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Hekate Articles: Hekate's Deipna and Honoring Hekate and A Hekatesia Ritual by Hekatatia, Exegete of Hekate Blessing: Hekate is a guide and a guardian. She protects those who call upon her, especially from murder, magic, theft, the dangers of childbirth, and the hardships of life on the road. She is also a mediating figure, who intercedes on our behalf with the other Gods. Epithets: Antania (Enemy of mankind), Enodia (of the Roads), Kleidouchos (Keeper of the Keys), Khthonia (Underworld), Krataiis (Strong One), Kurotrophos (Protector of Children), Monogenes (Only Child), Phosphoros (the light-bringer), Propylaia (the Guardian), Soteira (Saviour), Trevia (of Three Ways), Tricephalus (The Three-Headed), Aidônaia (Lady of the Underworld), Anassa eneroi (Queen of those Below), Angelos (Messenger), Antaia (the One in Front), Atalos (Tender, Delicate), Brimo (Angry One), Dadophoros (Torch bearer), Despoina (Lady), Epiphanestate Thea (Most Manifest Goddess), Kleidophoros (Key Bearer), Koure mounogenes (Only Begotten Maiden), Liparokrêdemnos (Bright-coiffed, With Bright Headband), Megiste (Greatest), Nyktipolos (Night Wandering), Perseis (Destroyer), Propolos (Guide), Skylakagetis (Leader of the Dogs), Trimorphis (Three Formed, Three Bodied), Trioditis (Of the Crossroads), Zerynthia (Of Mt Zerynthia) Symbols: torches, keys, rope, knife Animal(s): dogs, owls, crows, snakes, frogs Sacrifices: yew, cypress, hazel, black poplar, willow, black dogs, black bulls, black lambs, myrrh, civet, camphor, aloe, menstrual blood, red mullet, bread, eggs, cheese, honey Primary Cult Center(s): Lagina, Miletus, Argos, Eleusis, Aigina Festivals: Hecatesia (celebrated on different dates) New Moon Ways to honor: Study magic and prophecy, particularly theurgy, as she is the patron of that art. Go for walks at night, or among strange places. Aid fellow travelers and strangers, especially if they have dogs. (Or are wild dogs!) Appreciate the weird and uncanny. For more information: Apollodorus' Library 1.6.2 Apollonius Rhodius' Argonautica 3.477-478, 3.528-530, 3.1035-1041, 3.1207-1224, 4.827-829 Chaldaean Oracles Euripides' Ion 1049 Euripides' Phoenician Women 109-110 Hesiod's Theogony 409-452 Homeric Hymn to Demeter 2.25-62, 2.438-440 Lucian's Pharsalia 4.839-40 Vergil's Aeneid 4.511, 4609-610, 6.247 Papyri Graeci Magicae 36.187-210 Pausanias' Descriptions of Greece 1.43.1, 2.30.2 Theocritus' Idylls 2 Links: Hecate

Hekate's Deipna
by Hekatatia (Exegete of Hekate)

Hekate's Deipna are meal offerings made to Hekate at the triple crossroads on the last night of each lunar month. In its most basic form today one can simply make offerings to her on this night, if that's all your circumstances will allow. However the event itself is much more elaborate and I encourage you to do as much as you can.

Preparation

First, you should clean Hekate's altar or the area where you will honor her (this would be your main altar if you use one for all the Gods). This can be done earlier in the day or right before the ritual. I find doing it earlier adds to the anticipation of the coming rite and lends an air of festivity. Save what you clear away because it will be part of her offering. Depending on the substance it can be burnt in a charcoal burner or added to the plate of food. Some examples of things you may gathering in your cleaning are dirt, dust, candle drippings, bits of cloth or string, etc. Another part of the pre-ritual clear out is pulling together anything left over from the previous month's offerings. For example if you made libations of wine but still have some left over in the bottle you should offer this to Hekate. Likewise if you had a bowl of barley and used only a portion the rest should be offered to Hekate. This process clears out the old month entirely. Everything will be burnt or go into the dinner.

For the ritual itself you will need an offering plate and incense burner, charcoal briquette, and incense at the very least. I also like to have a candle, wine, libation cup, and an image of Hekate - a statue or framed picture (even one printed from the internet will suffice). And of course Hekate's supper. Traditionally the supper contains a sweet bread or cake, fish (sprat and mullet), garlic, eggs, and cheese. You can offer any or all of these as well as anything else you feel appropriate - for example, this is UPG but Hekate let me know she likes black olives so I usually include them. You should have everything ready beforehand to use during the ritual. Most charcoal briquettes will need several minutes to light and then a few more minutes before they are ready to use.

