Hecate's Night: November 16

Some gods come into sharper focus the more you learn about them, while others become ever more mysterious and beguiling. Hecate, the patron goddess of witches, is among the latter, at any rate for me.

She is renowned for her knowledge of herbs, poisonous plants, and communication with the dead. Associated with snakes, keys, and dogs she moves between the worlds.

Hecate, also spelled Hekate, is a complicated woman associated with light and darkness, crossroads, and communicating with the dead. She is smart and powerful!

I will explore both who this goddess was to the ancient Greeks, and how she is celebrated today. Keep reading!

Correspondences

Pantheon: Greek - some scholars feel she originated in Ancient Egypt

Abode: She resided in Haides or the Underworld

Animals: Dog, frog, horse, polecat, and snake

Color: Black, Red, White

Divination: Scrying, Tarot

Elements: Earth, fire

Offerings: Bread, cheese, fish, garlic, honey, leaks, onions, wine

Herbs/Spices: Bay, Garlic, Jasmine, Lavender, Myhrr

Plants: Azalea, Belladonna, Cyclamen, Datura, Henbane, Lavender, Mandrake, Monkshood, Willow, Wolf’s Bane

Planet: Moon

Crystals: Hematite, Jasper, Moonstone, Obsidian

Metals: Silver

Symbols: Crossroads, Keys, Torches

Numbers: 3, 7, 13

Wood: Cyprus, Yew

Who is Hecate?

  • Is she an old crone or a radiant youth?

  • Is she a virgin or, as a different tradition holds, the mother of the famous witches Circe and Medea?

  • Is she a protector of our homes, or does she roam crossroads and graveyards like a bloodthirsty ghost?

The simplest—and most difficult—answer to such questions is all of the above. For good reason, then, the pagan scholars of old interpreted her name as Hekatera, meaning “Both” in Greek.

Three realms

 Greek mythology provides conflicting answers to the question of Hecate's origins, but the most common answer is that she is the daughter of an obscure Titan called Perses, “the Destroyer.”

It wasn't by birthright but because Zeus paid special honor to her that she became a co-ruler of the three realms: the sky along with Zeus, the sea with Poseidon, and the earth and underworld with Hades.

Since her power extends to all things, it's always good to invoke her, no matter who else you pray to and what you are praying for. For me, this usually means nothing more than adding “... and Hecate!” somewhere in my invocation.

 

Three goddesses

 Hecate's threefold rulership is often symbolized by portraying her as a goddess with three bodies—or in other words, as three goddesses.

  •  As the moon goddess Selene, with the power of birth, she rules above the earth.

  •  On the earth, she is Artemis, who preserves life.

  •  Below the earth, she holds sway as Persephone, the bride of Hades, and controls death.

All three goddesses are aspects of the one Hecate, and she not only has these three powers but a hundred (Hekaton in Greek), according to my favorite Roman antiquarian Servius. The Romans referred to Hecate as Trivia.

Triple Hecate in Louvre Museum, France. Photo by Christelle Molinié.

Triple Hecate in Louvre Museum, France. Photo by Christelle Molinié.

 

Ghosts and Specters

 Of her three main aspects, Hecate is most strongly associated with the underworld, and also with its denizens.

 Demons and ghosts are therefore often called “the dogs of Hecate,” in analogy to earthly dogs, which are sacred to her. She can send her “dogs” against people who offend her and call them off if those in danger invoke her.

 The ghosts she sends show themselves as shifting apparitions that seem to be made of mist, and which dissolve into shadows only to reappear in a different shape the next moment. Some think that such apparitions aren't just sent by Hecate, but manifestations of the goddess herself.

Step By Step Guide

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What Do I Love About Hecate?

Hecate lives on the fringes of society. She did not desire to be a “central” deity in the Greek pantheon. Instead, she is most happy with her plants and animals.

There have been several cults dedicated to Hecate including the witches of Thessaly. She moves in between the worlds and is not easily defined.

