Dark Goddess Series, Part III: Hecate

I know I'm a bit late for the Night of Hecate but I've been very busy at work. Please accept this slightly late post and know that you can certainly honor Hecate at any time. :)


Who is Hecate? Today’s Witches and Pagans associate her with the crossroads, magic, witchcraft, and ghosts. She has also been associated with everything from childbirth to dogs. During the Hellenistic period she was depicted as a three-faced woman. The earliest depictions of Hecate, however, were of a single-faced goddess. Some neo-Pagans refer to her as a crone goddess, although this conflicts with her former characterization as a virgin.

Hecate was a pre-Olympian goddess, the only Titan Zeus allowed to retain any authority once the Olympians took over. Often classified as a moon goddess, Hecate actually reigned over the earth, sea and sky. Her ability to create storms or to hold them back made her the protector of sailors and shepherds.

Like her cousin, Artemis, Hecate retained her independence and solitude, remaining unwilling to give up this independent nature for the sake of marriage.

Another similarity between the two goddesses is the presence of sacred dogs, although the dogs, much like Hecate herself, were thought to each have three heads and the ability to see in all directions at once (and even the past, present and future). Hecate is depicted as either a beautiful woman with three heads, or a woman with the heads of a snake, a boar, and a horse.

Hecate became Persephone’s friend and confidant during the latter’s time in the Underworld. Her ability to see into the Underworld made her comfortable in the presence of those who would normally be shunned by others. Her friendliness toward Persephone gained her a permanent invitation to Underworld from Hades.

Hecate was not only called upon to help ease a mother’s labor and to aid her child’s transition into this world, but she was also called upon to help the dying make their journey. Hecate is there to help us when we have a journey to make. She waits at the crossroads, waiting to help us find our way.

Now that you have a tiny bit of background information on Hecate (and there is so, so much more that could be said, believe me!), it is time to think about how to honor her in the most sacred room of the home: the kitchen.

The first step is to thoroughly clean the kitchen. Scrub the grease off the stovetop, wash and put away the dishes, sweep and mop the floor, and take out that smelly trash! Next, spiritually cleanse the area.

Rosemary is one of those all-purpose herbs and can be used for protection and cleansing as well as remembrance and love. However, it is ruled by the sun, and as Hecate is a moon goddess, you may wish to find something a bit closer to the cool, silvery energy of the moon. Cleanse the area with sage, which is more traditional, and light candles of black, white and silver. Welcome Hecate into your home in the way you deem fit. If you need help finding your way, or have something you wish to be rid of, ask for her assistance. Again, you the words that you deem appropriate.

Some suitable offerings for Hecate are moon foods: Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, coconut, lemon, lentils, melon, milk, mushrooms, potatoes, and pumpkins.

Some ideas (recipes provided upon request):
Lentil salad with lemon and cucumbers
Roasted Brussels sprouts
Potato-cauliflower soup
Potato-mushroom gratin
Pumpkin soup

Another suggestion is to leave some food outside for stray neighborhood dogs, or make a donation of dog food to the local animal shelter. Do this in Hecate’s name in honor of her sacred hounds.