Hellenic Hekate Ritual: Purification

One early afternoon I went out for lunch to run some errands and a co-worker asked me how the weather was upon my return. I informed her it was sunny and humid but that it would most probably rain in an hour or so because of the natural signs I was seeing.  This co-worker asked me how I knew and I shared that my mother had taught me how to read the signs of nature.  This was done through various signs perceived through things such as smells, sunset/sunrise colours, clouds, sounds of insects/animals (just to name a few) in order to predict the weather.  Due to my mother coming from a farming family in a small rural village, this was second nature to her and her family, which helped them to be in tune with the seasons. This co-worker nodded in agreement with me and shared that she had experienced something similar through her family and within an hour and a half, it did indeed rain.

When my mother was teaching me magick as part of my normal everyday life, I didn’t realise how much impact it had on me as an individual and how much it would shape my practice.  I have vivid memories of the two of us sitting on a beach watching the sunset where she would explain how that particular sunset was signalling the next day’s weather – which always came out the way she predicted.  A lot of the magick she taught me was in this vein, like when I had my first headache as a child where she took me into the garden and showed me what herbs to pick and how to brew a tea to drink in order to get rid of it.  We’d be outside watching the full moon and she’d teach me how to sing to it which in hindsight turned out to be a spell/affirmation and although I was always an observant child who dutifully obeyed my mother because we were very close – I just went along with it as I just thought it was normal.  I never knew her connection to nature as well as the deep love and practice of spirituality and magick and sharing it with me wasn’t the standard for everyone else .  Therefore when I gregariously announced that I was going to be a witch when I grew up at the age of 5 after reading “Meg and Mog” I couldn’t comprehend the laughter from the other children around me.  Suffice to say I did learn the lesson of keeping silent and not speaking about what I learned publicly afterwards unless I was with like-minded people.

I feel when we are more connected to nature and the cycle of things we are more in tune with the magick around us. I’ve seen more magick performed by locals at a small rural Greek village seasonal festival than in some huge elaborate staged festivals and I ascribe that to the fact that the former was more in tune with nature and the cycle of the seasons. The one seasonal celebration still held in my maternal grandmother’s village in autumn is my favourite as it involves jumping over three fires in a row as a way to cleanse the body and soul and bring in health, prosperity and success. It’s also a way to mark the end of summer and rid oneself of any evil.  After the last harvest occurs in the village, everyone goes down to the fields and collects the stalks of wheat straw and place bundles of them upon the road before their homes, schools, town buildings and even churches.  They build three bundles of straw in succession of each other and as the sun sets they are lit and jumped, sung and danced over.   Everyone participates and if you take a walk through the streets you can see these fires set up every so often and the best and biggest is always in the town square – the central focal point of the village and where many celebrations occur throughout the year.  Some of the boys and men build huge roaring fires and have competitions to see who can jump the highest. The winner of this competition is deemed to have the best luck for the rest of the year.   This practice amongst a few others are still happening to this day even if the village population is dwindling – their devotion to the old traditions isn’t.

This practice held during autumn could possibly have connections to the Hellenic festival of Anastenaria or Nestinarstvo which originated in Northern Greece and Southern Bulgaria where participants walked barefoot through fire (over coals) as part of a celebration in honour of St Helen and Constantine.  This tradition is believed to be a mixture of orthodox Christianity mixed with the local pagan celebrations as was the custom for locals to adapt their celebrations to preserve them.

Here in Melbourne, Australia, I can always tell the changes of the season by observing my garden and the creatures who frequent it.  The smell of the season has changed and certain pollens are in abundance therefore certain tree/herbs/flowers are blossoming.  Observing the land around me, the earth is beginning to slowly withdraw its greenery in favour of the rich brown colours of the earth.  The sun is winding down its effect as we are brought close to the darkness of winter.  To celebrate this time of year whilst still honouring my Hellenic roots I have developed my own Hellenic purification ritual which can be performed before a fireplace, fire-pit, oil lamp or even a candle to symbolise cleansing and purification.

As Hekate’s priestess and devotee I have updated the ritual I first wrote in honour of Hestia and re-adapted it to Hekate who also is considered a deity of hearth and home.  Also with the continuing issue of Coronavirus sweeping the world currently, I have also added and emphasised the purification aspect of the ritual for heightened protection.