 

Hecate's Night

November 16th This is called Hecate’s Night. On this night she roams the earth with her hounds. This is also the night that new initiations are made for Witches who follow her.

Hecate’s Supper is left out on the steps of her followers dwellings, usually consisting of honey and mushrooms. Hecate then blesses those inside.

At the ancient Deipnon festival, a meal (Greek deipnon) would be offered to the goddess.

Although she has been historically celebrated at various times, in modern Western culture, Hecate is naturally associated with the time around Samhain. We also connect her to the season of fall in general, which is analogous to the waning moon.

On August 13th Hecate is honored in Greece as an Earth and Agriculture goddess. Offerings would be left at the Crossroads ( honey cakes, mushrooms, wine) hoping to appease her so she wouldn’t bring crop-destroying storms.

January 31st is her Feast Day

Hecate was honored monthly in Rome on the 29th the day of Hacate’s Moon.

Make A Food Offering To Honor Hecate

Offerings were supposedly often removed and eaten by the poor in ancient Greece. Today’s Hellenic Polytheists now take the Deipnon as an occasion to give to a homeless shelter or a food pantry instead of making a food offering in the strict sense.

Host a Feast For Hecate

Setting the Ambiance

Creating the right atmosphere is essential when preparing to honor the goddess Hecate. Consider incorporating the following elements into your feast:
Candles: Illuminate the space with an array of candles, as Hecate is often depicted carrying a torch. Place them strategically around the room to evoke a mystical, ethereal ambiance.
Altar: Designate a special place for an altar. Adorn it with symbols of Hecate, such as keys, black stones, or an image of the goddess herself. Surround the altar with dried herbs like lavender or rosemary to enhance the divine energy.
Incense: Burn incense to purify the space and to create a sacred atmosphere. Jasmine, myrrh, or sage are popular choices that align well with Hecate's energies.
Decorations: Incorporate black and silver elements into your decorations to represent Hecate's association with the night. Use fabrics, tablecloths, or napkins in these colors to enhance the visual appeal.

Creating the Menu

As you plan your feast meal, keep in mind that Hecate is often associated with herbs and spices. To truly honor her, consider incorporating these flavors into your dishes. Here are some suggestions:
1. Starters:

  • Charcuterie Board: cheeses, dried apricots, meats, hard-boiled eggs, olives, and crackers

  • Bruschetta with roasted garlic and a sprinkle of oregano.

2. Main Course:

  • Grilled fish seasoned with rosemary and thyme.

  • Grilled eggplant drizzled with a lemon and dill sauce.

3. Sides:

  • Quinoa salad with fresh herbs like parsley, basil, and mint.

  • Marinated mushrooms

4. Desserts:

  • Greek honey cakes

  • Gingerbread cookies spiced with nutmeg and cloves.

Remember to incorporate seasonal ingredients and local produce into your menu to celebrate the bountiful offerings of the Earth.

Ritual and Invocation

To honor Hecate during the feast, consider including a ritual or invocation. As part of the ceremony:
1. Invoke Hecate: Begin by respectfully invoking Hecate, acknowledging her as the goddess of magic, crossroads, and wisdom. Express your gratitude for her presence in your life and her guardianship over your spiritual journey.
2. Offerings: Prepare offerings such as wine, honey, or pomegranate seeds, which are associated with Hecate. Place these offerings on the altar as a symbol of your devotion and respect.
3. Toast and Share: Raise a glass to Hecate and share a heartfelt toast with your fellow participants. Reflect on her significance in your life and the blessings she has bestowed upon you.
4. Divination: As a deity associated with witchcraft and magic, consider incorporating divination into your ceremony. Use tarot cards, scrying, or any other preferred method to seek guidance from Hecate or to gain insight into your spiritual journey.

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How to Celebrate

 

As the name “Hecate's Night” suggests, celebrations for this festival take place after sunset (remember that Hecate is the “enemy of daylight, but friend and companion of the night”)

 

Indoors

 

When celebrating indoors, you can make the offering at your household altar. Set out a plate with foods like eggs, garlic, onions, or pastry, and leave it until the next day.

