storm: Hecates Crossroads) Correspondences By Azure Healing in Devotees of Goddess Hekate Season - Autumn/Winter Numbers - 3, 9, 13 Tarot Cards - The Moon, High Priestess, Wheel of Fortune, Death, Hermit, Introspection Times - Midnight, dawn and dusk, transitional times, strong link to menstrual cycle.

Colors - black, silver, purple and red Celestial - Scorpio Offerings to Hecate Sourced from Hecates Crossroads Louise Greentree Raisins Keys Eggs Olive Oil Apples Mint Snakeskin Rue Dog hair Maidenhair Fern Oak leaves Bay Laurel Lavender seeds Jasmine Flowers - i like red roses for Hekate :) Oils infused with green mint and/or wormwood Honey Cardamon seeds Juniper berries Poppy seeds Mushrooms Sesame cookies Mugwort Styrax Frankincense Strong herbal teas Saffron Earth from graveyards Myrrh Earth from crossroads Milk Amethysts Mead Lapis lazuli Wine Objects that are violet in color Pomegranates Workings - justice, banishings, protection, prophecy, divination, inner-self, healing, favor, dragon magick, truth, dreams, communicating with the dead, scrying, shamanistic journeys, spirit guides

There is an Annual International devotional offering to the Goddess Hekate, the light bearing Goddess of the Crossroads, Magic and Mysteries. You can participate from anywhere in the world, by yourself or with friends. There are numerous community celebrations, some of which are being listed on the discussion group https://www.facebook.com/groups/riteofhersacredfires The Rite of Her Sacred Fires is a unique international devotional celebration of the mysteries and magic of the Goddess Hekate. It was born out of the Hekate Her Sacred Fires anthology project and written by Sorita dEste who offered it as an act of devotion for all who wished to participate in May 2010. The first year saw the Rite of Her Sacred Fires translated into numerous languages, with several thousand people from around the world participating by doing the ritual on the Full Moon that month. Since then the Rite has become a yearly event in May and has now been translated into 18 languages (see below) and is facilitated each year by a team from the Covenant of Hekate dedicates their time, energy and know how to ensure that the necessary information is available for others to join in and that resources are available for individuals to learn about it and how to do it Information at http://hekatecovenant.com/rite-of-her-sacred-fires/ <<< Including numerous languages in addition to the original English which is outlined below. This Rite can be done at any time.

THE RITE OF HER SACRED FIRES Original English Text By Naza Cogo in Rite of Her Sacred Fires (Files) Edit Doc 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. 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. 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 Askei Kataskei Ern Oren Ir Mega Samnyr Baui (3 times) Phobantia Semn, 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! 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.sacredfires.co.uk (c)Sorita dEste, 2010