 

Purification Ritual to Hekate – (C) Setjataset 2020

Preparation:

Purify body by showering or washing head, hands and feet.

Set up shrine with water, wine/juice, salt, bread/crackers, olive oil, incense, barley and an oil lamp/candle before an image of Hekate.

Ritual:

Wash your hands in Khernips before assembling your ritual items, whilst saying:

“Αφήστε όλα αυτά που είναι βλαβερά να φύγουν!” (Let all that is profane be gone!)

Throw a few seeds of barley onto the shrine whilst saying:

“Xerniptosai!” (be purified!)

Light the oil lamp/candle and repeat the following hymn to Hekate:

“I make the offer of light to you

Great and Blessed Hekate

Goddess of hearth and home

I offer my shrine for purification

I offer my home for purification

I offer myself for purification

Be welcome with me

Bless me with your love”

Pour libation of wine/juice in Hekate’s name.

Make offering of bread/crackers and olive oil and light the incense in Hekate’s name pushing the smoke towards you three times.

Mix some salt with the water and sprinkle the mixture three times upon the shrine and on yourself and state:

“Come Come Come

Great Goddess Hekate  

Burn Burn Burn

Away all that is miasma  

Move Move Move

It far away from me, my loved ones and my home”

Spend some time in quiet contemplation and visualise yourself, your home and your loved  ones being purified.  You can also think of what you need to purify in your life – are there any obstacles which you need to remove or let go or habits you need to move past? Focus on these and make some changes in your life by actively working on them.

Thank Hekate and farewell her.

You may keep the shrine and refresh offerings as required, remembering to keep it clean.

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*Miasma = aura of uncleanliness which lingers with respects to a person and their surroundings.

(C) T. Georgitsis 2018, Updated 2020

Hellenic Hekate Ritual: Hekatesia on the Shore

Magickal practitioners have been working their magick on the shores of the bodies of moving water for centuries.  In a poem Lycophron wrote about The Trojan War, the hero – Odysseus, pours offerings on the shore for Hekate to placate her and destroy her namesake Hekabe who was the enemy.  This fine example shows us practising rites with offerings on the shore of a body of moving water is an ancient practice:

“The maiden daughter of Perseus, Brimo [Hekate] Trimorphos (Three-formed), shall make thee [Queen Hekabe (Hecuba) of Troy] her attendant [after her transformed into a dog], terrifying with thy baying in the night all mortals who worship not with torches the images of Zerynthia [Hekate] queen of Strymon [in Thrake], appeasing the goddess of Pherai with sacrifice. And the island spur of Pakhynos (Pachynus) [in Sicily] shall hold thine [Hekabe’s] awful cenotaph, piled by the hands of thy master [Odysseus], prompted by dreams when thou hast gotten the rites of death in front of the streams of Heloros. He [Odysseus] shall pour on the shore offerings for thee, unhappy one, fearing the anger of the three-necked goddess [Hekate], for that he shall hurl the first stone at thy [Hekabe’s] stoning and begin the dark sacrifice to Haides.”
– Lycophron, Alexandra 1174 ff (trans. Mair) (Greek poet C3rd B.C.) 

Being a child of the ocean, I have enacted various magickal acts on the shores of a multitude of beaches, lakes and rivers in my travels.  Out of the rituals I have conducted on the shores of a body of water is the Hekatesia.  Typically, the Hekatesia is always held on the full moon either in spring or autumn.  Some practitioners place it on her sacred day on the 13^th August, as it’s a ritual in honour of Hekate and Artemis, others use every full moon or adapt it to coincide with seasonal celebrations  and personally I like to make it connect to ancient festivals of Hekate which resonate with me and work it for that purpose, like the dark and/or new moon.

Considering that the first full moon is coming up in Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, I would like to share with you my version of the Hekatesia which can be easily adapted as explained above.   What I have shared below is a group ritual but it can easily be adapted for the Solitary Practitioner:

 

Hekatesia Ritual by Setjataset 

 

Altar Set Up: Image of Hekate, khernips, bowl, offerings which include: flowers, wine, milk, honey, olive oil, lamp, candles, incense, charcoal, amphiphon (ritual cake), basket of bay leaves and barley.

 

Participants: needed for this ritual is the Priestess leading on behalf of Hekate, followed by a devotee to Hestia and/or one to Artemis.

