Hecate goddess of magic, the moon, protection, and many other things was considered a very important and powerful deity in the past.. Learn about the Greek goddess Hecate, her power over the realms of the living and dead in the sea, sky, and on earth, and how to have a relationship with her.
Hecate is an ancient goddess who has many followers today. A protective goddess and a mistress of magic, she speaks to people today as powerfully as she did centuries ago. Who is this goddess though? Join SpiritualBlossom to learn all about the goddess Hecate. Find out what she is the goddess of and what we can learn from her. Discover ways modern people can communicate with this ancient goddess and learn the sacred words to an ancient hymn that was composed for her generations ago.
Who is Hecate?
Hecate is an ancient Greek goddess who was the daughter of Perseus and Asteria. Her name means “The Far Reaching One” and some say that her name is an aspect of the God Apollo. They say her worship originated in Anatolia, and her worship spread to Greece. Some say she may have originated in ancient Egypt in the form of a goddess of fertility named Heqet, or perhaps from an Egyptian god of magic called Heka. Early on, Hecate was portrayed as a single goddess, but over time, she came to be portrayed as a triple goddess. She is portrayed holding things like keys, snakes, daggers, and torches. Often the triple form of her shows three goddesses back-to-back, sometimes supported by a column. Some images of her show a goddess with one body and three faces.
She protects the household and rules over the domains of sky, sea, and earth. The Romans venerated her as a protector of the crossroads and of travel. As a protector of the home, shrines for Hecate were placed directly in the doorways of temples, homes, and entrances to cities. She was believed to protect people from malevolent spirits and the restless dead. Offerings were left for her at three-way crossroads during the New Moon to protect her devotees. A terracotta statue of her dates back to the 6th century BCE so we know that her worship goes back at least that far. By 430 BCE there was a major following for Hecate and Athens and the first triple form of her was created during that time. She is a goddess who was venerated at the temples of other goddesses and gods. At the Delphinion, a Temple of Apollo has an altar dedicated to Hecate. The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus has an area set aside that is sacred to Hecate. She was even worshipped in Macedonia and Byzantium. Read about Venus and other ancient deities here: Athena and Other Gods and Goddesses of Peace
It was said that the gods Zeus honored Hecate above all. He gifted her part of the sea and the earth and he gave her an honor in the heavens. She helps kings when they pass judgment and gives victory to warriors. She was a main deity of the household in Athens she helped the Olympian gods at a great battle against their enemies. Some accounts say that she is a virgin goddess but some traditions say she was the mother of Scylla, Circe, and Medea. Her triple form allows her to watch over all things, making her the ultimate protector, and gives reference to her power over the three domains of sea, earth, and sky. However, she also oversaw aspects of the underworld so she is a goddess of four domains.
What is Hecate the Goddess Of?
Many ancient deities are believed to oversee multiple things, but Hecate oversees much. She is a goddess of boundaries and the crossroads as well as one of night and the moon. She is a protective goddess with power over medicines and drugs and she is a goddess of the Underworld.
Boundaries and Crossroads
Hecate is believed to protect. She does this by keeping out malevolent energy and spirits. In ancient times, statues or other images of her were placed in the entryways to the home, in sanctuaries, and even at the entry of cities and it was believed she has the power to ward off all evil and danger. Read about seances to contact spirits and the dead here: How to Do a Seance
Magic
One of the ways Hecate is a goddess of magic is that she protects against malevolent magic. Not only does she hold off the attacks of ghosts and spirits in general, but she prevents evil magic from working on those she watches over. However, if she was displeased with someone, she could bring malevolent magic, spirits, or misfortunes against them. For example, she was displeased with Jason, who discarded his wife Medea, so she helped Medea get revenge on him.
The Night and Moon
Hecate is a goddess who wanders in the night, but she doesn’t go alone. She has black dogs that go with her, and she communicates with the spirits of dead people, guiding them where they need to go. She has traditionally been honored with a Dark Moon rite, which is three days before the New Moon called Hecate’s Deipnon. Offerings like garlic and honey are left for her at the crossroads and she is asked for blessings and protection from restless or malevolent spirits. This crossroads is often a street right in front of the house and front door and other things like fish, bread, or even cake can be offered. The next day, known as Noumenia, the first sight of the New Moon is visible when the sun starts to come up, and is considered auspicious. It is a good time to begin new things and to this day, offerings of incense, and festive foods are given to the ancient gods. Read about Full Moon meaning here: Full Moon Significance, Lore, and Magic
Protection
Hecate was called upon for protection by ancient people. She was especially believed to watch over warriors, sailors, shepherds, and children. The dead could count on her to be compassionately guided to the Underworld to their afterlife by her. Priests at some of her sanctuaries did rituals to quell winds, believing she gave them the power to do so. She could see in all directions, as well as see into the past and the future. She was believed to protect against all harm.
Drugs
Like malevolent spirits, drugs and food can sicken and kill. Hecate is a goddess who has been called upon for protection from these hazardous substances. Diodorus Siculus wrote that she was talented with creating poisons from plants, but she also mixed plants to create medicines. When Medea gets revenge on her husband Jason, it is by praying to Hecate for the power to use drugs by knowledge of herbs and plants. You can learn to do magic with herbs, and get started here: Using Magical Spices and Herbs
The Underworld
A story goes that the goddess of Spring, Persephone was taken into the underworld by the underworld god, Hades. Demeter, Persephone’s mother, sought her missing daughter for nine days. Hecate had witnessed the abduction but didn’t know who had done it. On the tenth day, Hecate, torch in hand, went with Demeter to find Persephone. She helped find her, and every year it is decreed that Persephone will return to the underworld for a time- but Hecate is believed to go with her, guiding her from the dark underworld back above ground again. She was also believed to hold keys to the underworld and could lead people there safely or guide them out, back to the world of the living.