The Rite

You may start with a self-purification, such as dipping your hands in khernips. Approach the altar, light her candle if you're offering one, and spend a few moments in contemplation. When you are ready, speak some words of praise or a hymn such as the Orphic Hymn to Hekate or passage 409ff. from Hesiod's Theogony. I've adapted her hymn from PGM IV 2520-2569 for use in this ritual.

If you have anything from your cleaning to burn you should place it on the charcoal first. Then add some incense. Pour a libation if you're offering one. And finally present her supper. You may say something like, "Hekate, I offer to you this incense, this wine, this (name each item)… Look kindly upon these offerings and accept them with joyous heart."

You can end the rite here or continue with the theme of cleansing and purification at the end of the month.

Purification

Prayer for purification: "Hekate, look kindly upon your supplicant who brings you offerings on this day as on many days in the past. Mighty Hekate, please take the foul and filth from this place. Clear it of all negativity and harm." This can be followed by fumigating your home. Place incense or herbs on the charcoal and carry the burner around the home - be careful, it will be hot and you may need protection for your hands! Make a circuit that brings you back to the altar. There you may make a prayer for Hekate's protection during the new month, like: "Hekate Propylaia, please grant me (us/my family/etc. as appropriate) your protection and keep all harm from entering my (our) home. For this I am (we are) eternally grateful."

When you have completed the ritual, gather the supper up and dispose of it. This should be at a triple crossroad but do the best you can. In some circumstances people are only able to place it outside in their yard or even just indoors in its own trash bag that is taken out immediately.

Finally, this is a good time to perform divination, especially if you specifically desire to ask Hekate about something.

Helpful resources:
The Orphic Hymns. Athanassakis, A.
The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation. Betz, Hans Deiter (ed.)
Theogony. Hesiod
The Goddess Hekate. Ronan, Stephen (ed.)

Honoring Hekate
by Hekatatia (Exegete of Hekate)

In addition to Hekate's Suppers (detailed in above) there are many things one can do to honor Hekate on a regular basis. First you may want to erect an altar in your home. This can take the form of the ancient hekataia, which should be placed either outside your front door or right inside it depending on your living situation. The shape it takes is up to you - place it on a shelf, a table, the floor, in a garden bed next to your front door, etc. This is an altar focusing on her role as protector and key bearer, so you may choose to decorate it along that theme. Be sure to 'feed' the hekataia with regular offerings, no less than once a month but preferably more frequently. You can speak a prayer to her as you enter or leave your home, passing by the hekataia, and may even leave a small offering at this time.

Hekate is a diverse Goddess with many attributes, as seen in her epithets and hymns. A good way to get to know her is to focus on one attribute at a time and to break the hymns down to small portions you focus on bit by bit. I suggest a minimum of one week for each but a month also makes a nice period and ties in well with her monthly dinners! You may also tie this in with the season or time of year - for example, winter is a very dark season in Britain and I like to focus on her light bringing capabilities as the dark season drags on into February seeming without end. Some may prefer to focus on darker functions in the dark seasons and lighter in the light - there is no right or wrong. Find out what works for you.

If you'd like to do something special to honor Hekate or feel closer to her here are a few suggestions:

*Provide a loving home to a dog in need or volunteer at a shelter. Dogs are sacred to Hekate and are closely linked to her in many ways.

*You can care-take an abandoned or deserted place - whether urban or rural. A lonely stretch of river front or woods, an empty city lot, an abandoned house in your neighbourhood…Hekate frequents these places and because they are deserted doesn't mean they must be covered in trash.

*Take a walk at night and focus on Hekate as you do. You may try saying her name aloud, reciting a hymn, or praying to her while you walk. Modern street lights stand in for her torches, offering light and protection among the dark stretches of road. In my experience, if you take the time to notice, her presence is fully palpable along the road.

A Hekatesia Ritual
by Hekatatia (Exegete of Hekate)

This ritual honouring Hekate and Artemis at the full moon is listed at different times of year. Some place it in the month of Metageitnion (August-September) and others in Mounukhion (April-May). It can be celebrated at either/both or you can adapt it for monthly use.

The evocation of Hekate is from the PGM IV 2520-2569 (Betz translation). I used this piece to write the evocation of Artemis in the same style.

Before the ritual you will need to set up the altar. I recommend using statues or images of the Goddesses if possible. You'll also need khernips and offerings. I usually offer small candles, incense, wine and flowers as a standard in most rituals. For this festival I like to offer the traditional cakes with little candles - small cakes with silver or white birthday candles set all around the outside work well. If you use a charcoal block for incense be sure to light it before starting because most take a long time.