 

Ceremonial Cleansing:  each participant should wash their hands in the khernips which is placed in a bowl outside the sacred space.  After all have cleaned themselves the Priestess states:

 

“Let all that is profane be gone!“

 

Priestess to take barley and throw the offering of cleansing upon the altar and upon the sacred space and say:

 

“Hekas hekas este o-bebeloi” (Afar, Afar, O The/Ye Profane).

 

Ceremonial Walk: All gathered are to form a formal procession and walk towards the sacred space carrying the offerings with them.   All are to present the offerings to Hekate by holding them up in a gesture of offering and place them on the altar before forming a semi-circle around the altar. No words need to be spoken to do this but you may say a few words as a statement of purpose if you are inspired.

 

Priestess to sprinkle khernips with some barley leaves over offerings to purify them with the words:

 

“Xerniptosai” (Be Purified).

 

Invoking Hestia: Devotee to Hestia lights the oil lamp upon the altar and reads out the Homeric Hymn to Hestia:

 

“Hestia, in the high dwellings of all, both deathless gods and men who walk on earth, you have gained an everlasting abode and highest honour: glorious is your portion and your right. For without you mortals hold no banquet, — where one does not duly pour sweet wine in offering to Hestia both first and last. And you, slayer of Argus, Son of Zeus and Maia, messenger of the blessed gods, bearer of the golden rod, giver of good, be favourable and help us, you and Hestia, the worshipful and dear. Come and dwell in this glorious house in friendship together; for you two, well knowing the noble actions of men, aid on their wisdom and their strength. Hail, Daughter of Cronos, and you also, Hermes, bearer of the golden rod! Now I will remember you and another song also.” (1)

 

Devotee to Hestia to pour a libation of wine to Hestia upon the ground.

 

Invoking Artemis: Devotee to Artemis offers flowers before the altar and reads out the Homeric Hymn to Artemis:

 

“I sing of Artemis, whose shafts are of gold, who cheers on the hounds, the pure maiden, shooter of stags, who delights in archery, own sister to Apollo with the golden sword. Over the shadowy hills and windy peaks she draws her golden bow, rejoicing in the chase, and sends out grievous shafts. The tops of the high mountains tremble and the tangled wood echoes awesomely with the outcry of beasts: earthquakes and the sea also where fishes shoal. But the goddess with a bold heart turns every way destroying the race of wild beasts: and when she is satisfied and has cheered her heart, this huntress who delights in arrows slackens her supple bow and goes to the great house of her dear brother Phoebus Apollo, to the rich land of Delphi, there to order the lovely dance of the Muses and Graces. There she hangs up her curved bow and her arrows, and heads and leads the dances, gracefully arrayed, while all they utter their heavenly voice, singing how neat-ankled Leto bare children supreme among the immortals both in thought and in deed. Hail to you, children of Zeus and rich-haired Leto! And now I will remember you and another song also.” (2)

 

Devotee to Artemis to pour a libation of milk and honey to Artemis upon the ground.

 

Invoking and Honoring Hekate and Artemis: Priestess to light the candle for Hekate and say:

 

“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,”

 

Priestess stops and places some incense on the charcoal then continues on by saying:

 

“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.”

 

Priestess to light the candle for Artemis and say:

 

“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,”

 

Priestess stops and places some incense on the charcoal then continues on by saying:

 

“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 us.”

 

Tokens of Devotion: all attendees proceed before the altar in turn and give any offerings they have brought along. These can be in the form of hymns or prayers they would like to read out to Hekate along with any petitions of askance, blessings or alternative offerings if they haven’t already done so.  Jewellery or ritual tools may be consecrated using the khernips.

 

Priestess to light the mini-candles on the amphiphon cake.

 

Priestess to pour a round of libations for each Goddess in turn (Hestia, Hekate and Artemis).

 

Priestess to pour the rest of the wine whilst blessing it into individual cups/chalices and pass to all attendees who may partake of it.

 

Ceremonial Closing: Priestess thanks Hekate by saying:

 

“Hekate, in your name we gathered, thank you for your eternal illumination and blessings.”

 

Devotee of Artemis thanks Artemis by saying:

 

“Artemis, we thank you for your presence and blessings.”

 

Devotee of Hestia thanks Hestia by saying:

 

“Hestia, we thank you, yours was the first. Yours is the last. We end as we began.”

 

Ritual (3) is complete.