What Can We Learn from Hecate?
The goddess Hecate teaches us a lot of wonderful things. She teaches us not to be afraid of the dead, but to walk among them. After all, there will come a time when we're dead and maybe we will want to communicate with the people who we left behind. She teaches us not to be afraid of going to difficult places. When Persephone is taken to the Underworld, she helped her family find her so she could get home. Then when Persephone has to return, Hecate goes with her. She also teaches us to ask for protection but to be protective. Like Hecate stands back-to-back with herself watching for dangers in all directions, we should keep our eyes and ears open and protect ourselves and the ones who we love.
She teaches a difficult lesson that some people aren't going to want to learn though, and that is the lesson that when someone harms you, It will be up to you to decide what to do. Some people believe that two wrongs make a right and revenge is always wrong. Some people believe that revenge brings justice. Hecate helped Medea to poison her ex-husband when he wronged her. Will you strike out against those who wrong you or will you forgive them? Read all about forgiveness here: How to Forgive: The Power of Forgiveness
Communication with Hecate
The goddess Hecate isn’t just a figure from the long-forgotten past. Nor is she just a character in folklore. She is a powerful goddess that many venerate even today. There are groups specifically devoted to the worship of Hecate, but not everybody wants to join such a group. You can still have a relationship with Hecate, even as a solitary practitioner. You can begin by reciting an ancient hymn that was composed in her honor many centuries ago, and you can do good deeds in the name of the goddess. You can even do a modern adaptation of the Dark Moon rite to Hecate.
The Orphic Hymn to Hecate
The Orphic Hymn to Hecate is one of 87 hymns that were written for the ancient Greek gods. Some people say the hymns may be up to 10,000 years old, but other scholars believe these were all written between the 6th century BCE and the 4th century CE in Asia Minor. Then others say they were all written between the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE. You can recite this to invite Hecate to your personal rituals. The words are as follows:
“Hecate of the Path, I invoke Thee, Lovely Lady at the Triple Crossroads,
Celestial, Chthonian, and Marine One, Lady of the Saffron Robe.
Sepultural One, celebrating the Backchic Mysteries Among the Souls of the Dead,
daughter of Perseus, Lover of Solitude, rejoicing in dear.
Nocturnal One, Lady of Dogs, Invincible Queen.
Bullherder, Keeper of the Keys of all the Universe, Mistress,
Guide, Bride, Murturer of Youths, Mountain Wanderer.
I pray Thee, Maiden, to be present at our hallowed rites of initiation,
Always bestowing thy graciousness upon the Boukolos.”
Read more about this hymn here: HellenicGods.org - THE ORPHIC HYMN TO HECATE Ækáti - Ἑκάτη
Gifts for Hecate
Hecate is associated with dogs, especially black dogs. A Queen named Hekabe was stoned to death, and Hecate transformed her spirit into a black dog, which became her companion. Black dogs are believed to accompany souls to the underworld, delivering them safely after death, and a pack of black dogs travel with Hecate. The howling of dogs has been said to herald her appearance. Dogs are also loyal companions and protectors, like Hecate but not all dogs can help themselves.
Black dogs are less likely to get adopted, of the black dogs, large ones are the least likely to be adopted, and are therefore euthanized more often. To honor the goddess Hecate, next time you go to adopt a dog, adopt a big black dog. If you can’t adopt a dog, you can donate to a cause that cares for them. Even if you can’t afford to donate, you can share awareness of dog adoption services and urge people to adopt big black dogs to rescue them. Black cats are less likely to be adopted too, but they are magical animals. Read about black cats and their magic here: The Magic and Superstitions of Black Cats
Dark Moon Rite to Hecate
Three days before the New Moon is the time to do this ritual. Traditionally, offerings of food are placed at a crossroads in front of a home. Your own crossroads might be where your front garden crosses with the sidewalk. Because she is a triple goddess, looking three ways, a crossroad where three or more paths cross is best. First, decide where your home crossroad is.
Then, gather devotional items. Traditionally, this goddess was given offerings of honey, fish, garlic, and cake. Because she carries a torch to guide Persephone through the darkness, you can move under the cover of darkness with a torch or a single candle. As you offer the food gifts to the goddess, say “Hecate, goddess of the crossroads, protector of the past, present, and future, protect my home and all who dwell within. Protect us from illness, poisoning, all forms of pain and sorrow, disaster, malevolent intentions of other people, and the evil that spirits and the dead could inflict. Please accept our gifts, goddess of our home, and reside with us with your loving protection.”
Hecate is a goddess of many things. This triple goddess stands at the crossroads of past, present, and the future, back to back with herself three times looking over everything that was, is today, and all that will come to be. Beloved and trusted with protection in the past, she is a powerful goddess that many people today venerate. You can have a relationship with her, even if you’re a solitary practitioner by reciting an ancient hymn to her, rescuing or helping black dogs, and performing a Dark Moon rite to her. If you call Hecate, she will answer. May all your communications with her be powerful.
Would you like to reach out to the female divine for guidance, protection, nurturing, or inspiration? Get a reading started with one of our psychics to find out how!
About the Author: Lady Saoirse has studied magic and lore for most of her life but started walking her own Magical Path after being spiritually reborn in the desert. Today she is a High Priestess for The Temple of the Goddess, she is a psychic advisor and spiritual counselor, she shares her gifts as a Psychic and Content Writer for Mysticsense and SpiritualBlossom, and she writes for The Green Egg Magazine and PaganPages.Org emag.
