Celebrate Hecate on the Dark Moon
Leave your offerings at the Crossroads
Hecate
Patroness of Witches; Mistress of the Moon; Spinner of Daemons
Spirit of the World; Keeper of Thresholds; Cauldron of Fiery Light
Key Holder at the Gate of All Knowledge
Guardian of the Crossroads
Torch Bearer
You are the boundary between the worlds
Your nature is expressed through the key
I get lots of folks asking how to work with Hecate, the crone goddess of magic and the crossroads.
As I said in my book, INITIATED: MEMOIR OF A WITCH…
"... Hecate stands at the place where three roads converge. As the Goddess in her crone aspect, avatar of age and experience, the most existential of goddesses, she tells you, 'When everything breaks, you still have choices.'..."
She may appear to us as a human, but she is so much more than that.
Some people say Hecate is the Anima Mundi, the world soul, which connects all things.
As Hekate Soteira she is the savior.
As ‘Ekate Phosphoros she is the Bringer of Light.
Hecate is also the force of decay, that which clears the space for rebirth and renewal. She is also the guardian of that entire process, which is life itself. She stands at all thresholds, every birth, every death, every place where three roads come together.
We are all always going through transitions. It’s helpful then to make friends with the force that can guide us through them.
One of my favorite ways to honor Hecate is through what’s called a deipnon (pronounced dayp known), a feast of Hecate, and give it to her on the dark moon.
The dark moon is the night before the first sliver of the new moon appears. (This month it’s on the 20th of March).
Since Hecate IS the force of release and renewal, you are LITERALLY working with her when you practice this ritual.
To prepare deipnon, a “meal” for Hecate, I usually offer:
grains
a raw egg still in its shell (I will often write symbols, sigils, or words on it)
onions, leeks, garlic
herbs or plants (especially those with a strong smell), or any spices
ashes from petition papers
the sweepings from my altar and sometimes even the floor!
At first I felt weird offering a goddess refuse from my floor, but it IS a traditional offering. As a chthonic goddess, Hecate is a composter. She takes what is decaying and stagnant and transforms it into what is luscious and nourishing.
She EATS the decay, and is nourished by it, so it’s not disrespectful.
Also, FYI, it’s good practice to do all your releasing work on the dark moon. [I’ve got a gift for Founder’s Level subscribers about this, scroll down to find out more].
A good journal prompt you might want to use on the dark moon is: what are the things I can let go of?
This dark moon (on the 20th) is particularly powerful because it comes on the last day of the astrological year, on the eve of Ostara (spring equinox) and the first day of Aries season - a time to achieve balance and begin again.
In any case, the deipnon is a ritual to cast off our debts, to clear away the refuse (think refrigerator, trash cans, inboxes, exes, etc.), clear the air with anyone you’re holding grudges against or whom you have wronged, review the past moon cycle and your journal to consolidate your knowledge.
On the dark moon, we let go of that which we do not need, so that we can call in what is fresh and welcome.
Traditionally, the deipnon is also a time to give to food banks or practice mutual aid. Hecate calls us to care for those who are outcast, struggling, or at the margins. Pregnant folks and new mothers are also under Hecate’s care.
Also, since Hecate is the flowing blood, oxygenating the world, remember that what is our exhale is another creatures inhale. And as long as we keep the energy circulating, life continues.
The upcoming New Moon is in Aries, so it’s a good time to offer up to Hecate anything that is standing in the way of your boldness and/or your willingness to be your authentic self. (You can burn a petition paper and add the ashes to your mix of refuse).
You can leave your offerings at a crossroads with a silver coin, a place where multiple elements come together (like at a volcano in the rain 😆 - or any liminal space), where your property meets the street, or near a flowing body of water.
Once your offering touches the earth it belongs to Hecate, so don’t pick it back up again.
And remember, no matter how lost we feel, Hecate, Goddess of the Crossroads can help us find our way home.
IO HEKA IO HO!
Yours ever,
Amanda
NEW MOON IN ARIES - ROAD OPENER CANDLE Blessing Service for Founder’s Level Subscribers
I’m going to be doing a candle blessing service for my Founder’s Level Subscribers on the New Moon in Aries! During this ceremony I will be creating spell candles for each of you, infusing them with blessings, and calling upon the spirit of the Ram to drive away all obstacles in your path.
Think of these Candle Service Blessings as me using my magic to give you a boost up, or to put some wind in your sails.
IMPORTANT:
If you’re a Founder’s Level subscriber and would like to be included in the blessing, send a short petition (around 40 words) focused on what roads you’d like to open in your life.
Please note that specific and achievable spell candles are better than vague and miraculous ones. Examples:
VAGUE AND MIRACULOUS (needs polishing): “I achieve everlasting success in all areas of life.”
SPECIFIC AND ACHIEVABLE (good): “One of my poems is accepted at a respected literary magazine.”
Send your petitions to: guardian@oracleoflosangeles.com
GIFTS FOR ALL PAID SUBSCRIBERS BELOW
Hecate Reading List
A simple chant for your deipnon ritual