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1. Homeric Hymn to Hestia translated by Evelyn-White.
2. Homeric Hymn to Artemis translated by Evelyn-White.
3. Inspired and adapted from the Hekatesia Ritual by Neokoroi.

(C) T. Georgitsis 2016

Hellenic Hekate Ritual: Drawing Down the Moon

As a child I was obsessed with the moon and the first form of moon magick my mother taught me, was to sing to the moon.  The first song she taught me was a nursery rhyme she was taught by the priests in secret school during the Nazi occupation of Greece.  This rhyme was created and used by children at secret school at night, when Greece was under the Ottoman occupation between the 15th through to the 19th centuries, due to not being allowed to learn the Greek language. I believe through continuous repetition over many years and many children, there is a lot of power within it especially because in Greek it rhymes  – which is tinged with magick itself, due to it flowing off the tongue.

Φεγγαράκι μου λαμπρό

(Greek)

Φεγγαράκι μου λαμπρό,
Φέγγε μου να περπατώ,
Να  πηγαίνω στο σχολειό
Να μαθαίνω γράμματα,
Γράμματα σπουδάματα
Του Θεού τα πράματα.

My Little Shining Moon

(English)

My little shining moon,
Light my way so I can walk
To go to school,
To learn my lessons,
Reading and writing,
God’s wishes.

After this initial induction into moon magick, I learned various techniques to harness the power of the moon and utilise it.  One which I became enamoured with was Drawing Down the Moon because its so beautiful and powerful.  Drawing Down the Moon is exactly what it appears to be, by the wording – you are drawing down the energies of the moon.

Over the centuries many magickal practitioners have drawn down the moon in various fashions –  from ancient witches like Medea to modern witches like Doreen Valiente.  The Drawing Down the Moon rituals which are used repetitively, I feel have more potency, due to the re-occurrence of said ritual which brings more power to it.

The image below from a lost Greek vase painting, shows two witches Drawing Down the Moon believed to be from the 2nd Century BCE. This version of Drawing Down the Moon was first ascribed to Thessalian women who practised witchcraft.  The same image was used in Margot Adler’s well known booked called Drawing Down the Moon where the term was popularised by modern witches.  The word on the left *KALE (kah-lay) means “beautiful” and the words on the right mean *POTNIAS “who are of the moon mistress”.

 

 

Being a devotee of Hekate and a practising Hellenic, I have combined the elements of singing to the moon and Drawing Down the Moon in a Hellenic ritual I personally created and have found much success in.  When collected I use this charged moon water to divine, for various types of sorcery and rituals, as an ingredient in a health tonic and watering my magickal garden.  Here is the ritual below you can use as a Hellenic Hekate ritual of Drawing Down the Moon:

Hellenic Hekate Ritual: Drawing Down the Moon – (C) Setjataset 2020

Items needed: Purified water such as Khenips, incense, offerings for Hekate, Invocational hymn to Hekate, ritual knife/sword/wand, barley grains, libation in the form of wine/juice, silver bowl and the light of a full moon.

Ritual to be held outside under the full moon:

Wash your hands in Khernips before assembling your ritual items, whilst saying:

Αφήστε όλα αυτά που είναι βλαβερά να φύγουν! (Let all that is profane be gone!)

Gather and place all ritual items on a altar/shrine or on the ground (beach, park, garden etc).

Prepare and create a working area around you and your items using barley grains to create a circle boundary, whilst saying:

Xerniptosai! (be purified!)

Invoke Hekate

Light Incense

Pour Libations on the ground

Give Offerings

Magickal Working

Place silver bowl in an area which holds the light of the full moon.

Stand with your left hand raised up to the Moon – holding your knife/sword/wand in this hand, whilst holding your right hand over the bowl of water before you and repeating the following:

Hekate, Beautiful Mistress of the Moon
I your (sorcerer/devotee/priestess/witch) sings to you with this tune
I ask your luminous moon to come down with force
I call for your shining spirit to be brought forth
I have the gift of magic within and without me
I pull the bright light of the moon to see
I am a conduit for your glory to enter
I have placed the vessel before you to centre
I conjure your energies to enter this water wild
I do this in your name as your devoted child

Thank Hekate

Dis-assemble circle by using your right foot to sweep an opening in the circle for you to exit from.

Gather ritual items and walk away without turning back.

**Agape

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* Potentially means as the letters are not clear and the translation itself is iffy due to the low quality of the image.