 

For the invocation, use either of the hymns below or a self-written prayer. Regardless of the length, repeating the invocation (even it's just Hecate's name) three times will render it especially efficacious.

 

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Outdoors

 

If you can celebrate outdoors, especially in a group, the offering is placed at a crossroads or, ideally, a fork in the road (i.e., a three-way split in the path). Use your judgment as to what kinds of offers can decompose without annoyance or risk to humans and other animals.

 

The way to the crossroads should be a torch-led procession, and in addition to communal prayers directed to Hecate herself, the Homeric Hymn to Demeter may be read in full or abbreviated form, so that all three aspects of the Triple Goddess are honored simultaneously.





O great goddess of the woods and groves, bright orb of heaven, glory of the night, by whose changing beams the universe shines clear, O three-formed Hecate, lo, thou art at hand, favouring our undertaking.
— Seneca, Phaedra 406 ff : https://www.theoi.com

Sacred Plants

Are you a Kitchen Witch or interested in herbal remedies? Then Hecate is the goddess for you!

Hecate is associated with plant knowledge, herbal medicine, as well as poisons from plants. She is sometimes depicted with oak branches in her hair and the yew was said to be sacred to her.

Several herbs are associated with Hecate. Aconite is referred to as hecateis, and is also known as wolfs-bane is a poisonous plant. Historically aconite has been placed on the tips of arrows to kill prey and humans in war.

Belladonna is in the nightshade family just like tomatoes and eggplants. The berries are extremely toxic and cause hallucinations. Folklore says that witches have used belladonna to anoint their brooms so that they could fly.

Dittany is another very witchy herb associated with Hecate. Used frequently in love spells it’s felt to be an aphrodisiac. It is also reputed to heal wounds and is the herb Hermine gave Ron when he was splinched.

Hecates Sacred Animals

The Black Dog: A Loyal Guide through the Twilight

The most prominent and recognizable animal associated with Hecate is undoubtedly the black dog.

Often depicted at her side, this mysterious creature symbolizes protection, guidance, and the ability to traverse the realms of the living and the dead. In ancient times, these dogs were believed to be manifestations of Hecate herself or her familiars.


In Greek mythology, the black dog is associated with the night and the underworld, accentuating Hecate's role as a goddess who governs these realms. This loyal companion is said to aid Hecate in her duties as a psychopomp, a guide of souls transitioning from the earthly plane to the afterlife.

The black dog, with its profound loyalty and shadowy presence, embodies the essence of Hecate's power and her connection to the mysteries of death and rebirth.

The Owl: The Wise Messenger of the Night

Another creature closely associated with Hecate is the owl. Known for its nocturnal nature and penetrating gaze, the owl has long been revered as a symbol of wisdom and insight.

In Greek mythology, the owl is considered sacred to Hecate, representing her ability to see through illusions and perceive hidden truths.


The owl's association with Hecate extends beyond its wisdom. As a creature of the night, it perfectly aligns with Hecate's dominion over darkness and the moon.

Just as the owl takes flight in the cover of night, so does Hecate, guiding those who seek her guidance through the dark and mysterious paths of magic and divination.

The Serpent: A Symbol of Renewal and Transformation

Lastly, the serpent holds a significant place in the pantheon of Hecate's sacred animals. In ancient Greek mythology, serpents have long been associated with rebirth, transformation, and the mysteries of the earth.

As a symbol of healing, rebirth, and the cyclical nature of life, the serpent represents Hecate's power over transformative magic and her ability to bring about change.


Furthermore, the serpent's shedding of its skin serves as a metaphor for the transformative journey of the soul and the shedding of old patterns or beliefs. As Hecate governs the crossroads, the serpent also embodies the choices individuals must make when navigating through the different paths of life.