Procession

When everything is ready, take a few moments for contemplation. Then begin with a procession. Formally approach the sacred space carrying the offerings with you. Present the offerings to the Goddesses and place them on the altar. You do not need to speak to do this but may say a few words as a statement of purpose if you are inspired.

Purification

Each participant should wash their hands in the khernips. At this point you may state, "Let all that is profane be gone."

Honoring Hestia

Many like to make the first and last libation to Hestia, as some ancients did. If so, you can recite the Homeric Hymn to Hestia and pour a libation for her now.

Honoring Hekate and Artemis

Light the candle for Hekate and speak:

"Come to me, O beloved mistress, Three-faced Hekate
Kindly hear my sacred chants.
You arm your hands with dreaded, murky lamps,
You shake your locks of fearful serpents on your brow
You sound the roar of bulls out from your mouth.
Fierce dogs are dear to you, wherefore they call you
Hekate, many-named, Mene, cleaving air just like
Dart-shooter Artemis, Persephone,
Shooter of deer, night, shining, triple-sounding,
Triple-headed, triple-voiced Selene
Triple-pointed, triple-faced, triple-necked,
And goddess of the triple ways, who hold
Untiring flame in triple baskets,
And you who often frequent the triple way
And rule the triple decades,
Unto me who am calling you
Be gracious and with kindness give heed,
You who protect the spacious world at night,
Before whom daimons quake in fear
And Gods immortal tremble, Goddess who
Exalt men, you of many names, mother of Gods
And men and Nature, Mother of all things,
For you frequent Olympos, and the broad
And boundless chasm you traverse. Beginning
And end are you, and you alone rule all.
For all things are from you, and in you do
All things, Eternal one, come to their end.
Hail, Goddess, and attend your epithets,
I burn for you this incense,"

[place incense on the charcoal]

"Dart shooter, heavenly one, Goddess of harbors,
Who roam the mountains, Goddess of crossroads,
O nether and nocturnal, and infernal
Goddess of dark, quiet and frightful one,
O you who have your meal amid the graves,
Night, Darkness, broad Chaos: Necessity
Hard to escape are you;
You're torment, Justice and Destroyer,
O you with hair of serpents, serpent-girded,
Who bring death and destruction,
Who devour those dead untimely,
And you strike the graves,
And spread madness, come to my sacrifices,
And bestow your blessings upon me/us."

Light the candle for Artemis and speak:

"Come to me, O glorious mistress, Shining Artemis
Kindly hear my sacred chants.
Armed with deadly bow you run wild
Over the mountains and unleash deadly arrows.
You sound the chase and lead the hunt
Encouraging the hounds until land and
Beast tremble and cry out before you
O mistress of wild places.
Shooter of deer, night, shining,
The white brow is yours, radiant light-bringer,
And swift sandals you wear too.
Laurel-Maiden who leads,
Bear, deer, lion and all animals are your companions
And your charge. Children you also nurture
From the first pangs of labor to the
First moments of adulthood.
Fiery virgin of the bay laurel,
Who leads the dances shining amongst the
Muses and Graces who sing your praise.
Unto me who am calling you
Be gracious and with kindness give heed,
Artemis Ephesia, savior, protectress,
Torch-bearer, you make a circuit around
The mountain to watch over the dead.
You are punishment without mercy,
Death-bringer, plague-sender,
Ever upholding the respect of the Gods.
Hail, Goddess, and attend your epithets,
I burn for you this incense,"

[place incense on the charcoal]

"O Daughter of Zeus and Leto.
Far roaming amid the cedars and woody peaks,
Dart shooter, heavenly one,
Who roams the mountains, come to my sacrifices,
And bestow your blessings upon me/us."

Offerings

Present the offerings to the Goddesses. If you have not already done so, light the mini-candles on the cakes. Give any other offerings. Pour a round of libations for each Goddess in turn. If you are celebrating with a group everyone should have a chance to make the libations.

Blessing request

If you have a specific blessing request you should state it now. I like to pour a small amount of wine into a glass and ask the Goddesses to bless it before I drink. In a group we pass the cup. I may also have a ritual meal of the same food offered, in this case a cake like those given to the Goddesses. The food can be blessed at this time and consumed now (if solitary or a small item) or after the ritual (for groups and full meals).

You may sit in contemplation of the Goddesses as the candles burn low on the cakes. Or you may prefer to finish the ritual.

Closing

When you are ready proceed with the ritual. Be sure to thank each Goddess for her presence and blessings.

If you made a first offering to Hestia the last should be made to her as well, saying something like: "Hestia, yours was the first. Yours is the last. We end as we began."