** Ritual feasting can commence.

(C) T. Georgitsis 2020

Moon Magick: Special Moons of 2020

Moon magick is a practice I strongly resonate with.

This year we have various unique moons coming up where you can practice your full and new moon rituals and spell-work with added punch due to the added significance of these moons.

There are different types of magick you can create during these various significant moon phases which can assist you with your practice.

Listed below I have created various pages explaining the different moons and what magick you can practice in the associated links:

Lunar Eclipse 11th January – Lunar Eclipse Magick

Super Full Moon 10th March – Super Moon Magick

Micro New Moon 24th March –  Micro Moon Magick

Super Full Moon 8th April – Super Moon Magick

Lunar Eclipse 6th June – Lunar Eclipse Magick

Black Moon 19th August – Black Moon Magick

Micro Full Moon – 2nd October – Micro Moon Magick

Super New Moon – 17th October – Super Moon Magick

Micro Full Moon – 1st November – Micro Moon Magick

Super New Moon – 15th November – Super Moon Magick

Lunar Eclipse – 30th November – Lunar Eclipse Magick

Blue Moon – 30th November  – Blue Moon Magick

 

(C) T. Georgitsis 2020

Blue Moon

What is a Blue Moon?

A Blue moon is a full moon which happens to be the second full moon in a calender month.  This is a rare occurrence and thus known as a blue moon as it has nothing to do with the colour of the moon.

What can you do on a Blue Moon?

1. Boost all spellworkings.
2. Super charge commitments or oaths made.
3. Conduct rituals which require a lot of mental and or physical effort.
4. Heighten magick which focuses on crossroads or apex’s in one’s life or journey.
5. Great time to clear the slate for new beginnings.
6. Focus on intent of a positive and productive nature.

 

When is the next Blue Moon?

Is on 30th November 2020 and is a full moon.

(C) Image and Text T. Georgitsis 2020

 

Micro Moon

 

What is a Micromoon?

A Micromoon is a New or a Full moon which coincides with the apogee – the point in the moon’s orbit farthest away from the earth.  This means the moon appears smaller than usual from the perspective from earth.

 

What can you do on a Micromoon?

1. Cast spells for which call for reduction in size ie weight-loss.
2. Create rituals to remove negative growth ie cancer.
3. Ask for protection against natural disasters.
4. Work on the shadow shelf.
5. Focus on revealing or manifestation of that which is hidden.
6. Magick focusing on mental health.
7. Apt time for releasing and moving on.

 

When is the next Micromoon?

Is on 24th March 2020 and it will be a New Moon.

(C) Image and Text T. Georgitsis 2020

 

Hekate Goddess and Mistress of Witchcraft (Classical Antiquity)

The Ancient Geeks believe Hekate was a Goddess who taught witchcraft and sorcery to witches, known as pharmakeia in Ancient Greece. The first witches documented to be devoted disciples of Hekate’s were the witches Medea and Kirke, as quoted below by the Greek historian Diodorus Siculus around 60-30BCE:

“She [Hekate, the daughter of Perses brother of Aeetes] married Aeetes and bore two daughters, Kirke and Medea, and a son Aigialeus.”(1)

“[Medea] said [to the Argonauts] that she had brought with her many drugs of marvellous potency which had been discovered by her mother Hekate and by her sister Kirke; and though before this time she had never used them to destroy human beings, on this occasion she would be means of them easily wreak vengeance upon men who were deserving of punishment.” (2)

Medea and Kirke were well versed in herbal lore and magick.  They took what Hekate taught them and multiplied this wisdom into an immense knowledge which held great powers over the natural world, men and their fates. In Apollonius (Ancient Greek 300BCE poet, philosopher and scholar) Argonautica* writings, it is Hekate who gave the gift of drawing down the moon to her devoted witches as quoted here:

“How many times … have you [the witch Medea] disturbed me with your incantations, making the night moonless so that you might practise your beloved witchcraft undisturbed.” (3)

Hekate was seen as the Goddess, classical witches prayed to and evoked through their hymns and magickal workings.  Even though Hekate’s worship originally started in Asia Minor it developed in Ancient Greece.  This is most likely due to her connection with death and magic, which were areas lacking in the pantheon of the Greek Gods.  Since Hekate was known to be a Goddess who punished the evil doer, classical witches were known to cast spells using “curse tablets” and asked Hekate for her assistance through prayer and incantations.

