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| Hekate |
Hekate's power covered many different aspects of life. I think that all of her roles can be pulled together under the title of Goddess of Transitions. She was
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The goddess Hekate (or Hecate in Latin) is older than the Olympic pantheon. In Hesiod's history, Zeus refers to her as a Titan, child of Perses and Asteria. Zeus describes Hekate as having power in the heavens, in the sea and on earth. This is one of the ways Hekate can be seen as a triple goddess in and of herself. It also gives her a unique place. This provides her the opportunity to be involved with humanity to an extent beyond that of the Olympians, since she was a goddess but not a dweller-on-high. |
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Hekate does not "star" in a lot of myths, but one where she does appear points to her role as guide between the worlds. In the story of Demeter and Persephone, Persephone's journey to the Underworld is only noticed by two people, Helios and Hekate. Only Hekate goes to Demeter to tell her what happened and to aid her. See the Hymn to Demeter for more than these excerpts: |
| Then for nine days queenly Deo wandered over the earth with flaming torches in her hands, so grieved that she never tasted ambrosia and the sweet draught of nectar, nor sprinkled her body with water. But when the tenth enlightening dawn had come, Hecate, with a torch in her hands, met her, and spoke to her and told her news: "Queenly Demeter, bringer of seasons and giver of good gifts, what god of heaven or what mortal man has rapt away Persephone and pierced with sorrow your dear heart? For I heard her voice, yet saw not with my eyes who it was. But I tell you truly and shortly all I know." [Line 59] So, then, said Hecate. And the daughter of rich-haired Rhea answered her not, but sped swiftly with her, holding flaming torches in her hands. So they came to Helios... |
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| On Persephone's return from the Underworld, she is guided first by Hermes and then by Hekate (see the vase painting showing Hekate meeting Persephone and Hermes). Hekate rejoices to see Persephone's return and guides her home. Then bright-coiffed Hecate came near to them, and often did she embrace the daughter of holy Demeter: and from that time the lady Hecate was minister and companion to Persephone. As you can see from this story and from the vase painting, at this time, Hekate was neither a crone nor a hag, not dreadful to behold nor a goddess to be feared. These interpretations of her power came later, when focus shifted from her as guide to her role in the Underworld. |
| Hekate's connection to the Underworld later became the most well known aspect of the goddess. This may have occurred simply as myths became more patriarchal. To quote von Rudloff The negative portrayal of powerful women such as Medeia and the Amazons, who live outside of the bounds of society (both literally and figuratively), is common in Greek and Roman literature. When these women are associated with dieties, it is typically with goddesses that honour their independent nature, such as Artemis, or grant them unusual powers, such as Hekate. Von Rudloff also states Another factor contributing to the more fantastic stories involving Hekate may be that much of her worship served individual needs -- protecting one from harmful ghosts and guiding one through difficult transitions -- rather than those of the community. Individuals acting on their own can be very threatening to society. It is exactly this type of individual connection which draws us to Hekate even today, when we are once again finding our own connection to deity without the intervention of an established (and usually male) priesthood required. |
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There are a number of Pagans today who are devoted to Hekate. Some of them are attracted to the Dark Goddess/Crone aspects and some hope to experience the broader, transitional aspects of Hekate. Gerina Dunwich's book Wicca Craft has a nice ritual to be used to honor Hekate on one of her ritual days. Also see Crossroads for a modern, Wiccan approach. |
 Art by Katlyn (with much thanks) |
Feast Days August 13th is a feast day for Hekate and Artemis. In The Grandmother of Time, Zsuzsanna Budapest suggests offering a garlic bulb to Hekate and an apple to Artemis. November 16th is also a feast day, or actually night, the Night of Hekate, especially in her role as part of the moon goddess trinity: Artemis (the maiden), Selene (the mother) and Hekate (the crone). This is a night to leave food at crossroads and to ask Hekate's blessing in her role of heavenly midwife as well as a good night for divination, meditation and prophesy. See below for a discussion on "trinity." The Romans celebrated Hecate's Day on December 31st. Some modern followers of Hekate hold the dark moon as special to her. Another, possibly more traditional, approach is to work with Her on the last day of the month. |
| Trinity? The comment above might set some folks teeth on edge. This trinity is a much later addition. The triple moon symbology is probably not "authentic" Greek and obviously comes even later than the shift in perception to Hekate as a crone. There are other ways in which Hekate can be seen as a triple goddess however. As mentioned earlier, she was related to the heavens, the earth, and the sea, according to Hesiod's description of Zeus. There have been descriptions of Hekate with three heads, those of a dog, a serpent, and a horse. She was later shown as appearing in triple form in statues, especially carrying a torch, a key, and a snake. Hekate also had a particular role at the crossing of three roads, where statues or masks of her were sometimes set facing all three directions. Personally, I do not see Hekate as part of a trinity, or particularly see her as related to the moon specifically. To me, she is more of a guide, a teacher, and quite sufficient unto herself. |
| Symbols Hekate's symbols include the toad (conception), torches (guide), keys (gateways and transitions), snakes (guardian and underworld), dogs (guarding and hunting), knife (as midwife, for cutting the umbilitical cord), and possibly owls (night and prophesy). The cypress tree is sacred to her as well. |
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| When I doubt, show me my strength. When I am wrong, show me my path to right. Light the crossroads before me so I may see my way. Queen of Transitions, Guardian of Doorways, Hekate, bless my journeys through dark and dawn, day and dusk. Help me to bring to balance the forces within myself light and dark, above and below. As a coin cannot have only one side, I am not whole, one without the other. |