Embracing the Power of Hecate's Sacred Animals

In modern Pagan practices, followers of Hecate often incorporate these sacred animals into their rituals and devotional practices. Meditating on the qualities of the black dog can help one tap into their inner strength and protective power.

Drawing inspiration from the owl, practitioners seek wisdom and clarity, especially in the realms of magic and divination. And finally, working with the energy of the serpent can aid individuals in embracing their own transformative journey and harnessing the power of change.


Orphic Hymn to Hekate (translated and sung by Melissaofthebees - see video below)

I call Hekáte of the roadside, lovely god where three roads meet.

In sky, on earth, and in the ocean, yellow gown upon her form.

At tombs she celebrates the Bacchic rites with souls of those long dead.

Daughter of the Titan Persēs, fond of solitude and deer.

By night, protectress of the dogs, she is a most enchanting queen.

Barking dogs announce her passing. She's unbound and fair of face.

On her head the bull-horn headdress, lady, priestess of the world.

Ruler, damsel, and our nursemaid, wandering the mountainsides.

With her worshippers, she's present, maiden at the holy rites.

Always gracious when one worships with a god-like bull-horned zeal!

Refrain: I call Hekáte of the roadside, lovely god where three roads meet

 You can also listen to the Ancient Greek version.

 

The Wiccan View

 

The Triple Goddess

 

Of course, beliefs aren't static, and modern pagans have developed an understanding of Hecate that is in some ways different and even contrary to the ancient tradition.

 

She is still particularly associated with death, but not only because she has power over it, but also as a representation of the stage of life that is closest to death. In Wicca, Hecate is often referred to in her third and final aspect, the Crone or older woman.

 She is seen as the moon in its waning phase, while the Maiden is her waxing phase and the Mother the full moon.

An altar for Hecate. Photo by Sosanna.

An altar for Hecate. Photo by Sosanna.

 

Persephone

 

This Wiccan interpretation is based particularly on the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, in which the goddesses Persephone, Demeter, and Hecate (identified as Maiden, Mother, and Crone respectively by modern pagans) play key roles.

 

In the story the hymn tells, Demeter's daughter Persephone is abducted by Hades. The mother soon realizes that her daughter has been taken away, but doesn't know why or by whom.

Hecate, who hears Demeter's cry of despair, joins her and becomes an important ally. She assists in the search, carrying a torch, and helps her find out that Persephone has been taken to the underworld.

 

When, at long last, mother and daughter reunite—but only for a moment, as Demeter must return to earth and Persephone stay below—Hecate becomes Persephone's companion and helper.

Here, Persephone, Demeter, and Hecate can be interpreted as representative of the social roles of daughter, mother, and (loosely) grandmother, which women often take on over the course of their lives, either freely or through coercion from male authorities like Hades.

 

The Ancient and the Modern

 

Although the triad Persephone–Demeter–Hecate as triple goddess is a modern innovation, it has its own validity and is also true to some of the more positive aspects of the ancient view of Hecate.

 

Namely, Hecate is understood as a feminine guardian of the household and its entrance against intruders, and as a psychopomp, a deity that safely guides souls from the world of the living to the realm of the dead.

 

In both respects, as well as in her role as universal ruler, she can be described as “the one who holds the key” to all doors.

Family

AKA: Phosphoros, Trivia, Trioditus, Hekate, Enodia

Father: Titan Perses

Mother: Nymph Asteria

Siblings: None

Hecate originated in Thrace, an area that today covers parts of Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey. However, some schoolers have her originating in Egypt or possibly the Carians of Asia Minor.




Author, Erik Olson, Erik recently graduated from college in Spring of 2022 with a degree in Anthropology and a minor in Scandinavian Studies. He did a study abroad in Norway. While in school he completed an internship with the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History which led him to his current position as museum assistant curator. Erik desires to be a Viking when he grows up and has worked in Outdoor Adventure leading hikes and rafting trips. He is the author of a new book “Complete Guide To Become A Norse Pagan”