The Greek Magical Papyri and Curse Tablets mention Hekate the most in these texts (along with Hermies) which proves that she was in high demand for the witches who worked to harness Hekate’s magickal power through their sorcery.  Classical witches were skilled in herbal knowledge as well as being very well versed in various poisons.   I love how the Greek word for “sorcery /witch” also means “poison” especially since many sorcerers and witches work with baneful herbs and this is doubly true for Hekate’s witches.  Medea was able to sway the course of rivers or check the paths of the stars and the moon – as modern witches aren’t we known to bend our will to manipulate the elements around us as well as use astrology to assist us with our spell casting?

Hekate was merged with Diana, Queen of the Witches.  Evidence of this shows in the Hellenisation of the iconography of Diana as well as the spread of Hekate’s cult like devotion when the Ancient Greeks immigrated to Roman provinces. Nemi in Ancient Rome was founded by Orestes and Iphigenia – Iphigenia according to Roman myth was divinised under Hekate and the myth is supported by a triple statue of Artemis-Hecate from 600AD.  Cuma a Greek colony in Ancient Rome had a cult of the Chthonic Hekate and many of the images of Diana Trivia have characteristics of the Ancient Greeks gods which further shows the practitioners of the time synchronised Diana not only with the Greek Goddess Artemis but Hekate as well.  This also shows us that Hekate’s patronage of witches spread with her Goddess Cult.  As modern witches we can claim her patronage as far back as classical times when she was viewed as an ageless Goddess and therefore show how strong our relationship with Hekate has lasted over the centuries.

As her practising witch I have created a hymn to call to Hekate to aid you in your witchy workings.  This can be used in ritual, when spellcrafting in her name or simply when honouring her in her devotionals.

Hymn to Call Hekate as her Witch

“Come be present in my sorcery

Hekate your witch calls out to you

Watch over me and my working

Devoted as I am to you as this

Sacred priestess of pharmakeia

By the moon and its phases

Eternally grateful for you

Your guidance and blessings

Come be present in my sorcery”

(T. Georgitsis 2020)

 

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Footnotes:

• Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 4. 45. 1
• Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 4. 50. 6
• Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 4.55

(C) T. Georgitsis 2015 – Updated 2020

Mystic Tribe Magazine: February 2020, Issue #27

 

In my regular column on crystals, in the latest issue of Mystic Tribe Magazine, I have written an article called “Carborundum, Man Made Crystal by Setjataset“ which describes the man made Crystal Carborundum and the amazing things it can do for your body, mind, spirit and emotion.  Also of note is that its a perfect crystal for Hekate.  For your FREE copy follow this link:

Mystic Tribe – Issue 27 – February 2020

 

 

 

Hekate’s Deipnon by Setjataset

Hekate’s Deipnon is Hekate’s main day of veneration and adoration which falls on the Dark of the Moon.  This works out to be at the end of the month in the Athenian Calender (aka Attic Calendar) and any time before the first sliver of the new moon appears in the sky.  The word Deipnon means supper/evening meal which *traditionally was the biggest meal in the day.

Hekate’s Deipnon is a time to:

1. Venerate Hekate and keep the restless dead at bay;
2. Clean and purify the home, shrines, altar and ourselves in preparation for the Noumenia (New Moon); and
3. Make up for slights or offences caused to Hekate, as she won’t grant your boon or bless you unless you make amends.

Making and leaving offerings during the Deipnon is a beautiful hands on approach to honour Hekate and is a very important aspect of ritualised practice in her name.  It’s also a way to placate the restless dead, as in Ancient Greece it was believed that Hekate was the Guide of Lost Souls, whom she guided into the underworld flanked by her hounds.  Traditionally perishable food and drink offerings were left inside or upon shrines, on the door step of homes or at a crossroads.  Offerings left outside were typically left in the middle of a crossroads – the person would present the offering, turn around and leave  without looking back, lest they go mad or anger the restless dead and be followed to their home. Those who were poor, hungry and/or homeless would often consume the offerings.  This wasn’t seen as anathema by the ancients but instead viewed as something which offered a dual purpose – one of honouring Hekate and one of feeding the needy.

Modern practitioners are divided in their practice with respects to the perishable Deipnon offerings – some dispose of the items, saying to partake is unfavourable, whilst others disagree and consume them in an act of appropriating her blessings. Modern devotees as well as placing offerings in traditional places, also use liminal locations such as: the base of trees, mouth openings of caves, edge of a streams, rivers or beaches. Tithing has also become quite popular among modern practitioners with goods, services or donations being given to various charities which predominately include nursing homes, hospitals, homeless shelters, soup kitchens and animal rescue homes.

Other non-perishable things to proffer Hekate during the Deipnon are things you want to remove from your life and sweepings from the home.  Taking stock and cleaning out your pantry or fridge is an ideal way to “clean house” and find items to present at the Deipnon .  Other suggestions to engage in during the Deipnon could be to “spring clean” your home and/or work, donate items not needed to charity and/or sell them with proceeds going to good causes.  Some other suggestions are helping out your local community and spiritual/religious/magickal groups you are connected to, cleaning up of natural public places (beaches, parks etc) and assisting family, friends, acquaintances or perfect strangers in need. Every little bit helps regardless how small the token, as giving of yourself without expectation of return is a very distinguished way to venerate Hekate.

The Deipnon is also an apt marker as it’s a timely way to set goals with respect to the things you want to rid yourself of emotionally, physically and spiritually.  Following every Deipnon you can check on your accomplishments and progress with regards to following through with removing the obstacles or things you wanted out of your life.

Traditionally Purification of the home was another important aspect of the Deipnon and included the following steps:

1. Clean and sweep out all waste including the fireplace;
2. Fumigate through censoring the home and persons with incense and sacred herbs; and/or
3. The sacrifice of a black dog, especially when it related to bad deeds the householders wanted to expel.

These days the practices outlined above are continued with modern devotees, with the exception of the sacrificial dog, which is rightfully frowned upon.

I personally like to clean, purify, refresh my working shrine/altar with offerings and set goals of banishments/removals of toxic and unnecessary things in my life.  I also empty my **Kathiskos to Hekate and many other devotees find this useful.  I take a jar which has been consecrated and decorated in Hekate’s name and place items from my fridge and pantry in the jar.  These items, for me, symbolise prosperity and vitality and the Kathiskos is created during the Noumenia (New Moon) which I then empty and clean out during the Deipnon.

 

Some traditional offerings to leave out for Hekate’s Deipnon are:

Ampiphion (cheesecake with candles), milk, eggs, garlic, bread, bay leaves, honey, wine, olive oil, onion, fish, leeks and incense (myrrh, frankincense, copal and storax).

Some modern offerings to leave out for Hekate’s Deipnon are:

Craft projects for items used in Hekate’s name, pomegranates, honey cakes, lamb, herbs associated with Hekate (wormwood, poppy seeds, rue, maidenhair fern, bay laurel, lavender, juniper, mandrake, mint, mugwort and saffron ), raisins, apples, snakeskin, dog hair, oak leaves, roses, mushrooms, mead, keys, skulls, poppy flowers, crystals( amethyst, tourmaline, onyx and black obsidian), poppy and sesame seeds, candles and oil burners.

The way to dispose of perishable offerings from the home is to place in compost, bury or burn off in an incinerator/fire pit.

Whatever you decide to offer Hekate during the Deipnon ensure it is pure of heart and effort and that you do your best with what you have or can acquire.

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* Traditionally as in the traditions of devotees, followers or the people in Ancient Greece.

**Kathiskos was traditionally made for Zeus and means “small bucket” in Greek.  It’s a small sealed jar which is used to contain a portion of your home’s food prosperity to Deity.

(C) T. Georgitsis 2014 – Updated 2020

Magical Herb Craft: Pharmakia for Hekate

The Tarot of Delphi by J.D. Hildegard Hinkel

One of my most favorite things to do whilst crafting my magick is to go out into my garden and harvest fresh herbs, plants, bark, fruit, flowers, resins and leaves.  I love the ceremony of picking and culling the perfect flowers, leaves and stems or pulling out the plant in its entirety. I love speaking to the trees and asking to partake of the gifts they provide through their bark, resins, flowers, leaves, fruit, nuts and seeds. Its something that all my family does as a regular practice as in the “old country” the only way to get access to herbs, plants and trees was to grow them or wild-craft (harvest them from nature).

An aspect of my practice, which I took on-board early, due to it being one of the first things my mother taught me with respects to magick.  One of the first memories I have, is of my mother showing me how to gather Greek Basil from our backyard to make into a steeped tea to drink, after having complained of a headache.  I also have fond memories of my mother taking me out into nature with nothing more than a kitchen knife to show me which greens and herbs were safe to collect and eat and which herbs and plants to carefully avoid.  She taught me about the aspects of nature’s pharmacy which could harm and those which could heal because she believed you couldn’t heal without knowing how to harm and vica versa.

I never realized how this early education with trees, herbs and plants shaped my craft in not only preparing food and drink in healing (and on occasion harming) but also in magickal use.  This is why when starting out in one’s practice I would suggest everyone grow at least one herb on their kitchen windowsill or if feeling adventurous create a simple herb garden either in pots or in a garden bed, to be able to have these sacred plants at hand.  This is not only for convenience, but it’s a way to deeply connect the energies of the plant – to you, which comes from time spent sowing the seeds, planting the seedlings and tending to them by fertilizing them, watering them and on occasion trimming them back.

I would suggest starting off with these easy yet wonderfully effective and safe perennial herbs to plant in your garden, which can be used for various magickal purposes:

Chives = aphrodisiac, protection and weight loss.
Tie a chive into a knot whilst thinking of the protection needed and then bury it deep into the ground.

Fennel = strength, protection and weight loss.
Chew the seeds for confidence and courage.

Garlic = protection.
Hang a garland of garlic in the home to protect against malevolent energies.

Mint = purification and healing.
Mint placed around the wrist in a chain protects from illness.

Oregano = peace.
Steep some of the dried herb in water and use to wash the doors and windowsills of the house, which prevents negativity entering the home.

Rosemary = protection, love and stimulates the mind.
Tying up a few dried springs and then burn in the home for purification and to clear the mind.

Sage = longevity and increases magick.
By using the dried herb make a divination tea and scry for future events.

Thyme = purification, love and psychic ability.
Carry a spring of thyme in your pocket to boost your psychic abilities.

As a devotee of Hekate I consider myself a practicing Pharmakia.  Pharmakia is a Greek word meaning sorcerer who works with baneful herbs.  Some translations of Pharmakia also include the word witchcraft and I strongly resonate with this as a magick worker whose Patron is Hekate.  I actually wrote a poem about being Hekate’s Herbalist due to working with Hekate’s herbs so frequently.  I find my witchcraft being so intriguingly infused with nature within my practice I work with what I call Hekate’s Pharmacy – the herbs, plants and trees used in her name and with her guidance.  I do this whilst maintaining a connection to the land I live on as well as respecting the plants and trees I use in my magickal life.  Like the Ancient Hekate Priestesses – Medea and Circe, I too, like to have access to Hekate’s herbs, plants and trees for me to use in her offerings, devotionals and crafts.  Therefore, I have personally created this list from academic resources with respects to her ancient practice, modern practitioners findings, devotees of Hekate personal musings and my own UPG.

Hekate’s Pharmacy by Setjataset

*Aconite (aka monkshood or wolfsbane)

Angelica

Alcea ‘O Hara’

All-heal

Almond

Apple

*Asphodel

Cardamon

Chives

*Cypress

Cassidony

Chamomile

Barley

Bay Laurel

*Belladona

*Black Hellebore

*Black Poplar

Basil

Garlic

*Galangal

Greenbrier

*Datura

Dandelion

Dittany of Crete

Fennel

*Hedge Mustard

Hulwort

Honeysuckle

Ironwort

Jasmine

Juniper

Lavender

*Lesser Celandine

Lion’s Foot

Maidenhair Fern

*Mandrake

Mint

Mugwort

Mullein

Myrrrh

Oak Tree

*Oakmoss

Olive Tree

Onion

Oregano

Pepper

Pine

Pomegranite

*Poppy

Rose

Rosemary

*Rushes

Saffron

Sage

Thyme

Verbena

Vetiver

Willow

*Wormwood

*Yew

(*Please note these can be harmful or toxic if ingested, inhaled or placed on skin.)

As always please research and check all the plants and trees you will be handling before working with them to ensure you do so in a safe manner.

I would also suggest that before collecting any items from Hekate’s Pharmacy for use in your practice, that you evoke Hekate to bestow her blessings and give her thanks.

One I use, is one I wrote for my devotionals when I was first initiated to her practice: Devotional Hymn to Hekate

 

 

C) T. Georgitsis 2020